Four San Francisco supervisors are holding a community meeting this evening to gather public input on a proposed tax on sugary drinks.
The meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at 1800 Oakdale Ave., is being hosted by Supervisors Malia Cohen, Scott Wiener, Eric Mar and John Avalos.
The supervisors have proposed putting a tax on the November ballot that would add two cents per ounce for sodas and other sugary drinks sold in San Francisco. Two-thirds of voters would have to approve the measure for it to take effect.
Revenue from the tax would fund nutrition, physical activity and health programs in public schools and parks, and also go toward increasing access to healthy food in underserved neighborhoods.
Proponents say the measure is necessary to combat health problems like obesity and diabetes, while opponents—including the beverage industry group Californians for Food and Beverage Choice—say it is a regressive tax that would raise costs of living without improving community health.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
