The latest news from the Santa Fe soda tax front is that full-strength (ie. sweetened) soda has been removed from the City Hall vending machine. Only diet and zero-sugar options are available.
Interestingly, while advocates on both sides refused to comment, Sandra Wechsler, campaign manager for Pre-K for Santa Fe, a group working in support of the tax, said the mayor’s proposal is “already working.”
That is an interesting take because a big part of soda tax involves the creation of an expensive new pre-K system. If people stop buying soda (at least at the traditional grocery store as opposed to online, for example), there won’t be money available for the Mayor’s expensive new pre-K program.
If your goal is to force certain vendors to replace sugary soda drinks with diet drinks, then the effort is indeed “already working,” but people could be getting those drinks elsewhere or drinking equally-sugary but untaxed drinks. However, if your goal is to generate enough revenue from selling sugary drinks to create a new government program, you have a VERY long way to go.
The deadline to register to vote in this election is April 3rd. You can register online.
Early Voting: April 12-April 28
Office of the City Clerk, Room 215, City Hall, 200 Lincoln Avenue
Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Road
Election Day voting: May 2 (7am-7pm)
Montezuma Lodge, 431 Paseo de Peralta
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1301 Osage Avenue
St. John’s United Methodist Church, 1200 Old Pecos Trail
Christian Life Church, 121 Siringo Road
Sweeney Elementary School, 4100 S. Meadows Road
Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive
Kearny Elementary School, 901 Avenida de las Campanas
Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Road
Why a tax on soda with sugar but not a candy bar or doughnut? Or are they next?
Next….it could go on and on
I always thought it was the state that funded public education, not the city. The United Way also provides pre-order programs. This is just another way for Javie to control the sheeple of Santa Fe. First plastic bags, now sodas. What’s next?… I would try and answer that but don’t want to give them any ideas
This is an outrageous effort for the City to add to it’s bureaucratic mass, targeting one particular business. It’s unfair and unnecessary. This is not a function to be taken on by City government and the people that sell beverages with sugar are going to be devastated. I agree with the guy who says Javie is trying to control the sheeple. I hope and I pray that the people are not sheeple and shoot down this stupid idea overwhelmingly.
If this causes parents to buy diet sodas for their kids, it is truly a dangerous undertaking. Diet sodas are far worse for children and adults than an occasional sugared beverage.
Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are far more deadly than sugar. Will the soda tax also increase the cost of these sweeteners? If not then we are only substituting one “bad” ingredient tax for an even worse drink that people will continue to buy rather than sugar drinks.
You get it, Paul. They must actually WANT people to continue to drink sugary sodas (at double the original cost) so as to fund the Pre-K program. And if it is a regressive tax (I don’t know the demographics here) then it is the very people that will supposedly “benefit” from the pre-K program that will be funding it. Both are horrible ideas.
I totally agree that artificial sweeteners are far more unhealthy than sugar. I’m not convinced this method of funding pre-k will work however I don’t understand why we are spending money to hold the election now instead of waiting till next Election Day. The mon y we will spend on this vote (1 item), could then be used on pre-k.
I don’t have an issue driving 30 miles to purchase MY drink of CHOICE. If I am going to drive I will not only drive for my cola, my gas, my groceries and anything else I need. Javi is showing he is NOT a mayor for the people of Santa Fe!
From: The American Landscape, a Critical View (New York, Random House, 1965), 5-6. Nairn, Ian,
“One example, Albuquerque, for my money, is one of the stupidest wastes of human endeavor on this earth. It occupies a magnificent site between the Rio Grande and the Rockies, it pays no attention whatsoever to either, but simply goes on sprawling and spewing across the countryside to an endless repetitive pattern: without relationship, without identity. Yet, if it is a fearful mess, it is at least an honest mess. I would if I had to make the choice – but what a choice! – prefer it to the fearful mock-Spanish affectations of Sante (sic) Fe, where about six genuine Spanish buildings are lost in a welter of fake Baroque gables and commercialized Indian art. Albuquerque is the honest whore, Sante Fe is the wife who cheats. Making a pattern out of the environment has got to be conscious – the days when it would come naturally are long past for the U.S.A. – but not self-conscious.”
You’re welcome
It is an April fools joke. Don’t believe any of it.
It’s a RACIST tax, by racist elites, who think minorities are too stupid to limit their soda intake.
The pre-K garbage is a feel good lie.
Diet sodas have been proven to be worse for people than sugar.
It’s a regressive tax that will hurt the poor more.
$2.02 tax on a 3 liter.
$2.88 tax on a twelve pack.
$.24 tax on a 12 ounce can.
$18.00 tax on a tub of Country Time Lemonade powder. Yes it taxes drink powders. Little Kool Aid packets will double in price.
Are sports drinks like Gatorade bad for you? Well you’re going to pay TAX on sports drinks too.
I’m Catholic and wish the church would stay out of it. Jesus doesn’t hate soda.
Tomorrow we’ll know if Santa Fe is inhabitanted by fools.