Oakland council member proposes a soda tax

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Plans to put a soda tax on the November ballot were announced from Oakland Council member Annie Campbell Washington this week.

Washington stated in a recent article that for her it was all about the public health crisis, saying that “Sugar is the new tobacco.”

Sugary beverages have been linked to chronic disease like diabetes and research show that one in every three children is at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other chronic diseases that used to affect only adults.

According to a local article , one in seven Oakland youth drink two or more sodas each day, increasing their risks for diet-related diseases.

Washington plans to run a grass-roots campaign to help push the efforts, and also plans to have an advisory board of residents, doctors, and other medical professionals to help guide the city’s spending of the estimated six to twelve million in revenues from the tax.

City Council members Rebecca Kaplan and Desley Brooks helped author the measure, similar to the Berkeley tax, imposing a one center pre ounce tax for each sugary beverage.

With support from the states Senator Loni Hancock, assembly members Rob Bonta and Tony Thurmond and other local support, the city’s Rules and Legislation committee will decide whether to put the soda tax measure before the full city council this week.

The city council needs a fifty percent approval from voters for the measure to pass.

More cities in Calif. are also discussing passing soda taxes including most recently, Albany.

To watch a local video, click here.

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This story was updated, May 5th, 2015.