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Richmond City, California Councilman Jeff Ritterman on why he supports the city’s “soda tax” proposal.
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Tax on sugary drinks that a lot of folks won't say stinks -- city California.
Is -- authorities -- attack forcing businesses to pay out one cent for every outsold.
Counsel Jeff Reinemund -- supporting the tax counsel that had him.
Well thanks for having me in thanks for being so inspiring in your own life.
I'm curious they -- -- -- a penny an ounce -- lot of emphasis autism and -- 32 ounce bottles are more.
I could be 32 cents extra for that bottle.
Is that right.
Exactly.
Now is that yes yes that's exactly right opinion counts that's a lot -- are you just trying to.
Raise money resounding also -- to make people does not add any soda always -- sweet -- -- what.
Well here's the problem most of us think that any beverage or food can be part of a balanced diet.
The science doesn't support that anymore the science shows that -- more and can -- sugar sweetened beverage today.
Increases serious to a heart attack by 20%.
This who.
Epidemic we're seeing of obesity overweight diabetes.
Premature coronary disease.
And cancer all fit together and they fit together because there's too much fructose in the diet.
-- but this doesn't seem like Iran's amended diet drinks and I just to be clear to us correctly.
-- correct okay not to diet drinks where does this industry tax gonna happen now or what.
Well the -- gonna vote on -- in November and if they pass it will be the first city in the country to do it.
And we should bring in about three million dollars.
-- 86000 dollars we can teach every third grade child enrichment how to swim.
And -- will be one of the things will spend money on we'll spend the money on nine healthy eating and active living.
And will be the first city in in the country to begin reversing the obesity epidemic.
But don't you think this is gonna -- -- I mean I -- your your heart's in the right place but I do you think that you risk.
Being linked to the food police the baby -- here that we can't take care of ourselves so maybe your price to Allah that a product.
You'll you'll disavows of the notion of even thinking of it and and and that that what you begin with soda now.
In your city will extend to I don't know baker products -- there's -- woman's product it was on just a few minutes ago.
And any other foods or drinks that you deemed unhealthy.
Well let me first make it clear liquid sugar is the worst.
That's what we're going after liquid sugar goes right from the intestine to the -- very gets turned into fat.
That -- makes you fat plugs have been coronary arteries counseling.
Finally remember when when we were also concerned about -- and everyone was having saccharin products and residents of this the way to get out.
Then new medical -- -- -- -- well well well slowdown saccharin was bad.
So then that you -- are saying -- -- the technology and and and the medical research.
Could could date you -- here in the very thing you're frowning on in the substitutes you -- you're trying to lead people do.
Could be equally -- No the substitute relieving people to his tap water.
Tap water in Richmond California comes from the Sierra mountains it's grade it's healthy it's cheap you lose weight you'll save the plan.
Did you just alienated her for you might not stop here and -- that would Minnesota's.
No I'm not saying that I'm saying that the that the best analogy is cigarette taxes.
And that exactly did what we want to do.
It decrease the number of smokers and decrease the number of new smokers education alone does not work with human beings were too stubborn.
We need a little bit of -- stick with the carrot.
We're gonna put a little bit of -- stick we're gonna decrease consumption.
We're gonna invest three million dollars in.
Activities to make our kids healthier.
Healthier eating and and active living for 80000 dollars you can put a teacher -- nutrition teacher who can do.
Or -- -- -- -- -- teachers so that not be affected you're gonna be careful who hears this thing mountain.
It's not it.
It's not people's fault who -- fat that's that's the other children so the whole not a -- On the council thank you very good -- we'll watch very close.
My pleasure.
