Letters: Shift focus from soda tax

ISSUE | SODA TAX

Give families hope

How wonderful it would be if universal pre-K could be the intervention that would help Philadelphia's children realize their potential. I say this as a preschool educator for 32 years.

But children need to leave school for homes that are safe and nurturing, not torn apart by the detritus of poverty - inadequate nutrition, housing, and supervision - and not tainted by anger and violence.

Instead of focusing on what and/or whether to tax, we need - as compassionate, creative, and hopeful citizens - to conduct multifaceted interventions. We need to help adults develop skills that will enable them to find work in a world that relies less on people power (read "drones"). We need to help people deal with their lack of hope and anger without resorting to violence inside and outside their homes. We need to help parents partner with schools to develop the skills needed to nurture the next generation.

Instead of spending dollars on advertising the benefits or harm of new taxes ("Diet soda joins list of taxing options," Friday), how about funding a Philadelphia-based agency to harness resources with these goals in mind? Faith communities, neighborhood schools, night schools, and community colleges could play a role in interventions that might help children and parents.

|Catherine Conahan, Havertown, ckconahan@gmail.com

Find other funding

The City Hall rumor mill always kicks into high gear as a critical City Council vote draws near ("Nothing left to say on tax," Thursday). I applaud Council President Darrell L. Clarke and all Council members for doing their due diligence regarding funding options for Mayor Kenney's first major policy initiatives. While they continue to deliberate, it's important that they separate fact from fiction.

The Teamsters do not support the regressive sugary-drinks tax, but we also do not support the beverage-container tax, which would be more damaging to our union, as it would apply to a broader array of beverages that we produce, warehouse, and transport. Sales will drop across the board, costing us far too many family-sustaining jobs.

The other work of fiction authored by the administration is that the beverage companies will absorb whatever tax is passed. That is blatantly false. I am in constant communication with the beverage companies, and they have stated without equivocation that they will have no choice but to pass on the tax to consumers. It confounds me that the beverage industry continues to be the sole target for tax revenue for these programs. Surely there's a fairer, more predictable, and more sustainable funding mechanism available.

|Daniel H. Grace, secretary-treasurer, Teamsters Local 830, Philadelphia, dgrace@team830.org