Press Release
By Philly Jobs Not Taxes Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Larry Ceisler
Office: 215-735-6760
Cell: 215-915-2086

RALLY DRAWS HUNDREDS TO CITY HALL TO OPPOSE BEVERAGE TAX IN PHILLY

Small Business Owners and Citizens speak out against the regressive tax proposal

March 24, 2010 (Philadelphia) – Hundreds of citizens and business owners converged on City Hall for a “Philly Jobs. Not Taxes” coalition rally against the city’s unprecedented 2-cents-per-ounce tax proposal of sugar-sweetened drinks.

The lunchtime rally took place at Dilworth Plaza at City Hall and featured representatives of the growing coalition, which is composed of union workers, businesses, community organizations and individuals that strongly oppose the beverage tax.

Speakers included Danny Grace, Secretary-Treasurer and business manager of Teamsters Local Union 830, Rushdi Mohamed, Owner of Cousin’s Market in North Philadelphia, Councilman Brian J. O’Neill – 10th District, Minority Leader and Councilman Frank Rizzo, Jr., Minority Whip.

“Families are stretching their budgets further than ever before,” Mohamed said.  “I see this at my stores every day, and I know that Philadelphians cannot afford to pay any more money for their groceries.  The beverage tax that is being considered by the City Council and the Mayor is just plain wrong.  Taxing hardworking Philadelphians right now, in the middle of a recession, is wrong.  The timing is simply wrong.”

“The rally today shows how angry Philadelphians are about this beverage tax,” Pete Ciarrocchi, Owner of Chickie’s & Pete’s and Co-Chairman of the “Philly Jobs, Not Taxes” Coalition said earlier today. “And for businesses in the city, this tax is going to drive them out.  It doesn’t just impact the beverages you buy at the store. The 2 cents-per-ounce tax will also affect fountain beverages.” 

The coalition believes the tax unfairly targets one consumer product, penalizes the businesses and workers who sell that product. The tax will more than double the cost of many beverages while putting Philadelphia jobs at risk. Unemployment in Philadelphia is over 10 percent and the City’s tax will impact middle and lower-income residents the most.

The 2-cents-per-ounce levy is also the highest-ever proposed beverage tax and will affect many beverages, including sugar-sweetened sodas, iced teas, juice drinks, sports drinks, chocolate milk and fountain sodas. 

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