San Mateo County Officials Mull Sugary Beverage Tax
San Mateo County officials are considering levying a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in unincorporated areas. Charisse Lebron-Cannon, chief legislative aide to County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, said that the tax is only an idea and not a proposal. A recent informal poll by the county health department found that 51% of voters said such a tax "would not help" reduce obesity, while 42% said it "would help make a difference" and 7% said they were uncertain.
- "San Mateo County Sipping on the Thought of a Soda Tax" (Eslinger, San Jose Mercury News, 8/3).