The first line in Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer editorial sums up the sentiment surrounding the proposed sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Philadelphia.  It reads:

“Mayor Nutter and City Council have failed to make the case for raising taxes in a city that is already overtaxed.”

With an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent, Philadelphians simply cannot afford to pay more for their groceries.  And officials in Philadelphia have clearly heard their voices on this issue.  The community cannot support the weight of the inevitable job losses that will occur as a result of this sizeable tax increase. The beverage industry serves a strong economic function, supplying thousands of jobs in the Philadelphia area.

Philly Jobs. Not Taxes! is a continually growing coalition of businesses, community organizations and Philadelphia residents that have organized in opposition to the proposed beverage tax. Visit www.savephillyjobs.com to read more about the coalition and take action.