On ‘Radio Times:’ Kenney pushes back against the beverage tax pushback

On Wednesday’s Radio Times, host Marty Moss-Coane asked the Mayor to defend his tax in the face of such criticism and the petitions.

The Philadelphia beverage tax went into effect in January, adding about 1.5 cents per ounce to each bottle of sugary drinks.  The tax, earmarked for pre-k and other programs, is not without its critics. 

The president of the Small Business Union and President of the Asian American Licensed Beverage Association recently wrote an op-ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer in which they claimed the tax has been hurting neighborhood stores, and the coalition known as “Ax the Philly Bev Tax” delivered boxes of petitions to City Council earlier this week. 

On Wednesday’s Radio Times, host Marty Moss-Coane asked the Mayor to defend his tax in the face of such criticism and the petitions.

Kenney said that “people have the right to petition their government to do anything. We’re going through the stack of petitions brought to City Council, we’re looking at the signers…there are sheets of petitions that are signed by the same hand, and we’re checking out the validity of those.”

Mayor Kenney also told Marty and anecdote that illuminated how some store owners were misleading their customers when it comes to the tax.

Marty and Kenney also discussed his advocacy for legal marijuana, sanctuary city status, and what he sees as troubling aspects of the Donald Trump presidency.

To listen to the full interview, go to Radio Times.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated to specify the 1.5 cent per ounce soda tax, not 25 cents per bottle.