Readers should not be mislead by the egregious misstep of the Sentinel Editorial Board in their opposition to Measure Z.
Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are known to disproportionately impact communities of color and lower income due to the targeted marketing of Big Soda.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that the real regressive impact is in the targeted sales of sugar-sweetened beverages.
The intent of the Santa Cruz soda tax on the large distributors is to help reverse decades of predatory behavior of the soda and sugary drinks industries on Black and LatinX communities, in particular.
You only need look at the supporters of Yes on Z (and funders of the No on Z campaign) to see that Big Soda is trying to buy your no votes to keep targeting those at highest risk for obesity and diabetes for their own profits.
Soda taxes work. I urge Santa Cruz voters to vote Yes on Z.
— Catherine Sonquist Forest, MD, UCSF Natividad
Family Medicine
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