By: Dane Placko
POSTED: AUG 31 2017 09:47PM CDT
Anger continues to bubble up over Cook County’s new tax on soda and sweetened beverages.
And now, a group of south suburban stores are banding together and promising political payback unless the tax is repealed.
Those merchants tell FOX 32 the soda tax is costing them thousands
of dollars in sales.
"Because we are in Cook County people are just not stopping at our store,” one business owner said.
Four weeks after Cook County’s penny-per-ounce sweetened beverage tax took effect, south suburban store owners say it's having a devastating impact on soda sales.
"They have gone down 50 percent,” a business owner said.
About a dozen owners and managers of local groceries and convenience stores called on the county to repeal the tax during a rally organized by the "Can The Tax" coalition.
FOX 32: Do you think some stores are going to go out of business because of this?
"Absolutely. Absolutely they will. We already have been wondering if we're going to have to cut employees at our location,” said store manager Amanda Stevens.
But if the soda tax is hurting businesses in Cook County, well it's having the opposite effect on businesses on the other side of the border.
The manager of this store in Monee told FOX 32 they've increased their orders and can barely keep soda in stock.
Now, the Cook County merchants say they're trying to turn up the political heat on their commissioner, Deborah Sims, whose vote for the tax helped it pass by a single vote.
"I want her to admit that she was wrong. And repeal this tax because it's hurting us,” said Russell Calhoun of Dixmoor Meat Market.
Commissioner Sims told FOX 32 by phone she can take the political heat, and believes the health benefits of drinking less soda will save the county money in the long run.
"We're not gonna please everybody. This is a choice tax. People have the ability to make a decision on whether they want to drink soda or they don't,” Sims said.
The board may take up a resolution to repeal the tax when it next meets on September 13th.
It's for the kids and their health. Remember that. Only those 19th ward idiots believe that.
ReplyDeleteThe 19th Ward knows this isn't about saving the children. They know it's about power. The 19th Ward has always been out patronage, contracts, money and jobs. The political leadership of the 19th Ward is the epitome of self righteous pompous jackasses.....
DeleteThis is so great that they passed this ridiculous tax because it shows people simply, clearly and punitively why Democrats are morons when it comes to economics. They have zero understanding of the ramifications of the crap laws they pass. They also don't care at all about the common person despite their non stop yammering that they care...bull. I will go thirsty or drink out of a fountain before I buy one ounce of soda in Cook County. They will now get even less because I will shop just south of Cook County off LaGrange Rd. So now they will get ZERO sales tax from me. Toni the taxer has shown herself and her DemocRAT party to be snot nosed bullies who just keep fleecing us.
ReplyDeleteBut they do have law degrees and have passed the bar. None of them have ever been in a courtroom and have no stones.
DeleteIf you want more of something subsidize it if you want less you tax it, they hand out more freebees to the welfare breeders and you get more welfare moochers, you tax the working people and businesses and you end up with less taxpayers. Democrats are catering to the lowest elements in society, keep voting democratic and you too can join the welfare moochers.
ReplyDeleteDemocrat incumbents must go.
ReplyDelete