Oakland Soda Tax vs. Grocery Tax Complaint

A fight over a proposed soda tax in Oakland is anything but sweet. Several councilmembers plan to file a formal complaint over what they believe is an attempt to mislead voters. Oakland’s city council voted unanimously in May to place the “penny-an-ounce” tax proposal on the November ballot. There are now ads — both on TV and in print — that call the proposal a “grocery tax” that’ll raise the cost of everyday items. Those ads are being paid for by a group that’s heavily funded by the American Beverage Association. The councilmembers plan to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission and the Oakland Ethics Commission.