But Tramutola notes that Berkeley’s Measure D also has “unprecedented” local political support. All eight city council members support the measure, along with the mayor and all of the political candidates, he said. Around town, you can’t miss the orange “Berkeley vs. Big Soda” signs dotting lawns.
And pro-tax organizers think the flood of cash has backfired in some cases. As Berkeley voters have been bombarded with phone calls and canvasser visits, more have also been stopping into the Yes campaign headquarters on the main drag downtown asking for yard signs, according to Sara Soka, campaign manager for the Yes on Measure D, which calls itself “Berkeley vs. Big Soda.”
“People are upset that Big Soda is knocking on their door,” said Soka, who added that the money coming in is overwhelming. “It’s like they’re dumping soda on us, trying to wash us away.”
The Berkeley initiative, which would levy a penny-per-ounce tax, requires only a simple majority because the $1 million -$3 million it could raise each year would go into the city’s general fund. Two city-commissioned polls in March and April indicated that between 53 and 66 percent of likely Berkeley voters were in support of the tax, with 28 to 38 percent against.
Funny Politico article on the two ballot measures in Berkley and San Francisco trying to impose a new soda tax of 1 cent and 2 cents per ounce respectively:
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/soda-tax-last-stand-111308.html#ixzz3EIsBVlZX
