PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Proponents of a sugary drinks tax in Philadelphia are going on the counterattack with help from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Bloomberg contributed an undisclosed sum to a nonprofit group starting an $825,000 ad campaign Thursday in support of a three-cents-per-ounce tax on soda and other sugary drinks.
Bloomberg tried unsuccessfully to ban oversized sodas in New York, and supported successful soda-tax efforts in Mexico and Berkeley, California.
The American Beverage Association has already spent more than $1.5 million on its Philadelphia anti-tax campaign.
A spokesman for the pro-tax group tells The Philadelphia Inquirer (https://bit.ly/1Nj3xWc ) the upcoming advertising effort is just a first step.
Mayor Jim Kenney is promoting the tax as a way to provide for universal pre-kindergarten. He estimates it could generate $400 million over five years.
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