Blast From The Past: My 2010 Testimony In Support of Philadelphia's Soda Tax

This post was originally published on March 6, 2019.

WHILE GOING THROUGH SOME OLD PAPERWORK, I CAME ACROSS A COPY OF AN OLD TESTIMONY THAT I MADE IN SUPPORT OF PHILADELPHIA’S SODA TAX. THE SODA TAX WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED BY MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER IN 2010 BUT WAS NOT ENACTED UNTIL 2016 AFTER MAYOR KENNEY TOOK OFFICE. ALMOST TEN YEARS LATER, MY VIEW ON THE SODA TAX HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY BUT I STILL AGREE WITH THE GENERAL TONE OF MY TESTIMONY AS IT RELATES TO THE PERSON IN RELATION TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

DISCLAIMER: I WROTE THIS EXACTLY AS IT WAS WRITTEN IN 2010. I MUST ADMIT THAT CERTAIN PARTS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRINGEWORTHY DUE TO GRAMMAR OR BELIEFS THAT I NO LONGER HOLD. I STILL CHOSE TO SHARE IT BECAUSE IT WAS WRITTEN DURING A TIME WHEN MY INTEREST IN HUMAN AND NUTRITION BEHAVIOR BEGAN TO TAKE ON IT’S OWN SHAPE.

Good afternoon members of City Council, staff, and guests. My name is Ayana Powell. I am a Clinical Dietitian at Mercy Philadelphia Hospital which is located in West Philadelphia and serves the West and Southwest Philadelphia communities. In addition, I am a nutritionist who works tirelessly in my community to encourage the people to advocate for themselves and make healthier food choices as well as obtain healthier nutrition resources in their neighborhoods. I am testifying before you today to express my support of the soda tax.

As a Registered Dietitian who works closely with a population who drinks soda and sugary beverages on a daily basis, I am keenly aware of the harmful effects that they have on the individual, the family, and the community. Every day, I educate patients on weight loss, diabetes management, and reducing dietary sodium. I also have a number of patients who I manage tube feeds and other forms of nutrition for. Similar eating habits are what most of my patients have in common. Even those who are at the end of their diseases still drink soda and eat poorly because it is all that they know how to do. Certain eating practices are embedded in the culture of urban Philadelphia. The local food environment which was created by merchants is now driven by consumers who rely on these foods, drinks, and the establishments that sell them.

When I used to visit my grandparents in Southwest Philadelphia, I looked forward to all the soda and treats that would be available via access to Queenie’s, the corner store where they had a tab. I also used to like to watch my grandmother inject her belly with insulin. Both of my paternal grandparents had type 2 diabetes that eventually progressed into insulin dependent diabetes. Back then, I didn’t realize that it was due to their environments and lifestyle. Yes, it can sometimes be genetic but outside factors can either increase or decrease the risk.

From my testimony, I hope that you will leave here knowing that you have the resources and authority to change the environment. By imposing a soda tax, you can limit access in the form of affordability. This can change the environment by eventually causing a reduction in the amount of sugary beverages that are sold in stores.

Finally, it is important to remember the obvious - that we are humans before we are consumers. To be human is to interact within the environment in which we function. When soda is more readily available and significantly less expensive than water, it is human nature to consume more soda. I wish to to emphasize to you today that those consuming the most soda are those who have it it in their environments most. No one exists in a bubble. The relationship between the person and the environment is one that that is reciprocal. Therefore, we are an extension of our environments and our environments are an extension of who we are.

I support the soda tax because it represents progress in the fight against chronic diseases. Making soda and other sugary beverages less affordable will reduce the amount of these items purchased by Philadelphians thereby creating a healthier city.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to testify before you on this important issue.