The Chicago Tribune reports:
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has refused to ban soda from City Hall vending machines and has not joined the push to limit the size of sugary drinks people can buy, citing the importance of “personal responsibility.”
That philosophy apparently does not extend to poor people on food stamps, however.
Emanuel signed a letter along with 17 other mayors urging Congress to look at limiting the ability of those receiving aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to buy soda.
There's more:
A top Coke executive appeared with Emanuel at a Near West Side park in November to announce the soft drink giant would contribute $3 million to pay for Chicago Park District nutrition classes to fight obesity and diabetes as well as for exercise classes run by military veterans.
And in April, the mayor announced Coke would pay $2.59 million to purchase 50,000 blue recycling carts for Chicago homes to help Emanuel keep a pledge to extend household recycling pick-up throughout Chicago. In return, the city agreed to include images of Coke products on the lids of the bins.
It's kind of like telling people public education is important and then sending your children to
private schools to a majority white experience.
