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Rules Committee nominates eight members to sugary drinks tax advisory committee after wide public turnout
Summary
After hearing from more than 20 applicants and community endorsers, the Rules Committee nominated eight members — a mix of public‑health professionals, community organizers and youth/parent representatives — to the Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Advisory Committee and forwarded those nominations with positive recommendations.
The Rules Committee spent the latter half of its Sept. 13 meeting interviewing and receiving public endorsements for applicants to the Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Advisory Committee, which will advise on how revenues from the city's sugary beverage distributor tax are spent. The committee must fill eight seats; more than 20 applicants sought appointment.
Applicants and endorsers emphasized health equity, community-driven programming and accountability for tax revenues. Candidates who spoke or were represented at the meeting included Vanessa Baum (community health director), Kent Wu (Nikkei Chinese Health Coalition), Dean Schillinger (represented; public health researcher), Monique Lazar (Rafiki Coalition), Michael Laflamme (dental hygienist), Joy Jackson Morgan (Third Street Youth Center and Clinic), Jonathan Butler (NAACP health committee), April McGill (California Consortium for Urban Indian Health), Roberto Ariel Vargas (UCSF community engagement), Dr. John Ma (surgeon and AHA supporter), Dr. Lai Ray Ng (pediatrician), Dr. Catherine Covey (Clinic by the Bay), Michelle Anton (Native American community representative), Amy Beck (UCSF pediatrician), Gianna Cordero (parent representative), and youth nominee Aria Chananudeck (recommended by the Youth Commission).
Public endorsers — including Shape Up San Francisco, the American Heart Association and a coalition of community health organizations — urged the committee to select candidates with deep ties to affected communities and a commitment to evidence‑based programming. Candidates highlighted priorities such as nutrition education, youth engagement, hydration access and directing funds to communities disproportionately affected by diabetes.
Supervisors conducted a series of nominations and votes. The committee approved a slate of nominees with some roll‑call votes on contested seats. For the contested seat 5, the committee took two roll‑call votes after rescinding an earlier voice vote; the final outcome appointed Dr. Jonathan Butler to seat 5 with a recorded dissent from one supervisor. Several appointments required residency waivers for nominees not residing in the city; the committee granted those waivers where noted and forwarded all appointed nominees with a positive recommendation for Board confirmation.
