The Bethel City Council vote on a tax on sugary beverages has been postponed indefinitely. The decision was made after extensive public comment at the city council meeting on April 27th. The move effectively kills the proposed ordinance unless a council member decides to revive it for a future meeting.
There was nearly four hours of public testimony, both for and against the proposed tax that would have added a tax of 1 cent an ounce to sugary drinks. As an excise tax, it would have been applied directly to the trader, but many argued that the cost would have been passed on to the consumer.
In a published letter that was included in the minutes of the meeting, Bethel Elder and Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) member Gloria Simeon called this a "judgment tax" imposed on natives by non-natives. She said she was only speaking for herself.
"Our city council as it is doesn't really represent the population of our village," said Simeon.
Although proponents of the tax said it will help reduce the preventive health problems caused by sugar consumption, Simeon said it wasn't the best way to go.
“Research has conclusively shown that access, education, prevention and intervention are the way to deal with these problems. Give people the information they need to make good decisions, ”said Simeon.
Simeon read from her letter and asked what the council, composed mostly of non-locals, was up to next.
"Is the next campaign going to Aniak, St. Mary's, Hooper Bay and Toksook Bay to infiltrate their councils and bring these judgments and taxes to the villages? What's next on the list of judgments? Cookies, candy bars? ”Asked Simeon.
Under tribal jurisdiction, the leader of the Diné Slow Food movement, Denisa Livingston, has helped tax these very things in her own community. Livingston called the Bethel City Council meeting to testify from Navajo Nation, which is levying a 2% sales tax on unhealthy foods like potato chips, cookies and candy bars.
"We looked at the high rates of obesity, diabetes and complications of health problems caused by foodborne diseases, and that includes sugar in our diné communities," said Livingston.
Research shows that although the indigenous people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska do not seem to have very high rates of diabetes at first glance, since the 1960s they have tended to have high rates among other Alaskan indigenous people at the fastest pace.
Denisa Livingston helped pass the Navajo Nation tax in 2015. The tax was due to be renewed at the end of last year and was unanimously renewed by a vote of the tribal council.
Livingston said the tax has generated $ 7.5 million in revenue since 2019 alone. This money goes to a special fund dedicated to wellness activities like building hiking trails, holding fitness classes, and teaching Navajo.
"And for us as our tribe, it was really an attempt to save our next generations in order to plan for future generations," said Livingston.
The proposed Bethel ordinance would also have allocated all income to a park and recreation fund. Opponents said, however, that much of the tax revenue is generated by locals from surrounding villages who come to Bethel to shop. People who couldn't use the local parks for recreation.
Livingston said the tax not only generated revenue for healthy activities, it also really reduced the consumption of unhealthy foods among their people. But it wasn't easy.
"My testimony tonight is really about how much work and years it took, but also seeing the benefits now and the reduction in purchases of unhealthy foods, including those sugary drinks." said Livingston.
ONC rejects the tax, saying Denisa Livingston did not contact the tribe prior to her public testimony. Council chairman Henry Hunter Sr. said the vote should go to the people of Bethel for real representation.
"Let them decide." said Hunter Sr.
And Simeon said that the next time the city of Bethel should consult the tribe.
"We, the citizens of Bethel City and the nation of Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council, need to work together," said Simeon.
She also called for more respect and consideration, adding:
“Please do not marginalize us in your judgments and punish us. Come to us to understand and let's walk together with the same vision for the future of our community. "
Simeon said she was relieved that the regulation was not passed. She said that she was dismayed at the division that was causing this problem and that it was time to put this behind us. That is exactly what the city council vote did.