A debate where all sides listen
The Santa Fe City Council tackles the issue of how to pay for preschool for city children at Wednesday’s meeting of the City Council, with the most discussed option on the table a 2-cents-an-ounce tax on sugary drinks. The proposal from Mayor Javier Gonzales is as contentious as any we’ve seen since the city decided to raise the minimum wage nearly 15 years ago.
Interestingly, many of the same players are involved — some small businesses and restaurants and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce don’t want a soda tax, just as they mistrusted the first “living wage”. These groups say they support pre-K but prefer a different way to pay for the program. Education and child welfare groups, other restaurant and business owners and social justice types want pre-K and don’t mind a sugar tax if that’s what it takes.
Reasons are as varied as the people — some like the tax because it could reduce the consumption of sugary drinks. Others don’t like it because it’s government meddling in personal choices. Others want a revenue stream that won’t decrease if people stop drinking sodas. Still others want to spread the tax burden around. Some say a tax on sugary drinks hits poor people hardest, making it regressive and ill-advised. Some folks just think it’s too expensive. Others don’t mind the tax but don’t want a special election. Some fear collecting the tax will spawn yet another layer of bureaucracy. And so on, with citizens of all stripes having heartfelt and reasoned opinions, depending on their points of view.
That’s important to remember going into the public hearing Wednesday, when councilors are scheduled to decide whether to put the issue of a tax on sugary drinks to pay for pre-K before voters. If that passes, councilors then would decide whether to hold a special election in May — the mayor’s choice — or in 2018, when the regular city election is scheduled. Well-intentioned people can — and do — disagree. Let’s have this debate with respect and consideration.
A business owner worried about his restaurant’s survival can oppose a soda tax and not hate children. A libertarianminded mom might not want taxes on sugary drinks, figuring it’s her job to decide what and how much her kids consume. Another parent, a single dad, could think preschool is so important that everyone should support a soda tax because the need is great.
Obviously, these positions will be in conflict. But that conflict can be handled without unpleasant personal attacks or sniping at motivations — and that should be true among citizens and councilors alike. We expect a heated debate that doesn’t disintegrate into name-calling. One victim of today’s hyperpartisan world is an inability to listen to people with different perspectives, to hear out the other side and to try and understand their motivations. Santa Fe needs to be better than that.
Our position, stated in detail Sunday, is that pre-K is needed so that all children can be prepared properly for school. We believe that setting aside a dedicated source of revenue for the city to pay for the program is a better solution than trying to divert dollars from the general operating budget. What’s more, we support the goal of reducing consumption of sugary drinks that likely would result from this tax — even if that means dollars for pre-K decline somewhat.
We like how the mayor’s plan will improve access to preschool, provide training for current teachers and expand job opportunities, all without creating a city bureaucracy to run schools. The tax will be at the distribution level — and there are more than a few of these, so it’s complicated — we do worry that city will not be able to collect and administer the tax in an efficient manner.
Some day, we believe that the state of New Mexico will pay for preschool programs for all children whose families want them. That day is not here. A city that wants to step up for its most vulnerable, youngest residents and provide a solid foundation for them to build productive lives is a city that is putting its people first.
That is a position, however, with which reasonable people can disagree. And many do. Let all voices be heard. Ask tough questions. Be open to compromise. And do so with spirited debate, where Santa Fe demonstrates once again that it is a city that can move, despite disagreement, toward solutions that serve the common good.