important issue. my name is roberto vargas and i'm here representing ucsf engagement health policy program. and we are not as university taking a stand on the soda tax, but what i am here to say is that since 2010 we've been partnering with the department of public health and community-based organizations to address chronic disease, health disparities here in san francisco. this is one of several priority health issues that we've chosen to address by leveraging the research resources of the university and it's because it's one of the health outcomes that impact san francisco the most when we look at health disparities across the city. and in looking at ways that we can address this problem, we found that it's really important that we do education for folk about what foods are unhealthy with sugary drinks being at the top of that list. we've also found that it's

really important to look at how to change the environment for folk in communities that are most impacted which includes making healthy foods more available and local retail as well as looking for ways to look at policy and regulation to reduce access to unhealthy foods including sugary drinks. so, i want to thank you all for bringing this to the attention of the public and thank you for this opportunity for folk to talk about just how bad sugary drinks are for our health because we're finding out in the community that folk don't know yet just how bad this is to community health. we are also conducting focus groups currently in community to hear about what community folks think with regards to what the science is about what kind of a policy interventions we need to use. so, we'll share that information with you all as soon as we learn what community

folks think about different policy interventions and we'd love to partner with you all to make sure that we're doing what the science says is the right way to do, the right way to move on policy approaches and also what community folks say will work best in their communities. thank you. >> thank you. next speaker. hi, i'm back. this time i want to make a comment as a private citizen and a a nutritionist epidemiologist focused exclusively on the effects of water and hydration and chronic disease for 15 years. so, i want to call your attention to the fact that sugary beverages have an important negative effect on cell hydration that causes insulin resistance. this effect is independent of energy and independent of fructose. so, in addition to everything you've heard already, there is this other side on the hydration side. sugary beverages have he very high solua toshibation e concentrationses almost three time the conexcept traytion of

blood. so, when you drink these beverages we significantly increase our blood cell you lard concentration. we have seen controlled experiments that elevated concentrations cause influence resistance. we have experiments in cells. we have in clinical studies in acute patients. we have experiments in healthy individuals. in my own work at the population level, i have observed several things. 60% of children, adults and older adults have elevated blood flow concentrations. these people have more likely to have [speaker not understood] than normal people. glucose intolerant older adult, your concentration you are significantly more likely to develop diabetes within four years and significantly more likely to die within six years than glucose intolerant people who have normal blood [speaker not understood].

[speaker not understood] unlike foods, beverages are are are only source of dilute water. thanks. >> thank you, important fact. i'm glad you got it in there. next speaker, please. hi, good afternoon. my name is miguel torres. [speaker not understood] latino community in the mission district. [speaker not understood]. the argument from the companies, [speaker not understood]. we are working with my organization [speaker not understood] against [speaker not understood]. [speaker not understood].

that is the target population. [speaker not understood]. our kid is the target population for the corporation. so, we want to defend them. [speaker not understood]. thank you. >> mr. perez, mr. p/e re, could you come back? ~ perez to the microphone. what i'd like you to do is i'd like you to repeat in spanish for the folks that are listening at home so they can listen and hear your testimony. [speaking in native language].

>> thank you very much. (applause) hi, my name is miguel robles [speaker not understood], the world health organization. she said, today many people don't live healthy life styles and healthy behaviors face opposition from forces that are not so friendly.

it forces [speaker not understood] is a powerful he economic operators. ~ public health must also contend with big food, big soda, and big [speaker not understood]. all this to protect regulation [speaker not understood]. [speaker not understood]. so, we have very big position. in the next few months we have to be ready to confront all these lies on tv and radio. we have a program in spanish every tuesday and i have been talking a lot about the [speaker not understood] beverage and i open the lines and i hear from the community.

so, it's something our communities in california, [speaker not understood], we want more community to know this is poison to our people, but also it is a movement you're going to be leading if you will [speaker not understood] in san francisco. thank you so much for your [speaker not understood]. >> thank you, i appreciate that. next speaker, please. good afternoon, supervisors. my name is michael tom. sorry about the bad handwriting on the card. anyway, i am a lifelong resident of san francisco. just to let you know, my mother was a diabetic and when i was born i showed sugar in my urine which means as an asian, like the doctor said, i am prone to diabetes. however, not wanting to refute the doctor's findings, low body weight, according to my bathroom scale, is not the issue. one of the criticisms i heard listening to the debate from the american beverage association that said the tax

is regressive and it impacts low-income communities, but it's ironic that these are the same communities that suffer from the effects of soda and that they are opposing money that would actually go towards programs for education that would help these same communities as well. for the record, we're not asking to ban soda, but we are doing is encouraging thought. one of the interesting things that was brought up is that they said, well, this soda would cause a tax would cause a thing on [speaker not understood]. i would encourage everybody here to go get a can of v-8 and not only read how much added sodium is in it but sugar. think about that. some of the arguments against the soda i feel similar to 30 years ago was the cigarette tax as well. yet, i mean, we think about it, thea same people that are arguing against it would probably have a problem if they saw a cigarette machine. i don't know if people here even remember those if they saw it in a 7-eleven [speaker not understood]. i commend you for supporting

it. thank you very much. >> thank you, michael. next speaker, please. please. good afternoon, supervisors. my name is daniel masco and i'm a health educator at u.c. berkeley. and i've done work in a lot of different [speaker not understood] type programs. currently i work on pesticide exposure prevention in salinas, but i've worked on overdose prevention here in san francisco. and time and time again i see that the most effective public health programs are the ones that change the health environment in which people find themselves and especially if we're talking about vulnerable communities who don't have all the options to make the healthy choice all the time. and, so, from the presentation before like this, obesity, diabetes, stroke, dementia, epidemic that's bad now is just

going to get worse. and what i see is that there is a change that's going to need to come and i fully believe that the changes that are coming, we're about 30 years behind the tobacco kind of regulation. somebody mentioned 1988 there was the change to in-flight smoking. that same year california proposition 99 and at that same time they were pedaling out the same argument about regressive taxes and that led to billions of dollars of averted health care expenditures. i see the same thing happening if we're able to make an impact on the consumption of sugary sweetened beverages. so, thank you for your time and your efforts and i intend to be there with you in this journey. >> thank you. we welcome you on that journey. if there are any other people who would like to speak, come on up. if i didn't call your

name, please come on up. seeing that this is the last speaker, we'll close public comment after you. hi, my name is nancy lu. i'm here representing the [speaker not understood] foundation. we work in diabetes education and improving the lives of people with diabetes. i really want to emphasize just how large of a burden that diabetes is and how big of a deal that prevention can be and can play a role in the cost that occur with diabetes. personally i'm health coach at san francisco [speaker not understood] family health center in portola and there we see a huge minority and low-income population that are affected by diabetes. and truly seeing that when the cheap food is the bad food, that is, you know, a huge burden especially on these under served populations. so a 2 cent tax per ounce on soda [speaker not understood]

the huge cost of type 2 diabetes. when we're looking at 26 million people in the u.s. affected with 79 million people with pre-diabetes that we could move the needle on and this is projected by 20 50 to affect one in three americans. essentially including friends and family that everybody in america is going to be impacted by these effects of diabetes. and, so, the good news is we have a chance to change this toxic food environment that lead people from pre-diabetes to diabetes. most people who have diabetes' lives are much harder in finding the healthy food and getting access to that. so, we can really address this epidemic with a very simple tax and, so, i completely support this. >> thank you very much. are there any other members of the public that would like to speak? okay, seeing none, public comment is kaled -- oh, we have one. there is always one. come on down. thank you very much.

my name is michelle cooper, i'm a registered dietician and thoroughly support efforts to reduce soda consumption -- consumption of sugar sweetened beverage. i just would like to point out that the title of the hearing is called the impact of chronic disease in san francisco and the long-term minority communities. and i was -- would just like to emphasize that this is discussing one very small component of chronic disease and one, it is an important factor. although as the supervisors consider this legislation, i hope that the message to our community is that this is -- that there are many other factor that must be addressed along with the sweetened -- the sugar beverage. one thing that the tax does not address are juices and the evidence that about the effectiveness of taxes make statements that it may be effective as long as -- that

there are no other increases in sugar beverage consumption of sugar beverages. my concern is that the american beverage association, if we were to pass this tax, would simply market the consumption of juice -- recognize that the tax is going to be ultimately provide funds for education. just asking whether it's the most effective way to decrease the consumption of sweetened sugar beverages in san francisco. the other things that we did not address in our community is the same zip codes that are associated with higher consumption of soda and sweetened beverages are smoking and stress, short sleep, which induces diabetes after four days of less than four hours of sleep and adverse childhood events. the issue is more complicated and again, as a dietician, i am supportive of the tax. i just hope that our efforts are not too narrow in our approach to addressing this problem.

>> okay, thank you. duly noted. any other member of the public? all right, seeing none, public comment is closed. [gavel] >> thank you very much. thank you, everyone, for coming out and participating . to the medical professionals, the educators, the community organizers, thank you for your dill against and your hard work ~. it is most certainly a team effort. and i'm glad to be on your team. and i am hopeful that the folks that were in this chamber earlier today and the ones that are at home that are listening to the hearing, that we informed them just a little bit more with the rich content that we heard here today and that as we continue to talk and to educate people, we will be continuing to change the hearts and minds and ultimately the consumption habits of not only san franciscans, but ultimately the world. thank you. >> well, thank you, supervisor cohen, for bringing this very educational hearing to our attention.

i certainly learned a lot. i was very fortunate i grew up with parents who never encouraged me to drink soda or sugary beverages. whether due to he economics, accessibility, whatever it is that some families ~ had to resort to drinking a lot of sugary beverages. in any casey want to thank you for bringing this to our attention. i believe there is a desire to continue this to the call of the chair. >> that's correct. >> all right. without objection, this hearing is continued to the call of the chair. [gavel] >> thank youedthv >> all right. madam clerk, are there any other item for us today? >> that concludes our business for today. >> all right. thank you, everyone, for coming. the meeting is now adjourned. [gavel]

♪ ♪ ♪ >> the san francisco playground's hitsvery dates back to 1927 when the area where the present playground and center is today was purchased by the city for $27,000. in the 1950s, the sen consider was expanded by then mayor robinson and the old gym was built. thanks to the passage of the 2008 clean and safe

neighborhood parks bond, the sunset playground has undergone extensive renovation to its four acres of fields, courts, play grounds, community rooms, and historic gymnasium. >> here we are. 60 years and $14 million later, and we have got this beautiful, brand-new rec center completely accessible to the entire neighborhood. >> the new rec center houses multi-purpose rooms for all kinds of activities including basketball, line dancing, playing ping-pong and arts can crafts. >> you can use it for whatever you want to do, you can do it here. >> on friday, november 16, the dedication and ribbon cutting took place at the sunset playground and recreation center, celebrating its renovation. it was raining, but the rain clearly did not dampen the spirits of the dignitaries, community members and children in attendance.

[cheering and applauding] ♪ ♪ >> when the new california academy of sciences opened in 2008, it quickly became one of the top tourist magnets in the city. part of the cal academies' astronomical success is the weekly nightlife party. >> i am joined by helen, who is here to school me on all the nocturnal activities that are getting ready to take place here. tell us a little about what we can expect to see at nightlife. >> we open up the doors every thursday night at the california academy of sciences. there are certain things you can see every week you can go to the

museum, visit the planetarium, and we bring in bars and a deejay or band. it is a different feel from during the day, something different every week. tonight , we have beer and music. -- tonight we have great beer and music. it is beer week. we have a dozen local brewers in african hall. we have a deejays to set up throughout the museum and a live performance at 9:00 p.m. tonight. >> what has been your favorite part as a participant or as an observer? >> my favorite part is to walk around the aquarium in to see people with a drink in their hands, getting to know maybe somebody new, may be looking for a day, or chatting with friends. there jellyfish. i mean, they are beautiful. >> the culmination of the animals. >> it is very impressive. we do not have this at home.

>> tell us a little about some of the spider's we see here on display. >> at the california academy of sciences, there is a very large collection of preserved and live specimens, which are the evidence about evolution. we have the assassin spiders, which are spiders that exclusively kill and eat other spiders. they are under the microscope here. research done and the california academy's i rhinology lab suggests that the assassin spiders have been doing this for over 150 million years. this glassed in room is a real scientific laboratory, and the people in that room are preparing specimens of vertebrate, that is mammals and birds. the way they do this is to remove the skin, sew it together

in a relatively lifelike pose, and ensure that it does not decompose. >> i am a really big class actress fan, so i am here to see them, and beer week. >> i wanted to learn something and have fun. >> i always enjoy it. i am not all is well -- always working as i am tonight. sometimes i come to enjoy the music and to dance. ♪ >> culturewire covers the arts in san francisco, and one of my favorite culture artists is here tonight. jason, thank you for being on culturewire. tell us about some of your posters that we have here today. >> most of the posters here are four specific shows or tours. i am hired by the bands or the venue. >> what is the inspiration

behind these posters? >> no, disease of the related to the bay and, of course. music -- it is related to the band, of course the musical content or isn't related to the bed. album covers can come from anywhere. ♪ ♪ >> class actress was great. we have been having so much fun. i did not realize how beautiful the cal academy looks than that. what other events take place here?

>> we do corporate events that night on a regular basis. but nightlife is your best bet to come in as a regular person pharmacy the academy at night, and visit with friends. calacademy.org/nightlife. we have details for the next few weeks. you can get tickets online in advance or at the door. >> thank you so much. thank you for watching culturewire on sf gov tv. ♪ >> and we're going here to give a blessing for this beautiful new library i'm here because when i went to high school i worked asia library payment in the late 60s and early 70s i thank goodness for ms. jackson for hiring me he learned to swim

in the local pool. i also do a people's blessings who o so that when i raise my hand and say something repeat it. >> may this new home for learning and inspiration be filed with great vibes of >> (repeated.) >> >> (repeated.) . turbulent >> (repeated.) imagination. >> (repeated.) . expanding horizons >> (repeated.) >> for those who hunger and this matter may the spirit of peace. >> (repeated.) >> joy. >> (repeated.) >> and wonder bless this new north beach library

(clapping) so so much reverend functioning and what a glories day welcome ladies and gentlemen, i'm louis us the city librarian (clapping.) i've had the honor and privilege of doing ribbon cuttings for the 24 libraries it never gets old it's fantastic is we're here to celebrate the grand opening of a new icon in the north beach neighborhood it represents the end of the largest capital improvement program in the history of the city 24 libraries every library is seismic safe we have ada access and staiks libraries for every neighborhood in our city (clapping) isn't that fantastic really a

testament to all of you we're here to celebrate the last one and best one of the lot (clapping) absolutely. >> how appropriate is it this is mother's day weekend abused happy mother's day but beyond that this is the mother of all projects (laughter). >> (clapping) literally this is the capital to all the amazing projects you have a special library i know we're going to have a program it's important to acknowledge folks i can he can recall wait for you to experience it is 60 percent larger which means for this amazing neighborhood to have literature history where else than here lawrence and jack absolutely

(clapping) 60 percent more space means you'll have spaces for children to minimum as the reverend said to be inspired the future scientists and perhaps the future engineers and librarians maybe the future mayors come out of north beach because their inspired that from our lib. that has a teen space and an amazing living area on this side where everywhere you look you'll see coit tower or the cable cars the st. peter and paul. thank you marking for your vision of (clapping) giving you truly an amazing building so if you may have read the article from john king that