I'm a local physician who's worked for the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service studying obesity. I want to focus on science — soda tax research has now officially moved from predictive modeling studies (based on tobacco taxes) to direct evaluation in the real world, thanks to soda taxes in Mexico and Berkeley. We know taxes work. They decreased soda drinking by 10 percent in Mexico after two years; 9 percent in Berkeley after one. Water consumption increased by 16 percent and 2 percent in Berkeley and Mexico, respectively. But industry lies deceive local governments and poison public opinion. Now, in Boulder, they want to water down this policy. Leadership matters. Sugary drink taxes have worked not just via the direct impact of higher prices, but also by the public messages that are promoted with efforts to implement these taxes. You have the opportunity through your words and actions to make our soda tax work. By refusing further exemptions and reversing the mixer exemption, we show we're following the science that states all liquid sugar is harmful to health, for kids and adults. Targeting funds at health equity shows our Latino residents we recognize they need better access to health. By implementing this tax fully, we will send the message that Boulder is all in. City Council should show it takes the will of constituents over the sugar industry, science over fear, and health over all.