bitbitchmagnesiumnet bored forker said yawn believe tom right signal noise ill start los angeles times september 23 2002 monday copyright 2002 los angeles times los angeles times september 23 2002 monday home edition section main news main news part 1 page 13 national desk length 1013 words byline dana calvo times staff writer dateline seattle body idea came end long frustrating brownbag session publicpolicy think tank challenge save citys childcare programs staring empty coffee cup meeting coordinators mind landed unlikely solution put taxjust benign dime shoton espresso led petition signed 20000 seattle residents next year voters decide whether tax becomes law one taps right seattles legendary addiction coffee town starbucks born 12 pound beans became staple one starbucks every 7000 residents seattle compared one per 64000 new york seattle also two major coffee chains tullys coffee seattles best coffee well countless cafes espresso carts recent poll showed 74 seattle residents would vote tax people outside seattle dont understand consumption espresso tax proposal seen crazy said john burbank think tanks executive director common sense research nonprofit economic opportunity institute showed people preferred tax liquor beer one espresso large number lattes cappuccinos sold tax espresso could lower one levied alcohol burbank estimates tax could generate 7 million 10 million year city council aides dispute figures saying research shows tax would bring 15 million 3 million year burbanks institute funded foundations labor unions think tanks mission promote public policy interests lowincome people long championed childcare issues burbank says tax would restore cuts childcare programs made earlier year gov gary locke also says would provide lowincome families subsidies child care improve preschool programs increase teacher salaries bauhaus books coffee sidewalk dotted tables customers coffee halfday activity drink espresso lovers like chris altman dime day would spend extra 3650 year said investment worth im ok said 35yearold stirring iced latte moneys got come somewhere hope revuelto 25 cooling regular coffee 1 brought mug reading zen art pottery supports initiative said critics behaving would expected espresso drinkers want expensive thing menu resist paying 10 cents help needy say tax isnt issue resent singled david marsh 45 costume manager drinks three espressos day means hed shelling extra 10950 year one dont kids drink espresso said sewed leather collar onto chainmail tunic dont mind paying think everyone pay coffeehouses steamed theyve organized joltjoined oppose latte tax among members seattles chamber commerce citys two largest coffee franchises starbucks tullys tax would force coffeehouses track sales beverage contains espresso task could administrative nightmare smaller cafes especially frantic morning rush espresso counts come suspicion coffeehouse owners could face city audit university chicago economics professor michael greenstone said tax doesnt add purpose tax efficient equitable neither said efficiency side surely going lead costly efforts businesses consumers find ways avoid tax example starbucks could claim using finely ground coffee instead coffee run though espresso maker consequently exempt tax would right dont know finding surely take lots legal fees could gone child care course publicrelations perspective ingenious idea mean cynical way theyve pitted espresso drinkers childcare supporters whos going side espresso drinkers fact proposed tax forced opponents political twostep criticism must remain beat behind public stance political correctness liberal city like seattle corporations continually advertise commitment social activism throughout debate initiative jolt members prefaced opposition endorsements good child care starbucks continue support earlylearning childhooddevelopment programs millions dollars contribute annually company said however starbucks understand economic opportunity institute would recommend additional consumer tax espresso beverages single consumer product city council yet decide initiative go voters next year initiatives authors say directed vendors critics predict passed consumers higher prices effectively punishing choice coffee tax would applied drink least half ounce espresso including decaf drip coffee would exempt burbank says tax would reach preselected group consumers wealthier drink drip hes pitching modernday robin hood tax needy get dime every time affluent spend 3 4 espresso kind political marketing fran beulah 43 finds funny drink espresso said laughing rich jh sex woman original message forkadminxentcom mailtoforkadminxentcom behalf jh mr fork sent monday september 23 2002 212 pm fork subject goodbye global warming original message john hall green said spotted owl hadnt existed would invent republican said crook best regards bitbitch mailtobitbitchmagnesiumnet mon 23 sep 2002 174444 0400 re2 goodbye global warming