The health-conscious mayor of San Francisco wants to impose a special tax on stores that sell sugary soft drinks. Mayor Gavin Newsom says the tax—the size of which has yet to be determined—will be based on each store’s sale of high-fructose corn syrup, the main ingredient in most sodas. “There is a well-established nexus between obesity—which is caused by high-fructose corn syrup—and the increased health-care costs for the city,” said Nathan Ballard, a spokesman for Newsom. Ballard assured reporters that “the mayor has no intention of imposing a fee on pizza.”
High-powered executives and other professionals are choosing to rent pets rather than own them. Offering what it calls “a unique alternative to full-time pet ownership,” the California-based FlexPetz, with branches in most major cities, rents out its dogs for $39.95 per day, with a $75 surcharge if the dog is returned late. “It’s like I am the uncle to the dog,” said Manhattan neurologist Farng-Yang Foo. “I can take it out for walks and take care of it. But I don’t have to worry about it being alone during the day.”
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