State Rep. Silvana Tabares, D-Chicago, is inviting residents to attend a beverage tax repeal hearing on Thursday, Sept. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lyons Village Hall, located at 4200 Lawndale Ave in Lyons. “Our families cannot afford this new tax on everyday grocery items and I am sponsoring legislation to permanently repeal it,” Tabares said. “My community hearing will give both small business owners and residents the opportunity to have their voices heard about how the beverage tax will impact their businesses and families.” Tabares’ is hosting her hearing with state Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Chicago, Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, D-16th District, and Lyons Mayor Chris Getty. This hearing will give small business owners and residents the opportunity to voice their concerns about the beverage tax and add their names to a petition in support of repealing it. Tabares’s House Bill 4083 would eliminates Cook County’s “penny-per-ounce” tax on beverages. Her measure would also prohibit any local government in Illinois from implementing such taxes in the future. Tabares is encouraging residents to sign her petition to repeal Cook County’s beverage tax by visiting her Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/reptabares. “It’s time we send a loud and clear message to out-of-touch politicians that we cannot afford this beverage tax,” Tabares said. “I encourage residents to attend this hearing and to add their name to my petition calling for the repeal of this unfair tax.”