"Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has contributed more than $18 million toward two local soda tax measures in the [California] Bay Area"

LAT:

Bloomberg has taken a major interest in soda taxes in the past. His efforts to pass a similar tax in New York City while he was mayor failed. In 2012, the city banned large-sized sodas and sugary beverages from restaurants and other vendors — an effort he spearheaded — before a judge struck the ban down.