Opponents of Cook County’s penny per ounce tax on sweetened beverages packed Manny’s Deli in the South Loop Thursday morning, calling for a repeal of the tax just six weeks before it goes into effect. Retailers, grocery store owners, sales staff, and union representatives forecast job losses, a drop in overall sales, and more population drain as a result. County officials–who’ve balanced the next three budgets on expected revenues–say their fears are overblown.