from the Oakland Chamber of Commerce
This past Monday, the Oakland City Council finalized its decision on what measures will go to the ballot this November. Voters will be considering a range of issues from a proposed property and business tax increase, to changes in rental housing law, to government reform and spending - all are important for voters to understand and consider before heading into the ballot booth this fall.
Oakland Business License Tax
When Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas brought this proposal forward in July of 2020 the size of the proposed tax increases - for some businesses upwards of 800% - was of concern. After a significant advocacy effort led by the Oakland Metro Chamber, the City Council chose to defer ballot consideration to the Nov 2022 ballot.
In the fall of 2021, the Chamber learned of additional, and more significant, tax increases being discussed. As a result, the Oaklanders Together Coalition was formed. Oaklanders Together is a collaboration of select Oakland’s Business Improvement Districts, Multi-Cultural Chambers of Commerce, and partner business organizations representing thousands of businesses in every district across Oakland - 80% of whom are small and local. The Coalition led a signature-gathering effort to place a more moderate tax proposal on the ballot – one that would not jeopardize Oakland’s economic growth while still providing significant relief for Oakland’s small businesses, fund city services, update the tax-structure, and save Oakland jobs.
After months of negotiations between the proposed measures, an agreement was reached that resulted in the City Council's action in late May 2022 to place one measure on the November ballot supported by Business and Labor. Although these represent tax increases, some upwards of 400%, due to the advocacy and legislative efforts led by the Oakland Metro Chamber there are significant economic savings for local and small businesses and thousands of jobs preserved across Oakland as compared to the more severe initial proposal.
What else will voters be considering in November?
Subject: Submit Amendments To The Just Cause For Eviction Ordinance To The November 8, 2022, General Election
From: Councilmembers Kalb And Fife
A proposal setting further limits on landlords’ power to evict tenants. Under current law, market-rate units constructed after 1995 are exempt from requirements that landlords demonstrate just cause in order to evict tenants; the proposed ordinance would change that, only exempting market-rate buildings in their first 10 years after construction. (This would not make more units subject to rent control, which is restricted by state law.) The proposal would also extend just cause for eviction protections to vehicular ADUs, prohibit evicting a tenant solely for declining to renew a lease in favor of renting month-to-month and prohibit no-fault evictions of teachers and families with school-age children during the school year.
Subject: Good Governance Charter Reform Ballot Measure
From: Councilmember Kalb
A charter amendment that would make several changes to city politics, including imposing term limits for councilmembers, clarifying the order of succession in the case of vacancies in city offices, and closing a loophole by counting abstentions and absences as no votes with the purpose of triggering the mayor’s tie-breaking power, and changing the salary formula for public officials. There were originally two competing proposals to create term limits for council members, but they were folded together without much conflict.
Subject: Resolution To Submit To The Voters A Measure To Establish Public Financing For Oakland Elections
From: Councilmembers Kalb, Council President Bas, And Councilmember Fife
A proposal to establish a $4M fund for Oakland voters to fund candidates for city and school board positions through “democracy dollars”, in the interest of democratizing campaign finance. Each eligible voter would receive four $25 vouchers per election cycle to donate to local candidates of their choice. (The proposal allocates funding, but does not raise new revenues.) The measure would also lower the individual and organizational campaign contribution caps, require disclosure of candidates’ top three funders, extend the post-city-employment lobbying ban by one year, and allocate funding to the Public Ethics Commission for implementation.
Subject: Place An Affordable Housing Infrastructure Bond On The November 2022 Ballot
From: Finance Department
This bond measure would authorize the issuance of $850M in general obligation bonds to fund affordable housing projects, transportation projects, and city infrastructure. This would supplement Measure KK’s funding for affordable housing with a new $350M investment in affordable housing preservation. $290M would be allocated to transportation projects, and $210M to citywide facility preservation and improvement projects such as fire station repairs and upgrades.
Proposals that did not receive the necessary votes to move to November
Subject: Emerald New Deal Healing And Reparations Fund
From: Councilmembers Taylor, Reid, And Gallo
The proposal for an “Emerald New Deal” that would set aside cannabis business tax revenue to invest in communities disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs did not make it to the ballot; it was supported by Councilmembers Reid, Taylor, and Gallo.
Subject: Proposed Ballot Measure On Public Spending On Oakland A’s Project
From: Councilmember Gallo
The proposal for a referendum on the eventual Howard Terminal deal with the A’s also failed to make it to the ballot, with Councilmembers Gallo and Fife in support. (The terms of the deal itself have not yet been finalized)
Oakland Chamber of Commerce
1333 Broadway, P100,
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 874-4800