Oakland Measure E campaign’s claim that it results in “lower tax rates” is a misleading statement — in common terms, a lie. Nothing in the legal text of the measure makes that statement.
I need someone to explain to me like I’m 5 why this is so difficult. Lots of money comes into the City and then it just seems to disappear. Where did the money from NN go?
It seems like we get nothing but excuses and requests for more money. Local government isn’t a business and for about 90%, it shouldn’t be run like one. But when it comes to money in vs money out, it very much should be.
I’d also like to know more about that pass through sewer tax. Is that money going into the general fund? Because that’s a huge chunk of change every 2 months. Or is there a big pile of cash in an account to pay for sewers? If that’s the case, we should have the world’s nicest sewers.
Elizabeth, thank you for your comment. Oakland Report produced an analysis of Oakland’s past parcel tax measures under the title, “Broken Promises.” You can peruse the full report here: https://www.oaklandreport.org/p/special-report-broken-promises
You may be referring to the "City of Oakland Sewer Service Charge" on the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) bill, a fee to maintain and improve the city's sewer infrastructure. The fee was increased in 2011 in response to Environmental Protection Agency mandates to prevent wastewater discharge from entering the bay. Use of the fee revenue is restricted by law to the wastewater fund for those purposes, and cannot be diverted to the general fund.
The city's public works department has budgeted around $74 million over the next two years from this restricted fund for activities like "hotspot" repairs, sewer pipe rehabilitation, and "root foaming" (a process used to dissolve tree roots that break into underground pipes and cause blockages).
We found this East Bay Express article explaining the 2011 sewer fee increase and criticizing its flat-rate structure regardless of how much water a homeowner consumes:
If a corporation lied about the features of a product, that would be considered fraud. We should be able to hold our government to the same standards. We exchange our votes for a good faith implementation of an agenda we support. When the measure has a bunch of weasel words that enable a bait and switch, disclosure of such should be front and center of any communications. One of the biggest problems in our society is this double standard that the political arena should not be held to the same standards as the private sector.
The fact that politicians and their cronies are not held to such standards is one more proof of Frederic Bastiat's observation:
"When plunder becomes a way of life, men create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."
It may be "legal" to lie, but Measure NN rules are very clear and the city is obviously in violation by not staffing 700 officers. Lee's words and latest budget just sealed the deal.
They don't even try to hide their grift-plunder-looting any more - which means they are very confident that the votes will be counted in a way that ensures they win.
This is an important article. Vote NO Measure E. Barbara "liar" Lee, has proven the only thing she is doing as mayor is taking away the quality of life of all Oaklanders. I spoke openly against Measure NN is the special election for mayor. Barbara "liar" Lee was pushing hard forMeausre NN, just like she is pushing Measure E. Vote NO on Measure E. Mindy Pechenuk, candidate for Oakland Mayor 2026
I need someone to explain to me like I’m 5 why this is so difficult. Lots of money comes into the City and then it just seems to disappear. Where did the money from NN go?
It seems like we get nothing but excuses and requests for more money. Local government isn’t a business and for about 90%, it shouldn’t be run like one. But when it comes to money in vs money out, it very much should be.
I’d also like to know more about that pass through sewer tax. Is that money going into the general fund? Because that’s a huge chunk of change every 2 months. Or is there a big pile of cash in an account to pay for sewers? If that’s the case, we should have the world’s nicest sewers.
Elizabeth, thank you for your comment. Oakland Report produced an analysis of Oakland’s past parcel tax measures under the title, “Broken Promises.” You can peruse the full report here: https://www.oaklandreport.org/p/special-report-broken-promises
Thanks for sharing that. I’d not seen it.
Do you know where are sewer pass through goes? Is the city really doing that much infrastructure?
You may be referring to the "City of Oakland Sewer Service Charge" on the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) bill, a fee to maintain and improve the city's sewer infrastructure. The fee was increased in 2011 in response to Environmental Protection Agency mandates to prevent wastewater discharge from entering the bay. Use of the fee revenue is restricted by law to the wastewater fund for those purposes, and cannot be diverted to the general fund.
The city's public works department has budgeted around $74 million over the next two years from this restricted fund for activities like "hotspot" repairs, sewer pipe rehabilitation, and "root foaming" (a process used to dissolve tree roots that break into underground pipes and cause blockages).
Here's the relevant section of the city's budget:
https://stories.opengov.com/oaklandca/published/dUPfarlhsh3
The Oakland Municipal Code section about the sewer charge is here:
https://library.municode.com/ca/oakland/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13PUSE_CH13.04SESYFU
We found this East Bay Express article explaining the 2011 sewer fee increase and criticizing its flat-rate structure regardless of how much water a homeowner consumes:
https://eastbayexpress.com/oaklands-new-sewer-fees-penalize-water-conservation-1/
Hope this helps!
If a corporation lied about the features of a product, that would be considered fraud. We should be able to hold our government to the same standards. We exchange our votes for a good faith implementation of an agenda we support. When the measure has a bunch of weasel words that enable a bait and switch, disclosure of such should be front and center of any communications. One of the biggest problems in our society is this double standard that the political arena should not be held to the same standards as the private sector.
The fact that politicians and their cronies are not held to such standards is one more proof of Frederic Bastiat's observation:
"When plunder becomes a way of life, men create for themselves a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."
It may be "legal" to lie, but Measure NN rules are very clear and the city is obviously in violation by not staffing 700 officers. Lee's words and latest budget just sealed the deal.
We will be filing lawsuits about this very soon.
I'm looking forward to seeing the lawsuits proceed! Thank you!
The bottom line is that the way prop E is worded, Oakland government will spend collected taxes as they wish, like they did with measure NN
They don't even try to hide their grift-plunder-looting any more - which means they are very confident that the votes will be counted in a way that ensures they win.
This is an important article. Vote NO Measure E. Barbara "liar" Lee, has proven the only thing she is doing as mayor is taking away the quality of life of all Oaklanders. I spoke openly against Measure NN is the special election for mayor. Barbara "liar" Lee was pushing hard forMeausre NN, just like she is pushing Measure E. Vote NO on Measure E. Mindy Pechenuk, candidate for Oakland Mayor 2026
All those years and purported "leadership" in Congress and yet, Barbara Lee resorts to lies to sell another tax on Oaklanders...
I can now see why Barbara advised Oakland to not recall Sheng Thao.
The more I learn about Lee, the less impressed I am and the more I can claim that Barbara doesnt speak for me.