8 Comments
User's avatar
Seneca Scott's avatar

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.

boedicca's avatar

I'm looking forward to seeing the lawsuits proceed! Thank you!

boedicca's avatar

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."

Elizabeth's avatar

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.

Sean S. Reinhart's avatar

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

Ilya's avatar

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

boedicca's avatar

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.

Mindy Pechenuk's avatar

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