By Frieda K. Edgette, President of East Bay Young Dems
If you are an Oakland resident, you should have received a ballot in the mail last week – even if you never registered permanent absentee. Do not throw your ballot away – it is real. Oakland is, in fact, having a special election this month to close some budget loopholes. This will likely be a low turnout election, so your vote is especially important.
If you live in Oakland and have not received a ballot or accidently tossed it, call (510) 272-6933 immediately to clear up the discrepancy. This is a vote by mail election only. No ballot = No vote.
East Bay Young Dems is passing along key election dates, hosting an happy hour with local electeds and you (one of the things what we do best), and passing along the 4-1-1 on what these measures are all about.
If you have additional questions, email EBYD At-Large Board Member Rebecca Saltzman.
KEY OAKLAND SPECIAL ELECTION DATES
July 6 – Last day to register to vote.
Did you move or change your name since the last election? If so, you will need to register with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. Register here.
July 13 – Summer Mixer at Grand Tavern from 6:30 to 8:30PM.
Oakland City Councilmember At-Large Rebecca Kaplan is joining us to talk about the special election. Several Congressional District 10 candidates will also be in attendance. Free food. Amazing drinks. Sounds like summertime. RSVP on Facebook.
July 15 – Last day to mail in your ballot.
Ballots received after July 21st will not be counted.
July 21 – Last day to drop off your ballot.
Ballots must be in to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters: 1225 Fallon Street, Room G-1, in downtown Oakland.
WHY ARE WE VOTING?
The City of Oakland is no different than its state and federal counterparts – the national recession is hitting our economies, causing severe cuts to the basic services they provide – like libraries, parks, police, fire, and community building events – and the cuts could get a lot deeper.
In an effort to fill the missing pieces of the Oakland budget, a diverse coalition of labor, business, the Alameda County Democratic Party, and local activists are both endorsing and organizing to pass the following package of referenda.
WHY ARE THESE MEASURERS BEING PROPOSED & WHAT DO THEY SEEK TO ACHIEVE?
For comprehensive information on each measure – like what the current budget situation is and who the proponents are, click here for a downloadable voter guide from the League of Women Voters. See below of a quick ‘n dirty on each measure:
· Measure C (Hotel Tax): Increases the hotel tax from 11% to 14%. Would generate a projected $3 million per year towards Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Zoo, and Cultural Arts and Festivals. The list of supporters for this measure includes the hotels themselves because they believe tourism to Oakland will benefit as a result of the increase in funding for these institutions.
· Measure D (Amendment to Kids First!): Measure OO Compromise. Before Measure OO, the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth received 2.5% of the “unrestricted” General Fund. Measure OO decreased this amount to less than 2.5% but mandated that this percentage come out of the total City budget. The Measure D compromise would increase the percentage to 3% but it would again be based on the unrestricted General Fund, not the total budget. As a result, Measure D would save a projected $3 million for police and fire, libraries, senior services, etc.
· Measure F (New Tax for “Cannabis Businesses”): Establishes an 18% business tax on Medical Marijuana dispensaries. Measure F will generate an estimated $300,000 annually toward the General Fund. The Oakland medical cannabis dispensaries proposed this tax and fully support it.
· Measure H (Amendment to Real Property Transfer Tax): Measure H will establish a mandatory corporate real estate transfer tax. An estimated $500K to $1 million will be generated toward the General Fund each year.
East Bay Young Dems did not formally endorse any of these measures, but encourages our members to educate yourselves on each measure and to get involved. To help facilitate the process, join us at our Summertime Mixer, EBYD Style. Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan is joining us to explain the special election and literature will be available. We welcome all to join us for a summer cocktail, socializing with cool people and local electeds, and to brush up on the measures with a few days to spare.
Oakland Rising, a coalition of Oakland’s progressive leaning organizations (Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Oakland ACORN, Urban Habitat, Just Cause Oakland, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, East Bay Alliance for Sustainable Economies), is leading a series of Get Out The Vote activities. As there is no organized opposition, EBYD is only highlighting proponent efforts.
Phone-banking from 6:00 to 9:00PM at the specified dates and locations:
Food, drinks, phones, and training provided!
* Mondays @ ACORN – July 6 and 13
* Wednesdays @ Urban Habitat & Ella Baker Center – July 8
* Thursdays @ EBASE – July 9 and 16
Door-knocking from 9:00AM to 2:00PM on Saturdays July 11 and July 18 (Location TBD):
Training will be done beforehand and followed by a barbeque
RSVP on Facebook or contact Jessamyn Sabbag, Oakland Rising Field Director, by email or 415.424.2600 to sign up for a shift and for locations.
