Oakland voters on track to approve a sales tax increase
If approved, it would increase Oakland's sales tax from 10.25 percent to 10.75 percent to raise between $20 million and $30 million annually for the next 10 years.
It requires a majority of votes -- greater than 50 percent -- to pass.
The Oakland City Council voted 6-0 to place the measure on the ballot in December 2024, with then-councilmember Carroll Fife and Councilmember Janani Ramachandran excused.
The tax "will help stabilize our finances and prevent further erosion in city services, so without the added revenue Oakland will be forced to do deeper cuts that threaten critical community programs such as public safety, cultural arts, human services and undermining the city's quality of life and economic vitality," said Councilmember Kevin Jenkins at the time.
Jenkins, who sponsored the ordinance to place Measure A on the ballot, is now serving as interim mayor until the winner of Tuesday's mayoral election begins their term.
Measure A is intended to help tackle Oakland's ongoing budget shortfall, which is estimated at $280 million over the next two-year budget cycle.
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CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
San Mateo Sheriff Christina Corpus' attorneys make last-ditch attempt to halt removal hearing
At a San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, the legal team representing embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus made another attempt to halt the upcoming hearing proceedings aimed at her removal. Corpus is facing potential removal from her elected position after voters in March overwhelmingly approved Measure A, a charter amendment granting the supervisors temporary power to remove the sheriff on grounds of misconduct. Measure A was the board's way of removing Corpus, who remained defiant against calls to resign after the release of a scathing, 400-page investigation by retired judge LaDoris Cordell alleging that Corpus had an inappropriate relationship with her chief of staff and fostered a culture of intimidation and retaliation in the Sheriff's Office. As part of the removal proceedings, a Measure A hearing is set to begin Monday and last 10 days. In addition, a separate trial is scheduled for September after the county civil grand jury accused Corpus of having a conflict of interest in the hiring of her chief of staff, Victor Aenlle, with whom she has a close relationship. The civil grand jury also alleged that Corpus retaliated against three of her staff members. At Tuesday's board meeting, at least four of Corpus' attorneys showed up in a last-ditch attempt to halt next week's hearing. They requested that the supervisors pause the Measure A hearing and instead hold the civil grand jury trial first. Attorney Tom Perez, who served as the former U.S. secretary of labor during former President Barack Obama's administration and as a senior adviser to former President Joe Biden, spoke for more than 10 minutes during public comment. Perez recently joined Corpus' team of lawyers, and originally requested one hour to speak to the board at Tuesday's regular meeting, according to a letter he sent to board president David Canepa and County Attorney John Nibbelin. The board denied that request. "I sent a letter last week, and I'm here to make a specific request," Perez said to the board at Tuesday's meeting. "The request is that the civil grand jury proceeding, which would give the community a voice in this matter, proceed first, and the reason for that is so that the community can weigh in." Perez spent the next 10 minutes of his speech defending Corpus against accusations made in the Cordell report and trying to highlight her accomplishments and track record as sheriff. He mentioned Corpus' response to the 2023 Half Moon Bay shootings, and the reduction in violent crimes and property crimes seen in 2024 during Corpus' tenure. He attempted to discount allegations that Corpus and Aenlle had an intimate relationship, and also discussed the challenges she faced as the first woman of color to be elected sheriff in the county. "We are here to defend her vigorously, and we will bring the truth forward," Perez said. "We will prove the negatives." None of the board members responded directly to Perez's request during the meeting. A statement from county spokesperson Effie Milionis Verducci said San Mateo County fully intends to move forward with the Measure A hearing next week. "The county remains committed to defending the integrity of the lawful Measure A process and we look forward to the hearing taking place, beginning August 18," she wrote. It was Corpus' latest attempt to stop the removal proceedings, having filed multiple requests to halt the Measure A process through temporary restraining orders. "The Sheriff has now asked three different judges to stop the removal process and all three have refused, allowing the process to move forward," Milionis Verducci said. Monday's hearing will be open to the public after Corpus reversed her initial request to keep it closed. "Let the public see the facts," Corpus said in a statement announcing her decision in late July. "Let them hear the truth. Let justice pierce the veil of corruption and bring light where darkness has reigned for far too long." Tuesday's meeting also included an agenda item in which the board heard a presentation recommending the establishment of a full-time inspector general to oversee the Sheriff's Office with subpoena power. Kalimah Salahuddin, the chair of the county's Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff's Office, gave the presentation explaining the benefits of having an inspector general. The ICAC is comprised of nine appointed members who offer recommendations to the board for encouraging transparency and accountability in the Sheriff's Office. An inspector general, Salahuddin said at the meeting, would have "the ability to hold impartial investigations into allegations of misconduct, both internally and externally, to be able to review internal investigations for fairness and then support ICAC when issues are brought to our commission." For some members of the public, the addition of a full-time inspector general to oversee the Sheriff's Office has come at an important time given the current upheaval the department is facing surrounding Corpus. "Over the past year, we have witnessed the complete unraveling of the Sheriff's Office," said deacon Lauren Patton McCombs during public comment. She is a member of the Coalition for a Safer San Mateo County, a group of community organizations that support civilian oversight of the Sheriff's Office. "The time to act is now. I encourage you to follow the recommendation of ICAC and hire a permanent inspector general to prevent any future problems developing within the Sheriff's Office. Don't wait until a new interim sheriff is appointed." The board did not take a vote on whether to hire an inspector general during Tuesday's meeting.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Yahoo
Newsom says special election on California redistricting planned for November
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Friday they were moving forward with plans to hold a special election in November for voters to approve a ballot measure that would ultimately allow Democrats to pass a new House map ahead of 2026. 'We have till Aug. 22. With the leadership behind me, they will get this on the ballot. We're calling for a special election, that will be the first week of November,' Newsom said. The governor — flanked by several California lawmakers, as well as Texas Democrats who fled their state — said they did not want to eliminate the independent redistricting commission in charge of drawing the map. 'We are talking about emergency measures to respond to what's happening in Texas, and we will nullify what happens in Texas,' Newsom vowed. The move comes in response to Texas Republicans who are looking to create five pickup opportunities in a new House map. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation, said Democrats found they could create a new House map that would allow the party to pick up five additional seats next year while also not running afoul with the Voting Rights Act. 'So as we went through the details of the possibilities, I'm happy to report that every single member of the California delegation is willing to support a plan to do that,' she said of the state's Democratic lawmakers. California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) told reporters they anticipated that maps 'will be available next week.' 'Once these maps are released, voters will have the opportunity to digest these maps, review them for weeks and months leading to this election,' he added. California would be the first Democratic state to tangibly begin the process of trying to pass new lines ahead of 2026 in response to Texas. The Lone Star State, under pressure from President Trump, are vying to pick up five seats in their state as Republicans brace for a challenging midterm environment next year. California currently uses an independent redistricting commission to draw its maps. Democrats' aim, however, is to temporarily bypass the commission in response to what's happening in Texas to pass their own congressional lines. Newsom insisted Democrats supported independent redistricting but argued 'we're not going to unilaterally disarm in the state of California.' The California governor said he is confident that the voters will pass the proposed ballot measure. 'We believe in independent redistricting, that will be on the ballot,' he said. 'We believe it should be nationalized. That will be on the ballot. We have the opportunity to send a message 'enough.' And I believe Republicans, not just Democrats and independents, will meet that call, and we will overwhelmingly support this change.' Updated at 6:48 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Arkansas attorney general approves ballot title to roll back referendum legislation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A group hoping to roll back recent legislative changes to the Arkansas voter referendum process had its ballot title approved on Monday. Attorney General Tim Griffin approved the third ballot title submission by Protect AR Rights under its popular name, 'The Arkansas Ballot Measure Rights Amendment.' The group intends to roll back legislation passed recently by the legislature that makes it more difficult to place a referendum on the ballot. Judge allows two additional groups to intervene in Arkansas ballot referendum case If approved by voters, the referendum behind the ballot title would amend the state constitution. Griffin had rejected the previous ballot titles because they were above an eighth-grade reading level, as required by a law recently passed by the legislature. Griffin, in his opinion, announced the approval, said the submission was at a 9.2 reading level on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Formula, but his office made 'a few minor changes to the ballot title that allowed it to meet the eighth-grade standard.' He also noted changing some wording that could be taken to mean there was no law against petition fraud, which, he said in his opinion, was not the case. Appeals court reinstates Arkansas ban on teaching Critical Race Theory He also cautioned the Protect AR Rights that the length and complexity could make the ballot title subject to court challenge. He also reminded the submitters of recent changes to how canvassers and signers must do before signing a petition. Protect AR Rights can now begin the signature-gathering process. If enough signatures are gathered and certified by the Secretary of State's office, the referendum behind the ballot title will appear in the next general election. Arkansas League of Women Voters files federal suit, calls changes to voter referendum process 'Unconstitutional' A similar ballot title was recently approved by Griffin for the Arkansas League of Women Voters, which has also filed a federal lawsuit about the voter referendum changes. Protect AR Rights was granted permission to file its own complaint to the court in that case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
