Council Solicits Big Donations
for LLAD Tax Campaign

A neighbor tells us that councilmembers are soliciting big contributions for a campaign to pass a stiff hike in the so-called landscape and lighting tax (LLAD).

Specifically, Jean Quan and Jane Brunner along with other City Hall insiders invite contributors to an event on April 6. Suggested donations are $600 to $5,000.

We understand why wealthy contributors toss a few thousand dollars to a candidate. Everyone knows the money buys influence with the politician.

But why would someone contribute to a campaign in favor of raising the LLAD tax?

maintaining parks and street lights. Wheeler-dealers can't expect much out of that, but not to worry; they know the budget game at City Hall. The council keeps coming at us with parcel taxes in appealing packages: Measure Y for police, Measure Q for the library, and now the LLAD for parks. However, the money all goes into one budget pot. Parcel tax money frees up general fund revenues for other uses – for example, subsidies granted to favored developers like Phil Tagami. As it happens, Tagami, recipient of huge City handouts, joined Quan, Brunner and Jerry Brown to issue the invitation for the April 6 campaign fundraiser. In fact, the venue is his Rotunda building (see below).

1. Fatcats give to councilmembers' LLAD tax hike campaign 2. Councilmembers sell LLAD tax hike to unknowing voters 3. Fatcats get pork from freed-up general fund money NOT SHOWN: Oakland residents who pay for this circle in vain hope for public safety and basic services

Meanwhile, ordinary peaceful residents of Oakland have fewer police than when Measure Y was written. The council cut four library jobs paid out of the general fund when they wrote the first post-Measure Q budget. The councilmembers are getting ready to play the same game with a LLAD tax hike.

Money in politics is bad enough, but when councilmembers raise big contributions for a LLAD tax hike, they are telling the world that the whole Oakland budget is political pork – instead of making the tough choices we need, such as putting public safety first.

"Eighteen months after buying the building from the city, Phil Tagami and his partners completed a $50 million renovation and reopened the building as the Rotunda... They were helped by $12 million in long-term loans from the city." (San Francisco Business Times, November 21, 2005)