1 PUBLIC COMMENT:
COMMENT ON ALL ACTION ITEMS EXCEPT PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL NOT BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME. COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA WILL BE TAKEN DURING OPEN FORUM
ITEM 3.2: PLEASE VOTE "NO" ON PROPERTY LIENS OF SMALL RENTAL PROPERTY PROVIDERS!
Many people don’t know that:
1. Under current Oakland City Code, someone owning property & living in units with their extended family (say children & grandchildren) that help with the mortgage is running a “business”.
2. A person wIth several roommates pitching in on the mortgage of their property over the years owes business tax each year on each dollar of that “income”.
Often such property owners are low-income and of Asian, Latino or African American minority cultures favoring extended family assistance & close proximity. Their property is the only source of historical family wealth. Many living in these or similar Oakland situations didn’t know they owed taxes until Oakland delivers a bill for past business taxes, penalties/late fees, & Interest. The City can & does go back decades, sometimes over 40 years, to collect tens of thousands of dollars, & place liens on their property. This is a prime example of how Oakland captures the property of unsuspecting & vulnerable victims, displaces longstanding residents who are often people of color, fosters gentrification, & increases homelessness.
You must stop this practice now. Reform the Business Tax rates on those owning a small number of units, & stop placing liens, some over $50,000 going back many decades! Vote NO on such liens, & yes to equitable business taxes.
NEIGHBORS DEFENDING OUR HOMES COALITION-- DEFENDRHOMES@GMAIL.COM
Bus.Tax
The city-wide NEIGHBORS DEFENDING OUR HOMES COALITION supports a truly Equitable Progressive Business Tax. But the proposed rates heavily discriminate against Mom & Pop rental providers, demanding a tax rate 35 times as much as grocers, for example. Small rental housing providers (5 units/rental payers or less) must be separated from commercial landlords & added to the “N. Miscellaneous” tax category. Oakland contemplates buying 13,000 low rental units, while unfairly driving out providers of lower cost rentals not costing taxpayers a penny!
Hundreds of small, local rental providers now face loss of their property, especially during this Covid economic crisis & rent moratoriums. Rent from a duplex, triplex or the home basement, even from a family member, will continue to be taxed at the highest rate in Oakland. Other cities exempt such rental providers from business taxes as they understand such rental housing is more affordable & can slow displacement & homelessness . Why continue the sad history of discouraging & driving out Mom & Pop rental providers costing the City $0?! The 2019 Tax Exemption is a sad hoax--only 60 people applying in 3 years!
The City Council & Mayor repeat concerns about the increasing, rampant displacement of long-time Oakland families, the crisis in affordable rental units, needs for ADUs, & homelessness. Why totally drop your equity lens in the matter of fairly taxing small rental providers!?
ITEM 3.2: PLEASE VOTE "NO" ON PROPERTY LIENS OF SMALL RENTAL PROPERTY PROVIDERS!
Many people don’t know that:
1. Under current Oakland City Code, someone owning property & living in units with their extended family (say children & grandchildren) that help with the mortgage is running a “business”.
2. A person wIth several roommates pitching in on the mortgage of their property over the years owes business tax each year on each dollar of that “income”.
Often such property owners are low-income and of Asian, Latino or African American minority cultures favoring extended family assistance & close proximity. Their property is the only source of historical family wealth. Many living in these or similar Oakland situations didn’t know they owed taxes until Oakland delivers a bill for past business taxes, penalties/late fees, & Interest. The City can & does go back decades, sometimes over 40 years, to collect tens of thousands of dollars, & place liens on their property. This is a prime example of how Oakland captures the property of unsuspecting & vulnerable victims, displaces longstanding residents who are often people of color, fosters gentrification, & increases homelessness.
You must stop this practice now. Reform the Business Tax rates on those owning a small number of units, & stop placing liens, some over $50,000 going back many decades! Vote NO on such liens, & yes to equitable business taxes.
NEIGHBORS DEFENDING OUR HOMES COALITION-- DEFENDRHOMES@GMAIL.COM
Bus.Tax
The city-wide NEIGHBORS DEFENDING OUR HOMES COALITION supports a truly Equitable Progressive Business Tax. But the proposed rates heavily discriminate against Mom & Pop rental providers, demanding a tax rate 35 times as much as grocers, for example. Small rental housing providers (5 units/rental payers or less) must be separated from commercial landlords & added to the “N. Miscellaneous” tax category. Oakland contemplates buying 13,000 low rental units, while unfairly driving out providers of lower cost rentals not costing taxpayers a penny!
Hundreds of small, local rental providers now face loss of their property, especially during this Covid economic crisis & rent moratoriums. Rent from a duplex, triplex or the home basement, even from a family member, will continue to be taxed at the highest rate in Oakland. Other cities exempt such rental providers from business taxes as they understand such rental housing is more affordable & can slow displacement & homelessness . Why continue the sad history of discouraging & driving out Mom & Pop rental providers costing the City $0?! The 2019 Tax Exemption is a sad hoax--only 60 people applying in 3 years!
The City Council & Mayor repeat concerns about the increasing, rampant displacement of long-time Oakland families, the crisis in affordable rental units, needs for ADUs, & homelessness. Why totally drop your equity lens in the matter of fairly taxing small rental providers!?
The Neighbors Defending our Homes Coalition