Election 2016 campaign lawn signs. Photo: Pete Rosos The political action committee for the Berkeley Property Owners Association has steered more than $892,540 in donations to defeat Measure U1 and promote Measure DD, two competing measures that would raise the business tax on rental units. Perhaps none of their numerous mailings and posters, however, has […]
Measure DD
State watchdog agency investigates $790,540 donated to Yes on Measure DD campaign
The Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate whether the No on Measure U1, Yes on Measure DD gropu violated campaign disclosure laws. The group has spent $790K fighting a huge jump in the business tax on rentals. The group prefers a more modest increase. Photo: Kelly Owen The Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate whether […]
As election nears, contributions and complaints mount
SEIU Local 1021 has donated $24,000 this election cycle to help candidates it supports. Its funds went into an independent expenditure committee that paid for this website An independent expenditure group backed by one of Berkeley’s largest unions has poured $8,112 into Jesse Arreguín’s mayoral campaign, spending the funds on a website and literature that […]
6 candidates compete for 4 slots on Berkeley Rent Board
Berkeley Rent Board candidates (clockwise from upper left): Nate Wollman, Alejandro Soto-Vigil, Leah Simon-Weisberg, Christina Murphy, Igor Tregub and Judy Hunt. Photos: Courtesy of the candidates Six candidates are vying for four open seats on Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization Board, in a race that has seen one slate of decidedly pro-tenant candidates boast numerous endorsements and […]
12 Berkeley measures will determine city’s infrastructure, education budget, campaign financing and more
Berkeley students carry Yes on E1 signs during the Solano Stroll. Photo: Yes on E1 campaign As a presidential campaign colored by controversy inches ever closer, local races and campaigns struggle to be heard amid the cacophony. But Berkeley’s ballot is packed with measures that will determine the near-future of the city’s infrastructure, affordable housing […]
Real-estate interests spend big to defeat rental tax spike
Real-estate groups have spent more than $786,000 to defeat a measure that would almost double the business tax landlords pay and to support an alternative measure with a lower tax. Photo: William Newton Real-estate groups have spent more than $786,000 in the last few months to defeat a measure that would almost double the business […]