Antioch Resident Larry L. Harrison has submitted the following Letter to the Editor urging Antioch residents to support Measure O this November to help bring much needed City revenues to Antioch.
“Measure O” Just Who Are the Opponents?
Antioch “Measure O” on the November ballot is forecast to increase much needed City revenues by $2.4 million annually. It will charge residential landlords annual business license fees for rentals of $250 for houses and $150 for apartments and adjust the minimum license fee for most other businesses to $100. Minimum license fees for home-based non-professional small businesses will remain at $25.
The opponents of Measure O are corporate landlords and members of the California Apartment Association (CAA), most located outside of Antioch. They have formed a “No on Measure O coalition” with seniors, homeowners, and local business owners who appear to be odd bedfellows for the landlords as very few persons in these categories would be adversely affected by the measure.
The opponents are engaging in an all-out campaign to confuse voters to vote no, including falsely asserting seniors will be substantially harmed. They are well funded with contributions of $75,000 to their “No on O” campaign as of 9/18/2014 and plans to raise a total of $250,000 to ensure victory.
By contrast, the proponents, “Residents for Fairness-Yes Measure O,” have only about $2,200 on hand and face being outspent by a ratio of 100 to 1 or more.
The table below lists opponent’s California Form 497 Contribution Reports filed with the City of Antioch as required by law. The data verify funds are mostly from out-of town investors.
| Date | Contributor | Amount |
| 9/10/2014 | California Apartment Association PAC 980 9th St. #1430, Sacramento , CA 95814 | $15,000 |
| 9/11/2014 | SWAY Management LLC 1999 Harrison St. 24th Flr., Oakland, CA, 94612 | $12,500 |
| 9/11/2014 | Waypoint Real Estate Group 1999 Harrison St. 24th Flr., Oakland, CA, 94612 | $12,500 |
| 9/15/2014 | Oak Village Apartments 2201 Sycamore Dr., Antioch, CA 94509 | $20,000 |
| 9/17/2014 | Lakeshore Apartments 1600 S. Main St. #150, Walnut Creek CA 94596 | $10,000 |
| 9/18/2014 | CSFR Colfin Amer Invest, LLC 9305 E. Via De Ventura #201, Scottsdale, AZ 95258 | $5,000
|
| Total thru 9/18/2014 | $75,000 |
The CAA coalition has hired “Media Associates,” a political campaign consultant from Sacramento to conduct their campaign against Measure O. This consultant has a reputation for “winning at all costs,” never mind the facts. Already they have conducted a telephone “survey” of Antioch residents designed to convince people to vote no. And their blue “No on O” campaign signs are being spread across Antioch.
On October 23 the CAA will hold a fundraiser, “Pints for PAC,” at the Monkey Creek Tap House in Martinez. With a ticket price of $125 per person, it will hardly be an appealing event for the “destitute” seniors they claim to be protecting from rent increases that only they as landlords can impose.
All Antioch citizens are urged to vote “yes” for Measure O, and not fall for the baseless arguments spun for the greedy landlords by their paid consultant in their efforts to avoid paying Antioch reasonable fees for business licenses.
Your contributions are urgently needed to help pay the campaign expenses. This is truly a grass-roots effort by citizens, and no contribution is too small. Checks should be made to “Residents for Fairness – Yes Measure O,” and mailed to 3036 South Apple Court, Antioch, CA, 94509. Or visit the web site http://antiochmeasureo.com to make a contribution online.
Even with your contributions, we won’t have sufficient funds to hire a high-priced professional campaign consultant; but what we do have in our favor are heart, dedicated volunteers to get-out the vote, and the truth! We won’t let big money and lies from out of town defeat efforts to save our city.
Larry L. Harrison
Antioch, CA
8 comments
I think it is important to know the ages of the people who originally wrote Measure C. The ages are 58 to 85. A club that has been meeting since 2009 and believes in this city where we have raised our children and grandchildren.
Measure O, I meant Measure O. Sorry
SO, does that mean that new small businesses would go from $25 to $100 for business licenses? That is quite a jump. If you truly want places like downtown Antioch to come back, that will make it that much harder. Unless you have been a small business owner, you have no idea how every single penny counts and that those hundred dollar expenses pile up until they put you right out of business. Most new business owners are mom and pop, with families to try to balance with business. Its exciting to see downtown coming back. I would hate to see that end.
Making the assumption that Oakwood Village would only pay $150 a year for the whole complex, why would they don’t $20k?
Oakwood Apartments would annually pay $150 times the number of units they have. So far they are the biggest doner to the “No on O” campaign with a contribution of $20,000, which indicates they have a large number of units they are rying to shield from payment of business license fees.
Yes, we had a small business in Antioch for 25 years. In saying that, I am for measure O. Times have changed and protection against the elements that we face have significtly changed. I myself would put the cost down to a proritzed expense.
For you spell checkers out there, yes, I miss spelled prioritized. opps
I thought the following Letter to the Editor (of the Antioch News) stated very well the purpose and benefits of Measure O. The complaints about the cost are ridiculous. When broken down by month ($20.83/$12.83) most people spend more than that going out to lunch/dinner once/mo. The benefits to the community far outweigh the minimal cost. And as already noted, most of the landlords are investors who live outside of Antioch and have no vested interest in the welfare of the local residents…
Dear Editor:
Measure O is an ordinance that will update the city of Antioch’s existing business license tax ordinance.
It will close the loophole that inadvertently allowed residential rental property landlords to not pay licensing fees.
I am a homeowner and a senior citizen and I’m writing to address the California Apartment Association’s stated opposition to Measure O. The CAA says, “Many senior citizens will ultimately be paying for the Measure O tax.”
That statement is untrue!
Many senior citizens will not be affected by this fee. Most senior citizens are homeowners. Sure, the fee will affect those seniors who are residential rental property landlords and some seniors who are renters of apartments or homes.
Their rent will be increased if the landlord adds the fee onto the rental rate. The fee for landlords will be $20.83 per month for single family rental homes, or $12.83 per month, per unit in multifamily rental units.
Renters, homeowners, and businesses alike want increased police services and robust code enforcement.
This ordinance is an equitable solution, closing the loophole, and will require residential rental landlords be included in the business licensing structure.
Voters: Please support the Residential Rental Property Landlord Fee and vote yes on Measure O this November 2014.
Marie Livingston
Antioch
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