Oakland's Measure Q, to help homeless find shelter, narrowly in lead

In this file photo, a BART train passes a homeless encampment in Oakland. In this file photo, a BART train passes a homeless encampment in Oakland. Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Oakland's Measure Q, to help homeless find shelter, narrowly in lead 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A ballot measure that would approve a parcel tax to help provide homelessness support and park services in Oakland was passing narrowly as of Wednesday morning.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Measure Q has the support of 66.76 percent of voters, just above the two-thirds needed for it to be approved. There are likely many mail-in ballots yet to be counted, meaning the fate of the measure is far from decided.

If passed, Measure Q would add a $148 annual tax on single-family parcels in Oakland for 20 years. The money, an estimated $21 million a year, would go toward a host of issues: helping homeless people find shelter (about 30% of the funds raised), cleaning up parks and creeks and creating accessible restrooms in parks (64% of the money), and improving the city's stormwater system (5% of the money). The remaining 1% would go toward audits and programs related to the measure.

The measure received the support of many elected officials in Oakland, the city's Chamber of Commerce, and the League of Women Voters. It was opposed by a coalition of landlords and taxpayer organizations.

Two other Oakland ballot measures that only needed a simple majority were passed by voters. Measure R, which would scrap a minimum newspaper circulation requirement of 25,000 to publish city public notices and let the city council write new requirements for qualifying as the city's official newspaper, was passing with 71.69% of the vote.

Measure S, an appropriations ordinance, was also passing with 71 percent of the vote.

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