Vote NO on Oakland Wildfire Prevention Zone District

In the November ballot will be a measure that would collect $99 a year for 20 years from Oakland homeowners in the hills. These funds will be used to implement the Vegetation Management Plan that was recently approved by the City after years of modifications to appease the nativist community.

What started off as an unbiased and professional approach ended up being hijacked by the same group of nativist zealots that seem to be calling the shots on vegetation removal programs throughout the east bay hills. Moneys that are sold as being intend to improve public safety are instead being used to advance a native plant restoration agenda.

Because of this, and because the City has shown zero interest in listening to other voices (including Janani Ramachandran), HCN has decided that in spite of the potential for some limited good resulting from this effort, the public needs to shut it down. If and when the City is willing to adopt a plan than considers the interests of ALL affected citizens rather than the voices on 20-30 activists, a revised plan should be submitted and funded.

Bottom line is the formation of this District will be yet another chapter in the ongoing effort by the nativist community to use public money to advance a nativist agenda on large swaths of public land. Remember the now-defunct Wildfire Assessment District? This is just the latest version of the same old song.

Please vote NO on this unfortunate waste of public money in a City that can't manage to maintain passable roads and basic public safety services.