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Yes on Measure COakland · June 2, 2026
Aerial view of Lake Merritt, Oakland, California — the heart of the city

Vote YES on Measure C.City Hall still has a job to do.

Measure C is a real step for small businesses and neighborhood corridors — but it is not a substitute for City Hall fixing what Oaklanders still feel every day: safety, permitting, blight, and empty storefronts.

Why we’re saying YESWhat Measure C doesJune 2, 2026 — vote info

Paid for by Oakland Business Relief. Not a government website. Lake Merritt aerial: Steven dos Remedios (City of Oakland / Visit Oakland scenic collection).

YES — because small business relief is overdue

Oakland should back qualifying small and new businesses with a one-year break on the city business tax — including many neighborhood retailers and grocers under the measure’s rules. That’s real money back on the block: payroll, inventory, and staying open.

And no — Measure C doesn’t let City Hall off the hook

A tax holiday is one tool. Oakland still needs City Hall to move faster on public safety, permitting, commercial vacancy, and basic services voters are right to expect. Vote YES on Measure C — then keep the pressure on for the rest.

Measure C in one minute

  • What: If it passes, many qualifying small businesses (and some new businesses) get a one-year exemption from Oakland’s business tax, starting Jan 1, 2027 — per the official measure text.
  • Who: Existing businesses up to about $1M gross receipts in covered categories (retail, groceries, services, restaurants, and more) — check the City elections page for exact definitions.
  • When: On the ballot June 2, 2026. Majority wins. Read your voter guide — summaries are not the full law.

June 2, 2026: vote YES on Measure C

Alameda County runs Oakland’s elections — confirm your registration, ballot, and polling place.

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