Business Coalition Announces Opposition to Unfair Tax

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce:

What: The "Coalition for a Real Oakland Litter Solution" will hold a
press conference to express its opposition to the proposed "Litter
Fee" legislation pending before the Oakland City Council, Community &
Economic Development Agency (CEDA) Committee on Tuesday, January 24th
at 3:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Oakland City Hall (1
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 3rd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612). The Coalition
will announce an alternative comprehensive approach to litter clean-up
in Oakland that brings the business, community groups and the schools
together.

Why: The proposed "Litter Fee" ($280 to $3,815 per year on businesses
that derive income from food taken off premise) unfairly targets and
adds an additional tax burden to the most important employer and tax
payer in Oakland -- small business. The fee is not equitably
distributed; it exempts large grocery stores and delicatessens and
unfairly charges businesses already paying for such fees in a Business
Improvement District (BID) to pay twice. Businesses not located near a
Junior or High school will pay and will not receive any services. The
proposed fee/tax does not address the root causes of littering with
education or additional enforcement measures.

WHO: Coalition representatives will be Benjamin Scott, Oakland
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Jenny Kassan, Fruitvale Unity
Council, Joe Martinez, Fruitvale Improvement District, Mike Dawoud,
Jumping Java, Representatives from the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce,
African American Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, and Oakland Merchants Leadership
Forum.

WHERE: Jumping Java, 6606 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609

WHEN: Monday, January 23, 2006, 11:00 a.m.

CONTACT: Benjamin Scott, Public Policy Director, Oakland Metropolitan
Chamber of Commerce, 510-289-1184