Letters: Progressive' parcel tax would backfire on Oakland residents

"Beth Weinberger's proposed progressive parcel tax based on square footage would, in fact, be regressive, selectively over-burdening those in larger homes without any consideration of their location. It could further devastate shops, restaurants, startups, and small industrial"

"In his letter advocating that society restore punishment as a societal norm, Brian Foster misses a key part of punishing offenders. The National Institute of Justice in 1998 published a report showing that the most effective way to deter crime is not simply to have punishment but to have the application of punishment be a certainty. Policies aimed at achieving that certainty always need to be weighed against preserving and respecting civil rights, and that can be a time-consuming process."

A parcel tax calculated solely by square footage would function regressively, disproportionately impacting owners of larger homes and businesses occupying large older buildings regardless of revenue or profitability. Many shops, restaurants, startups and small industrial and R&D firms rent or own large spaces yet have low sales or losses, and would be further harmed by such a tax amid already high vacancy rates. Effective crime deterrence relies on certainty of punishment rather than severity alone. Policies aiming for certainty must balance timeliness with civil-rights protections, since mandates can increase compromise, delay and unintended consequences.

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