Calling All Internet Georgists: What Happened in Oakland?

Georgism may get a chance to be presented to the Oakland Civic Assembly on vacant storefronts

This was a billboard in Chicago in 1914. I do not know if Fay Lewis hung on and sold for $6k, but I guarantee you this plot is worth far more than that now.

Hi everyone. Oakland, CA is about to have a Civic Assembly on its vacant storefronts. Common Ground USA might get a chance to present the LVT to the assembly. Here is more info about the assembly. I am the California chapter president and that presenter may be me! Please, IF there’s a chance to present on Georgism, help me prepare.

What can we gather on Oakland’s vacancy tax?

I’ve done some research already and I’m aware it was a flat tax based on a few categories (residential, commercial) and there were many exceptions. I’d love to compile any/all of the following:

• Media coverage

• Any data about vacancy

• Any data about how the vacancy tax affected Oakland

• Anecdotes from residents

• Politicians who supported it

• Politicians who opposed it

• Economists who promoted it

• Who decided it has “failed”

• What the community’s reaction been

• Etc etc!

Anything generally relevant to Georgism in Oakland would also be great. I will be in contact with Lars Doucet of the Center for Land Economics. Maybe he can Zoom in to present with me, but regardless, I’ll be trying to work with him on assessing Oakland, talking about a Universal Building Exemption in California (bc we have prop 13 to work around), and I will be trying to make 3D prints of the land values of Oakland.

Reply here, DM me, ping me on the Georgism Discord “@Max Clark”, come over to my house if you need to! For progress without poverty!