That Oakland Special Election was over quickly!  All four measures passed last night, which means that the City of Oakland has a few more million at hand – money the city fathers and mothers already figured would be voted into our coffers.

Of course, the taxing of medical marijuana is making the news because it’s the first time any city will directly tax weed.  Here’s an early TV report on that measure, approved by 80 percent of the voters.  It won’t solve Oakland’s budget gap, but it should ease the pain.

Remember there were four separate measures included in this Oakland election – so let’s recap what voters overwhelmingly approved and did:

• Measure C – 77% – Let our hotel visitors chip in and help pay for the zoo, museum and observatory
  
• Measure D – 72% – Fixed things from November election, when we spent too much on kids funding
  
• Measure F – 80% – Declared reefer madness is officially dead, with our first tax of medical cannabis
  
• Measure H – 75% – Ensured better sleep, knowing that corporations pay transfer taxes when sold
  

Apparently many of you didn’t bother with this special mail-in election.  Less than a third of Oaklanders who voted in the November prexy election turned out.  According to the Chronicle, about 23 percent of registered voters cast ballots versus 80 percent in November.  Were you part of the silent majority?