Unofficial results show voters in Oakland strongly approve a new parcel tax and higher parking tax rate to fund 63 more police officers and various social programs tied to violence prevention, as proposed in Measure Y. They also support a move to make the enforcement of marijuana laws the Oakland police force's lowest priority, as outlined by Measure Z, and work on making private marijuana use by adults legal statewide.

"It's a remarkable victory for Measure Y," said Larry Tramutola, an Oakland-based political consultant who worked on the campaign. "The margin is greater than I anticipated... It speaks to Oakland voters saying, 'we have a problem with violence in our community and solutions need to be dual solutions."

On Wednesday, unofficial results released by Alameda County from 257 precincts had Measure Y ahead with 69.8 percent, or 72,128, of votes cast. The "no" vote stood at 30.2 percent or 31,153 votes. The measure requires more than a 66.6 percent approval rating to pass.

In March, a proposal to raise $10 million a year for more Oakland police and violence-prevention services received roughly 66 percent of the vote, less than 1 percent shy of the 66.6 percent needed to pass. This proposal, Measure R, did not specify how many additional police would be hired and which social programs would be funded through a $90 annual parcel tax.

"I'm proclaiming victory," said Oakland City Councilwoman Jean Quan (District 4, Montclair-Laurel), who helped organize the Measure Y campaign over the past several months. "It was a hard campaign, and I'm really inspired by people's ability to compromise and be reasonable. I'm happy that 70 percent of voters are willing to listen to each other ..."

After it is officially approved, Measure Y will aim to raise about $20 million a year for the next decade by taxing owners of single-family homes $88 annually, with some low-income exemptions. A parking tax rate of 8.5 percent will also be imposed in some lots.

In addition to funding more police officers and violence-prevention programs, the measure also will provide $4 million for fire services.

"You can overwhelm the opposition by having so many apples in the basket -- one for everyone, except for the tax-weary taxpayer," said Wayne Rowland, a Montclair resident who worked on one of two coalitions fighting the measure.

The results "don't changes the facts on the ground with respect to violence and crime in Oakland, said Wilson Riles, who helped lead a separate opposition group. "It's a political compromise, but not a solution to the problem."

Measure Y supporters, though, disagree.

"We worked hard to define the jobs of the (new) officers," Quan said, "and to restore community policing and beat officers, who will have access to social workers" for help in interactions with homeless individuals, teen runaways and others.

"I do believe this will make a difference in cutting down on crime and helping out the police in a variety of areas," she explained.

As for Measure Z, Quan said, its significance is largely "symbolic, since marijuana laws are already a low priority in Oakland."

Dale Gierenger, a California coordinator for the National Organization of the Reform of Marijuana Laws and an Oakland hills resident, strongly disagrees. "This is a landmark for drug-policy reform," he said.

While cities like Berkeley and San Francisco called for lax enforcement of marijuana laws back in '70s, Oakland is the first city in the U.S. to ask that marijuana be taxed and regulated, according to Gierenger.

Measure Z was supported by Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks (District 6-Millsmont, East Oakland).

Some Oakland officials, like outgoing police Chief Richard Word, are concerned that Measure Z could encourage more drug users to come into the city looking to buy marijuana. And Quan said "a bigger concern is that it could make us a target of federal enforcement."

Gierenger, though, said regulated sales could boost business in the city -- and they won't happen overnight. "You will not set up Amsterdam by tomorrow. Things will proceed within a legal framework."

"Oakland voters were clear in (opinion) polls and on Tuesday," he said. "They do not think highly of the Bush-Ashcroft drug war."