Morning, everyone. I'd like to call the regular meeting of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for Tuesday August 4th to order, and I'll start by asking the clerk to please call the roll.
Thank you very much. Would you all please rise if you can and join me in the pledge of allegiance?
Thank you all. I would welcome members of the public who are here in person and would like to make comment online. We welcome you and we would like to have your comments on items that are on closed session. We'll do that after we do Board of Supervisors remarks. I'll see if my colleagues have any remarks of the day and I'll start with Supervisor Marquez.
Thank you President Howard. Good morning everyone and welcome. I just wanted to make one brief announcement and a request, but I don't see our HR director. Do we know if Margaritos and what is online?
Okay, we'll give it another minute or so. She may arrive shortly, but I just wanted to thank AC Transit General Manager CEO, cell, young us for an informative tour and opportunity to speak with him.
During a ride along, we rode west 97 from Union Landing to Shabo and really learned a lot about the incredible work AC Transit does to support our entire public transportation ecosystem.
Highly encouraged members of the public to look at our posts on social media. There are many discounted programs, especially for low income residents. So would encourage people to learn more.
And they could find that information on my Instagram and Facebook page, that's Supervisor underscore.
Really some Mark has. And then the other item, but I don't see Mr. Margaritos and what I hear yet, but I did want to ask her if she could provide us an update on the status of AB 1185.
We did receive some information back on March 17, 2026, but wanted to see if there was any additional information that she could share with the community. So if she arrives later, I will respectfully ask if she has any updates to share with the public. Thank you.
Thank you. Supervisor President Halbert, I'm wanted to just let everyone know that we had our annual boards commissions and committee recognition event in district three.
There are 115 boards and commissions that we have at the county and our district has the appointing authority for 27 of them that represent 63 seats. So I'm proud that we're able to fill 100% of our seats.
We had over 387 applicants and offered 151 interviews.
The boards and commissioners that serve the county are essentially our eyes and ears and our brain trust.
So I wanted to take that opportunity to thank all of them for their service, especially those that volunteer a lot of their time and for their dedication to the county.
Thank you. I wanted to just acknowledge that today is also national night out.
We're obviously in our board meeting today. So we are probably going to be tied up this evening, but I did want to share that my staff will be out in the five cities that I represent to make sure that we are connecting with neighbors now more than ever.
It's important that neighbors know each other, they support each other, they support efforts around mutual aid to make sure our neighbors are safe and supported.
So please join those events if you are able to.
And since this is our last official meeting of the session, I wanted to note that we are also celebrating pride this month of August.
So Oakland pride will be on August 16 and Berkeley pride will be on August 30.
Please see my social media. We've got information there about how you can participate in those events. Thank you.
Very good. Well, now have public comment on closed session items that is items listed under closed session on the agenda.
We'll take.
Ask the clerk do we have any speakers on closed session items.
We have speakers.
How many do we have online and how many do we have in the room?
And I just want to confirm we are on closed session items.
Okay.
6 in person zero online for closed session.
Let's do in person then.
Welcome.
Kathy reads.
NATO green.
Derek Boote.
If your name is called, you can come line up behind the speaker in front of you and be ready to speak.
Good morning.
My name is Kathy Reeves.
This is a third time that I have had to speak to this board regarding a fair and equitable contract for the 4500 SAI.
You 10 21 members that are employed by Alameda County.
I'm not beating around the bush anymore.
These contract negotiations have been going on for far too long.
This county is not broke.
You offer us a raise for three years that is a joke.
The big and simply because what you're offering us.
We have to give it back to you for our benefits.
What does that lead me as far as an increase?
Aqueous cafeteria plan is going up to 3700.
Where as we only have 1200.
Seriously.
Give us the same respect that you are showing to management.
We are the frontline workers stop treating us any different.
We make this county run without us.
This county will shut down.
Can you deal with the public like we do?
Can you deal with their problems every day?
I guarantee your answer will be no.
You're about to go on a lengthy vacation.
Many of us cannot afford that luxury.
We don't have the perks you have nor the money to do it.
If you don't want to be fair to us,
then make this a training facility where you train people and then send them to other counties that will appreciate them and pay them.
Stop playing games.
This is our lives we're talking about.
If you want respect, you have to show respect.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Good morning, supervisors.
My name is Nate O'Green.
I lead collective bargaining for SIA U10 to 1.
So I work across our 68,000 members and 170 countries across the California, mostly in the public sector.
And I'll let me to county is one of our largest employers.
One of our longest and most stable labor management relationships.
And thanks to the financial stewardship of many people in this room is in relatively good footing.
Facing the threats of HR1 that a lot compared to a lot of other public agencies are.
And that's why in this year specifically it is very concerning that there is a proposal to unnecessarily shift the cost of medical on to people with families who work for the county.
That there are lots of that lots of other employers that are attempting to roll back family medical.
And health benefits for public workers across the state that are in much worse positions.
And I'll let me to county there is doing it now.
We have proposed at the bargaining table created of alternatives to mitigate the impacts, but we wanted to convey to you today that it becomes an institutional problem for 10 to 1 for one of our flagship relationships.
We're trying to cut family medical unnecessarily that the result of that kind of cough cough shifting is not just a financial one, it is a medical health care one.
People will forego care people will not seek as much treatment and predictably have worse outcomes as a result of having to absorb a greater share of the health care costs.
And so it's a concern for us that that issue has been more ideological or philosophical in the county's bargaining position.
Of wanting people to just pay more for health care.
And not one that is is really about practical problem solving to get the parties to agree with.
So I'd ask you to direct the counties to go. She had to take a different approach with us. Thank you.
Good morning. My name is Derek.
I am S.C.I.U. 10 2011's fee space region Vice President.
I am here this morning because our bargaining team is at the table and they cannot be here.
I'm speaking on behalf of more than 4,000 workers employed by Alameda County and nearly 20,000 workers who live in both across this county of Alameda.
Alameda County members have been at the board in the table for more than months going back to last year.
I've been out of contract since January. We're fighting for simple things where your representatives at the table have been dragging their feet the whole way.
We've made progress but has been very slow.
Our members deserve an employer that can compete with other counties that recruit and retention rates are high.
The members deserve cola that keeps them from falling behind as economic times get tougher and tougher.
Our members deserve to not have their pay cheats cut because healthcare costs are skyrocketing out of this out of control.
Our community deserve a county that is staff properly with skilled dedicated experience workers who know their jobs and know this community.
I want to get this contract done since December the time for excuses is done.
Your representatives at the table have heard from us now it's time they've heard from you that you want this contract settled.
Alameda County has had labor peace for a long, long time because we all agreed at the workers.
The workers these members do work that these members do are important for our community as ever.
If you still agree then it's up to you to get this done. Thank you.
Here are Williams.
Simil Rainy.
Will Wells.
Good morning everybody.
My name is Simil Rainy.
I'm going to tell everybody over here in the homeless.
We're going to have outreach program.
Seeing that we can be jobs.
Don't have our open very well.
We're going to come to the workplace.
Isn't this job and contract even since an open home to the hungry.
That's not right.
We're going to see this facility real bad.
If they close to them down what we're going to go.
I'm going to see this in the home.
So I'm trying to see this facility.
So I can have a patient here at this work.
We can help the facility to the house.
That was a great way for us.
I'm not going to do anything to help the young.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Carol Williams.
Chapter President for S.I.U.S.S.A.
But I'm here more as a citizen and a worker of the county.
Particularly my comments are left from public comment of the last board meeting.
Specifically Mr. Halbert.
I hear talks specifically about child welfare.
I'm going to understand why we still don't have a proposal that has been passed and improved.
But it is what it is.
But the tyrant to chew went on at the last board meeting.
I have been doing this a long time and for many years.
And it was appalling.
Lightway dismissive and disrespectful.
Child welfare is getting caught in a political warfare.
We're not interested in being between the board, Senator Wahab, and it needs to stop.
Because the workers are suffering because of it.
Child welfare is not about state legislation just being able to remove kids from their homes.
It's also about keeping children in their homes.
So for it to be dismissive and say, well, why don't we concentrate to the senator to write state legislation?
Why don't you guys pass proposal in the same breath?
So I would really truly ask.
And the only reason why here is take us out of being caught in the middle of whatever is going on.
Many of us know what's going on, but take us out of it and let's move a proposal to get child welfare to be competitive with the other counts.
That's what it is.
We cannot recruit and we cannot retain child welfare workers.
And the whole point is getting behind the proposal that is not asking too much of anything when we really are trying to solve the issues that are going on.
It is beyond state legislation.
It is beyond just wasn't right when we have been very detailed about what the issues are.
For you to insinuate that the director or the system agency direction shouldn't have to attend these task force meetings was a polling.
But if you don't feel so that we need to have a real conversation that happens all what's going on.
Call me anytime. Happy to talk.
Thank you.
I will.
My name is William Wells.
I've been accounting employees for 28 years.
I've worked through 9-11.
I've worked through Katrina.
I've worked through the mass layoffs recession in 2008.
I've worked in code through COVID.
For half of that time, I've had a hundred percent medical coverage.
It used to be a hundred zero.
My name is William Wells. I've been Accounting Employees for 28 years. I've worked through 9-11. I've worked through Katrina. I've worked through the mass layoffs, recession in 2008. I've worked in code through COVID. For half of that time, I've had a hundred percent medical coverage. It used to be a hundred zero up until about 2014.
Then it went to 1910. Then it went to 8812. The medical you guys provide used to be leaders in the Bay Area. People would travel past their county that they live in to come work here because of the medical coverage that you guys provide is unlike anything else in the Bay Area.
But steadily it has been declining and other counties have been catching up and it's not becoming worth it to move to counties to come work for this wonderful county that we work in.
We have passed a great comprehensive package to your bargaining team. It saves you money and allows us to cover our families the way they should be covered.
Along with child welfare skids, our kids need to be protected. They need to be covered. We need, you guys say, why, with the medical coverage you provide and we're asking you to continue that with the medical coverage that you provide.
Thank you.
No more speaker. I'll close that in items.
So, supervisor remarks are not generally a time of update from staff, but I see that if you could clarify your request.
And whether it's even.
Allow while seek counsel from our county council.
So, supervisor, I understand that we are in labor negotiations at the table.
And it is highly unusual for us to take those negotiations and bring them into open session.
Okay. If that's it then we now will recess.
Sure. More comments.
My ask was related to AB 1185. We did it back in March.
Receive a status update.
So, there's this one. You know if there was any change in those meeting conference.
I'm not asking to close details, but I just, so the public should know are we still engaging in that process.
Good morning.
Please provide us, particularly. That's the moderator of Human Resource Services.
We continue to me and confer with the impacted employer organizations and the me confer.
Does have to take place at the table where me conferring good faith.
And we will provide your board with an updated and closed session since it is.
Close session negotiations.
Okay. Thank you.
That's it. We are recessed into closed session.
Good afternoon everyone. We're going to reconvene from open closed session rather. We have not concluded entirely our closed session.
I don't think but we're going to reconvene at this moment.
We're going to proceed with our 3 p.m. set matter.
We're going to do that after we have a roll call to re-establish our corn.
Supervisor Marquez.
Supervisor Tam.
Supervisor Marley.
Supervisor Porto Nadevass.
Present.
We have a core.
Our 3 o'clock set matters are one item 127.
128.
The first one 127 proclaiming August 26 is child support awareness month.
So I would like to ask, do we have somebody here?
Benjaria Harvey. Are you here? Nice to see you.
Benjaria, can I read our proclamation to you?
Let you have some comments and then that public comment and then we'll give you a nice proclamation.
It's my honor to recognize August 2026 as child support awareness month in Alameda County.
This observance reminds us that child support is about much more than financial assistance.
It's about helping children grow up with the care stability and encouragement they need to succeed.
Parents who are actively involved in their children's lives, both emotionally and financially,
help create stronger families and brighter futures.
Positive parenting happens in everyday moments, whether it's reading a bedtime story, teaching a child to write a bike,
helping with homework or simply spending time quality time together.
These experiences shape a child's confidence, character and future.
Children learning by watching children learn by watching the adults in their lives.
Our actions, kindness and commitment leave a lasting impression and help teach responsibility, respect and resilience.
So today we recognize the important work of the Alameda County child of department of child support services and its community partners,
including the fatherhood initiative together.
The fatherhood initiative.
Together they help connect parents with resources that support employment, education, transportation and other services that strengthen families and promote self-sufficiency.
On behalf of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, we are proud to proclaim August 2026 as child support awareness month and thank all the parents, caregivers and professionals who work everyday
to build stronger families and healthier communities.
We're going to recognize Benjaria Harvey, the acting director of child support services.
Good afternoon, supervisor Halbert.
Thank you President Halbert and the members of the Board of Supervisors.
It is truly an honor and a privilege to accept the child support awareness month, population on behalf of Alameda County child support services.
Your proclamation acknowledges that child support truly matters.
Child support is a vital vital resource that helps children thrive and families achieve greater financial stability.
This year, our ACSS theme for child support awareness month is forward together in community for stronger families.
Child support services has really committed to Alameda County's 10X goals and vision 2036 to build a thriving and resilient population and safe and livable communities.
Each year we serve thousands of families by establishing orders, collecting child support and connecting parents with the resources that promote self-sufficiency.
Last year we collected over $78 million.
Over 94% of those funds went directly into the homes of children in need and we know that every dollar makes a difference as a safety net to lift families out of poverty.
I extend sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff of child support services.
It is really through their work and their commitment to public service that ensures that every child receives the child support they deserve.
Every phone call, every order established, every collection is done with a heart from the ACSS staff.
So I appreciate each and every member of our team.
Child support awareness month is also an opportunity for us to celebrate the work that we do and to strengthen our partnerships and connect with the community and underscore that child support changes lives.
During CSAM community engagement is really at the forefront of what we're of our mission and we are really excited that this year will be our first family resource fair being held at the free mind main library and that is in partnership with the free mind main library.
As well as with Deb Seekah who is our county librarian.
We have many departments and community organizations that will be there.
All of you to county behavioral health department, all of you to county with program, age and health services, the food bank and many many more.
We believe that bringing child support professionals together with community partners connect the families to the sources the services that they need that will promote financial stability.
That's what comes for children and the fair will be filled with fun games and a lot of prizes for the family and children attending throughout August though we'll have many other events tonight will be at National night out in Union city.
On Saturday will be at the Hayward Unified School District backpack giveaway and then we have our annual employer workshop and then we will end up the month with dad discussions dad discussions in partnership with father's core.
I want to just share that alamedic county child support services aims to demonstrate that child support is more than a program and it's a bridge for stability for hope and a future for the families and the children that we serve.
So we're in focus on ensuring that each and every day that we do this level of work and we want to say that we are striving.
forward together in community for stronger families so many thanks again to the ACCS staff many thanks to President Halbert and the entire board of supervisors as well as our county administrators is a marineshi for their.
Consistent partnership and support also want to thank the leadership team we have Quincy Wilkins who's the deputy director as well as Leon Fernando who is our policy manager with us here on today and once again we thank you for celebrating.
celebrating child support awareness month.
Let's give Benjaria a round of applause and the whole team.
Indeed it takes a village and you did a great job explain do you have any public comment on this item.
Let's have public comment and then we'll come give you a.
Proclamation.
Tomorrow again you're on the line you have two minutes.
Good afternoon.
I'm here to speak a behalf of the issue that's before you about the minimum wage and alumni county raising to thirty dollars an hour.
The next item it's not this item will ask people online to raise your hand only.
And take your hand down unless you are speaking on child support awareness month.
Now speakers.
Well then let's give you a proclamation.
Thank you.
Do we have Karen sweet.
This Karen sweet okay the next is the international year.
Of range lands and pastoralists today we recognize the twenty twenty six.
Recognizing twenty six as the international year of range lands and pastoralists in Alameda County.
This international observance highlights the importance of range lands and the people who care for them under California law range lands include grasslands.
Wetlands, wetlands, woodlands, shaperl and other landscapes that support livestock grazing.
Here in Alameda County these lands make up approximately one hundred and eighty eight thousand acres or about forty percent of our county.
And according to the twenty twenty four alameda county crop report livestock is the second largest.
Second largest agricultural commodity.
Range lands provide many important benefits they support agriculture wildlife.
Habitat biodiversity water resources and open space while also offering recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
We recognize the ranchers and other livestock producers who steward these lands.
They're ongoing management of range lands contributes to the county's agricultural economy.
And the long term care of these landscapes.
This population also acknowledges the United Nations designation of twenty twenty six as the international year of range lands and pastoralists.
Encouraging education and public awareness about the importance of range lands and pastoral communities around the world.
On behalf of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors we are proud to recognize the value of Alameda County's range lands and thank the ranchers.
Ms. Wee, welcome. Good afternoon, Supervisors. And I appreciate this opportunity to speak for the rest of the county that's a little flatter than Oakland is. But the resolution says that 40% of the county is range lands.
It's often the land that you can't see from the freeway and the land behind the trees, it's the land on the other side of the park that you may not walk to.
But the resolution isn't important when many of our range land pastoralists around the world don't have land of their own and they're up the benefit only by the grace of the people who own the land and be able to walk where the feed is for their for their livestock.
And so the the element of county advisory committee was very pleased to take this advantage of what the United Nations has done to recognize this important land for the county and I appreciate the opportunity that you have given us to raise awareness of this important resource that benefits all of us now in the county.
Thank you so much for all you do and recognizing.
Just how much we have in Alameda County and a lot of the rings line also includes hiking trails things like that. Do we have any public comment on this item.
There are no speakers. Let's go give you a proclamation this week.
Thank you.
Our next set matter item under general administration item 129 supervisor Marquez approving the following recommendations.
A and B and MOU with the county Valmedia and the city of Hayward.
Establishing the administration and governance of the Russell city redress fund and.
Authorizing out of me to county order to control or consistent with the MOU to issue.
The first phase of the redress payments and eligible recipients. I'll turn the meeting over now to supervisor Markets.
Thank you President Halbert and community. Thank you for your patience. It is my honor to introduce item 129 as was mentioned.
First let me ask the clerk if our presentation is ready. If you could please just.
Advanced the first slide please and then I will ask you when to move it over to the next slide.
So today the board will consider a memorandum of understanding between Alameda County and the city of Hayward establishing the administration and governance of the rest of city redress fund.
The board will also consider authorizing the Alameda County auditor controller to begin issuing the first phase of redress payments to eligible recipients.
This action moves the county from an apology to action by delivering direct redress payments to former rest of city residents.
No payment can fully repair the harm caused by the destruction of Russell city. But these first redress payments represent an important step toward acknowledging that harm.
Honoring the resilience of former residents and advancing justice for their families.
When families come together. Sorry. This is going to be very emotional. But when families come together. We don't ask elders to get in line. They are served first. And that's what we're doing today with phase one. I don't see this presentation. So give us a second.
And there are handouts of the PowerPoint presentation in back.
If more is needed. If you could please just raise your hand. We will definitely make more copies if not everyone that would like to review this presentation has a copy.
And it will be posted on our website later this afternoon.
I apologize for the technical difficulties, but we will get started shortly.
I will actually start my comments. I know we have another item next.
But first I want to ground us in the cultural significance of Russell city.
And just to share with the public that this was a very diverse and rich community.
And want to acknowledge the original inhabitants of this space.
There are a low and indigenous tribes that occupied this area.
Do we almost there in the presentation? Okay.
While we're getting the presentation loaded. It's so important to acknowledge the cultural significance. So I did want to play which is timely since the presentation is not up.
But I'm playing a snippet of music that you would hear often in Russell city. They were widely known for their rich culture and jazz and blues and just wanted to play.
Some are not music to bring us back to you.
Okay.
That was Big Mama Thorne. If you don't know who that is, I highly encourage you to look her up.
But I want you to get a sense of the vibrancy and the music that she would hear often played.
Some of the cultural impacts of Russell city were their spiritual roots. They had diverse churches including Iglesia, Abastolica, Delafé and Cristo Jesus.
Catholic Church in Russell city, first Baptist Church in Russell city and true holiness church.
There were also widely known for their community events in annual carnival, annual Fourth of a July event on Washington Street,
cuisines from different cultures, extensive gardens, flourishing with golden poppies, livestock such as sheep, chicken, pigs, rabbits.
They were raised to share and feed with neighbors.
There were stories of many children spending summers hunting nearby animals in the fields and picking fruits along the city.
Depicted to the writer pictures of quilts that were made by Miss Deborah Harris toll free.
She's a former resident of Russell city and has shared her rich history and what it meant to her to actually sew these quilts and highlight the rich culture of Russell city.
Next slide, please.
There was also rich history in terms of a well known restaurant that turned into a nightclub at night.
I deal dining restaurant in nightclub, which was by which was owned by Leona Alves, the community activists, local organizations uses club as a local meeting place, hosted many community events, social events and also was a gathering place for the Russell city ladies social club.
There were also many which history, as I mentioned, related to jazz and blues.
The city became famous.
It was a famous stop for musicians such as Ray Charles, Edda James, T. Bon Walker, Louis Foulson, Big Mama Thorin, local talent Billy Dunn started at age 16 and was on stage with Big Mama Thorin.
The blues legacy lives on with the West Coast blues society.
Shown below is a beautiful mural that has been painted and is up in the city of Hayward, off of A Street.
And there's a picture also depicting some of the famous acts that frequented the nightclub that was owned by Leona Alves. Next slide, please.
The purpose and the use of the of the Russell city redress fine was basically obtained by.
There was a steering committee with the city of Hayward that met for over two years and there was a lot of community engagement and recommendations.
And in the summer of 2024, there was a community survey conducted asking the community what they wanted to see to address the harm that was done to Russell city.
And in fall of 2025, the Russell city redress working group launched another survey to gain additional input to help develop the redress fund that's before us today.
The survey in the fall of 2025 received over 250 responses to help shape the eligibility criteria.
And feedback that we heard is people want to have provide they want to see direct payments provided to former rest of the residents and their descendants.
And this is how we develop the first phase of the eligibility criteria was by taking that feedback into consideration.
Payments are symbolic and acknowledge harm not full compensation. The element of county auditor in controllers office has been asked and we really appreciate the partnership she will be working on administering and distributing those funds.
Next slide, please.
Repressions versus redress we wanted to make sure we were clear to the public that unlike reparations which represent a more philosophical framework that can include an apology.
Rehabilitation restitution or other forms of reparative justice a redress fund represents a specific pool of money set aside by a person or an organization to deliver direct financial compensation to victims for financial or personal harm.
Next slide, please.
The dismantling of Russell City in the 50s and 60s approximately 700 parcels were acquired via a minute domain, displacing around 1400 multi-racial multi-ethnic residents.
A minute domain for you for those of us that aren't as familiar as the government's season of private property for public use even if the property owner objects.
Land repurposed the Land was repurposed for commercial and industrial redevelopment.
The result of this was loss of homes, community, cultural heritage and a sense of belonging.
In 1963, the Russell City redevelopment agency was created to acquire the property.
Within two years, all 205 families, 13 businesses and seven churches had been uprooted.
By 1966, bulldozers had flattened the entire 200 acres for seeing the remaining residents to leave.
And noted on this slide are two articles that were located when was published in the Oakland Tribune on January 17, 1967.
The heading as last family sees home burned down.
And then daily review, September 2nd, 1965, Russell City fire raises 17 buildings.
So there was our connectivity occurring.
And it's also important to note that this community was under resource and disinvested.
There was an asset for sewer lines for paved roads and streets.
And those requests went unanswered by Elameda County.
Next slide, please.
The city of Hayward's Apology and Repairative Justice Project.
In November of 2021, the Hayward City Council issued a formal apology for the displacement.
This is agenda item number one, file it's reference here resolution 21.
I do want to note for the public's knowledge that it was actually a plea from the Community Services Commission for the city of Hayward to issue this apology.
And this was also shortly after the murder of George Floyd.
So there was a lot of pain occurring in our community at the time.
In June of 2022, the city of Hayward launched the Russell City Repairative Justice Project.
Grided by communities during committee, including formal Russell City residents and descendants.
And I want to acknowledge that many of the members of the Russell City Repairative Justice Project are here with us today in person as well as online.
In May on May 6th of 2023 was the first screening of the future length documentary.
The apology, a collaboration between still I rise films and a moment in time productions.
Also, one acknowledge one of the producers.
I use your nose, trust you, nose is here with us.
And she's the daughter of the displaced Russell City resident.
And one of the producers of the documentary and her father Jane.
That's today. And for those of you that haven't seen the apologies important that you view that to get a better understanding of the rich history and the personal testimony and stories that were shared by not only residents but descendants.
And to want to thank colleagues that have hosted a screening of the apology. I know many have been done throughout the county.
We plan to do one again in the future and I know many of our department has also will be sharing this documentary with employee staff to learn more.
I also want to flag that the recommendations from the Repairative Justice Project is what helped lead us to this point today to issue the redress payment.
It wasn't specifically called out as a recommendation, but the main point was that we need to address the harm in a tangible way. So phase one is an effort to do that. Next slide, please.
And then in March 2024, the steering committee presented the recommendations to the Howard City Council November 2014, section 14, reparations and settlement program was established by the Palm Springs City Council.
This program created financial compensation to predominantly black and Latino residents whose homes are a forcibly burned and bulldozed by the city of Palm Springs in the 1950s and 1960s.
And served as a direct model for what could be accomplished by the city of Hayward and the county, but please note that that was a litigation that was a loft suit. So not necessarily the same approach, but we did use that information to help guide the direction and where we're at today. Next slide, please.
Elamedic County's formal recognition and apology. I want to thank my colleague supervisor Miley for co-authoring a board letter and a resolution so that the county could formally recognize their role.
And the destruction and seizure of of Russell city and this was brought to the full board on June 27, 2023 and was adopted unanimously.
Statements are acknowledging harm and directed tent behind the displacement and a commitment to repairative action. Next slide, please.
The formation of the Russell city redress fund.
July 10, 2025, the city of Hayward initiated the creation of the Russell city redress fund. They reached out to my office. We were able to partner with them through the Elamedic County's ad hoc committee on reparations where we announced that the partnership with the city of Hayward to create the Russell city redress fund.
The Russell city redress work in group was formed comprise of Elamedic County supervisor myself city of Hayward Council members Angela Andrew and Julie Roche staff from district two and county staff as well as well as well as later on we received a judicial support from.
County Council Andrew Weddle and city attorney Michael Lawson. This action was initially scheduled to come to the board in February of 2026. I believe it was the 21st.
I'm sorry I'm going out of sequence. I apologize I'll get to that point in a second. In February of 2026 the city of Hayward signed an agreement with philanthropic ventures foundation.
That was action that the council took. I do want to flag that this board was going to. I brought a letter for.
In July to actually solidify that agreement with philanthropic ventures foundation. Unfortunately it was no longer viable to continue with that relationship. So philanthropic ventures foundation is not a part of this agreement.
We have now engaged our county auditor who will be then ministering the funds and issuing the payments. So I do want to thank philanthropic ventures foundation.
They were instrumental in believing us believing in us and being strong supporters from the beginning, but we now have.
And we are working with the county auditor and if you reference the original board letter from a couple weeks ago.
Working with philanthropic ventures foundation was going to yield an administrative fee of almost $26,000.
So now we're able to repurpose those funds back into the redress permit of redress account so we could issue more payments.
In May of 2026 district two on boarded making turner as a project manager to advance the rest of the city redress fund initiative. Next slide please.
I also want to acknowledge my colleagues as well as the element economy of office of ed. My office has appropriated $400,000 towards the redress fund supervisor.
Miley 250,000 city of Hayward 250,000 supervisor president Halbert supervisor Nicky for Toronto baths and supervisor Lena Tam have all appropriated a hundred thousand dollars.
As well as the element economy office of education totaling $1.3 million in this redress fund to launch phase one. Next slide please.
Moving forward this is a commitment to justice and healing fund represents a concrete step toward addressing past wrongs continued collaboration between local government community members and partners.
A commitment to equity recognition and reparative justice for Russell city survivors and descendants on June 30, 2026 the board unanimously voted to accept the element economy reparations commission final report and recommendations item number 77.
And although we've already made the distinction between redress and reparations these goals are aligned with the work of reparations and one of the first recommendations in the reparations report is to address housing justice and I was in their final report and so we are working towards achieving that with launching phase one of the redress fund. Next slide please.
This is a picture from when we launched the redress fund in July last year attached to my board letter you will see the MOU with explicitly defines the governance model and the structure and the criteria.
My office will be hosting office hours also want to share with the public that we have consulted with the DA's office with the AAA area agency agency to do everything possible to minimize any type of elder abuse or potential mis representation of accessing these funds we are going to have as many safeguards in place to minimize that and
I'm happy to answer any questions but do just want to stress the importance of this this is the county's responsibility to back up the apology but something tangible and just emphasize to the community that this is phase one.
Our goal is to launch the second phase once we complete the application process and issue payments for the eligible recipients for phase one.
And I'm happy to answer any questions also just want to thank everyone who worked tirelessly on this it's been a labor 11 just appreciate everyone's engagement and I'll have more comments later but for now I want to pause to see if my colleagues have any clarifying questions before we go to public comment.
Anybody.
I will just briefly share thank you to supervisor Marquez and supervisor Miley and all of the commission members and everyone who's been involved in this effort this is such a concrete way to address.
What happened with Russell city and all of the residents as well as work together going forward with descendants of the community so.
I'm very happy that we are moving forward and proud to be part of this effort.
Thank you.
Thank you. I don't think I can proceed with that a round of applause for I.
I should know where did she go.
Stand up I should know.
Can I say award winning filmmaker.
I.
And I really appreciate it being able to screen show a screening of that at the bank at the theater and live a more.
About a year and a half ago your father here he was there to where's that.
Very I can't see him behind the clerk.
Thank you sir.
With that said to President Miley.
Yeah.
I just want to thank supervisor.
Lisa Marquez and folks from.
Hayward for advancing this and a lot of the folks who lived in Los Angeles city living fair view.
So that's how it came from a Russell city since I represent fair view you know before I became a.
I didn't even know where fair view was.
Is it what's a fair view where's fair view.
But you know it's right there of your Hayward unincorporated.
I'll meet a county.
So I was schooled in.
I should know all of their dad and.
Or sister and others.
That's schooled me quite a lot of Russell city.
So I was really pleased to partner with surprise Marquez on this in the city of Hayward.
So thank you for giving me the opportunity.
All right.
So I want to acknowledge council member Angela Andrews is here with us to working tirelessly on this.
Thank you so much for your support.
If you would like to make any comments, we could take you up.
If you want to add from city of Hayward's perspective.
And I know that council member.
Julie Roche is traveling by believe she's going to do her best to join us online.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Thank you to the board of supervisors for taking up this item.
I want to give special acknowledgement to all the families who were displaced during this time.
And I know there's been a long road to get here.
But this is again, an acknowledgement of the harms that were done in the past.
I want to also give special acknowledgement to the community services commission and the members that really push this effort for.
I would like to give acknowledgement to our.
I would like to acknowledge me to our table, a very already gar.
Arzo Mendovi, who were who was the chair of the community services commission at the time.
As well as Alicia Lawrence.
I also want to give acknowledgement to the Hayward City Council, but really council member Sarah Lamden, who helped guided the community services commission to bring that.
The city council.
I know that city of Hayward has made an apology, but an apology is nothing without action and we wanted to do something that was tangible for this community.
I want to also give special acknowledgement to the steering committee as well as a chair.
And all the families that not just met as a steering committee, but the families that gather year over year decades over decades for picnics.
Something so simple as a picnic is what kept the memory alive of our society.
And I want to give special acknowledgement to the name of family figure wars and so many others.
There are also people who track this history and documented the history and in addition to the apology.
I want to give acknowledgement to Maria Ochoa, who document it.
The photos, the buildings, the meetings, all the things that we are seeing today in order to use this information in order to make this acknowledgement.
And I want to give special kudos to Maria Ochoa for doing that.
I know that this is just a step towards restorative justice.
There is nothing that can repay what happened in the past, but this is something and I encourage other organizations not just government agencies who are approached.
We are asking for a drop of partners to help support us in this efforts of making amends.
I also encourage the real estate industry who benefited from this displacement.
I also encourage a business community who benefited from this this displacement.
I encourage everyone that has benefited from this displacement to step forward to come forward and give back to this community as they deserve.
And thank you all for bringing this iron forward. This takes a lot of courage from the Board of Supervisors and really appreciate the support.
Thanks.
Well said.
I'm council member Andrews and as was emphasized, this is phase one and the fund is at 1.3 million, but of course we would like to see that fund grow.
So we welcome everyone who is willing to contribute.
Are there any questions before we could?
They can contact my office or the city of Hayward.
And there's a website somewhere. I'm guessing.
All of our contact information is on our website.
I'll stand.
Let's go to public comment.
Anybody who's in the room or online who wishes to speak on this item.
Please fill out a speaker slip or raise your hand online.
If you want to speak on this item.
And I'll ask the clerk to count and give me a count of how many speakers that's we have.
We have six in person three online.
Let's give everybody two minutes in person first three then online and back in fourth.
Sam Naba Monique Berlenga.
Priscilla Figaroa.
All speakers come on up and line up behind the microphone there.
And it doesn't have to be in order to call just if you're in the first three.
Come on up and give your testimony.
Mr. Naba might be easier to come out this way.
And whatever is easier for him.
Let's see the people here today and what being done, long and coming, but we stuck together.
And I think time above that is of essence here because we're not getting younger.
And some of the ones that are not with us anymore, hopefully they're up there rooting for us if we come through with this thing.
I got confidence, whether it's Alameda County or Hayward.
As my only two places I've ever lived is Russell city and Hayward.
And I'm proud of it. And a lot of the people feel the same way I do.
And to get a group of people to stick together like we have shows that it can be done.
Right, you know, this will be done on this.
I just lost my wife a few months ago, she went my sidekick on those picnics for many years.
And I know she's up there looking down, probably saying, don't let me down.
And I know we as a group here, I got confidence in it.
And I'm not a political person, maybe we talk sports, it's different, but politics know.
But we all seem to know what's right and what's wrong in it.
Mistake would make what we could correct them. And that's what we're here for.
And I'm looking at the clock, I don't want to run it over, but I'm probably in my city.
And I look at the faces here that run this thing and I know it's in good hands.
And whatever comes at the end, the ones that are not with us no longer and the ones that are still young.
We're all appreciative and thank you for the two minutes.
Do we have other speakers in the room before we go online?
Monique Berlanga and Priscilla Figueroa.
Either one, Priscilla?
Yeah, hi.
I'm Priscilla Figueroa, and I want to thank the.
Let me talk to Tony and city of hate, we're for this process that we're going through.
We've been at it, I'm always part of the community that we had for, and I guess we spoke for about.
We're going to talk about the mic on the podium, it's okay, just put on the podium, it's okay, we'll let you go over, you don't have to click this.
Sorry.
And we've been at it for about five years, you know, the group that we had and.
Finally, we come into.
A point where a lot of the residents and descendants are seeing some money.
That would compensate them for what they lost in the city of Russell city.
I do have a question and my question is.
How will you determine who gets twenty five thousand dollars?
Some people might get five thousand, some people might get seven or eight.
What is a criteria that you're using because I divided one point three million dollars into twenty five thousand dollars.
And that if everybody gets it twenty five thousand dollars, it only would benefit fifty two people.
So I would like to know the criteria so that the community knows the criteria that you're using to choose a person.
Live that owned their property as your your first step on this process.
And that is basically the question and I would like to thank everybody that it's involving this process and thank you very much.
Good afternoon.
Thank you.
Next speaker.
Is Monique or longer here.
Hi, good afternoon.
Monique for longer.
I just want to thank leadership here today and thank my grandfather, Mr. Geto as a nobles family.
Everybody else who has come out.
I many of you may know, I just met my entire career fighting displacement and depending of actions across this county and for me this isn't just professional it's highly personal.
My grandparents salmon when you'd a novel we're both raised in Russell city that's where they met for they fell in love along with each of their eight brothers and sisters and then I wouldn't be who I am today.
Without Russell city and those impacts I also just wanted to share my grandmother who is here last year and thank you.
Supervisor Mercaster putting that photo up there that was lovely.
Unfortunately, isn't here today to see this, but I just feel like I have to share when the Catholic Church in Russell city was founded.
She was named like the queen of the Holy Ghost, which was Mr. Russell city, which is something that we've always shared in our families.
So I just wanted to bring up her memory here.
Thank you all for your leadership and encourage you to approve this memory and I'm of understanding because time is of the essence right now.
You know, like I said, my grandmother was here last year. She won't get to see this in person, but I'm grateful and helpful that my grandfather and his other the other Russell city descendants will be able to see this really, really, really amazing next step.
Thank you.
I saw Madavi in half two minutes.
Good afternoon, everyone.
My name is Arzo Madavi and I served as Chairperson of the Hayward Community Services Commission in 2021.
I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for continuing this important work and also thank you to all the families who have shared their stories.
Our commission spent months researching the history of Russell city and developed the recommendations that led to Hayward's historic apology in November of 2021.
It's incredibly meaningful to see those efforts continue to grow into tangible action through the Russell city redress fund.
This fund is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with local conversation dedicated public servants and a community willing to confront its history with honesty and accountability.
I cannot be prouder of our former commission, our community, the city of Hayward and our Alameda County Board of Supervisors in these efforts.
Special thank you to Hayward Council members, Angela Andrews and Julie Roche as well as Asian roles for their work and dedication.
I'd also like to recognize former council member Sarah Lamden.
Our council liaison in 2021 whose guidance and support was pivotal in moving our recommendations from the commission to the city council.
I would especially like to thank supervisor Lisa Marquez who served as our city council liaison during my time early on in the commission.
For guidance and commitment help shape my community work. I appreciate her continued leadership at the county level, her commitment to our community shines through and all her actions.
For dedication and heart is commendable.
Progress like this happens because people stay committed over many years.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make this moment possible and thank you for continuing the pursuit of justice for Russell city and its community.
Good afternoon.
I obviously this item is so important and overdue.
I wanted to share what some county officials have told me about what happened with the funds that the county made from selling the lands in Russell city.
As I understand in the way we was told to me, with the proceeds from that sale, the county purchased lands in Dublin, that most of which were eventually sold and created the surplus property development trust fund, which is now at over $350 million.
That land also was used to consider the county jail, Santa Rita jail.
And so from that perspective, this is a really important and meaningful start at the same time.
So many people who are displaced from their lands as a result of racist actions, historical actions are now criminalized and often end up,
often end up in the county jail.
I understand that there's a possibility of showing the apology in Santa Rita jail.
We asked the sheriff about that last week. She said she might happen.
I hope it will happen and I hope also that the county might consider that there are funds other funds available than just what supervisors or the city of Hayward are able to put
forward from their own discretionary funds in order to affect just redress.
Thanks so much.
Tony, when you are in the line, you have two minutes.
Tony, when?
Deborah Harris, you have two minutes.
Good afternoon to everyone.
Really appreciative for the redress fund and with your doing at this point.
I have a question regarding the eligibility.
One of the requirements that you were asking for from documentation.
And I think most probably all of the landowners are deceased at this point.
So and bullet number one, you're saying individuals who are resided and personally owned.
I'm just wondering if you're taking each family member or are you just doing a whole family and dividing it by the siblings.
And the other question I have is who's going to bear is there a person who's gone to verify the resident requirement.
Well, there be someone who is very familiar or with the people from the city who live there or whatever.
And to verify that they are truly a recipient from from the rest of the city group.
So those are the two questions that I have.
And if I have any more, I'll just send my request to your office and request an answer.
But thank you so much.
Ready and Davis.
Events here who don't.
I eat channels and Pastor Floyd tremble. Please line up.
Good afternoon.
It's good to see each and every one of you supervisors and all the people that are here.
I'm here to say I'm really very pleased that this is taking place.
On Sunday I had a message by a very important person.
And he said in his message that when Moses was taken the children across the Red Sea.
There was two ways they could have gone.
They could have taken the short row or they could have taken the long row.
They decided to take the long row because there was a lot of lessons that need to be learned.
I want to thank the commission for taking the time that you did to bring all this stuff together to the supervisors.
You took the long row and there were lessons learned.
So what you need to know, you are just getting started.
And we are here to help you.
We want to do whatever it is that we need to do to make this happen.
And don't let us stop right here.
We have people and places ready to help you do whatever.
I heard you say something about raising funds and contacting.
But we have a place where there's a church is often an office.
Do whatever you can and don't let this be the beginning of the end.
Let this be on.
The people from Rossa City deserve what they should be getting.
And you know, in your heart, so they should be getting because you did get them in a apology.
I want to personally thank Nate and David.
I still got to give you a call, David.
So you know, heart to the back too.
And the other two.
I got to get familiar with you.
I know who you are.
But I need a relationship with you.
Okay.
I'm speaking as the president of the Hei Wusselb.
I'll let me to come to an ACP.
Thank you.
And please, let's keep this going.
Because I'm not going to give up.
Thank you.
We have to know how members of the board and the person represent the seat of Hayward. First of all, my name is
eventsio Urdado and it would be, I would be remiss not to come up here in speak. Being from a family of 15 members.
Twelve of those are former residents of Russell City. I was born in 1950.
A little highland hospital here in Alameda County in Oakland. And at that time, I lived in Hayward on Washington Street.
First street till left passed the railroad tracks. And the novels were one of my neighbors. I grew up in Atlanta run with Mr. Jim Knows.
And you have, I'm proud to say that me and Jim grew up in and come from Russell City. What we went through and what we suffered through.
It makes me want to cheer up. But some 25 years later in Jim Knows, when employed by this wonderful county of Alameda County, Jim worked for the probation department.
I also worked for the DA's office for 26 years. And I think Jim worked for about 20, 25 years in the probation department.
I also worked at Delton Police Department for 8 years. And again, I'm here to represent my family at 12. And my parents are no longer here.
When we moved out of Russell City, we had more than two minutes to move out. And it's ironic that we only have two minutes to speak here to encompass so much that we went through.
And I want to thank the board, again, and the spirit of Hayward. And I want to congratulate Mr. Nate Miley for his long long service. I think I was about 15 when you were in the board supervisor.
And I'm not 76, but come from a family at 12, 1.3 million dollars.
Sir, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your comments.
Thank you.
Superstars, good afternoon. All those who are from the city, never one in this crowd. I just want to commend the commission for the work you've done.
And I urge you all to continue this great work, 477 years ago, 1619 James Town, Virginia. That's when our four bears landed here.
And this is a small impact that you've done today.
It's my understanding that it's yours intention to have these funds being administered by the county auditor.
I would urge you to go on a different direction and create an office of reparations by which they can facilitate that process as something that you're working on and do.
And as you mold over that in your studies and talk amongst each other.
I want to remind you of what President Obama said is that be the change you seek.
So I encourage you all to be the change makers, the change seekers that can make this possible.
Remember, this is the same place where the Black Panther Party started.
And that Black Panther Party started the free reduced lunch program that is all over the United States of America.
So we have to be trend setters in Alameda. So I encourage you to consider that because that will create so much red tape having to go to the county, but having a local entity to help move these finances would be a great way to make this possible. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Honorable Board of Supervisors, Mrs. Murnishi, members of the Russell city community.
And fellow community members, my name is Iyishanol's.
I'm a descendant of Russell city. I'm speaking today in support of the agenda item.
I also, I have an ask for you. So I am grateful for the contributions of each of your individual offices to the redress fund.
I'm also grateful for the contributions of the city of Hayward and the Alameda County Office of Education.
I would urge you to continue to seed the fund with as much money with as much money as Russell city was sold for to cabinet cabinet and for so
Russell city sold for over 2.4 to 0.45 million dollars. I think a good goal to reach on behalf of the county for the Russell city redress fund is a minimum of 2.45 million dollars.
Speak here today because of the work of my grandparents and the work of my father.
My grandfather did not live to be 50. I am a year older than he was able to live and enjoy his life after Russell city.
And so for for those who are no longer with us for those who continue this fight for those who are needing something to interrupt the trauma that they've held on to for the past 70 to 80 years.
I encourage you to continue this work and I thank you for staying in the fight.
Thank you.
I wish I could be there in person. You know how important this work is. My name is Deborah Gore founding chair of the Alameda County reparations commission.
I do want to thank you again for the five million animals boat we had on June 30 for reparations active plan and this is just one of the steps in part of that plan.
I'm here today in strong undeniable support for item 129 approving the MOU with the city of Hayward.
I do believe that reparations work is done proximate to the community it's impacted so we got 14 cities we've got unincorporated areas.
All of those voices and all those things should happen also undeniable support authorizing the first state of the Russell city redress.
I shared here you know with the residents who are elderly that every year matters that time matters the delays are seriously impactful.
This board has said it itself it's painful to learn when our elders are passing away so improving this first phase is is very important.
I know you isn't just a symbolic gesture either I'd emphasize that establishes clear governors between the county and Hayward.
I thought the MOU was very well written articulating both an audited function and the city partnering with the county is very substantial.
And Russell city has proved to the country that reparations is not just a symbolism or it is actually action that needs to be taken.
And just in the last few minutes here I would interfere with you that the country is watching I had a media friend of mine chair the impact of our first draft plan.
And we reached over 125 potential media impressions 35 to 40 million unique individuals and about what is extremely five to seven million dollars.
Media values so you're having an impact the country is watching and I signed up and full support of this effort.
Thank you.
We go you're on the line you have two minutes.
Mary Rico.
Go ahead please.
Tony when you have two minutes.
Tony when.
Fire tablet.
You have two minutes.
Fire tablet you have two minutes.
No more speaker hello hello.
This is you have two minutes.
Hello this is Cindy Torres I'm a proud descendant of Virginia and raised for Jake though.
Lisa Marquez for spearheating this effort.
All of the work that she's done I can internally grateful also to.
My representative and the board supervisor is Nate Miley for his work in representing this and to everyone at the city of Hayward for bringing this forward.
We've lost so many people in his last few years.
My family and collectively all of our families and so it's I really appreciate expediting this.
So that those who deserve benefit somewhat.
I also appreciate the all of the board of supervisors for.
contributing to this fund because as one of the speakers earlier stated.
All of Alameda County benefited from the sale of this property.
With the.
The funds used to purchase the land for the young county the senator jail.
And he made a good statement that there may be funding there with that should actively be looked into to increase this funding.
Again this is not reparations this is just to rightfully give.
Some what that is deserved to those that are elders and I really appreciate supervisor Marquez for really focusing on that.
My one main concern is there's things to be quite a few loopholes in establishing eligibility.
Thank you for your comments next speaker.
No more speakers.
Okay we'll bring it back for action I think it's time for emotion and a vote.
Yes thank you thank you everyone for your participation I know that in the hardships the trauma is real and.
As was mentioned the apology from the city of Hayward and the county was step one and now we're moving into action.
This is a phased approach if you review the board letter the MOU and the criteria it lays out to will be making the decision.
The question about up to 25,000 we really have to assess how many applications will be receiving.
And it's not anticipating a large number this first round because of the specific criteria of the individual still have to be living and have had owned a home.
And so the faster we could get through this process we could release the subsequent criteria which will include descendants which I know many of you are here on behalf of yourselves and your family members so just know that.
I'm happy to go to school to get to the next phase as quickly as we can but we do have to exhaust the first round first I just want to acknowledge that and happy to make the motion to move item A and B for item 129.
But before doing that I want to thank councilmember Angela Andrews she listed many many of the people that got us to this point.
Typically the family members who got gotten together year after year at Kennedy Park to share memories sharing community just know that we are hearing your concerns and the work continues.
And because we have lost so many elders this is why we want to move on this as quickly as possible.
Less you sincerely apologize for and want to give my condolences there have been many significant members we've lost.
As of late, there was Jose Cota, as well as Jesse Johnson, the mother of Carolyn Johnson, who we closed in memory of her a few weeks ago.
So we do need to move on this quickly. Do one acknowledge the members of the rest of the city, reparative justice, steering committee.
And a Mr. Nambo was here in his family, Deborah Harris, Iyshanolz, Iyana Nolz, James Nolz, Deborah Harris, Marion Johnson, Francesca Thompson, Thomas, sorry.
Tony Wynn, Veldergo, Kathy Rodriguez, Cindy Torres, Gloria Moore, Michael D. Johnson, Carolyn Johnson, Michael D. Johnson, Elizabeth Moron, Priscilla Figaroa, and the out on the family.
Thank you to all of you for continuing to uplift the legacy in the life of Russell City.
So on behalf of all of you and in memory of those that we have lost, I'm happy to move this item and for those that are interested in contributing to the fund, because we do want to expand the fund.
It's currently at 1.3 million. The goal is to increase that. There is information to reach out to my office. There's a designated email address, which is Russell City.
We address at acgov.org and there's a phone number 2726684. So we will continue to provide updates to the community.
Once we are ready to release the application, we will also be hosting office hours to assist individuals with applying for these funds and securing the required documentation.
I want to thank the county, the auditor, Melissa Wilk, her team, Laura, Terence and Susan were instrumental.
Our county administrator, Susan and Lori Cox for your efforts and our interim county council, Andrea Weddle for your tirelessly.
Working hard on this together across the finish line. I'd love to hear that people were pleased with the MOU that was many, many hours of getting that to finale, but really want to thank everyone and especially everyone on my team.
I don't want to take away from that vendor, but Mr. Rani was she, Megan Turner, Alex Bosch of it and everyone that supported these efforts, including the attorney, Michael Lawson, Jennifer, just want to thank everyone.
This is historic. I hope that we could secure a unanimous vote.
And that our commitment here to all of you is that this is just the start. Thank you.
Yes, I'd like to second the motion and speak to it.
So, I'll second the motion.
Yes.
And yeah, I'll be going to thank Supervisor Marquez and everybody that she thanked.
It was a long list of everybody, but I know she, she spearheaded this from my perspective.
Along with my nationals and others.
And because I nationals is one of my advisors.
And because many of you pointed me out and spoke so eloquently, you touched my heart.
And so I talked to my colleague.
And you know, it's rare that we do things without checking with our chiefs of staff.
I'm going to commit another quarter of them like in dollars to the Russell city, readjust fine.
I see Alex sitting back there, but I already checked with your boss.
So, Alisa.
I'm going to match that.
But, but I want to be clear.
This is a public pledge that action item is not an agenda for today.
So we're publicly pledging our commitment.
And we will have to bring that back in the fall just so everybody knows.
And once we complete that action that will bring the fund to 1.8 million and we're still raising money.
But that will be a separate action.
We're just stating a public commitment at this point.
I just want to say for those who happen to be concerned about Senate Bell 1193.
This is an example of how the Board of Supervisors.
This is how we work.
What is what is that bill?
Supervisors.
That's a bill that some states Senator wants to take away our ability to construct how we manage and handle discretionary funds.
Even though we are elected by all of you to do this job.
I second that sentiment.
Supervisors.
Motion's been made by Supervisors Marquez.
Seconded by Supervisors Miley.
Can we roll call vote please?
Supervisors Marquez.
Hi.
Supervisors Cam.
Hi.
Supervisors Miley.
Supervisors fortune on the box.
Hi.
Does it help her?
I vote.
Yes.
That passes unanimously.
Thank you.
As Miss Freddie Davis said, this is the long road was necessary.
This is I hope the world is watching in terms of what not to do and not to repeat harms.
So this is a history lesson for all of us.
I just really appreciate everyone's engagement on this.
We can't let history go by without a photo.
Could we have all of the speakers and anybody that is here on behalf of the Russell city?
Item.
Come on up.
Let's take a group photo.
You can come up here and line up in front of the dias.
If you're here for the Russell city or you spoke on the Russell city, read dress item.
Come on up here.
Let's take a group photo.
We have everybody coming up here.
Okay.
Here.
You.
Here.
There.
Here.
Yeah.
Here.
Thank you.
Again.
Yeah, I got to get that in there.
You're very welcome.
Thank you.
You're very welcome.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
You're welcome to stay for the next item.
We have several more items.
You're all welcome to stay.
But we're going to get back on with it.
Thank you.
Our next item is item 130.
The registered voters approving one of three actions.
I'll just turn this over to staff for brief report.
Thank you.
Is there a staff report?
Are we waiting for a presenter?
The interim register are voters.
You're very busy today.
Good afternoon, President Howard and Board members.
Our office received the minimum wage initiative petition.
And we were able to verify the petition and found it to be sufficient.
With the required number of 49,376.
Well, presenting it to your board today.
To show the efficiency certificate and the required actions within the board letter.
Which are one to adopt the proposed minimum wage ordinance without change.
Place the proposed ordinance without change on the ballot for the November third.
Twenty26 general election or refer the proposed initiative to one or more county agency or agencies for report on the measures effects.
presented within 30 days. Your board would then be required to take either actions set out in
items A or B above within 10 days of receiving that report. Does that conclude your report?
Thank you very much. Very good. We're now going to take public comment on this item.
Your board would then be required to take either actions set out in items A or B above within 10 days of receiving that report.
Does that conclude your report?
Very good. We're now going to take public comment on this item.
And that means if you want to speak fill out a speaker slip.
If you're online and want to speak to this item, raise your hand online.
We're going to ask the clerk to count up the speaker slips.
We're going to devote an hour of public comment to this item.
And we'll need the speaker slips to know roughly how many speakers we have.
If these speakers slips so far 24 25 online.
Okay. So that means not everyone may not get to speak.
We're going to have one minute for every speaker. We're going to ask speakers to speak line up behind each other and speak one after the other.
We're going to ask you to hold the clause so that more people can speak.
If you choose to disrupt the meeting with the clause than fewer people get to speak, I want as many people to speak as possible.
We're going to say we often take three in person and then three online. Let's take five in person because people that came in person.
I'd like to get as many people in person to be able to speak five in person, then five online back and forth.
And if you're called to speak, you don't just line up one after the other.
So that we're not taking too much time getting out of the aisle.
And if you there before another speaker go ahead and speak, it doesn't have to be in the order called but do line up one after the other.
So let's call the first in person speakers.
In person, come online up and take public comment.
Thank you, President. How if I can get a moment to get the time or up one moment.
And I'm going to ask the clerk to stop taking slips and stop letting hands be raised if they're not raised already.
Gradually gentry, night old domes, Andrews, Poemart, Robert, Avidaka and Jason Goldblatt.
Come on up.
You don't have to wait. You can come speak.
I'm on this pomade from Tarvalorus Nithos workers united and I'm someone who grew up in the
unincorporated area of Ashland with a mother who did domestic work and a father who worked as a custodian.
Living by the minimum wage was never enough for my family. A minimum wage was never a living wage.
Not having a living wage led to my parents eventually being displaced and prevented them to set roots in their old age.
Alameda County is one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the country.
Yet many of our community members in low-wage jobs to report having to work multiple jobs
just to survive while experiencing housing and food insecurity. Within our county 39% of workers
earned less than $30.30 an hour living with economic precariousness also harms the health of our
working-class communities. The MIT Living Wage calculator shows that even a single person with no
children needs at least $32.31 to cover the basic cost of living in Alameda County. A living wage that
includes all workers and ands exclusions to vulnerable workers will benefit and uplift all
working-class communities in our county. Next speaker please thank you.
Good afternoon. My name is Jason Goldlatt. I'm the vice chair of the California Alliance of Family
on Businesses. I've owned and operated restaurants with my folks, my brother, and now my nephew.
All throughout Alameda County since January of 1990. Over the past 36 years our restaurants have
served the community and employed amazing people. I'm here today to respectfully ask that the board
moved to study the impact of the proposed $30 minimum wage. An independent study from Harvard
Business School found that even a dollar increase in the minimum wage increased the likelihood of
restaurants closing by 14%. And cut new openings by 46%. This is significant. My family has spent the
past 36 years taking the care necessary to run businesses in this community. I'm asking that the board
take the same care with this decision. I urge you to move forward with the economic impact study.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Next speaker. Hello. My name is Nigel Jones and I'm the owner of
Colabash Restaurant here at Oakland and I support this initiative with the sense that we need to have the
balance. As a black owned business here, small businesses is difficult to encourage people to come into
this industry. So for the most part, if they're not able to make a living balance, they're needs,
then they're not going to be able to show up to work. And for me, I want my workers and my staff to be able
to eat at my restaurant and support their families just like anybody else. Thank you. Thank you.
Good afternoon. My name is Robert Oppadaka, Executive Director of the United Latino
section. I have lived here on the Executive Director of the United Latino section. And I've
lived a, I've been a resident of Balueta County for the last 45 years plus and I've lived in
District 3 for the last 23, 23 years. I care a lot about my community. That's why I'm here to
ask you to study this item before moving it forward. In particular, I'm concerned about the impact
that it will have on non-profits and the programs that they operate and then the people that they're serving
because the people that are serving the residents of Alameda County and those who have the most urgent
and compelling needs that are being met by these non-profit organizations. And the big jump might be
difficult for them to fulfill and may affect the people that will be mostly care about.
Please study this so it should be form moving forward. Thank you.
Hello, my name Bradley. Right now it's hard for working people to afford to live. Too many families
are working full time and still can't keep up with the living or rising costs of living. This can't
pay me as a lot to me personally. I grew up in a single parent household in East Oak and
watching my mom struggle to make ends meet with a few opportunities and not many positive role models.
I made bad decisions that led me to spring and five years in prison. When I came home in 2021,
I was given a chance to become a carpenter. For the first time I saw what it looked like to
earn a living and build a future. That experience inspired me to help others who are trying to
turn their lives around. That's why I joined this campaign. We worked overtime in the rain in the
coal. We knocked on doors. Listen to our neighbors and collect the tens of thousands of signatures
because people want this and people need this. We did everything that we was asked to do. Now it's
time for the board. Do this part and I'll put this measure because working people deserve live and
wait for all. Thank you.
Tonera, three men here on the line. You have two minutes. Conrad, Freeman.
Hi. Good afternoon. My name is Conrad Freeman and I am a family-run business owner in
Alameda County. My business is operating here for three and a half years. I respectfully request
that the board move forward with a study of the proposed measures economic impact on Alameda County.
We have no idea what this measure would do to local businesses like mine. I already absorb
additional costs that other businesses in the Bay Area don't have, including measures to ensure the
safety of mine plays and making sure my nearby community is clean and welcoming to both
customers and employees. Given the scale of this proposal and was already known about the impact of
much smaller increases, this measure deserves a serious independent study before moves forward.
Thank you for your time and consideration. M. P. You're on the line. You have one minute. This is
Mindy Petchenuk from Oakland candidate for Oakland Mayor and I urge that this measure not be moved forward.
This is not going to help the people who need it and it's not going to help the business community at the same time.
It's time for Alameda County to start getting to the root of the problem and actually creating real jobs,
real revenue and to bring down the cost of living. So at this point there is no way this measure should
be passed. We've seen this many times. You raise the minimum wage, but it does nothing to help anybody.
So I am calling on you to not go forward with this and think about really solving the problem. It's about
time that Alameda County really solved its problems. Thank you.
Claudia, you have one minute?
I urge the Board of Supervisors to take a serious study of the available data. We have other cities
that serve an example with the minimum wage is artificially high and not supported by the basic
economic principles. What happened in other cities was stress on starting cutting hours on their employees
and they started closing. Employees make over all less because their hours were cut.
And when businesses close, that's a less service that the business provides the community and less sales
revenue tax for a sense of city services. Moreover, we have to think about seniors on fixed incomes.
If you raise $30 to $30 minimum wage, burgers to be $20, housing senior on fixed income,
going to afford that is a tax on everything. All goods is a tax on families who cannot afford it.
We really need to get at the root causes of problem. We need to get at the root causes of educating
our kids, making sure that more than 60% of our kids graduate from high school. Right now, a lot of them aren't
registered.
Hello, my name is Aladdin Samike. I am a family owned business owner in Alameda County. I respectfully
urge the board to move forward with the economic impact study of the proposed $30 minimum wage.
I would like you to do this before taking any further action. I thank you for your time and
consideration on this.
Claudia, you have one minute.
Michael Augustini, you have one minute. Good afternoon, President Hobart and Members of the Board.
My name is Michael Augustini, and I am a family owned business owner. As someone who employes hundreds
of Californians, I've seen firsthand how significant policy changes affect hiring, staffing,
prices, and investment decisions. Regardless of where people stand on the proposed wage,
I believe everyone benefits from having reliable economic data before a decision is made.
I respectfully urge the Board to commission an independent economic impact study before taking any further
action on the proposed $30 minimum wage measure. A decision of this magnitude deserves a clear
understanding of its potential effects on jobs, small businesses, consumers, and the local economy.
An objective analysis will help ensure that any political policy adopted is based on data
and gives the community confidence that all impacts have been carefully considered.
Is that gold blood, cit, clally, alana, Brian Avelas, as my older iglesias?
Good afternoon. My name is Zach Goldblatt, and I'm a family business owner in Alameda County.
My grandparents, father, uncle, and I operate restaurants that employ many local residents across the
county. I'm here to respectfully ask the Board to conduct an economic impact study before taking any
further action on this proposed measure. Every new cost affects our ability to invest in our
employees, serve our customers, and continue growing in Alameda County before making a decision with
lasting consequences. I simply ask that you have all the facts. Please move forward with an economic
impact study. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Hello, Board. Thank you. We're here today because the registrar has served
Hello Board. Thank you. We're here today because the registrar has certified our $30 minimum wage initiative, a milestone for working class people in Alameda County.
And regards to the opposition, I want to remind everyone that $30 is a response to the rising cost of living. The Bay Area is the most expensive region in the country. This is not something to be proud of.
So raising the minimum wage is the bare minimum. We have accepted a system where workers are desperate for a wage that is still far below what it actually cost to live here.
The cost of living should go down. We should not be subsidizing poverty wages with our tax dollars. Just so businesses can stay afloat.
If a restaurant owner cannot afford to pay their workers a wage closer to the livable standard, maybe they should reconsider their business model.
We shouldn't protect profits of the expensive people's survival restaurant and business owners.
Will you continue being angry at the workers who make your businesses run or will you begin to ask?
Thank you. Thank you for your comment.
Your time is up. Next speaker.
Hi, my name is Tlailya. I'm with Dr. Harris.
No's workers united and also with the living wage from this campaign was built by everyday people who know what is like to work hard and still struggle to make ends meet.
This milestone belongs to the working class people of Alameda County, the volunteer labor organization said community members to talk to 100,000 voters who say this is important.
We have qualified for the ballot. We're seeing an organized position emerge and that's surprising.
Their interests are that benefit from keeping wages low well cause of housing for transportation and child care continues to rise.
They may try to frame that the initiative as two ambitious or two costly, but the real cost is for some working people to put between pick.
Pay rent, buying groceries, putting gas in the car and paying for child care.
After 4th day of work, especially for unincorporated everyone's industrial value, charilette and unincorporated parts of labor workers feel like like they cannot talk about this since they don't have a city council as the living.
Thank you for your comment. We're time to sub.
So hi, my name is Brian Aglar.
I've spent the last six weeks interning at the Bahaduris, so needles worked as united.
In that time, I've spoken to 141 separate people across Alameda County in places like Hayward, Fruitvale, Fremont, Newark, Pleasanton, Union City, Incorporated cities like Cherryland and San Lorenzo.
That's 141 unique in-depth conversations with mostly working class immigrant communities.
Every day, the ability to afford to survive slips further out of people's hands.
Almost every single person, almost every single time that I've asked it, folks want to hire minimum wage.
Again, that's 141 times.
They've shared with me how an increase any increase could change their lives.
A 30-minute fathered minimum wage would help them and family members pay rent.
It would help them buy food for them and their families.
It would help them focus on one job, allowing mothers and father to spend critical time with their children.
It would help them prepare for their children's future.
It would help them pay medical bills.
It will save lives, period.
This is the reality.
You've been given the research you've shown that 117,000 individuals want this.
Don't let them down.
I'm here to ask that the Board of Supervisors,
but the living wage for all initiative on ballot this November.
That's an organizer who spends a lot of time around Alameda County.
I hear firsthand from our community members about how they are struggling to make ends meet.
At a time when prices are continuously going up.
Well, minimum wage only increases a few cents per year.
They were two or three jobs just to stay afloat.
Oftentimes balancing that with taking care of their families.
I have seen not only how this leaves them exhausted, but how this has dire consequences on their health.
People should be able to not just survive, but to live well on one job.
Moreover, I want to emphasize that 117,000 signatures is not a small fee and it emphasizes the will of the people.
We just talked about what it means for black and brown residents to be displaced from Alameda County.
And that also means ensuring that they can afford to continue living here.
Carey Harper how we you're on the line.
You have one minute.
This is Carrie Harper how we hopefully you're able to hear me.
I am a family business owner.
And I am calling in to ask that the Board submit this proposal for study.
There is absolutely no way that we should be making decisions about something as significant as this increase without having all of the information.
And while I seriously understand and appreciate the desire of many people to have an increased wage.
There are often unintended consequences that come from the sorts of things and it would actually potentially be more irresponsible for us to take action.
Without information and based purely on a desire that is not supported by evidence.
People many have talked about the rising costs.
There is no greater driver of rising costs than rising costs of labor.
So I would just ask if this be submitted for studies so that we can all make an educated and smart decision.
Thank you.
Arlene La Daren you're out the line you have one minute.
Hello my name is Arlene Madaran and I'm a family owned business owner.
A woman owned business owner.
And I respectfully urge the Board to please do an impact study.
Let's make a decision based on data.
I understand everyone's concerns and arguments but let's make decisions based on data.
Thank you for your consideration.
My results, Sanchez you're on the line you have one minute.
Thank you.
Hello my name is Muddy Soul Sanchez and I am a family owned business owner.
I respectfully urge the Board to move forward with an economic impact study before taking any further action.
Thank you for your consideration.
Thank you.
Gary Slay you're on the line you have one minute.
Hello this is Gary Slay CEO of the Cached Valley Eden area chamber of commerce.
The chamber represents well over 500 businesses throughout the unincorporated area.
We support fair pay for workers but we encourage you to move cautiously and considering increase of the minimum wage.
We strongly urge you to select option C to do an economic impact study in which county agencies would study possible outcomes of this increase before a vote by county citizens.
Please study the impact to businesses economic development as our wage will be significantly higher than surrounding areas impacts to nonprofits.
And the impacts of an entire county voting on something that only affects an incorporated.
Alameda County giving those concerns we urge you to move carefully and considering this initiative move study is clearly needed to help voters before an informed vote can be cast.
Thank you for your time and please consider option C.
Brenda Grisham you have one minute.
Good afternoon this is Brenda Grisham.
As the business owner in Oakland California myself we all know that the workers deserve wages that allowed them to live with dignity.
But we also have to make sure the businesses employing those workers can survive.
If we raise wages without addressing the cost of doing business in Oakland we could unintentionally eliminate the very job that we're trying to improve.
Employee taxes employing taxes insurance rates and other costs that are skyrocketed.
The study is vital for the survival of small businesses.
I urge you to move forward with the economic impact study the results are very important for both sides.
In person Marcos Santos Cynthia Salazar Sonia Arana Adriana Rendon Miriam.
Good afternoon.
My name is Marcos Santos.
I reach coordinator for the College of Needles workers united.
Here's a member of the living wage for all coalition.
I wanted to take some of my time today to really a public comment by Teresa Salazar.
I care provided to the elderly here in Alameda County and a member of the U.S. who could not attend to work.
I'll be translating.
Good afternoon.
In recent years, cost of living has increased immensely in comparison to our minimum wage.
It is building such deep sadness to see my community struggle.
Sleeping in the street.
Not able to afford groceries.
This is preventable.
My question is why are corporations and governing bodies so quick to raise rent groceries, utilities, gas,
get denying delay a living wage for a community for working communities who pay your salaries in taxes.
I urge you Board of Supervisors to stay with workers, not corporations.
This sentiment is not only of the distance Salazar, but of more than 100,000 voters across all of Alameda County.
voters from Castro Valley, Cherryland, unincorporated parts of Hayward.
More than 100,000 people have their eyes on you now to put this on the ballot in November.
Hello, everyone.
My name is Cynthia Salazar and I am here as an organizer with Debah Hazardous when needles workers united and as a member of the living wage for all coalition.
I ask all business owners who are against this.
Why do you not see your workers as equals?
Can you look them in their eyes and tell them they do not, that you do not think they should have a livable wage.
Conrad, for you may and I'm sure that your small family business as a McDonald's,
McDonald's makes more than enough profit to pay your workers a minimum wage.
As an organizer, my job is to create relationships with our community members, our conversations always is back to not being able to make ends meet.
So my question to you all is, are you okay with your residents working more than one job to make ends meet?
Are you okay with your residents having fear of not having enough to pay their bills?
We have collected 117,000 signatures.
So we know that this is wanted and needed by your residents, so I urge you to please listen to your constituents and do not delay this.
So your community that you listen to them and add this to the November ballot.
Do not delay this.
Can we have an extra minute for interpretation.
Thank you very much.
Good afternoon.
My name is Diana Rendon.
I'm an organizer with the work of the community workers.
And this is also part of Salario Signo for all of this.
As an organizer, it comes from the base of Iganando Salarios.
Minimons for more than 15 years.
The second.
There are only to pay the necessary money.
For those houses.
The city is the most expensive city in every year and the only supermarket you are living in,
because we can't wait more to vote.
These ask to speak to us.
We have the most efficient things,
but, if you want to speak,
we need to be in this.
So, right now we are talking about
a community.
We will not be clueless for this.
I mean we are talking.
The translation is so important.
Great.
So she says, my name is Adriana Rundone.
I'm an organizer with
from the Salvadorian ASAP and I'm part of
living wage coalition.
As an organizer that comes from the base,
I have earned minimum wage for over 15 years.
I lived paycheck to paycheck.
I only had enough to pay my rent and food.
I did not even have enough to take my kids to the movie theater.
I talked to my community about the living wage for all $30 an hour.
And it would support workers, low wage workers have a better quality of life.
It would allow them to spend more time seeing their kids grow up
and taking them to school, not having to work three jobs.
$30 an hour, which is covered the basics needed to live.
So we cannot wait any longer for you to go on the ballot.
We have enough signatures.
Do not delay this.
We need to vote now.
Well, I start this at all.
My name is Sonia Rana and I live in the condo of the Meda.
And I have nine years of living in the condo of the Meda and I'm a member of the workers
neighborhood.
I have seen the work that has been put into collective.
have seen the work that has been put in to collect enough signatures and the signatures show us community wants to see this on the ballot.
And we're here because we have enough signatures. We hope that you take this into consideration as you decide to put it on the November ballot and that you do put it on the November ballot because after all, the voters have decided they want this on the ballot. And at the end of the day, it's the people who lead.
We're here because we have enough signatures. We can't see the victory with the support of the state.
We can't support to make sure this is on the ballot. And we hope this is a success.
Good afternoon. My name is Miriam at AIMIERS and I'm a Lee organizer with our Hello to some of those workers united, also a part of the Living Wage Coalition.
But workers did the work and we did the research. We spoke to voters over hundreds of thousands of voters across Alameda County.
I myself did that work. Talk to voters and I wonder when people say to do the research, I wonder if employers themselves have done that research have they asked workers do they have enough to live because voters told us they do not.
I said that this is a 10 year phase out voters were surprised here that we wouldn't all employers would not even be impacted until 2037 by 2037 30 dollars will not be enough to live either.
So we need to decide on this now. It cannot come soon enough and I think this is a special case in South Alameda County, which is where I let a lot of outreach efforts talking to voters.
Across Castro Valley, Cherryland and Unincorporate areas where they don't have a city council to raise these concerns. Thank you.
Stop, Roger. You're on the line. You have one minute.
Thank you to the members of the board. My name is Scott Rodrick. I'm a second generation family owned business.
One and a elected body like this whether it be local or state reviews potential legislation that can have extraordinary impact.
It is incumbent upon that body to seek the full study as to the votes repercussions.
And I think now is the case whereby the board of supervisors is considering passing the highest minimum wage in the entire United States.
There might be really good reasons to review and pass and there might be an equal number of reasons to suspend and study this extraordinary precedent.
Before the extraordinary dare I say unprecedented, it might be passed. I would respectfully ask that this board
Do its fiduciary responsibility to the voters, the workers, and the business owners of Alameda, in seeking a full and well-regarded economic study as to the repercussions.
I would like to refer this board to option seed unpacted.
On, on, take, you're on the line. You have one minute.
Hello, up to the board. My name is Anthony York. I am a family owned small business owner.
respectfully request the board to move forward with an economic impact study of the proposed $30 minimum wage measure before taking any further action.
This assessment must be done. It can be detrimental if it's not looked at.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Alissa, you're on the line. You have one minute.
Alissa, one minute.
Tony Panetta, you're on the line. You have one minute.
Hello. My name is Tony Panetta and I am the chief impact officer for the Alameda Health Consortium, which represents eight community clinics that provide preventive primary care services to all residents of Alameda County.
We're calling in to request an impact analysis of the proposed measure with a particular focus in three areas.
Area number one is interaction with the state health care minimum wage law for concerns around state preemption and conflict.
Second area is regarding a place based policy framework or work that is completed in unincorporated areas of the county and what implications are for employees who's
pay period covers work that is completed in unincorporated area for time that is completed in incorporated areas.
And the third area is the cost of the county to both implement and defend court challenges assistance forward.
Thank you for the opportunity contribute to this living wage conversation, which is important to you.
Leslie, you have one minute.
Leslie, one minute.
Caroline.
Hi, I own a small family business and I am calling to strongly urge the board to move forward with an economic impact study before taking any action.
Thank you for listening to my request.
Sean Piazza, you're on the line, you have one minute.
Good afternoon, my name is Sean Piazza and I am the chairman of the California Alliance of Family own businesses and a proud family own business in Southern California.
We represent a hundred of family own operations throughout California including Alameda County.
I'm here today to respectfully urge this board to study the impact of the $30 minimum wage measure.
Because of the work we do, I see what happens to family businesses across the state when a major policy shifts.
It's before anyone understands its effects.
I can tell you it's rarely the outcome anyone intended.
Alameda County would not just be raising the wage.
It would be running an experiment that no one has tried before.
I'm not here to tell you what that impact would be.
No one can't.
And that uncertainty is exactly why the county needs to study its impact.
My ask is simple study this before becomes the reason family own businesses can no longer operate.
Serve their communities and provide the goods and services we depend on.
Thank you for your consideration.
Next in person, Daisy L. D. Laxi.
Renaldo Reed.
Nicole Edwards.
Jenny Allegory.
So that's a delay see you know.
I respectfully come up to the council you know I'm saying saying that.
These are the people of your these are the constituents the people that put you all in your seat that are asking for more money.
I'm hearing the people that have enough time that they can wait.
But I see the people of your city and county standing they need it now.
So let's put this on November.
Let's quit.
These people voltage all in.
Let's do it.
They want because they find their names.
These people that got this.
This money.
Small businesses sorry.
That's 11 years from now.
So if you were to about that right now go.
You and me go read it one fair wage dot org.
You can go read the initiative.
We already did the studies that you need to see.
So just go read up on it and pass it November.
That's when we need that.
Hello.
Hello, my name is Nicole at words a single parent of three children.
I believe that you really strongly should suggest move it forward with this because poverty is the creation of crime and.
I don't have enough.
And as you said earlier, certain people put on your heart.
I have one child.
Her father is dead due to poverty.
I have another child.
Her dad is incarcerated facing ten of life because of poverty.
I really beg you.
Please push this forward.
Now, I'm a resident of a corn project the most notorious place in Oakland right now.
If we just had enough.
Hello, my name is Nancy Aligh Gray.
I'm here in behalf of one fair wage as a former commissioner.
And my own experience as a person who has lived in America, county her whole life as a former commissioner for one very wage.
So you can see the people of the community and hearing the strategy pass the face hearing the things that the two between and watching each signature we put down.
Makes it not only signature to me, but a story in a person behind it rather than thinking about 17 170,000 signatures.
I think of 170,000 people with stories that agree it should be on the ballot to be voted upon the cost of living in the Bay Area has gone so far.
That people cannot catch up.
They have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Make it basic human necessities food, hygiene products, including become a forethought as those come first.
There's no work like balance because it only because it is only so much work.
Oh, sorry.
There is no work like balance because it is it is only work.
So many can not enjoy the wonderful qualities that come with living in Alameda County as they have the.
Good afternoon.
My name is Sarjay Araman. I'm a resident of district four.
Thank you supervisor Miley for representing me in district four.
I'm also a UC Berkeley academic and author and attorney.
I have testified in over 200 state city and county legislatures on the minimum wage.
I have worked with UC Berkeley economists and UC Berkeley trained economists and movement economics to produce two independent studies that we have sent to your offices.
That found a billion dollars and increased GDP as a result of this initiative.
Eighteen hundred new jobs as a result of this initiative absolutely no job loss or closures.
527 million additional tax dollars and tax revenue for you the county.
And this is in line with all of the data that we've seen over the last 50 years frankly from minimum wage increases in city counties and states around the country.
As you know, you do not have the power to stop this or to change the language, which means that if it goes to delay in 2028.
The time that small businesses have asked for to face in this.
Thank you for your next speaker please.
Next speaker.
We have about 20 minutes left for public comment. Let's get as many speakers as we can.
Let's go listen. You're on the line. You have one minute, Alyssa.
Hi, can you hear me?
Yes.
I am a consensus in the name.
It was a trend.
It would be very impacted by a $30 and increased to $30 in the rate in unincorporated areas.
I would like to afford my car.
When to be survival in the Bay Area.
Thousands of us have spoken in sign.
Respect the signatures. Thank you.
Joseph Wong, you're on the line. You have one minute.
Joseph Wong.
Hello, this is.
Go ahead.
Joseph Wong.
Hello. This is Joseph Wong.
Thank you for allowing me to speak on this very important matter.
I am a small business owner.
I am second generation and I parents came to this country's immigrants.
And started their business in the mid-80s.
I have seen the impact of the financial pressures that we are all facing.
And I am respectfully requesting that the board.
Take options to study this.
So that's all of the impact that this may cause.
Can be studied and confirmed before we go forward on such a serious item.
Thank you.
Julie Pernicky, you're on the line, you have one minute, Julie Pernicky.
Harris, you're on the line, you have one minute.
Hi, good afternoon Board of Supervisors. I hope you guys can all hear me there.
And I'm here with my peers, the Goldblatt family as well, Steve Pete family.
I'm a owner of a family owned business and I want to respectfully ask that the Board thoroughly studied this, you know,
some of the facts of our business after the $20 wage increase which went up $4 in one shot.
Is that the employees were getting 135 hours less per employee. Imagine that.
If you took three weeks less worth of pay home and that's on the employee side.
And we love our employee, we value our employees. They are the lifeblood of what we do.
And then on the other side on the business side, we still haven't recovered from the 2024 increase.
In fact, you know, we are about 80% of the weight back to 2023.
So I respectfully ask that you do, do this, it cannot.
To Morgan, you're on the line, you have one minute.
Good afternoon, Board. My name is Timothy Morgan. I own a family run business in Alameda County.
And I think about a 77% increase in the minimum wage would directly result in my inability to not increase current employee hours and definitely not higher additional employees.
You see business close in California or leave California permanently and we can prevent small business deterioration by really knowing the economic impact of these drastic actions.
We have empathy for the cost of living in California, but it cannot be shoulder singularly on small business. Thank you.
Jacob, Brent, you have one minute.
Good afternoon. My name is Jacob Brent. I'm the legislative and regulatory manager for the California Retailer Association.
We have percent retailers being small. I respectfully ask the Board to study the economic impact of the measure.
Retails one of the largest employers in this county get the operate on thin margins while absorbing significant supply chain run and insurance costs that threaten their ability to keep stores open.
This is in a concern limited to only a few retailers, it's shared broadly across our membership and it reflects a real risk to jobs, store hours and investments.
Independent research backs us up even smaller minimum wage increases have led to real business closures and job losses in retail in a 30% wage goes far beyond this.
We're asking on behalf of the retailers we represent that the county take the time to fully understand the impact. Thank you.
Next in person.
Contani Jackson Jennifer Beesla Lucas Sobranos Paola Mika.
Hello, my name is Lucas. I'm an East Oakland resident and I have family in Hayward and Castro Valley.
I'm here to voice my support in raising the minimum wage to 30 dollars an hour as soon as possible.
I'm often speaking to workers in Hayward, Castro Valley and Cherryland as part of my work at Travahalotis when meals work is united.
Just this weekend we hosted a community forum in Cherryland with neighbors and residents of many unincorporated areas of Alameda County.
In each conversation I've ever had informing residents, family and friends about the effort to raise minimum wage.
I've seen excitement, relief and unanimous support for this proposal.
The 117,000 signatures supporting this ballot measure reflect what I'm seeing in person.
The working people of Alameda County are hard pressed to make ends meet with the constant rise in the cost of living.
We need the political will to back our working residents.
We're calling on you to ensure this measure is on the ballot is November.
By working neighbors, can't afford to wait. Thank you.
Hello, my name is Mika. I'm an Alameda County voter living in East Oakland.
I'm here to express the importance of increasing the current minimum wage and forgetting a living wage on the ballot is November.
So many families cannot afford to wait any longer.
So please don't delay this and support getting a $30 minimum wage on the ballot this year.
Let's move away from barely surviving day to day which I want to note that many are not even getting to survive but are dying or no longer with us.
Due to poverty and due to this lack of funds that every day people can't get to.
To thriving safety and living with dignity is a right for all not an negotiable for some.
Thank you.
Hi, my name is.
I'm an organizer with a hello to Sunita's work is united and also part of the living wage for all coalition.
I'm just here to echo all of my comrades have said have said and I'm in support of this initiative to be put on the ballot this November.
We I spent so much time in the field talking to workers, door knocking and everyone express the importance of passing in an initiative like this.
And in fact, people express that $30 is not even enough.
So I urge you to be brave.
I urge you to lead in by example and put the initiative on the ballot this year.
Hello, everyone, my name is Jennifer dyslan the national deputy director one fair wage part of the living wage for all coalition.
I'm also a proud daughter of immigrant parents the American American Atholatina.
My dad was in a union and through his union wages is supported my education, my housing, my health care.
I also my family time family quality time including traveling back to my parents home land that home man which sponsored 30 fat of my family members to come to United States due to his wages.
So I know the power of wages and I know the power of was strong wages foundation has for families and today I continue to hear stories time and time again about now making enough to be pay basic means like rent groceries and access to health care.
So just imagine if they have people have the ability in your county to dream and rest having having to work multiple jobs this allows for that.
I urge for the board to pass quickly and to not delay. Thank you.
Thank you.
Stan Andrew Chamber, you have one minute.
Hello, can you hear me?
Good evening.
You need supervisors. My name is Emily Gregor. I'm president and CEO of the Sanly Andrew Chamber of Commerce.
A $30 minimum wage is not simply a wage increase.
It's a major economic policy decision that requires thorough economic and industry specific analysis.
Businesses operating on narrow margins may are probably not able to absorb a dramatic increase in labor costs.
They're going to have to raise prices, reduce hours and quite possibly eliminate jobs.
When businesses close, the impact extends beyond the business owner jobs are lost commercial quarters are suffer and local tax revenues decline.
Higher costs may be passed on to consumers placing additional strain on seniors and others on living fixed incomes.
We urge the board to fully evaluate these impacts before advancing a $30 minimum wage.
Thank you.
Bobby Haynes, you have one minute.
Good afternoon. I'm a proud, small black owned business owner in Alameda County.
I'm here to respectfully urge the board to study the impact a $30 minimum wage.
Right in a business and Oakland brings costs that other businesses in the state just simply don't have to carry.
So for many life, myself, this isn't just another cost.
It's the cost that could push us past what we're able to sustain.
That changes the significant and this and tested deserves to be understood before it becomes a law not after.
Thank you for your time.
Brenda Clark, you have one minute.
Hi everybody.
I watched NBC news this morning where business owners and professionals and community leaders gathered to talk about the impact of this.
I could barely hear them from the screaming of people.
It wasn't their new scumpers, but you know, we want it now.
We want it now.
I just want you to understand what happens when you want to increase wages to the extent that you're doing.
You're not only now in the future when you get to $30 an hour, how are people going to be able to.
Even with that increase afford the goods and services that have risen beyond their means.
Because of this, you've got to do an impact study and you got to consider senior citizens who don't get an increase.
And we still work real hard, but we don't want to go back to work.
We've barely hills minimum wage is 1550.
Thank you.
Next in person.
Sheep.
I.
Warnard.
Prevard.
Aden.
Patten.
Mia.
What's your name?
Prit.
Pierr.
Catherine.
I'm.
Laura.
How are you.
Hey, all.
I'm Shiba.
My I'm a.
I just want to say as a university student.
I think study is important in making decisions.
Yeah, and making decisions based on data that backs up those decisions.
And I just want to say that there's been more than over 200 empiric things.
200 empirical studies, examining the economic impacts of minimum wage and the ways in which
this can be done that elves the people that you guys serve. So let's not pretend these studies
do not exist. It's due to these studies that we learned that 30 bucks an hour isn't even a living
living wage now here in the Alameda County. Let's not pretend that we don't see the degradation of
our communities as a direct result of the stagnation of wages of everyday people. Do not delay this
any longer or the further starvation poverty and death as a result of this stagnation will be on your hands.
Hello my name is Adam Patton. Earlier today at 11 o'clock we had a discussion with the
opponents of the bill and during one of these discussions one of the opponents had stated how
when he was young due to unforeseen circumstances in his family, his family had to make the decision between
sending him to college and keeping their family home. I come to you with personal experience.
My mother has stage four breast cancer. By the time I was 16 I had two jobs to support my family and
bills, groceries and paying for a medical treatment. I do not think that anybody much less the
remembers of this community. One of the most expensive communities in America should be making that
decision every day and every second we delay this bill is a second that another body is driving by cancer
another home this sold out. I thank you guys for your consideration and ask you to not delay this any further.
Good afternoon everyone. Supervisors. My name is Urban Robert Lacer Jr. City State and National
Representative of the Bay City Baptist Ministers Union Social Chair Department of the California State
Missionary Baptist Convention and an investor manager and wife choice restaurant here in Oakland,
California. I want to reiterate that if you delay this initiative with a study it will still pass in
228 but the phasing and will remain the same. The small businesses like mine and others send
that just private school is one of them in a small church here in Oakland. We'll have much shorter time
line to get to $30 an hour. Small businesses like ours will be forced to increase wages by $4 an hour
in one year. No city county our state has ever been asked any business to do that. We small businesses
access the campaign for 14 years to phase in and they agreed and sort of the voters in the same
voters that sat you in these seats to have the opportunity to vote for this initiative beyond the
ballot in November. So thank you for your time. Hello my name is Brittany and a Piero. I'm a member of
Black Organizing Project, a resident of Alameda County District 3 in East Oakland and the
treasure of my fruitful neighborhood council beat 23X. I'm here to support living wage for all initiative
and I want to ask you all what would your life look like if you made $17 and 34 cents an hour? That's
an annual wage of $36,000 just take a second. I am proud to be an East Oakland resident and one of the
most politically progressive and culturally diverse cities in the United States which is also one of the
most expensive cities in the United States. I support this initiative because I support my community
and the financial efficacy of my neighborhood. As a Bay Area community we have an opportunity and an obligation
to lead with this initiative. The rapid effects of gentrification and inflation need to be stopped and we
need to protect the people who make the culture, the heart, and the progress of the city possible. Thank you.
Yeah, my name is Patrick Settle. I'm an east southern veteran. My experience is working with one fair ways I was able to support, you know, I'm a business owner as well as true executive groups. I was able to find and open up a juice bar. So, on one KL week, I keep it, you know, I'm saying the key of the street itself. That's a lot of money. So, I strongly support, you know, the minimum wage, paying $30 an hour.
Next in person, Iris Barraera, Malcolm Harris, Mark Donsey, Leidual, Salazar, Edward Escobar. Good afternoon. What is the
provider's, my name is Edis, part of the challenges we need those were appreciated in living which for all coalition, resident of district three, time after time, I have heard from workers and families how on our talk, our outreach. And just this past month focusing in unincorporated areas in Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Cherryland, about their struggles, paying groceries, medicine and also struggling paying rent.
Some sometimes having to live with one or two other families in the same apartment, even though they're working two to three jobs, the living wage for all coalition has been able to gather over 100,000 signatures. And you already have seen the research, what else is there to study. There's a gradual increase to get $30 an hour for small businesses by 2037. So, it's going to be on the ballot regardless. And is your duty as border supervisors to respect the democratic process and let the voters this
year. My name is Malcolm Harris. I am a co-organizing director at the Oakland Black organizing project. And I am also a resident in district four. And I was born and raised here in Oakland, born in Alabama, all to base hospital. And I'm one of few of my families who's been able to stay here.
At 20, I think, rent $2400 a month. That is 28,000 a year minimum wage right now was $36,000 total out to a year. How many folks can afford to continue to live here? I want to quote supervisor Miley and I appreciate your quote earlier about the importance of I can't remember the Senate bill that you referenced, but that the voters have given you the opportunity to create discretion around the
your ability to move. You 117,000 voters have brought us to this point. We ask you to respect their wishes and put us on the ballot for no.
Good evening. My name is Lajigua Salasada and I'm here. I'm the executive director at my Eden Boys. I'm here on behalf of our members to express our support for the initiative because our families deserve a living wage.
I'm also from a family of small business owners. So I understand the challenges of running a small business and the importance of ensuring that your workers can earn enough to support themselves and their families. The goals are not mutually exclusive and they benefit from our local economy.
Every day we organize alongside residents in the unincorporated area of Alameda County who are working hard to be and still struggle to afford housing, groceries, childcare, transportation, medication and basic necessities.
No one who works full time should have to choose between paying rent and putting food on their table.
I'm a living wage is about dignity, sustainability and the opportunity of working families and the communities they sustain to thrive. Thank you.
Our community of color is already burning with the weight of a cost of food that doesn't let you out.
Before the youth of their service had been made, we need a study of a complete and independent pact.
Our community is in real life and not their positions because the security and economic stability of color is important to us.
If you want, you can do a more aggressive version.
Our communities of our communities of color are already carrying the weight of sub-guiraciting costs.
Housing, groceries, childcare, everything and a sudden jump.
We're going to start as time over again.
Please start over.
And every outburst we're going to start as time over. Let him speak.
My name is Edward Escobar. I'm the founder of Coalition for Communion Engagement.
Our communities of color are already carrying the weight of sky-writers getting costs. Housing, groceries, childcare, everything.
A sudden jump to a 30 minimum wage without any serious economic analysis, risk pushing those costs even higher.
Our businesses in our neighborhoods, the ones that hire locally and keep dollars circulating in the community, could be forced to cut hours, raise prices or shut down entirely.
That means fewer jobs, fewer services, and higher prices for the very families this measure claims to help.
Before the Board of Supervisors moves us forward, we need a full independent impact study.
Our communities deserve a real data, not guess work, because affordability and economic stability for families of color are too important to gamble with. Thank you.
Let's get through more speakers.
This is your last speaker.
Hello. My name is Robert Batonich. I've been an employer for 50 years.
I paid between starting. I'm going to get re-frame my mind.
I paid up to from minimum wage to up to a hundred to two hundred dollars an hour depending on the specialty.
I think that the marketplace dictates what the wage should be according to that.
And I also think that we should study this much more. I discovered this two days ago about this meeting here that you are going to vote on putting on the ballot, et cetera.
I think it needs to be studied by a professional group to see what the economic impact of this if it does go on to the ballot in the first place.
Please consider this. Thank you so much. God bless you.
All right. That's.
There's not a number of six of us who all look signed up to that six minutes. That's not five. That's not six hundred minutes.
Just respect the labor.
Pardon?
There's 18 18 more slips.
We have 18 more slips.
So we're going to.
We're going to cut off and end public comment and we're going to deliberate among ourselves and make a vote.
And if we have to clear the room, we'll clear the room.
And if.
If we have to clear the room, we're clear when we give an hour of public comment, both sides what we equally represented.
If I give certain people time and not everybody time, that's a problem.
And so we're going to bring it back for deliberation and I'm going to ask County Council.
Is there any other staff report of the side of the.
Supervisor, I just want to remind everyone of the rules and the brown act regarding disruption of a public meeting.
If individuals are being disruptive and they are then put on notice that they are being disruptive.
You may then remove those individuals from the room.
If you are unable to conduct a meeting because a larger group is being disruptive, you may recess.
And ask that the room be cleared and then allow individuals who are not disruptive to rejoin the meeting.
Thank you.
So.
Supervisor Marquez, would you like to.
You brought.
No, that was a different item. I'm sorry.
This is the register of voters.
There's no other report from the register of our votes.
I'll bring it back for discussion. I'll just say that.
We have heard enough to know that we don't know what we don't know.
I would like to refer the proposed initiative for additional study.
Which we will have presented back to us in 30 days.
And then we will have the option of a narrowed option of either adopting right away without change or.
I'm using that it beyond the next ballot.
We will have that come back to us within 30 days.
I believe that will be September 15th.
That would be my advocacy.
And I'll make a motion when ready.
But I'll ask us all to weigh in and I'll start with supervisor Marquez.
Tam, forks and out of bass and miley.
Before I weigh in, I do want to clarify the public comment issues.
So just so I'm clear we have 18 speaker cards just in the room.
No one online.
Okay.
So I'm just going to respectfully ask if we could consider giving at least one minute for these folks to be heard.
The thing is, if you keep it up, we'll just clear the room.
I would say all five of us want to do that.
I will be leaving because I have national light out to attend.
And this item did not need to be on this agenda.
But I allowed it to be out of respect for my colleagues.
It could have been on a special meeting on a different day.
But the bottom line is.
No, it has to because of the timeline.
We could have a special meeting on it.
So as much credit.
Anyway, just everybody want to do it.
I'll have to leave the meeting because I have other engagements tonight.
If four out of five of us want to have additional public comment.
That's fine.
I'll ask supervisor Miley.
Do you want to have additional public comment?
Or are you ready to deliberate?
I'm ready.
I was ready.
Supervisor Fortanado Vass.
I would like to hear the final public.
Supervisor Marquez.
It's not ideal to change the time that I'm trying to find the compromise here.
So everyone could speak.
So I'm proposing that we reduced it to one minute.
So we could get through the remaining speaker.
Supervisor Tam.
I would prefer allowing speakers.
So we don't have four out of five.
I think that's what it would take.
So we don't we take a vote of three, but to clarify.
You have only been taking one lit in a public comment.
We have.
I'm sorry.
I thought we were doing only one minute.
I apologize.
I thought we were doing apologize.
Just a minute.
So just to speak to the fact that it's the beginning of the meeting.
The board president said that we were taking no more hands and no more slips for public comment.
If you are going to open this up to others, then you need to allow those remotely the opportunity to raise their hands.
I apologize.
I was under the impression we were doing two minutes.
I stand correct.
It was only one minute.
So I just want to ask that we get through the remaining 18 speakers that are here in the room.
I understand we've already closed no longer accepting public comment in person or online.
So I'm not asking to open it.
I'm just asking us to get through the remaining 18 slips at one minute.
So I guess I need clarity from the clerk in the board where those slips put in before or have they come in after.
They would put in before the.
They would put in before.
I'll tell you what.
I'll allow 30 seconds for each member and we'll get to it.
I would not recommend that you do it.
I would recommend that you remain with a one minute first speaker and put an overall time.
If you can say another half hour, I know the 45 minutes, whatever it is, but you cap it in that mean so that you are consistent means we have to also allow anybody online.
Is online exhausted.
So what the clerk is saying is that those slips were in before.
You said no more sister relations.
I would suggest that you establish you go to do another 30 minutes or another 45 minutes or whatever your overall cap is continue with one minute.
Just continue with one minute for speaker for consistency and uniformity.
If you're going to open up that document.
Okay.
I'm going to go for 18 minutes for 18 speakers.
Let's go one after the other.
It has to be up to a minute.
You can also say dido or thank you, but that's going to be it.
And then we're going to very quickly deliberate and do we have a name of all 18 speakers.
I would like all 18 to be called.
And everybody line up one after the other and come on and speak all 18.
Let's see 18 hands.
We got 18 hands all 18 in a row.
Let's get ready to speak.
Who wants to go first.
There you go, brave man.
Come on.
Hello everyone.
My name is John Howard.
I started working with liver.
You're not at workers for about in late May.
And two and a half weeks I became a coordinator.
And doing those jobs.
I went to a lot of registered voters, doors, have conversations.
And 117 people, 117,000 people believe that an adequate living wage should not be a privilege.
It should be a right.
For myself.
I was able to take my sense of certain events, get a proper nutrition. I know everyone in his room believes
that our children should be properly, our should have proper nutrition correct. 11 ways. It means
that I will not be forced to have an additional job or a side hustle, or we have to do anything
illegal, right? So I just believe that you guys should hurry up, and let's hurry to get this thing on.
Hi, good afternoon, supervisors. I respectfully request you move forward with the democratic process.
I'm here because we all know who benefits from refusing to include the 30 an hour minimum wage measure in the November ballot.
Choosing to ignore that this measure would establish a quality in black and brown communities is a choice. Choosing to ignore voices of folks entering two to three jobs.
The voice of single parent households, the voice of your constituents is a choice. Choosing to impede a democratic practice is also a choice.
Now, there are enough signatures to put a dignified wage on the ballot, just November over a hundred and thousand community members signed, including local business owners.
Will you continue to suppress us and silence us or will you stand by democracy and give us an option to vote this fall for a reality that will set that will bring several folks out of poverty.
It's only a matter of time before other counties adopt a similar measure. Your legacy can be a revolutionary one where you are a part of the most inclusive minimum wage measure in the country, or a disgraced one where you stopped in movement.
You know, you will do the right thing because you work for the people for us. The people remember and we will vote out those.
To the last speaker before you begin, can you come and state your name for the record.
Daisy and to any other speaker, can you state your name?
Yeah, my name is Jay Lee White, I work for one for wage and for IHSS, like I just want to speak in reality.
So if you keep it on ways of the same, so the crisis still won't go up regardless. It's been going up my whole life. I'm 46 years old. I'm a registered vote in Alameda County.
Y'all just need to put it on the ballot so we can make this happen. I'm ready to vote now.
Hello, how you guys doing? My name is Tunisia Scott. I am a manager at one third wage and unless she's be clear here, like for real.
So here's the bottom line.
Thirty dollars an hour is not even know we're enough to live in Alameda County, and we all know that. Can you blue jacket? You can you can you guys make it off of with the wages are here.
So people are in dire need and we don't re not saying we're not understanding go outside and take a look at the community. People are struggling. I'm struggling tomorrow.
When I act in for this should happen, a zap we're acting for over time. So let's do the right thing. If you, you, you, you, you, you can go to bed tonight and knowing that you're up to the minute change to help us folks.
That's a whole bigger fish than our fry. Let's do what's right for the people. You guys are sitting in those weather chairs right now because we give us right for y'all. So make it right. Let's do it today.
I want to get through all 18, but if we keep, please go.
Alita Austin, Torrey. Some of you may not know who Lucy Parsons is. She started at eight hour a day work week. She was a black woman.
Right now, the great migration has hit here hard and I'm going to give you the numbers. Oakland 33% black. It's 19 Berkeley 14% black. Now it's eight. Hey, where was 12% black and now it's nine. Why we cannot afford.
I have lots of children in the work. I do as an organizer, not because I was at Amazon at night, not because I was at Longamari at Jake.
Jack London Square, not because I worked with Obama and helped him to get it where I even was able to work for the National Institute of Health.
It's because in this place we have to work two and three jobs. And unfortunately, we cannot survive this way.
The great migration return means majority of us here sitting down may not be here next year. It's urgency because we may be back down south, will we can afford it. And that's not okay.
My name is Danay Davis. I'm here as Oakland resident and for one fair wage.
I, um, a box of chips is almost half is not more than half of an hour's worth wage.
We can barely buy a meal with an hour's worth of wage. So how can we pay rent and literally any other living costs?
I'm here and I ended up working with one fair wage to work with my mom because we needed to support ourselves and I still can't even find a way back to school.
And then by the end of the month. So I think we need more money and the people here need it. I mean the people the residents need it.
Thank you and have a nice day.
All right. Good evening board members. My name is Diego Perez and it's a firstly graduated high school student from East Oakland and then coming in college student.
I witnessed firsthand the cycle of poverty that defines so many lives in our community.
Growing up I watched my family neighbors struggle survived living paycheck to paycheck despite working tirelessly.
My perspective was further shaped the working as a cancer speaking with hundreds of people daily.
I didn't just hear the frustration. I saw their desperate hope for a fair chance they're looking for a handout.
They're looking for the dignity of a living wage that allows them to thrive rather than just survive.
It's initiative is more than a policy. It is a lifeline for the people of Oakland. I strongly urge a council to move forward with this proposal and give our community the opportunity to build a stable future this November.
Thank you.
Greetings, Board of Supervisors. My name is Jenovel Kintin and also my fellow citizens.
I was raising Oakland me and my wife for both ball business owners here in downtown. We approved the master fully.
I also was a servant and commissioner as well as a coordinator.
We don't have W one fair wage. We must answer the calls of our fellow citizens.
Please today board evidence of the 117,000 signatures properly signed by the grassroots organization one fair wage.
And our fellow citizens, which were made up of volunteers as well as the coalitions and other groups involved.
I believe there is a misnomer false statement that often we, we often hear an often accept.
Which is that one person has to be flourishing for another person not to be flourishing despite the false statements of the true there is abundance of for all of us.
To be able to claim we just in this case must exercise corporate ethics and place people above profits.
Let's be clear. I'm not asking anyone to a large or small to not be profitable. Just asking us to not exemplify agree.
Thank you very comment.
Let's turn on my name is Diana to get that earlier. Just heard my mom Sonia make a problem coming up on a harder days for her to work to jobs and barely survive out of that.
Let me tell you how hard it is for me to see my mom work to jobs. She doesn't have run day off. She works 70s a week.
What job was she works from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m.
From one job was she works from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.
And another than I was offered as a caregiver. She comes home complaining about how much her body hurts because of all the hard work.
A physical work she puts in an organizational for an apparel, ties with groceries and bills.
Those hours an hour would mean she wouldn't be able to spend time with me and have some days out to rest enjoy and tell us company as a daughter of a mother who works to jobs.
I asked you the board of supervisors of Alameda County to make change and both this into our ballot this November and soon with the working class of Alameda County like my mom. Thank you.
The audience from the whole executive director of the black organizing project and when you collect almost 120,000 signatures and the registered voters certifies those signatures. She has done her job. Thank you.
You submit it is so.
The voters can decide on a measure not the board and while many people think that voters don't know what's in their self interest. We know.
Damn well what's in our interest. This board has no power to stop this from going to the ballot and when it does go to the ballot. Hopefully this no member.
The same big money interest that raised Russell city will spend millions of dollars to save the sky will fall and few will pay attention to your damn study.
And then the voters will decide and so justice delayed is justice denied both for workers and for small businesses who will have to make that jump afford dollars and hour.
So stop the harm stop for pepper spraying young people stop this placing black family.
Good evening, supervisors. My name is Material Ramirez and I believe that everybody deserves a live.
And I quit living wages and human right. It is easy for supervisors and imposes not to rush this because they are not the people who benefit from it.
The supervisors in front of me do not worry about where they will sleep tomorrow and how they will feed their families. As a 17 year old. I worry about how it will go to college without being put into debt or being a burden to my hardworking family. Thank you.
Good evening, we're supervisors. My name is a grassy alumadina. I am a Hayward Reservant resident and I believe that a liveable wage is not a luxury.
It isn't a necessity.
As an 18 year old, I have done countless side jobs whether that be certain foods my community hosting events that cost little to nothing for my community or simply helping local organizations.
I constantly worry about the fact that I I can't afford to live a house. I can't afford to live in a house. I can't afford to make a rent.
I can't even a job or jar of market is terrible. I worry I will not be able to support myself.
A liveable wage. Nobody would have to worry about that. You guys go home every single day and you do not have to worry about that. You are supported by us. We are the backbone of you and you cannot even give us that respect back.
A liveable wage is human decency. Shame on you for not seeing that shame.
Are there any other speakers?
No more speakers.
Okay.
We're going to bring it back for deliberation. I would like to thank the speakers both online and in person that did participate.
Glad we got through the last few speakers there.
And everybody got a chance to speak.
So I note that council is here for questions. I've already shared what I believe my motion will be.
I've asked for comments from the board.
Supervisor Marquez, Tam, for another bass and miley.
Okay. Thank you everyone for your engagement and patience.
I know it's been a long day. This was supposed to start up for.
So just really appreciate everyone's patience on this.
A couple of clarifying questions.
I did read the board letter.
The description, but I'm not seeing the actual language that would be on the ballot.
Is that something that is still under development or can you clarify if it is in this document?
I just it's an oversight, but I don't see it.
So it is not an oversight.
What would happen based on your board direction is if your direction were for us to move this to the ballot.
Then we, it was our intention to bring to you on Thursday at a special meeting.
The resolution that would consolidate the election that would establish the ballot and label question and take those other items that are required as a normal course to do that.
In some instances historically, we've only had a very few initiative matters, but historically we have taken the approach.
So we, this is just just relied on the minute order.
That is, you know, your board action, you get a minute order and we go from there.
But working on the ballot label question is an important next step that needs to be done and we would bring that to you on Thursday.
Okay, so based off today's action should we land there that is something that.
County Council are via who drafts the language and is it done in consultation with the opponents?
We would draft that and provide it to you.
Okay.
And then with respect to, I know there's a lot of questions.
There's some areas that call out measure C.
Could you speak to that in terms of what are the risk exposure, what can we.
What do we know at this point in terms of existing countywide measures that have to do with what.
to do with wage increases.
So the ordinance itself does in one particular section reference the funds being generated by measure C that the tax measure from a few years ago.
It is in, in our opinion, in having looked at it, we have concerns about the nature of the description of measure C and the use of funds from measure C.
And we did call that out in our impartial analysis of the petition itself and recognize that there may need to be litigation to resolve the open questions regarding measure C.
In particular, it is in.
So some section F of what they identify is.
Section four zero zero one zero is one zero one zero two zero.
Thank you.
There is a reference to the payment of the living wage, the the minimum wage, excuse me for family child care worker workers providers.
And it essentially states that the intended revenues.
As well as the 20% of measures see which is allocated to pediatric healthcare. This ordinance does not make a distinction in those funds. So all of those funds potentially may be available to pay for family child care providers.
Can I ask a hypothetical question, please? Should this get approved today to be put up the ballot that's action one year office would develop the language that the actual language that would go on the ballot.
We would be able to review that on Thursday at a special meeting that it's up to the voters in this measure, even though as it reads it's for unincorporated.
County owned buildings and controls some capturing that is least if there's going to be a legal challenge wouldn't that hypothetically only come into effect.
Should this be successful? November there are there are there are bases to challenge it if.
Before November I guess is my question.
So a ballot measure can be challenged in many instances must be challenged if there's a question regarding the language of the ballot question.
There's a requirement of the law for that to be a pre election challenge in order to to make sure the language is appropriate.
So even if we draft the language there could be a pre election challenge.
So there's no rule that could come at any time.
That could occur at a time wish that wish your board adopts the language for the ballot question the label.
Then the measure could be challenged pre election oftentimes a court will say I'm going to wait and see if this passes before we go into the merits because otherwise it's not necessarily a right issue.
That is the course of termination of whether or not the issue is right and it depends upon the nature of the challenge that is made because some things have to be resolved in advance.
You know is this constitution case is even a proper matter for referenda or initiative and there could be multiple challenges could be more and more multiple challenges we as the county would have to defend that in terms of.
We would not defend on the nature of the challenge we if your board adopts the the ballot label than we would defend the ballot label.
Okay, but we would not be obligated to defend the initiative the proponents of the measure would be obligated to defend the initiative our office would.
Be president litigation on behalf of the register of voters to ensure that we are fully compliant with our ministerial duties.
Okay, and then my last clarifying question is on the employers the over a hundred and the billion dollars I want to make sure I'm understanding the rationale clearly.
Is it.
Hundred employees and gross revenue over a billion what if it's less than a billing.
There's drafted if there are a hundred and more employees and a billion dollars and gross revenue that they employers categorize as a large employer and so then they're subject to the.
The higher the wage increase yes under the fastest control if they have between.
Let me let me pause so what if they don't hit the billion dollar do they fall to the less the next category they fall down.
Okay, just trying okay employer category.
Okay, thank you.
Who was your term.
Thank you.
I appreciate the speakers and the advocacy and I know this is a very important issue.
For especially our region because of the cost of living.
The issues that I'm trying to sort through has more to do with health care since I serve on the health committee.
With supervisor Miley and the unincorporated services committee meeting with supervisor Miley because this only applies in those areas.
There was a measure that was passed by the vote actually.
The under a Senate bill 525 it raised the minimum wage or healthcare workers in federally qualified health clinics.
To 25 dollars an hour in July of 2027.
So do we know how this proposed measure will interact with the statewide healthcare minimum wage law that was enacted in 2023 and the second part of that question is.
There seems to be at least among the federally qualified health clinics that provide healthcare to the most needy in the indigent that rely on medical that there are ambiguities.
Concerning employees who perform okay.
No work in the unincorporated and hop between that and.
The unincorporated areas that may not have this initiative apply to them.
And so.
This is important to them because.
Many cows that stands now does not reimburse these clinics for any state mandated increases in the health care minimum wage and the issue comes about like if a street.
Medicine employee spends part of the week in the unincredited area and part of the week in the incorporative jurisdictions, which wage standard would apply to that employee's compensation.
And this is something that is particularly important in the unincorporated area with like versatile baskets that serves, you know, Hayward, Ashland and and that and Stanley Agron, those regions.
So I would first call out that the proposed initiative measure defines a covered employee as any person who performs during their respective pay period any work.
Within the geographic boundaries of the unincorporated areas in Albany County.
So for those employees who are working sometimes in the unincorporated area and other times outside of the unincorporated area, they are likely to be covered in employees because they are performing work within the her unincorporated area.
And I speak to SB525 and how that would in particular how that would apply.
My general read of the proposed initiative is that this ordinance would be layered on top of others to ensure that all workers who are covered workers reach the $30 level of hourly pay within the schedule it is proposed even if there is another state law or another local law.
That gives them a lower sum. This is pushing them up to the higher level.
Do we know whether or not even though this is not a state mandated but a voter mandated initiative would this be covered for reimbursement by medical or Medicaid.
There are a number of questions that I have obviously concerning the potential impacts in the unincorporated area and particularly when it comes to some of the businesses that are operating on margins.
Those questions would be more appropriate in in the further research and further study or is it something that we need to vet completely because I don't expect you to know the answers to some of the economic impacts.
So it is legal counsel. We would not.
Oh, probably no economic impacts.
The proposed have in fact proposed sent forward to studies which we have reviewed to some measure but in some cases they present more questions than answers.
And in there certainly some areas of I was reading earlier where I think some of their assumptions may be incorrect.
So if you want more information before you take action the option available to you is to ask particular staff for consultants retain by staff to attend to answer your questions and provide you with the report.
So questions like.
Enforcement monitor compliance and that would be more appropriately referred to staff.
The cost of those efforts that issues of who are which county employees or which agencies would be tasked with those efforts.
There's a number of different models and various jurisdictions and so those are questions that was sitting here tonight that will this certainly I cannot answer.
I do not know if other agencies are available to answer.
Okay, thank you.
Thank you President Howard. I first want to appreciate everyone who has been engaging in this meeting and throughout the process.
All of the public speakers and I certainly appreciated the proponents of the measure meeting with me and my staff and answering our questions.
I appreciate our county council for also answering the very specific questions I had.
As well as to some of the businesses and others who contacted us more recently over the past day or so.
I do want to start by saying that I do believe that everyone deserves a living wage and a living wage from just one job not two or three jobs.
I also believe that everyone deserves to have a safe and affordable home.
And the community that they desire to be and not be pushed out.
You know, as we've been talking about reparations and redress and being the representative of West Open and South Berkeley where there has been redlining there has been displacement of particular communities including the black communities.
I think it's really important that we look forward as to how we can create more equity and eliminate poverty is one of the public speakers said.
So the solution to poverty, at least one of the solutions to poverty is economic equity.
And for those who don't know that's why back in 2014 I was one of three proponents in Oakland who brought to voters the ballot measure called measure FF which raised the minimum wage with paid sick days.
I want to be clear that what we are designing upon today is not necessarily the subsence of this measure but went to places on the ballot.
And with that in mind, I believe in our democratic process.
I recognize that over a hundred thousand people sign this petition.
I believe that the coalition followed our democratic process, which is why the registrar is bringing this item forward to us.
And those people who signed the petition believed that they were placing this measure on the ballot in November.
I believe that we should honor the will of those voters and place this on the ballot in November.
And in addition to that, I believe that as a ballot measure we also have to make sure that we collectively educate voters about what is in this ballot measure.
And how it will raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030 and exactly where.
So that is the unincorporated areas of our county county controlled and owned properties.
Family child care providers are mentioned.
There's a lot between that one November that would have to happen to ensure that voters are very aware of exactly what they are voting on who will be impacted.
And also we would have to be ready in the event that this is approved by voters to implement and enforce the measure and to be clear what the counties role would be.
While I share a number of questions as have been raised by my colleagues.
I do believe in our democratic process and I do believe that we should place this on the November ballot.
Is that a motion.
Super resin miley.
Thank you President Albert.
Well yeah, let me also say I want to thank everyone for speaking on this very important matter today.
You know both supervisor bass and I live in Oakland and both supervisor bass and I have served on the Oklahoma City Council.
And I think both supervisor bass and I share the same values.
But we're going to come to different conclusions on this.
I do think the voters have a chance to vote on this just not in November.
It's going to be March of 28 because we need to do a study.
I think that's the important thing to do.
I don't want to do anything that's going to impact the quality of life in the unincorporated area without a study.
This isn't a measure that applies to Oakland.
This is a measure that applies to unincorporated area.
I think the truth thing to do is to do that study so we need all questions answered.
The voters will vote on it not in November of this year, but March of 28 would be the time they vote on this.
So you and I share the same thing.
We just come at it from a different perspective.
Furthermore, I think if we want to have a living wage.
If you want to have a living wage, it shouldn't just apply to the unincorporated area.
It shouldn't just apply to the entire state for that matter.
So that's why we need to look at the impact of this measure.
How it will affect businesses, the quality of life in the unincorporated area.
Because I think everyone who supports this has the best of intentions.
I respect their intentions, but I want to make sure that their intentions.
Not only done attending consequences that have a territorial impact on others. So that's why I think a study is important. We're going to give voters a chance to vote on it. It'd be 20, 28. Furthermore, I'm going to propose that after the studies completed, if the study shows so many weaknesses, loop holes, implications on the consequences.
I'm going to work with County Council and my full supervisor, as well as the rest of you, and maybe we'll put our own measure on the ballot in 20, 28. That would provide the voters in opportunity to vote on this measure.
If they think this is a superior measure or a measure that we think would be more palpable to the broader segment of our society. So that's my position. So I'm going to support the study.
So I have another question, I have another question of County Council.
What I heard was there, we have issues with the language that was submitted. So this is a process question, and I just don't know.
Somebody wants to circulate a petition and then present ballot language. They have to have to have the language done before they get signatures.
They did, and they did in this instance. They came with the full proposed initiative already drafted and prepared to go.
Our role in that instance is to do any partial analysis and to provide a summary of what action is being taken by that item.
And then it goes to the citizen of the electorate to decide whether or not they want to sign on to that measure.
So when that happens, did we notice these discrepancies that we have problems with or was it, you know, how did it get this far or how could it have been done so that we wouldn't have these issues.
Is there a way to do that? So we have we are to remain impartial and preparing the impartial analysis.
Our role is not to make correct changes. We are not allowed to make proposed correct changes.
As we cannot and your board cannot at this stage make changes. It is a taking or leave it proposition that goes to the voters as it is.
And so it seems as though we're at a point where we have issues that I think you said may even need to be resolved with litigation.
And so we're at a point where the alternative is.
They may have to if well I guess if it if it goes on the ballot and passes as is and we have issues that's when litigation might occur.
If there are material changes and that is the intent of your board for us to seek either a declaratory action.
And with the courts that they would interpret things for us or that we believe is illegal or unconstitutional or otherwise challengeable.
And that is when you would take that up.
It's a rise mainly one way in there.
Yeah, just in counting counsel can correct me from wrong.
We can put this on the ballot after the study.
But we can also put on the ballot in March of 2028 our own measure that seeks the same thing.
But it's much more powerful.
Let's put it that way and addresses some of the concerns that the body politic might have.
And that and if both measures are on the ballot.
This is in the first time something like this has happened.
The voters could decide they want to go with this measure or the measure that we put on.
And the measure that gets the most votes would be the winning measure in my correct.
Can we count to you are correct.
Okay.
Please clarify that.
This is a process to supervisor my least comment.
If we decide to put our own.
ballot measure on the ballot for.
Obviously we're not going to meet the November deadline.
So it'd be March of 2028.
Then we don't have a say in this existing measure correct data is correct.
Okay.
Okay. So I'm going to make sure that we don't win on that process.
Got it.
The only way that you would not have to competing measures is if in the interim.
We worked with the proponents to agree on an alternative measure that your board could play some the ballot.
And then perhaps the proponents would withdraw theirs if there were agreement on an approach.
That is always an option.
They can also research the issues that we have raised and determined for themselves whether they felt.
They could be successful in litigation and surpassing that or they could also seek to change their language.
But they would have to collect signatures again.
I would have to start over the language is essentially as it is and cannot be changed except by the voters.
Okay.
Well.
So I don't think I have any other questions.
Yeah.
I would also add that your board has the ability as opposed to doing a voter initiative.
To adopt your own ordinance without a vote of the necessary.
Can you repeat that again?
You have the ability to adopt your own ordinance if you wanted to pursue a minimum wage ordinance.
Without going to the voters.
But if there were a then a subsequent voter approved initiative.
It likely would override your your measure whether was in consistency or any.
And areas would that the decision would be made to the latter measure.
The voter initiative would control.
Indeed and I don't think we'll have any argument.
That means voter approved initiatives.
So pass.
Board approved initiatives.
The power of the people is greater than the people in power.
And I want you to know that.
I agree with that too.
That said we still have.
No.
We still we have grave grave concerns.
And that's what I heard from our county council.
So.
Haste makes waste.
I'm all for pushing this to March of 28.
Ask you for a study.
This is our meeting guys.
We don't need to clear the room.
And finish this.
But.
It is our meeting.
So.
I heard supervisor Miley.
You have support for.
A study that we would have to define the scope of.
I think I heard that from supervisor Tam.
Is that what that is.
I have that desire.
I'm hearing that.
Two other supervisor.
Four time.
Basin Marquez.
Despite the concerns that we might have and have to hash the satin litigation.
And what not want to put it on the ballot.
This Friday by having another special meeting on Thursday.
To a point about language.
I haven't stated my position yet.
But I do want to respect the process.
Yeah.
I want to kind of feel strongly.
This is going to be litigated and that's.
The pathway may have to go get the decisions in the clarity we need.
My only concern is.
At this juncture.
I want to respect.
All the hard working collecting the sensors.
My only positive hesitation is.
We don't know the fiscal impact.
To the county.
So that is why it would be open to the study.
But at the same time, we do have to respect the will of the people.
So I feel at this point that we proceed with having language come back on Thursday for us to
move it to approval to the November ballot and should it be challenged, then that also creates an
avenue for us to get to some of these unanswered questions and provide more clarity.
And if that doesn't work, we still have more to 2028.
We still have the option of bringing an ordinance back ourselves in working collaboration with the
individuals that have led these efforts. So I see as a multi-pong approach, we don't exactly
know where we're going to land yet. But step one, if this structure is whether or not a support
of study or putting it on the ballot and my position is to put it on the ballot.
Yeah, just to clarify, if we vote to put it on the ballot, that that back on Thursday for
it would also mean that we would not be able to work with opponents on choosing or pulling,
it would be on the ballot. It would likely be challenged, I'm presuming. And that would require
additional analysis and we don't know challenged by whom, but it's very likely to occur.
So just a couple of clarifying points. If the decision is, you need to make a decision tonight on
A, B, or C. And so it sounds like there is some interest in B, which would be a motion to place
it on the ballot. Returning on Thursday is merely a ministerial activity to formalize the
additional steps that need to be gone to complete that process. If the decision is C, then the
direction would be to one or more county agencies to come back with a study on a particular point.
But even if the matter were moved forward today to be placed on the agenda for November,
certainly we could work with the advocates, but it is too late for us to do anything for November.
They would have to be willing to withdraw the petition, the proponents, to withdraw the current
petition in November with an agreement to work with us for a subsequent ballot initiative measure.
Any, whether that be a regular, or special. Yeah. So again, I'm seeing that it's a split here.
We've got three for C and two for B. So we can have a motion and we can go through multiple motions if we
want, go ahead to Reservoir Center. President Howard, I would like to make a motion to place the
ordinance without change on the ballot for November 3rd, the general election. A second. Well, I'd like to make
a substitute motion either, which to say that I would adopt item 13C and refer the proposed initiative
to one or more county agencies for a report and see if we get a second for that.
I'll second it. So a motion's been made in second on substitute motion, which we will vote on first.
I would like to say that if that substitute motion passes, the next step would then be, I believe,
to provide staff with the scope of that report. So I'll ask for a roll call vote, please.
Surveyser Mark has no. Surveyser Tam. Yes. Surveyser Miley. Yes. Surveyser Fortune on the vase. No.
Doesn't help her. I vote yes. So with that said, let's discuss what the scope of a study would be.
Surveyser Miley. Yes. Well, I would like to understand have staff consultants be retained
looking to with this measure. What would be the economic impact on the economic corporate area on
businesses in the economic corporate area, as well as the fiscal impact to the county based on the
the breadth of this measure, as well as looking at the implications around measures. See,
both physically as well as legally. To add to that, I would like for the economic impact study,
when we say look at the economic impact on the county, I would like to look at it as the impact
to small business owners, the impact to nonprofit organizations, the impact to
medium and large business owners, so that we can understand the difference. I would like it to have
an equity lens. So to look at it, it's a fact on my Nordie own businesses. And I heard comments that
the job market is already terrible. I guess to confirm an evaluation of the economic impact would
include any evaluation of the job market. I would also like to ask that it would include an analysis
of inflation, the impact on inflation. And what I keep hearing is that when you raise the minimum
wage, then all prices go up, when all prices go up, retailers make a margin. If you raise by a dollar,
they're going to raise a dollar 30 or a dollar 50. And they're just going to make increased margin,
increased margin, and the wealth gap actually increases because they are always going to take a margin
on the increased price. So what's happening is the wealth gap will the wealth gap increase or not as a
result of economic with this wage increase. Guys, let's, we're not, we're going to take a five-minute break.
All right, we'll reconvene now and ask the clerk to call the roll.
Supervisor Mark Hez. Supervisor Tam. Supervisor Miley. Supervisor Portun on the box.
Pressing hover. Pressing hover. We have a core on. Very good.
We're at the point now of deciding and describing the scope of an economic or analysis of this.
I think, Supervisor Miley, you had given feedback. I had given feedback and I think I was at the
point of really wanting to understand the effects of inflation and the effects of
I think Supervisor Miley, you had given feedback. I had given feedback and I think I was at the point of really wanting to understand the effects of inflation and the effects of the wealth gap that inflation causes.
And the other comments that I made were, I think, picked up on, you took notes on the, okay, Supervisor Tam.
Thank you, President Halberd. So just following up on some of your comments about the economic impact, tied to that would be understanding the impact on employment levels, including reductions in hours, hiring creases or job losses.
And then, I mentioned, I'd like to know how the county would monitor and enforce compliance and what the projected costs of that enforcement infrastructure and administration look like.
And then, whether the board needs to evaluate how it affects county contracts, service providers and public sector budgets.
But in particular, the ones that we contract with the community-based organizations, we give significant funding to a lot of the federally qualified health clinics.
And that was major concern there.
And then, obviously, part of the economic study is looking at mechanisms to prevent unintended consequences like increase automation or relocating a business to neighboring counties or even neighboring cities that don't have this ordinance.
And how I think you guys mentioned it aligns with the regional economic conditions, particularly with nearby counties, especially given that we're near Silicon Valley, the projected effects on consumer pricing, especially for essential goods and services that are used by low income residents.
And I mentioned earlier how the measure would interact with state minimum wage laws and what legal administrative challenges might arise from that and what contingency plans exist if economic conditions changed.
I think in measure see, there might be some provision if there's a recession or a major downturn in the economy or, you know, another pandemic happens or something like that.
Well, I know it wasn't the desired outcome to refer this for additional economic study supervisor, fortunately not a bass or Marquez, would you like to weigh in on what you would like to see if you have anything else additional to add.
To raise a fortune out of bass at the market.
Yes, while I really had hoped that we would have the votes to put this on the ballot November of this year, seeing that there's a majority vote to do a study I will just say as a representative of this board on the first five commission I do want to make sure that we look at.
The interplay between this measure and measure see.
And for me, I think it's comprehensive, what everyone else has already shared to my comments earlier, I am concerned to want to know more about the impacts on the county budget.
Specifically, my understanding is county own property or controlled so this would include the fairgrounds the Colosseum and the other 120 plus buildings we own and I don't not sure how many leases, but want to make sure that bad analysis is conducted.
And then specifically, I think it was already called out our contracts with community base organizations as we know they are typically the direct service providers for safety net services so have to understand the impact of that.
And once this report is completed, I'm presuming it will be presented come back to us at our next meeting in September.
The report needs to come back in 30 days and then your your board can take it up at the meeting in September.
So to be emailed to us since essentially Ron recess, but we would take up.
Reviewing the report in a public meeting on the 15th of September.
So your next regular meeting in September 15th after recess once the report is available and we make it to available to all or majority all of your boards and we will be required to post it publicly so we will do so at that time.
And where would it be posted for the public to see.
Now, our agenda does not tell September the report will be done before that correct.
So once once the document is which will be a item on an agenda is provided to all or majority of all of your board members, we are required to make it publicly available.
And so we will work with the CEO and where will be posted.
We don't know yet, okay, but but the goal is to make it publicly available.
Okay, and then do we have a consultant in mind who could do this work expeditiously since it's very clear is that consultant that our community development agency would recommend.
Could embark on the study within the required time frame.
Okay, thank you.
The staff need any more direction on this item before we move to our mass motion.
We just need a motion to direct those to move forward to study with all of those items that your board is listed within the scope.
All move that.
A second roll call vote, please.
Supervisor Marquez.
I.
Supervisor Tam.
I.
Supervisor Miley.
I.
I vote yes.
That item is completed will now move to our consent calendar item, I guess.
These are items numbers.
One to one fifty three.
Yeah, we have approval of minutes. Let's do that first.
Is there a motion to approve the minutes.
I'm going to approve of the minutes.
Second.
Motion's been made by Supervisor Tam second by Supervisor Miley to approve.
The special meeting minutes of Thursday, March 6, the special meeting minutes of Friday, March 14, regular meeting minutes of Tuesday, July 14,
March 28, and a special meeting in July 28 and 10 a.m.
Special meeting July 28 and 1 p.m.
Roll call vote please.
Supervisor Marquez.
I.
Supervisor Tam.
I.
Supervisor Miley.
I.
I vote yes.
Next item is consent calendar item 131 to 153.
Sir motion to approve.
I will move the consent calendar.
I'll second.
Motion's been made by Supervisor Tam second by Supervisor Marquez to approve the consent calendar item.
It's one thirty.
I do not believe we took public comment on all that.
It was on the agenda except for the listed item.
We moved immediately to the set.
Yes.
Is there any.
Okay.
Before we take the vote on the consent calendar.
Let's ask is there any public comment on the approval of minutes.
Or on the consent calendar or on.
Any of the items that are on the mass motion.
I was given 19 slips when the meeting started at 930.
I'm not sure who's still here.
Call them on.
And then you want to speak on approval of our minutes or consent calendar or.
Or the mass motion raise your hand.
John White.
Simil Ramey.
Just call them all.
Tim Murrow.
Elijah Newion.
Johnson.
Nicole Lee.
Dia Domee.
Brow.
Matteo Ramirez.
Grace Garcia.
Lila Mathis.
Cantaine Jackson.
Kyron Thomas.
Graciela Medina.
Rakim Neyo Gore.
Kyla Mathis.
Malcolm Harris.
Zachary Norris.
Iris Barrera.
Are there any of them in the room.
You know.
Yeah, this is for items.
The minutes.
The consent calendar and items.
Two through one twenty six.
Good evening supervisors and community members.
My name is material Ramirez with the Urban Peace Loom.
I live in Hayward and I'm here to speak on SB 823.
When the county first started talking about the treatment of youth in the S.Y. T.F.
Back in 2020 community partners started organizing behind the banning of pepper spray.
The use of pepper spray in juvenile hall has been banned in all the three counties.
Alameda being one of them.
Pepper spray is a chemical being used on our children causing difficulty breathing in the off.
So this is what this is not on the agenda.
We have at the end of our mass motion of time to make comment on any item not on the agenda and you would be welcome to make this comment at that time.
Well, this comment has to do with do you have a slide.
Which which item are you speaking?
I'm not.
Yes.
I'm.
Just one second.
Check that out.
And all last county council. It's a.
Topic of pepper spray in juvenile hall.
It is.
So I would have to.
This is just probation department if this is within the scope.
An item of that nature.
I'm not familiar with that.
I do not know what it's pertains to.
So in my discretion.
Can I just allow the public comment and assume.
You may allow.
Please continue.
I'll meet a county probation cannot claim a youth development or trauma informed approach by using a weapon that traumatizes children.
And a place that is supposed to help these kids.
How does it reflect on our youth that they are met with the same treatment we meet animals with the way we spray bears with awareness the way we spray cats and dogs with water.
Spraying these kids with a chemical weapon.
Just because they miss behave.
I'll meet a county claims they are for the escalation but other counties can move towards better de-escalation techniques.
The things are met with fear and violence. How do we expect them to react?
Our fight or flight is triggered.
When a harmful chemical is the boy how do we expect our youth to react in a situation like this?
Is that truly de-escalation?
Other states have proven moving towards more trauma informed approaches.
Works.
So why have we not done the same?
The supervisors sitting here before me have the powers to any of us or children face.
The use of pepper spraying juvenile hall is chemical warfare against the youth.
So I call on you supervisors supervisor, Tim, Markets, Halber, Bass, and Miley.
I call on you to stop pepper spraying our kids.
Hello again, supervisors.
It's grassy lemdina.
I'm here with resident resident as I already stated and a member of the Urban Peace Movement.
And I'm here to discuss SB A23G and the item 97.
A secure youth facility, FYTF for short, is supposed to be about growth and rehabilitation of our youth.
Are youth are put into these facilities so that they can try to better themselves.
I hope we understand that.
Why are we using this harmful spray on our kids?
Our kids do not deserve to be treated this way.
In June and July of 2025 alone, chemical spray was deployed 36 times against a population of just 65 youth.
Nearly, this is not nearly every single day.
This practice, this report should disproportionately harms our black and brown youth.
Many of whom have already experienced significant trauma.
A California counties already operate with out chemical sprays 35 states have already banned it.
So why can't I want me to county be next?
As community members, we want to county to push for the safety of its people.
This includes our youth.
Juvenile Hall is supposed to be for growth and support in rehabilitation.
Stating this again.
Instead, we are seeing harm spread like an infectious disease.
And how are children supposed to grow until safe when they are being abused?
As board members, you should be prioritizing the safety and the well-being of your children.
We demand that you, the board of supervisors, cause for the band of all forms of pepper spray.
Immediately ban them and prioritize it in your agenda as you return from your summer break or whatever you see this fit.
Hi, my name is Karen Thomas.
And I'm with Irwin Peace Movement.
Is it really a safe, is it really the safest option?
The use excuse troubled youth to determine their future.
You treat them like animals. You spray them and leave them in agonizing pain.
If sick pathetic and inhumane, we should be more focused on the rehabilitation of youth instead of continuing.
Good afternoon, Board. Good afternoon, Board. My name is Elijah and I'm here with Urban Peace Movement today to speak on agenda item SPA-23 in demand of ban on using pepper spray and alamidic counties juvenile detention facilities.
I think it's safe to say that as elected officials, it is one of if not your greatest responsibility to protect the health and safety of the people that you serve.
That responsibility does not disappear when a child enters juvenile detention and if anything becomes even greater, because those young people are vulnerable youth in you know, rehabilitation.
staff at alamidic county juvenile hall use pepper spray, military grade pepper spray meant to be used on animals about twice a week with children as young as 12 years old being spread, including youth experiencing psychiatric crisis is all top of that police use of pepper spray on adults has a risk of one death for every 600 uses.
If that risk exists for adults, why the hell are we exposing our youth to the same dangerous chemical weapon, juvenile justice is not meant to solely be punished men.
It's main purpose is rehabilitation.
The first spray teaches the exact opposite lesson. It tells young people like me that conflict is resolved by whoever has the most power in the strongest weapon that is in the value we should be teaching children who are supposed to be learning accountability and communication.
A facility built on fear is not safe for facility and better alternatives already exist. Many jurisdictions like Santa Clara have eliminated pepper spray and instead invested in crisis intervention trauma informed care and verbal de-escalation.
These approaches have improved outcomes for both youth and staff and lowers cost by approximately $70,000 per incident associated with medical treatment as well as workers cop and lawsuits.
I want you to look me in the eyes when I say this. Any family's child can make one position or one mistake and end up in juvenile detention. No family's child.
No parent should have to wonder whether that mistake will result in their child being spread with a military grade chemical weapon while on custody.
The children in juvenile hall are not somebody else's children. They are alameda counties children and board they can be your children.
But I should have to say that for you guys to care.
Thank you for your comments.
Thank you. Next speaker.
Good morning board. My name is Grace and I'm here representing the urban peace movement. I'm here to speak on the issue of pepper spray and it's using juvenile halls in the related sp823.
The use of pepper spray is legal in alameda county juvenile facilities. When in contact pepper spray causes a burning in your eyes to very blindness painful blisters rashes burns an increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
The physical effects in lingo for hours but the emotional and mental effects can be lifelong.
That pepper spray can cause triggers like trauma triggered because like panic attacks nightmares fear and close spaces PTSD like symptoms and a fear of staff.
In these spaces where youth are the most scared vulnerable and unsure of their future trusted staff is vital for the process of regrowth waking up and tear never knowing if you'll be able to be safe or not.
It doesn't teach kids to grow in skills distrust fear and resentment towards authority and a place that's supposed to be dedicated to the healing protecting and encouragement and our growth.
The use of chemical weapons at any moment being completely legal encouraging violence slash as any sort of progress that's ever been made.
Do you know that pepper spray is illegal during war and in combat by the chemical weapon convention you heard be right it's illegal to use during war but completely legal in your juvenile halls to spray a chemical weapon in the faces of the most vulnerable youth by adults who hold much more power than them.
Tell me board members would you feel safe knowing at any moment you can be sprayed in the face by a chemical weapon by something that stinks for hours on end and leaves painful burns by something that is banned in official warfare.
No you wouldn't that's why we are calling on you to ban the use of pepper spray and juvenile centers to end the suffering of our youth and to protect those who are most vulnerable and need it most thank you.
I'm Zachary Norris I'm the co executive director of the black organizing project and I'm here in support of the urban peace movement supervisor Miley I respectfully disagree with the decision that you just made but I also really appreciated that 20 years ago you took a really brave and courageous stand in calling to stop the expansion of the super jail for youth and to relocate it closer to where families were being locked up from and I appreciate that.
bravely I think is too late unfortunately to be a trend setter.
Now it was brave then because they were saying youth super predator there were all kinds of mythologies about a coming youth crime wave that never materialized and we saw across the country a national movement to actually downsize and reduce youth incarceration.
Unfortunately now the county is behind the trend all other bay area counties have actually ended most have ended youth pepper spray usage and that makes you a more vulnerable to being sued.
For being that outlier and continuing this barbaric practice so I would just ask that you all really use the power and the leverage you have over the juvenile hall to stop this practice to do what's right because again if you stop doing the harm you don't have to later address the harms.
My name is Malcolm Harris I'm co organizing director the black organizing project based here in Oakland I send in support and its solidarity with our.
Our partners at urban peace movement and I also want to name that we are in the 60th anniversary of the Oakland Black Panther Party.
And in those 60 years you would think that so much would have changed not much has changed at all as a matter of fact the interesting thing to see is it even is we're sitting here talking about health issues that in your four year supervisor cam.
I'm curious about how you have taken into consideration the impact of pepper spray and other ways to be able to address and deuscalate issues and versus use pepper spray are any other type of bodily.
The impacts I'm when it comes to young folks in youth and the juvenile justice system.
I encourage you in the same way that there's about y'all who's so.
So he could move.
I'm going to move towards studies maybe you need to do another study since in the 60 years of the black Panther Party there's so much it has not changed maybe you need to do a study to find out what else needs to change in the lives of working communities of particular.
Black and brown communities I asked you to take these issues in the consideration and look at how these issues these health related issues can be addressed and changed as you all takes such.
Deep on issues with other ways to look at change in the and inequities and not community.
My name is Raheem Nailer and I'm here on behalf of the European movement.
How many screens does it take for the board of supervisors to take action to use your power and all the right ways.
How many screens will take to get to the center of corruption of our so called justice system how many screens does it take to get to the center of your souls.
Why in my year is children are being pepper sprayed with chemical weapons of war this is a crime on our children's humanity it arose trust between staff and youth.
The kids that get sprayed grow up into women and men still mentally scarred and not killed how many screens does it take to realize the power you have.
How many screens does it take to stop perpetuating the pain on our children how many screens does it take to get to the center to break down all forms of abuse in our society.
And our justice system remember you have the power to stop the use of pepper spray on our children here in Alameda County juvenile hall.
We to people expect you to do your job gracefully.
How many screens does it take to get to the center of our anger how many screens does it take to get to the center of our hearts how many screens does it take.
Good evening supervisors my name is Kayla Matta some of the director of the programs that are in peace movement.
Before I speak on item 97 I just want to remind you that delaying to raise Alameda County's minimum wage harms our people families working full time still can't afford rent food and child care.
So supervisor Miley supervisor Tam and supervisor Halbert you all can afford to wait for so when it's coming to the majority of our majority of our constituents can't even afford to for next month.
So please just I want to remember that.
Now so agenda 97 for six years since SBA 23 open this conversation community partners have called on this count needs a band the use of pepper spray and yet only one unit in Alameda County juvenile hall has some sort of been six years one unit in this unit only has 13 beds.
I'm glad for the improvements in that unit but what about every other young person and in the other units of the hall are they not worthy.
I'm the same protection Alameda is one of only three bay area counties that hasn't band pepper spray that's not leadership that's lagging for 10 years of work with young people across this county.
More more not more trauma if schools can't use pepper spray, if schools can use pepper spray juvenile halls shouldn't either it doesn't de-escalate it traumatizes we're not asking for another study.
We're asking for a written face out timelines a band pepper spray in every unit of in the hall you have the data and you have the courage to act now so thank you.
That said we have the.
I'm sorry President however we have five online.
For public comment.
Okay.
Let's have it.
John Lindsay Cole and you have two minutes.
I know you all want to go home. I've also been in this zoom call since 930 this morning, but you have more than 100 items on your agenda, which we probably have not read most of them because you didn't know that item 97 does have to do with SBA 23 and funding for probation.
I support all the comments that you've had made and others have made and I would say if you're not going to band pepper spray in juvenile facilities in the county.
This particular item is for data for for studying which you just voted for another study for the include things for moving forward restorative justice and policy development research and reducing disparities.
So why not pull this item from the mass motion and actually require that that particular study.
Look at how the county help her behavior department is advancing towards getting rid of pepper spray in juvenile facilities.
The item I was going to talk about is item three, which is the capital improvement plan which was you consider last week in a special meeting.
It was not, it was not noticed very far in advance. The granicous recording was not available.
So I finally just found out about this morning, which includes a new piece for San Rita Jail.
It's not until fiscal year 30, it's not approved yet, but it's $182 million for electrical and core improvements of some kind.
It's only like five words about what $182 million would be for.
What I'm interested in is your knowledge of how those types of things get into the out years of the capital improvement plan.
Where do they come from? Who decides them? How does somebody come up with $182 million for San Rita Jail when we know that so many other things are needing money?
How is that determined? You need to be on top of that. So I urge you to find out either today or in the future.
Well, Cardi, you have two minutes.
Good evening supervisors. My name is Paul Cardi and I'm the Chief Financial Officer at Equality.
I'm here to speak on item 60, the home together fund.
I want to thank the board and the county staff for the diligence you've brought to the development of the home together fund.
Including the review, the follow-up questions and the interviews.
It is meant this fund is intentionally designed and well targeted. We appreciate the thoughtful process.
This fund is a critical resource to shore a local affordable housing providers like ours after an intensive shock to our industry.
The pandemics effects are still with us and they've been heightened by rising insurance costs and shifts in federal funding and policy.
Half of Equality's Alameda County portfolio is permanent support of housing, serving extremely low income seniors, families and formerly homeless individuals.
Every dollar of unrecoverable loss we carry is a dollar not going toward the services and ongoing projects that keep their homes safe and affordable.
This fund lets us keep our commitments to them.
We respectfully ask for your approval today and thank you again for getting us here.
Hangmos here, you have two minutes.
Thank you. Hello chair and members of the board. My name is Hangmoser and I'm the community engagement director at satellite affordable housing associates.
We are a nonprofit affordable housing organization with more than 60 years of experience serving.
We are deeply grateful for the staff thoughtful process and recommendation on the agenda item 60, and for the county, continued investment in affordable housing and homelessness.
We believe housing is more than just a room over one's head, it is the foundation that enables people to build the
a telemedic county resident remain safely housed. We are deeply grateful for the staff thoughtful
process and recommendation on agenda item 60 and for the county continued investment in affordable
housing and homelessness. At Sahah we believe housing is more than just a room over one's head.
It is the foundation that enables people to build this ability to thrive in the communities they call home.
This funding will help Sahah stabilize our operations and allow us to continue providing safe,
affordable housing and supportive services to the resident who depend on us. Thank you for your
consideration and support. We are proud to be trusted community partner and remain committed
to serving Alameda County's most vulnerable neighbors. Thank you.
You have two minutes. Thank you. Hello. I want to first really uplift the comments given by
youth themselves. Many of the commenters although I don't think they self identified are under
18 who spoke about item 97. I just want to really uplift and applaud their engagement. I think
that that means that we should listen with even greater openness and intensity to what they're
saying as the youth are future and they are talking about themselves and those incarcerated in juvenile
detention centers. I also still speak on 97. Thought it was really appropriate that in the last item
you spoke about fiduciary concerns and issues and that is definitely an issue with the use of
pepper spray in the juvenile detention center. If there's an infraction or a lawsuit, I believe if I'm
not misremembering it was about $20,000 each time a suit was brought. That's definitely a fiduciary
concern and something that you need to contend with as for the Board of Supervisors. There are already
methods of de-escalation. Pepper spray is not necessary and I do want to address because I'm sure
it'll be brought up in later discussions. The kind of step down in the use of the quote unquote less
harmful pepper spray repulse. It's a water-based pepper spray but I really want to emphasize at this time
that chemical, a chemical harm is still a chemical spray. You're still using chemicals on these youths
and what happens with the water-based, I'm trained in right-control agents and when you use a
wild-viewed, right-control agent, that's water-based. It's easier to clean and rinse out but it is still
effective in causing harm and being a deterrent because it still has capiation. It is still harmful.
So I'd really like you to agendize this specifically when you return from recess.
Joanna Holden, you have two minutes.
Bye, Board. It's wonderful to be back here. I'm here commenting on item number 29. Let's go to
approve, message W. Something for queer and trans services. Specifically, use mental health support
and get their firm and care for Alameda County. Before I express my gratitude, I must express my grief.
I think the more beneficial for our low-income queer and trans communities here now need
a county than raising the minimum wage and that is not happening this year. So I'm feeling that grief.
That said, I am incredibly grateful to the supervisors who have stood with our queer and trans community
supporting the crucial work that the Oakland Alameda Cute Community Center is doing. Support
queer and trans use, adults, elders, and fight it back against this federal administration that is
held back on causing us genocidal harm and violence. Alameda County has not always been a great ally
in this area, but everyone on the board present has chosen to stand on the set of justice.
That's for that. We are thankful. We look forward to work if you're not with you, not only
to the year to come, but for the rest of the measured W ethnic period. Thank you. Good night.
No more speakers? Very good. With that said, we are about to vote on the consent calendar item.
I think most was made by Supervisor Tam, second by Supervisor Markaz.
Hi. Supervisor Tam. Hi. Supervisor Miley. Hi. Supervisor Portion at a bus.
Hi. President Halford. I vote yes. We're not ready for the mass motion or we prepared that.
President Halford, let me just make a couple of announcements. There's been a request to poll item 50
capital A small Roman I I by the author of that letter. And there's also been a request to poll item 104 by the department.
What's the one by the department? What would item again? 104. 104.
Okay. Very well. Are we able to make a mass motion then? Mr. President, I will move items
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. I have a question on 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, question on 15, M3,
.16, 17, 18, 19, 21 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 24, 20, 21, 29, 37, 28, 23, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 38, 30,
49, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50 would be as amended with small Roman
to hold, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 66, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 66, 66, 68, 69,
78, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 88, 81, 84, 88, 86, 87, 88, 89.
14, 1115, 1117, 118, 119, 1120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126.
Second, I'm sorry. I just wanted to clarify,
Dr. Gassway, it's actually 67.
I have questions on not 66 psychologists.
Just a clarification.
Item 47 and 20 or not part of the mass motion,
because there's a recusal.
Yes.
So I second the mass motion.
Very good.
The motion's been made in second.
First item for discussion or comments,
is supervisor,
fortunate on the bass item three.
Yes.
I do have a question on our capital improvement plan.
This was also mentioned during the public comment.
Regarding the Santa Rita jail capital plan,
there's a projected 182 million and FY30
for electrical system upgrade and core building renovation.
I don't recall seeing that in previous versions of the CIP.
And my question is,
how did this amount get calculated?
Was it in the previous facility assessment?
I'd like to know more about that estimate.
Thank you, supervisor Kimberly Gasway,
GSA Director.
So the capital plan previously for future projects
had $200 million in last year's approved capital plan.
We did bring under several work sessions to your board.
The master planning at the jail was underway,
which we're looking at the facility assessment needs
as in addition to that the litigation projects.
And we're in a remodeling that we needed to do at the facility.
We have a number of experts involved in cost estimators on those efforts.
So what you see a future projects at this time,
we do know the two grades needs right now is the electrical systems upgrade,
which we have a number of experts working on that,
including cost estimators and we know that the core building
will take area needs to be remodeled, more working at the sheriff,
and behave real health on that, moving that forward.
So those two big items are still in the planning with the consultants involved.
And so we do know that we're roughly estimated 182 million,
but that's a future project.
It's still in planning and development.
It's not even in design yet.
Neither of those exact items have been brought to your board for approval.
We're just giving you that to understanding of the gap for the future capital plan as a whole.
So these are not approved projects yet.
We're not ready to fully be brought forward,
but there are a number of experts working on them.
Electrical systems at the jail are include the solar,
the microgrid that's aged at this time.
So more will be coming to your board.
I'm just a follow up.
Last week in our work session,
we did receive a supplemental presentation specific to San Rita jail.
I haven't had a chance to look,
but has that presentation been uploaded to our website.
I'm not quite sure if it was going to be under the budget documents,
but just wanted to verify the materials that we received the last Tuesday.
All of those materials should have been uploaded.
And where were they be though?
The budget website.
I think it should be on the budget website if not,
it would be with the agenda.
We can verify the exact location.
Okay.
So if it's on the agenda,
it'll be housed where we file all of our agendas under the clerks.
To have on the website.
And then, but in addition,
they should be with the budget documents.
It should be with the work session agenda.
And it would have been posted after the board received it last week,
but let's verify that.
Okay.
Yeah, if we could just get in a common practice of making sure we post those.
We could direct members of the public,
but appreciate that update.
Thank you.
Next item.
Supervisor Tam.
Item eight.
Thank you.
President Halbert.
So item eight is an amendment to a standard service
that the county has with the Shabbou loss receipt
as community college to provide training.
And this is a $31 million contract with an increase from 18 to 31.
And it's spread over five years, right?
Going to 2028.
So this is obviously a critical part of trying to make sure we have.
The vacancies filled with child welfare workers,
because part of the training program includes child welfare workers.
So I'm just trying to understand.
How much the.
This is a county get for.
The funding that we provide.
I know they have to provide a match.
Do we do we get a good pipeline of.
of staffing from.
This program.
Thank you.
The question and supervisor Tam on 34 days and see director for social services.
I have with me Michelle love the assistant agency director for children family services.
And she will respond to your question.
So the training is for.
A multitude of people.
It is for our foster parents.
Our local agencies.
Anybody that works with foster youth can access this training.
We use this training in the department.
apartment to additional training for staff, educational opportunities that we wouldn't be able to attend.
We've been able to use this funding to send staff to trainings that were required to go to, so that we don't use county dollars to do it.
Oftentimes there are trainings out of state that require more than one person.
So we've used this funding so we wouldn't be using county funds to send staff on trainings out of state.
In terms of the pipeline for chat welfare worker staff, as you know Shabou is a community college.
So it isn't really a pipeline to bring staff in, but does it go to Cal State East Bay and then come?
Times, there are trainings out of state that require more than one person. So we've used this funding so we wouldn't
be using county funds to send staff on trainings out of state. In terms of the pipeline for chat, welfare,
worker staff, as you know, Shribo is a community college. So it isn't really a pipeline to bring
staff in. But does it go to Cal State East Bay and Nencom? This does not. It's completely
separate. This for e-training dollars benefits agencies like Seneca gets a large chunk to train their
staff and foster parents and people working in the community. A lot of our large agencies use
this training dollars. So this think of it. This is just training with the primary goal to get additional
educational resources into the hands of our caregivers and anybody that serving foster youth. So our
behavior of health partners get a portion to assist training. ICC coordinators that work with
foster youth. So it's kind of spread actually throughout the county with multiple people getting to
benefit as long as they are working with foster youth. Okay. Thank you. I actually have follow up.
So do we, do we measure how many like what is the cost to serve for person trained or how do we
divide the money up amongst Seneca and the others? So we sit down with Shibo and we divide it up.
What we've tried to do when I first got in the seat, it was primarily just going to Seneca.
What we look at is what are the training needs of the community and then we try to spread it out from
there. So every time we come up with the new provider that is benefiting what we're trying to do,
we add to that contract. So for example, one of the ways Shibo welfare workers benefit
is we have a contract with evident change. Evident change is the per bear of our structured decision
making tool. So they do case readings for us to look at what's working. What's not with upcoming
post-to-things we've had. We've talked to evident change. They're going to do a case reading in our
emergency response program. So we can identify the areas for structured decision making. The evidence
based tool we have. What are the areas we need to train staff specifically? So we're just not
going out of broad-based training. There's our staff getting ready to go to this training. Can we use it
for staff salaries or stipends of some kind to augment the pay that are the time to see.
Now it is specifically for training that's title for e-training dollars in the comes from the state.
I think it comes from the federal government to pass through with a match it's above.
And it doesn't go to training teachers it goes to train people that work with. It is
title for e-fines our for foster use. So it's designated for people that are going to be working with
foster use. In the county we've tried to spread it as broadly as we could so that a multitude of
partners can benefit if they're working with our system. Okay. Any other questions? Superge Tamna.
I think the next one I have listed is Supervisor Fortune on the bass item 15.
Yes. So this is for emergency food distribution and I certainly support the social services agency
and our partners to do this important work. I wanted to acknowledge that we have many different
organizations including very hyper local organizations doing this important work of emergency food
distribution. For context there's over a hundred community-based organizations that are part of the
county food sovereignty roundtable that our staff as well as my office and others participate in.
And I do think it's important to look at the strategic ways that we can strengthen our food system.
And there's a lot of great work that organizations are doing that are very innovative and
including addressing not only how to provide food during this time when health fresh is being impacted
but also the ways that we can recover food, produce and grow food, process food,
and distribute nutrition and culturally relevant food. So my point is that I think it would be
important rather than soul sourcing these contracts before they expire in two years to issue
an RFP and really making sure that we're understanding that the needs, the resources and new
innovations that are out there so we can do our best to provide nutritious culturally relevant food
to as many residents as possible. So director Ford, I know we've talked about this. I do want to ask
would you be willing and able to do an RFP before these contracts expire in two years?
Yes, the providers are forced not obey us. I would be both willing and able to throw an RFP out on the
street to see if there are any new interested vendors. Thank you. Thank you very much.
I think item 24 and 29, again, Supervisor Ford's not a bass.
Yes, item number 24 is an agreement with the support of housing community land trust,
a client to support operation of their community land trust and help ease the county's housing
crisis for consumers who are experiencing serious mental illness and within comes 200% below the
federal poverty level. We have been working with this organization for a number of years and I have
two questions for our agency director, which I flagged for her in advance. The first is
what has SCSHCLA achieved with a 5.8 million of county investment they received to date and the second
is that the staff reports notes the county will support the organization while the agency
transitions to independent operational stability by June of next year. I'm interested in hearing
how the county will support them with that transition. Good evening, Supervisors,
and you can talk to a agency director for Alameda County Health. So to your first question,
Supervisor of the 5.8 million or so that was been allocated to SCSHLA over the years,
they've drawn down about $3.3 million in funding and what they've reported is that they've been able
to leverage that funding to apply for additional funding in Contra Costa County,
as well as to expand their strategic partnerships and organizational capacities with organizations like
UC Berkeley, the Felton Institute and a few other organizations and maintaining their core staffing
and strengthening governance. They also note that their near-term priorities are closing on the
true properties that we've been working on earlier in the year that the county was not able to support
and finalizing various contracts that they have with Contra Costa County.
In terms of the board letter before you today that is specific to $900,000 in prop one bridge funding
that we're providing for the organization and the H&H team co-develop the scope for that
with this Housing and Community Development team with at CDA. The goal there is to provide
capacity building and technical assistance to help SCSHLA develop a sustainability plan.
So there are the ideas to help the maintain essential operations and diversify their revenue beyond
Elamedic County support and also to specifically note that this is to support operational costs
and provide more clarity around expenditures as they've not been able to fully draw down previous
allocations and really were prioritizing progress toward them being able to master lease suitable
properties or figuring out how to do feasibility assessments or doing more feasibility assessments
and establishing more strategic partnerships and in that strategic partnership space it's
particularly with regard to the board and care community within Elamedic County.
And kind of helping us potentially do some needs assessment there in terms of what the needs of the
providers might be because we want to facilitate those connections. Thank you very much.
Anybody else have any other questions or other items? I think the next one was 29 which is mine.
It's just a comment. So I mentioned earlier that this month of August we are celebrating Oakland
Pride and Berkeley Pride. I am very glad that we are going to be launching the LGBTQIA plus
Community Health Access Navigation and Health Equity Initiative. So in terms of background folks
may remember that last year at our Elamedic County together for all act for all meeting we invited our
LGBTQ partners to comment on not only the disparities that that community continues to face,
but the threats under the current federal administration. And since that advocacy myself,
supervisor Miley and his team have worked with a number of partners to support
growing our commitment to that community. So I really appreciate the work that various organizations have
done together with AC Health. This is a $1.5 million investment for coordinated Countywide efforts
to increase access to gender affirming health care mental health support. Crisis response and prevention
services and healthcare navigation for transgender non-binary and LGBTQIA plus residents.
This is a collaboration with the Oakland LGBTQ community center who we heard speak during public
comment, Pacific Center for Human Growth, side-by-side youth, life-long medical and Bay Area Community Health.
So I just wanted to flag that this is a real milestone given the important work our health agency has
done to document the disparities in this community. So we really look forward to the progress of this
particular initiative. Thank you.
Anybody that has any other comments on any other?
I'm 97. The probation GP come forward and just talk a little bit about the status of OC spray and
what's going on. So we can get at least get that out in the public domain today.
Yes, sir. Thank you, supervisor Miley, Brian Forty, probation officer. And response that question
also want to note that I have personally gone down to Urban Peace Movement, met with their leadership team,
met with most of the young people they showed up today, even invited me to a town hall meeting in
February where I spoke on a panel and it was specifically about OC spray and the progress of it
and all the things that we have done up to this thus far. So we've been very transparent about what we are.
We spent five years meeting and conferring with the labor unions. We've reached agreement after five
years where we've updated our use of force policy, where we've narrowed the scope and circumstances in
which OC can be used and it's only in a riot situation where multiple youth are fighting. Where
another circumstance is if there's a hostage situation or if there's a threat to life. So those are the
three circumstances in which it can be used. Our use of force policy also says that staff have to intervene
physically first. So those are all changes that we have landed on with respect to OC spray. We are also
in the process of removing the actual OC spray that we have and replacing it with a less harmful tool
called the repulse which is a water-based solution that also contains like a vinegar in it so it does
burn the eyes. It's an irritant but it doesn't impact individuals who have asthma because it's not
impact your respiratory system. All right and the thing is it's unfortunate that staff have to get hands on
in certain situations but your staff have been trained in de-escalation as well. Right? Yes, de-escalation
is the first or a business and eating and all of our use of force protocols. Okay.
Chief Warden on that I expect an answer right now in this specific data but it is a requirement
of your department to track the frequency they use. Is that correct? Yeah it is and in fact we've looked at
this data as a recent and from January of this year to July 31 of this year our OC has been significantly
reduced on average in 2025 we were using it about eight or nine times per month. Now we're down to one
or two times per month so it's been a significant decrease and we've continued with the messaging for
staff tour staff so staff know that hands-on is the first or a operation. Okay and can we actually
respectfully ask when you come to public protection committee I think we're looking at something and
before the end of the year can we provide an update basically which you just shared right now so it could
be a little bit more comprehensive for the public to understand and thank you for hiding in the meat and
confer process I think that's something that many people lose side of in this county but that is part of
our responsibility with our labor partners but I appreciate that the ability to find a different
product and the decrease in actual utilization. Thank you. So just to confirm yes I think we heard
that it's used almost daily that was the public comment that's just an error that's just false information
and that came from an organization that you sat in on a panel discussion with yes I was invited in
February to a town hall meeting where the discussion was primarily O.C. Spray. Supervisor Basses at that meeting
so yes we've given those stats out before. Plane leaf just falls. Okay. I think
I think the end person was referring to specific two-month period of time though.
Was it ever used daily? No, it's not used daily. We don't have any stasis in the past. Was it ever used daily? We don't have any stasis.
You've been with us for a long time. Yes, eight years.
Okay. Yes. It just draws into question the validity of things that are said when some things are clearly just wrong.
Okay. Thank you.
Good afternoon. Just a quick follow-up. How is it related to SB E23?
So it's not really that item. That's only agenda is a request to do a contract extension with a vendor.
Every year we are required our SB E23 subcommittee to submit a plan to the state.
That vendor's job is just to interview clients, interview families, and to update that plan and submit it to the state.
How it's loosely sort of related is the first iteration of that plan five years ago.
There was action taken by the Advocate Community to put language in the plan that required us to eliminate OC spray.
And we've made clear that that's a function of the meet and confer process.
So just because it's in the plan doesn't mean that we get effectively accomplish it.
But they sort of ignored that piece of it and have continued to advocate because it was written in the plan.
I think I would see that the topic was very loosely if even closely associated with that item certainly.
I allowed public comment.
Maybe it didn't need to. Maybe it was off point. Maybe it didn't realize how long it would take. I didn't need to do it.
But I thought it was important to hear so that we could also ask these follow-up questions with you and understand more of the truth of what was happening.
And you just spurred another thought in my mind.
This is me and confer subject matter.
Did that come out in discussions of your panel or discussions with this group?
Do they understand that you would need to.
You've already had to discuss this with the proper labor union and that this is a meeting confer as you just can't just unilaterally stop that.
Yes, we lead with that as our primary point when we explain this to the Advocate groups.
I think they are still under the notion that the board has ultimate authority regardless of our meeting conferred requirements which is why they come here and advocate and similar to your comments about public comment.
Every time that I've spoken with with the groups I always support and acknowledge the young people and to engage in their civic duty and to encourage them to speak through the against power.
All of that but at the same time we're educating them about all of the processes and things that we have to go to to make what they want to see a reality.
And I hope that it would be the truth.
Yes, I appreciate that.
Any other items, I have several. Thank you. We're good. So I'm just going to point out.
Under general administration, we have several very worthy grants of discretionary funding.
A thousand dollars to open children's fairy land.
A thousand dollars to camps in common. This is Supervisor Fortune on a bass. Thank you. Supervisor Marquez.
$3,000 to Hayward Education Foundation.
A thousand dollars to United Seniors of Oakland.
Thank you. Supervisor Tam. A thousand dollars to Alameda Education.
$2,500 to Davis Street.
$5,000 to Spanish-speaking Unity Council.
$1,000 to Alameda Welfare Council.
Daily, bold African-American Chamber of Commerce.
These are well-deserving community organizations that funding would be in peril.
If Senator Wahab's SB 1193 were to be signed into law, I think it's reprehensible that
these, this funding, which is within our purview and should be within our discretion, is under attack.
And so I encourage us to continue to stand up against that and devote and I support voting for these discretionary funds to be spent in
the way in which we see fit because we know our communities better than she does.
Are there any other items for which we want to make common on Supervisor Fortune on a bass?
Thank you, President Haber. Just one more comment. This is for item 113.
This is really just a comment. Thank you for being here.
Chief McDonald. So this is a licensed agreement between the United States Department of Justice Federal Bureau of
Presence for the use of a building adjacent to FCI Dublin for the Alameda County Fire Department's fuel crews.
I want to say that I am very supportive of this item.
I have the pleasure of serving and representing our board on the Alameda County wildfire.
Actually, the East Bay wildfire coalition, which is Alameda County in Contra Costa.
And the work that our county department does to prevent wildfires to mitigate fires and to respond is very critical.
This lease would allow for a building in adjacent area to house our fuels crew to allow for training.
And I think it's really important. My main issue was that it's only for one year.
And I know we need a long-term home. I hope we can stay there longer.
And I also want to appreciate that our chief was able to also have a conversation with members of the community,
specifically community members who've been very concerned about the use of FCI Dublin.
As we are also concerned for potential immigration detention or corrections.
So I just want to say thank you to the chief as well as to our community members who are very willing to support this use, which is very productive community centered.
And know that we want to continue the communication so that if the fire department can stay there for a longer time period or use more of that space, it would really benefit the county and our residents and wildfire prevention.
Thank you, Supervisor Portionado Bass and President Albert and members of the Fort of Supervisors. I just want to say I'm really McDonald the fire chief.
This is really a great relationship that we've been afforded.
It is the opportunity for us to have our crew aid, our fuel mitigation crew, who I think does wonderful work, very effective in fuel mitigation throughout the county, as well as throughout the state.
And right now they're out in Washington on the wildfires that are burning there where they've had multiple,
folks evacuated, multiple fires starting throughout the state.
Our folks are going up there as well as we have two injured crews that are responding to the wildfires in Washington.
So it's a very important relationship for us to have to be able to have a base of operation for a fuel mitigation crew for crew.
But then they have an ability to assemble, to meet, to be trained, to store their equipment, to park their vehicles, and have just have an operation to have a base for their operation to great community resource and a great community.
So thank you very much.
Yeah, I just want to say Supervisor Bass speaks for me.
Very good. Thank you. Thank you.
To make Donald, if you could give the first of all, I concur with the comments and, you know, had conversations about this early on and also couldn't wait till this public and official.
So I want to publicly thank you. I can't think of a better use of that space to repurpose for fire protection mitigation bar entire county.
And I know you have a regional response as well, but also want to in this moment uplift local 55 President Aaron Lee, who's relatively new to this role.
And really impressed with his outward.
Innovative thinking on repurposing the space for much of the use of just thank you for the quick turnaround on this, the collaboration and really excited about the future prospect of using this space for something that is beneficial to everyone's.
Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.
I would like to just echo your appreciation that Aaron Lee, the new president or relatively new president of local 55.
Great to have such strong collaboration with our fire department, our local firefighters and the community.
He's doing a great job. He's a great partner and he happens to be away with crew. Right now on the fires in Washington. Great resource. Thank you.
Any other questions or comments before we take.
The vote.
Thanks supervisor Tam, you made the motion who made the second.
My only made the second roll call vote, please.
Supervisor Marquez.
Hi.
Supervisor Tam.
Hi.
Supervisor Marley.
Hi.
Supervisor portion on the box.
Hi.
President Albert.
I vote yes.
Next item.
Next item is item 20 and there's a refusal.
Yes, President Albert, if I could.
I have the before to recuse myself on items 20 and 47 item 20.
I need to recuse myself because.
And make our as made a $500 contribution to my campaign.
March of 2026 and item 47.
I need to recuse myself now out of.
I need compensation or anything.
But I always recuse myself when items dealing with the United
Sceners and got there's a.
Confolution coming to the United Sceners.
So for those reasons, I'm recusing myself on those items.
That was 20 and 47.
I'll move items 20.
And both and 47 and 47.
Second.
Motion's been made by Supervisor Tam.
Second by Supervisor Marquez.
To approve items 20 and 47.
Roll call vote please.
Supervisor Marquez.
I.
Supervisor Cam.
I.
Supervisor Marley recuse himself in left the room.
Supervisor portion on the box.
I.
President Albert.
I vote yes.
Those items pass.
We're going to go to the next side of the board.
Three.
Three ordinances.
The first one is item 48.
It's a second reading of an ordinance.
A many county general ordinance code related to firearms in the
Unincorporate area.
Do you want to get Supervisor Miley back in.
So that this is kind of his ordinance.
Yes.
Item.
Somebody.
Nine.
Nine is the second reading of salary ordinance amendments.
An ordinance amending certain provisions of the 2025.
2026 County of Alameda salary ordinance.
Mr. President, I will move the way the full second reading and adopt the ordinance
approving the MOU.
Uh, between Alameda County and Aknea.
And I will move to wave the full second reading adopt the salary ordinance amendments
as identified in items.
79 AB and then one Roman one two and three.
Motion's been made by Supervisor Tam.
Is there a second.
Second.
Supervisor.
Four cent of bass roll call book.
Please.
Supervisor Marquez.
Aye.
Supervisor Tam.
Aye.
Supervisor Marley.
What are you interested?
79.
So everyone.
Aye.
Yes.
Supervisor.
Portion.
Boss.
Aye.
Doesn't hover.
I vote.
Yes.
Let's go back to item 48.
Item 48.
Any of the county general ordinance code amendment related to firearms storage in the
Enincorporated areas of the county.
Was it.
The full second reading.
The adoption of the.
Thank you.
Supervisor.
Right.
Miley.
I need to read the title of the ordinance.
First.
An ordinance amending section nine point one two point one three zero of the county of Alameda's general ordinance code,
regarding the safe storage of firearms in residences within unincorporated territory of the county.
Move to the balance of the full second reading.
You move for the adoption of the ordinance.
Thank you.
That's second.
Motion's been made by supervisor.
Miley.
Second by.
Supervisor Tam.
I.
Supervisor.
I.
Supervisor.
I.
Supervisor.
I.
Your last ordinance is item one.
I.
Great.
It's an ordinance and the public board say it's a first reading ordinance.
I mean the traffic regulations and vehicle and traffic code in the anchor to agree.
It's an ordinance amending chapter one relating to traffic regulations.
County highway of title six relating to vehicles and traffic.
The.
the ordinance and meeting chapter one is described in item 116.
The motion's been made by Supervisor Tam.
Say it by Supervisor Miley.
Welcome, both, please.
Supervisor Marquez.
Hi.
Supervisor Tam.
Hi.
Supervisor Miley.
Hi.
Supervisor Portionado Bounce.
Hi.
President Hubbard.
Hi.
We've completed our mass motion and the rest of our agenda
work now left with public comment on items not on today's agenda.
Before I believe we do need to then reassess in the closed session again or do.
A9.6, 12.5 of the rule of the street court. Here, I'm a rapist, 1835-459-2355-291-2355-739. Cornstalk through the phone at NDC and
hey Hans, Hans, I need to spill my kits. I know you understand, but I'm just making sure the graphic
packaging at 1450. McGridger, the genius act, isn't understood. The derivative evidence,
the military rule of it in 302-305, and November 44, 80201-01, compliance under the Department of War
Health, as Lieutenant General and Secretary of the Department of North Korea, and that my unit,
you know, our lovers, under Chapter 47, Title 10, is understood and got to take a maga movement,
you know, a maga movement. I'm reminded everyone as a POW, 12 days ago, a treaty didn't go
and flow into theater. Manual Macrom, Victor DuPont, you're ordered for the use of force as the
slacked act, an appropriate response against the city, state, county, and theater of warfare,
and view of the blatant gross malice and intentional negligence by that of interstate actors.
I just want to remind it, and oh, bear child, I forgot you're not my counsel.
Just wanted to let you know that, but I am not introducing a surgery as informed of properties.
No more speakers. Okay, we're going to close public summit then.
So super buzzer, I understand that we need to go back to item 79. The title was read for item A,
but it was not read for item B, even in the motion included. So we need to, in fact, read the title for item B.
Sure, let the record reflect that I closed public comment. I'm not on today's agenda.
We're going to move back to item 79 and ask for close to reread what needs to be reread.
This is for 79 B, an ordinance approving the February 15th, 2020 six through February 24th,
2020 nine memorandum of understanding with the Alameda County Management Employees Association,
Sheriff's, sworn units 026, 027 and 028.
Motion moved to wave the full second reading and adopt.
The ordinance as described in 79 A and moved to wave the full second reading and adopt the salary
orders and amendments to update the sections as identified in 79 B.
Second, motion has been made by Supervisor Tam, second by Supervisor Miley,
roll call vote, please. Supervisor Marquez. Hi. Supervisor Tam. Hi. Supervisor Miley. Hi.
Supervisor Porto, not a bounce. Hi. Doesn't hover. Hi.
Now I'll ask County Council. Is there anything that we need to report out from close session discussions earlier today?
Yes, much of a present. We have two items to report out from close session today.
The first one is in the matter of in rate. Sorry, Blackman.
There was a settlement in the amount of $130,000 that was approved by your board on May 12th,
2026. The vote was unanimous. If I've received 0 with Supervisor's hybrid Tam, Miley, Mark has
unfortunately not a bounce notice. The matter is now fine.
We are also tonight announcing the settlement in the matter of the case of Johnson at Alversus County
Valemita at Al. Superior Court of California, County of Alemita, case number 23, CV, 0304, 310.
For transparency purposes, this case involves the matter of the Estate of Sophia Mason.
In that matter in close session on October 7th of 2025, your board approved a final settlement in
amount of $12 million. The vote was unanimous with Supervisor's hybrid Tam, Miley,
Mark has, unfortunately not a pass voting yes. There was obviously a delay in reporting out
from the October 7th approval date while the settlement was finalized and more importantly,
while the probate court resolved the question regarding the eligible areas of the Estate
Permission. We are also announcing today that the independent investigation report ordered
by your board with the consent of the juvenile court following a section 827 petition
allowing us to make various reductions will be released and published and post and made available.
That matter is now final and the case is concluded.
Thank you. I believe we also have a statement from our board that I should now read. Is that correct?
I'm seeing head nods. Okay.
This is indeed a very emotional statement from our board.
Deep, breathe deeply and as I read this, I know that it weighs on our hearts.
So I asked that we give this statement and that we asked the community to grieve with us. Sophia Mason
was an eight year old girl who deserved protection and a full life. Instead, her life was cut short.
We mourned with her grandmother and extended family for what could have been.
Since her passing we learned and as a community reckoned with the fact that the systems in place
designed to keep her safe were unsuccessful. We, as your elected officials, have elevated the tragedy
of Sophia's death and focused on it relentlessly. We demanded answers from our county staff.
We also welcomed experts from the state to review our actions and provide guidance.
We have taken the opportunity to conduct extensive internal reviews on how we can prevent this
from ever happening again. And we have sought to learn from this experience.
Today we are announcing a settlement that resolves the civil litigation. While this legal
resolution may bring a small measure of closure, our work serve in the community continues.
As part of our commitment to transparency, we have ordered a comprehensive, independent,
investigation of the entire Sophia Mason case and a report containing recommendations on the
best practices for conducting child welfare investigations, including new policies and practices.
So today we are also announcing the release of this independent comprehensive internal investigation.
With the civil and criminal cases resolved, we want to share this with you, the public
immediately. The report is being released in full with only select names removed to respect privacy,
or to honor California employment regulations and agreements with our labor partners.
The report will be posted with the boards agenda online shortly. The independent investigation presents
a series of deficiencies in our agencies actions, in this case that we must and will address.
These included the staff decisions and actions in adequacies in supervision and systemic faults.
Importantly, the report also provides 25 specific recommendations in policy and procedures
designed to prevent this from happening again. Today's two developments, the legal settlement and
release of Alameda County's independent investigation do not occur in a vacuum. As a board,
we have increased our oversight of the work of the Alameda County Department of Children and family
Services and its extended network. This rigor will continue and we will hold leadership accountable.
Alameda County is already working in partnership with the state of California. We are implemented
in the findings of the state auditor's report. Representatives from the Alameda County's Department
of Child and Family Services recently updated this board that among the state's 15 recommendations,
seven have been fully implemented by our staff while the other eight are in progress. Earlier this
month, California DSS, issued a findings and recommendations report, which identified many of the same
challenges as the state auditor and our independent investigation. Alameda County welcomes the
support, monitoring, and technical assistance that CDSS will provide for system improvement.
Locally, in our monthly update from Alameda County Social Services Agency leaders, we learned
that staff vacancies, which is a key finding from the public scrutiny, have been reduced from
32.8 percent to 21.2 percent. Second, ensuring we have a robust and thoroughly trained team
as a priority, but also remains a statewide, even nationwide challenge in delivering public
social services. Lastly, case backlog continues to decline and has been reduced by 57 percent
from a peak of 3900 to about 1500. We honor that each of these cases represents the individual
circumstances a child is facing. Each equally as important as Sophia Mason and each deserving of
the best support our agencies can provide. Critical work remains, but this momentum heartens us.
Finally, we recognize that Alameda County's Department of Children and Family Services has already implemented
important changes. These include new policies and procedures to identify, assess, and address
physical abuse injuries. Alameda County's Social Services Agency has also expanded its ability
to use an investigatory search warrant for a medical exam or interview to gain insights into protecting
children. Agency leadership and staff have and will undergo extensive new training,
the held to new documentation standards and new accountability for oversight and accuracy in safety
and risk assessments. As leaders of Alameda County, we recognize the gravity of this moment.
We understand that Sophia Mason deserved support from the public resources allocated and
designed to protect her. We reaffirm our county-wide commitment to protecting our children and advancing
system-wide improvement. We all honor the memory and spirit of Sophia Mason through our actions.
May we work to hold our community close and to see that each child in Alameda County can assess
their infinite potential. I would ask that we would engage in a moment of silence in memory of Sophia Mason.
I would like to thank everyone and again, big our communities, indulgence and respect for the family
as we grieve. With that said, we have completed all matters before us and therefore we are adjourned.