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In this Issue
Around the country, enemies of democracy are using legal and illegal methods to suppress voting and keep people from being involved in their own government. I've been inspired by the work of people like Stacey Abrams in Georgia, who is fighting against voter suppression and working hard to engage people who traditionally are not voters. To support this movement for democracy and engagement I am spearheading Joy and Justice, a new effort to increase voting and civic engagement in Alameda County. More events and outreach from my office are coming soon, stay tuned!
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Earlier this spring, I had the pleasure of sponsoring and participating in a “colorful, diverse, hyper-positive experience” in Downtown Oakland: the second-annual Black Joy parade. The event was created by Oakland resident Elisha Greenwell and it brought together a beautiful array of Black groups, artists, and community organizations for a parade and festival which was the “exclamation point” to Black History Month. My staff and I enjoyed music, dance, food, and crafts all produced by our local Black community, along with 18,000 other attendees. It was truly a heart-warming experience to be surrounded by a community brought together to celebrate Black Excellence.
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Earlier this year I gave my second annual State of the District speech. I am happy to report to my constituents that Alameda County is in good fiscal health. However, we have many social and infrastructural challenges ahead which we must address. In my speech I presented my strategic priorities to meet the most pressing needs of my constiruents. These included:
The 2020 Census: A fair and accurate count is very important to ensure equitable distribution of Federal money, and government representation. If there is not a fair count, we do not get all the resources we are entitled to! The County is working with the State of California to ensure all residents are counted.
Probate Conservatorship: I am very concerned with elder abuse, and I do not want to see conservatorships placed on seniors inappropriately. This can lead to them losing their assets against their will, which is an injustice!
Seniors: This year I have supported senior programs such as public transportation training, housing solutions, food security efforts, and healthy living outreach. As you know I will always be a champion for seniors!
Housing and Homelessness: We must continue to address the housing crisis. Through Measure A the County has installed 1,100 new affordable housing units for low-income populations in the last year. The County also started the Homelessness Council, an interdepartmental effort to address the unprecedented crisis of homelessness currently taking place. Everyone deserves safe and secure housing and I take the responsibility to ensure that very seriously.
Illegal Dumping. Illegal dumping affects us all, it is a plague on our communities, and I'm declaring war on it! We are launching a new pilot in East Oakland to address this serious problem with a new inter-governmental task force, increased enforcement, community education and a proactive legislative agenda to enact change from Sacramento!
Violence Prevention: I will continue to support violence prevention programs to decrease violence county-wide, because any form of violence is repugnant.
Cannabis: This now-legal industry requires well-regulated commerce here in the County, while also protecting people who are vulnerable, especially youth.
Eden Area Municipal Council: To support the significant work we do in the Eden unincorporated area, we are working to create an Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council. Similar to the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council, the EMAC will serve as a county-appointed group which will offer guidance to the Board of Supervisors about the needs of the Eden Area. The MAC model is an important way to ensure civic engagement in our unincorporated areas.
To watch the full State of the District speech, click here.
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 Bottom: Supervisor Miley with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
Congratulations to the Alameda County Fatherhood Summit organizers, sponsors, and County Agencies that made this event a great success. I was privileged and honored to provide the welcoming remarks for the Summit. It has been a joy to raise two amazing children myself, so this event was important to me. I want to offer a special thanks to the County employees and the other volunteers that made this day of training and equipping very special for fathers. I encourage those that organized this summit, to not stop here. Keep the good work moving forward! I stand in solidarity with all fathers in lifting up the vital role that we play in raising our children.
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I was deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the passing of Oakland City Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney's son. Our prayers and heartfelt condolences are extended to the entire family. There was a moment of silence for Victor at our Board of Supervisors' Regular Meeting. A wonderful life cut short by a senseless act of violence. Please join me in keeping Councilmember Mc Elhaney and her family in your prayers.
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Father Jay Matthews was a vital part of the Oakland community, and I am grieving his recent passing. He served for 26 years as pastor in the predominantly African-American American St. Benedict Catholic Church in East Oakland, and he was a graduate of Skyline High. In 1974 he was the first African American to be ordained as a Catholic priest in Northern California. His life was one of service and wisdom, and his ability to connect with all kinds of people was widely relied on. He undoubtedly made our community a better place, and his positive impact on Oakland will last for many years to come. Please join me in keeping him and his community in your prayers |
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Gay Plair Cobb retired in March, capping off an inspirational career in service of the people of the Bay Area. We are sad to see her go but wish her well, and thank her for all her dedicated years.
Gay has been an advocate for employment justice for over 35 years. As Chief Executive Officer of the Oakland Private Industry Council, Inc. (PIC), she has been at the forefront of the fight to provide livable-wage, sustainable employment for Bay Area residents. At the helm of the PIC since 1985 and through her guidance and vision, the PIC has provided resources for literally thousands of East Bay residents to secure employment. For 15 years, she served as a member of the Oakland Workforce Investment Board (WIB), where she worked to identify, improve and sustain employment opportunities for Oakland residents, particularly youth, individuals on probation or parole, and others most in need of resources to assure labor market success. She was also a former member of the State WIB, representing former Assemblymember Sandre Swanson.
Cobb served on the board of the Peralta Community Colleges Foundation, the state board of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), and is a founding member of Black Elected Officials and Faith Based Leaders of the East Bay.
Cobb’s commitment to social justice was honed during her student days where she was a participant in the historic freedom rides leading to the desegregation of lunch counters and other public facilities along the “Route 40” corridor.
Through Cobb’s leadership and partnership with many community groups, the Cypress-Mandela/Women in Skilled Trades Pre-apprenticeship Training Center was established in West Oakland after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This program offers training, support and job placement in the construction trades for low-income women and men. The Center has been responsible for the entry of hundreds of new workers into fields where they have historically been underrepresented.
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On March, 14th the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Approval Authority voted to reallocate federal grant funding from Urban Shield to the four Bay Area cities most at risk for disasters (Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, & Marin). This action is being taken for the period of one year, during which time the Approval Authority intends to develop a funding process that is more inclusive of the diverse communities living and working in the 12 Bay Area county region. Unfortunately, this means the majority of the 2019 Urban Shield exercises will not be taking place.
I haven’t always supported Urban Shield, but I have seen it grow and change over the years into something great. I maintain that one of the greatest values Urban Shield has is its ability to respond to community feedback and to prepare our first responders for natural and manmade occurrences that could threaten public safety, health and welfare. I sincerely hope that the UASI Approval Authority can develop an inclusive process and that our Sheriff’s Department reapplies for the UASI funding in 2020.
For more information about UASI, or to read the recommendations from the appointed Urban Shield Ad Hoc Committee, follow the links below:
Appointed Urban Shield Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations for the 2019 Urban Shield Training
http://www.acgov.org/…/Ad%20Hoc%20Committee%20on%20Urban%20…
Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative
http://www.bayareauasi.org/
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 More than 30 members of My Eden Voice showed up to the Hayward Area Parks and Recreation Board Meeting on March 4th to talk about the need for more parks in the unincorporated communities of the Eden Area. Some areas only have 0.3 acres per 1,000 residents rather than the state recommended minimum of 3-10 acres per 1,000 residents. These engaged residents are working to change that, and I support them!
 My recent Illegal Dumping Task Force included a presentation from Los Angeles County. They shared best practices on this environmental and public health issue affecting their county. I can't wait to share with you the many action steps the task force is working on to tackle this regional issue.#StayTuned
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