 Dear Friends,
As a result of the bravery and hard work of our County and State firefighters, wildfire containment percentages have begun to increase and Bay Area air quality is showing signs of improvement. While much of the current wildfires have yet to be completely contained and air quality continues to be a concern, know that our various fire departments and local law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to ensure public safety. Furthermore, recent progress in regard to our County’s COVID-19 health indicators has led the County Health Officer to issue an update to the current Order to Shelter-in-Place that will allow for greater outdoor activities. With these developments in mind, I would also like to take a moment to remind my constituents of the importance of communication between local government and our communities as we continue to navigate through any challenges we may face. If we are to be successful in planning for the uncertainties of the future, we must all stay connected especially in a socially distanced world. As such, I welcome all of my constituents to please not hesitate to contact me at 510-272-6691 or District1@acgov.org should you have any concerns or questions regarding County-related issues.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and represent you, and please read through this bulletin in order to stay updated on what’s happening in District 1.
Very Sincerely,
 Scott Haggerty
Alameda County Supervisor
District 1
 On August 21, the Alameda County Health Officer issued orders to reopen outdoor swimming pools and outdoor hair salons, nail salons, barbershops, waxing services, skin care and non-medical massages. The Alameda County Public Health Department notes that all businesses wishing to begin operating under this order must complete a Site-Specific Protection Plan and protocols and procedures to protect customers and employees from COVID-19.
Furthermore, the State of California has recently established a color-coded four-tier Blueprint for a Safer Economy. As a result, Alameda County’s current Purple Tier status within their new framework implicates the County’s loosening and tightening of restrictions for allowable local activities and allows local health officers to be more restrictive. Therefore, all indoor retail must limit capacity to a maximum of 25%, except for grocery stores, which must limit capacity to a maximum of 50%. Please see below the document titled “Alameda County Openings at a Glance,” provided by the Alameda County Public Health Department for detailed information regarding current openings.
For more information regarding the recent orders from the Alameda County Health Officer, please click here.
Please see the table below for our County's most recent COVID-19 Health Indicators.
 Please click here in order to view the Alameda County Public Health Department's COVID-19 dashboard, as the data is updated daily.
 
I-680
The Sunol Smart Carpool Lane Joint Powers Authority has introduced and proposes to adopt an ordinance at its September 14, 2020 teleconferenced meeting for the administration of tolls and enforcement of toll violations for the I-680 Sunol Express Lanes. In order to assess toll evasion violation penalties and send violation notices, the Authority must adopt a toll enforcement ordinance pursuant to, and consistent with, Vehicle Code Section 40250. The proposed Ordinance will establish usage requirements for the I-680 Express Lanes and civil penalties for the evasion of those tolls or noncompliance with other policies set forth in the Ordinance.
Please follow the links below to read more about the toll ordinance and the public hearing scheduled for September 14, 2020:
- I-680 Full Toll Ordinance
- Public Hearing Notice: English
- Public Hearing Notice: Spanish
- Public Hearing Notice: Chinese
- I-680 Summary Toll Ordinance
- English
- Spanish
- Chinese
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I-580
The Alameda County Transportation Commission (“Commission”) has introduced and proposes to adopt an ordinance at its September 24, 2020 teleconferenced meeting repealing the existing I-580 Express Lanes Toll Enforcement Ordinance and replacing it with a new ordinance for the administration of tolls and enforcement of toll violations for the Alameda County Transportation Commission (I-580) Express Lanes. The proposed Ordinance will establish updated usage requirements for the I-580 Express Lanes and civil penalties for the evasion of those tolls or noncompliance with other policies set forth in the Ordinance. Click here to read the full toll ordinance.
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I-880
Work crews have begun installing the final Express Lanes signs along Interstate 880 in Alameda County as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Caltrans gear up for the late September opening of new Express Lanes between Oakland and the Santa Clara County line. All work will be done in the overnight hours from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with work schedules running from Monday night/Tuesday mornings through Friday night/Saturday mornings. Travelers can expect delays in the corridor, as both the far-left lane (lane 1) and the adjacent lane (lane 2) will be closed for five-mile stretches to accommodate this work.
Click here to learn more about the future express lanes.
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Fremont: 78.3%
Livermore: 81.3%
Dublin: 76.9%
Thank you to all that have responded to the #2020Census! If you have not yet responded, click here to do so. Census 2020 is vital, as it determines our representation, brings federal funding to our communities for schools, roads, housing and so much more! If our County is under-counted by even 6% we face a $1 billion loss over the next decade affecting funding for all of our cities. Our voices, services and communities count, and I cannot express the importance of everyone's participation enough.
 
As we endure one of California's most severe fire seasons on record amidst a pandemic that affects the respiratory system, air quality is of top concern to our public health experts. As such, it is crucial that we monitor our air quality by searching our zip codes via airnow.gov and to stay indoors if possible whenever air quality is unhealthy. Click here to read about how the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is utilizing the Wildfire Air Quality Response Program to ensure that health-protective measures and strategies are in place in the Bay Area during wildfire smoke events.
 Resources for Homelessness
Each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the Shower and Laundry Ministry at Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore provides several showers available for both men and women and Laundry Services. In addition to these services, they also offer clean underwear and socks each week as well as shower and laundry supplies as needed. Click here for more information or to support these efforts. Additionally, the City of Livermore operates a cooling center at Robert Livermore Community Center (4444 East Ave.) when the outside temperature meets or exceeds 95 degrees. City staff monitor National Weather Service reports and post to social media and on the Livermore website when cooling centers will be open. You can also call 2-1-1 to check the status of Livermore cooling centers.
Thinking about installing solar and/or home battery energy storage but think it’s just too expensive and don’t know where to start? East Bay Community Energy’s (EBCE) new Resilient Home program is here to help!
Alameda County’s electricity provider, EBCE recently launched a solar and battery backup program for homeowners. Resilient Home pools the power of individual participants to get more competitive pricing - with an additional incentive that provides even better savings.
EBCE has done the upfront legwork and selected an experienced installation partner, Sunrun, to make going solar and/or adding battery backup to your home simple and more affordable than ever.
The Resilient Home program runs for a limited time, so sign up to receive a no cost, no obligation site evaluation and learn how you can plug into the sun and save money by storing the solar energy you produce when rates are highest. And most importantly, your family will be prepared for potential PG&E grid outages during wildfire season, earthquakes, and other unpredictable events.
For more information visit: https://ebce.org/resilient-home/.
In efforts to reinvest revenue into the community, East Bay Community Energy has recently announce that it will provide sponsorships to local non-profit community organizations. The maximum award amount will be $2,500 per organization per award round, and EBCE expects to fund approximately 12 recipients per round.
Applicants must be non-profit community organizations, and school programs will not eligible for this sponsorship. Additional funding will be dedicated specifically to schools in the near future. Lastly, EBCE will make efforts to select recipient organizations from across our service area. In order to learn more about this initiative and to nominate your favorite local organization, please click here to access the EBCE sponsorship application.
The Alameda County Health Officer issued an Order requiring the use of face coverings when people are outside their homes. Per the Order, everyone over the age of 12 should wear a Face Covering when:
- outside their home and within 30 feet of anyone else other than members of their Social Bubble;
- in the workplace except when in a private space or area not regularly used by others; or
- preparing food or other items for sale or distribution to people outside their household.
Face Coverings may be removed in the following circumstances but should always be kept on hand:
- when eating or drinking alone or with members of one’s Social Bubble; or
- when alone or with members of one’s household in an outdoor area such as a park or patio, while maintaining six feet of distance from others.
Face coverings can be simple and homemade, made of cloth, fabric, or other soft or permeable material without holes, that covers the nose and mouth. Combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing, face coverings may reduce the risk of infection posed by people who are infected and without symptoms.
The regional testing site located at the Alameda County Fairgrounds will operate from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Monday - Friday. However, the site may close before noon if testing capacity is reached. The testing facility is open to all residents of Livermore, Dublin and Pleasanton and residents may access the site through Gate 12 located off Valley Avenue, Pleasanton shown below.
 BART: 15-Step Plan for COVID-19
BART also recently released a 15-step plan in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on their trains. Some measures outlined in this plan include the following:
- Running long trains, increasing train frequency, and implementing a new pilot seat configuration in order to allow social distancing.
- Disinfecting trains at the end of each line with hospital-grade disinfectant.
- Requiring face coverings with BART Police enforcement at station faregates.
- Social distancing decals, posters and banners on platforms and on-board trains.
Please click here to read about all 15 steps that BART is taking in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission and to reestablish rider confidence in the safety of mass transit.
 Altamont Corridor Express
As a member of numerous transit boards and commissions, I recognize the implications that reopening amidst COVID-19 have on mass transit. As mentioned earlier in this newsletter, Bay Area residents may share apprehensions about returning to commuter trains and buses in order to commute to work. As places of mass congregation, rail cars and buses represent potential points of transmission that must be addressed. Thankfully, the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) has implemented numerous social distancing and sanitation measures in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on their trains. Some initiatives outlined on the ACE website include the following:
- Disinfection wipe downs on high touch surfaces.
- Providing hand sanitizer at the Cabral Station for passengers.
- Disinfecting trains at the end of each line with hospital-grade disinfectant.
- Contactless ticket checking.
- Social distancing signage throughout all trains.
To read all about how ACE is protecting the safety of its employees and riders, click here.
The Alameda County Social Services Agency is excited about the opportunity to support our community through the Great Plates Delivered—Older Adult Meals program. Goals of the program are to be as inclusive as possible and provide the highest quality nutritious food and service to older adults (65 years and older) and other adults (60-64 years) at high risk of complications due to COVID-19. The program will provide a minimum of two nutritious meals a day (Monday through Friday) to qualified County residents. Apply for Alameda County Great Plates Delivered here.
For additional information, email ACGreatPlates@acgov.org, or call (925) 803-7943.
On June 30, 2020, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors amended its previous eviction moratorium ordinance to ensure all tenants and homeowners Countywide can shelter-in-place during this crisis. This emergency ordinance now outlaws all evictions anywhere in the County with few exceptions. The ordinance allows tenants 12 months to repay rent over 12 months. This ordinance will remain in effect until 60 days after the local health emergency is lifted or 60 days after December 31, 2020, whichever is later.
Violators are subject to a $1000 fine and may be subject to civil proceedings.
If a city has an eviction moratorium ordinance, the city ordinance can prevail to the extent the ordinance is more protective of residents.
For more information on the ordinance, please click here.
FOR TENANTS:
Legal Access Alameda
http://legalaccess.org/
510-302-2222 option 4
Centro Legal de la Raza
centrolegal.org
510-437-1554
Eviction Defense Center
www.evictiondefensecenteroakland.org
510-452-4541
East Bay Community Law Center
ebclc.org
510-548-4040
Bay Area Legal Aid
baylegal.org
888-382-3405
Asian and Pacific Islander Legal Outreach
apilegaloutreach.org
(Oakland residents only)
510-251-2846
ECHO Housing
https://www.echofairhousing.org
510-581-9380
FOR HOMEOWNERS
HERA Housing and Economic Rights Advocates
heraca.org
(510) 271-8443
The Alameda County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Care & Shelter Branch in close coordination with Alameda County Community Food Bank, 211, and cities developed a countywide interactive map that includes food distribution sites and other essential services which are currently open under the COVID-19 Shelter-In-Place Order. The map will be updated regularly and remain active for the duration of the Shelter-In-Place Order. Open Interactive Map
The Alameda County Public Health Department has formed a COVID-19 Testing Task Force to develop and implement a coordinated testing program to address disparities, ensure countywide access, and support the County’s COVID response.
Necessity of COVID-19 Testing
As there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 testing capacity remains limited, people with mild illness should remain home until fully recovered. They should sleep in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from other household members when possible. Clean common areas regularly.
Click here for more information on testing in Alameda County.
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In addition to Alameda County, the State of California and the federal government are working to help small businesses, workers, and renters. You can read about actions the state and federal government are taking here:
Community Resources
For Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations
For Travelers
Other Resources
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