|
Dear Friend,
As the Board of Supervisors wraps up our legislative session, I’m proud of the work we achieved so far this year and just this month! I also appreciate your engagement with our Board and our Office. At our July Board meetings, we made historic decisions:
- We allocated over $1.4 billion of Measure W funds to homelessness solutions and $258 million to essential services. Thanks to the hundreds of community members and leaders who engaged with us to achieve this victory. Read more below and in The Oaklandside.
- We finalized the long-awaited Oakland Coliseum deal. Huge appreciation to the community for your commitment and dedication to economic transformation at this site. Read more below and in Local News Matters.
- We created a $1.1 million Redress Fund for Russell City, together with the City of Hayward. Thank you to the Ad Hoc Committee on Reparations, Sup. Elisa Marquez, Sup. Nate Miley, and the former Russell City residents and families for your leadership and perseverance. This fund is a first step towards repair, healing, and justice; and my office and I are honored to contribute $100,000. Learn more from NBC Bay Area and the film, The Apology.
My office is also proud to have brought forth a proclamation celebrating July 26, 2025 as the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and commending the Center for Independent Living’s commitment to building a more equitable society that values the contributions of individuals with disabilities.
As we all know, the impacts of the federal administration continue to loom large over our county and the entire country. Trump signed the big, brutal budget bill that will strip away healthcare and food assistance from tens of thousands of Alameda County residents — decimating these safety net services in order to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires. Read more below about our plans to protect our safety net of health clinics, public hospitals, and services for our most vulnerable residents.
Trump’s budget also includes $170 billion in new funding for ICE’s massive expansion of immigration enforcement and detention. My team and I proudly joined hundreds of community members at an action led by Tsuru for Solidarity, in partnership with the ICE Out of Dublin Coalition, to demand the permanent closure of FCI Dublin prison and strongly oppose any attempt to reopen it as an ICE detention center. On August 14, the ACT for All Committee will receive an update from community partners on the important work to maintain services for immigrant and refugee communities and keep families together. Read more below.
As we face unprecedented challenges every single day, what gives me hope and motivation to continue our fight for justice is our young people. Our office hosted five interns this summer who helped us with important outreach, research, and administrative projects. They all distinguished themselves with their strong analytical skills, diligent work, and commitment to service in District 5 and throughout the county. Thank you: Ella Heckman, Valentina Urness Garcia, Kadence Yim, Ixchel Arista, and Kuzari Kinchen.
I’m grateful for my amazing District 5 staff team and the engagement we have with our community. We are honored to serve and to affirm that the fight for justice, for dignity, for the basic promise that everyone deserves housing, health care, and food — that fight belongs to all of us.
Warmly,
Nikki Fortunato Bas 勵琪 (she/her)
Supervisor
Alameda County, District 5
In this newsletter:
- Board Makes Historic Investment in Homelessness Solutions
- Trump Signs Big, Brutal Budget Bill — Fighting to Protect our Safety Net
- Immigration/ACT for All Update — “Safety and power through organizing and solidarity”
- Board Approves Long-Awaited Oakland Coliseum Deal
- East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments
- Thank You to Our Summer Interns
- Events & Announcements
- Around the District
On July 30th, the Board of Supervisors took a major step to address homelessness and preserve our safety net. In a unanimous vote, the Supervisors allocated $1.8 billion of Measure W (a 10-year, one-half percent countywide general sales tax), including a historic investment of more than $1.4 billion to homelessness solutions. Thanks to the hundreds of people, organizations, and public officials who engaged with our office at our two town halls and numerous meetings, and to the hundreds who packed the board meetings on July 22 and July 30 and shared personal testimony. Many of us advocated that the vast majority of Measure W funds be spent on homelessness, and we achieved that goal.
 We learned that $810 million has already been collected from Measure W and $170 million is projected to be collected annually for the next six years. The Board allocated 80% of Measure W funds to homelessness solutions, including prevention, interim shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services. The remaining 20% will be spent on essential county services, including safety net programs threatened by deep federal and state budget cuts.
I also secured a commitment from the Board to direct any additional Measure W revenue entirely to support homelessness solutions. This could mean up to an additional $120 million for homelessness solutions based on historical revenue collections. This decision could result in over $1.5 billion in total homelessness investments, a level that aligns with what Measure W was projected to generate when voters passed it in 2020.
 This is a historic decision for many reasons. In FY 2023-24, Alameda County invested nearly $220 million in homelessness, but only $21.5 million came from local county sources. The rest came from state and federal funds, many of which are now at risk. Measure W represents a critical infusion of local, sustained investment in homelessness solutions.
We witnessed record levels of public engagement at the two board meetings on July 22 and July 30. A diverse coalition of mayors and city leaders, service providers, current and formerly unhoused residents, business leaders, clergy, and community members packed the Board Chambers and overflow rooms, and gave powerful testimony for hours. We also know our Board meetings need to be more accessible, and we are frustrated that many of you, especially those with lived experience being unhoused, were not able to speak. We will continue to make County engagement more accessible. My team and I deeply appreciate the robust community feedback you shared at our board meetings and our town halls (more below). We definitely heard you, and your voices shaped the priorities we advocated for.
You can learn more about the Board of Supervisors’ decisions on Measure W here, as well as in this Oaklandside article and the County staff’s presentation. We will continue to share out information and updates about Measure W and its implementation as we learn more, and watch out for a future zoom meeting to re-connect and stay engaged.
Homelessness Solutions Town Halls
Earlier this month, we hosted two community town halls in Oakland and Berkeley on homelessness solutions and Measure W. Between the two Town Halls, nearly 400 people showed up to help shape our County's solutions to homelessness and to learn about what Measure W funds can achieve. We were blown away by the powerful conversations about how we can invest Measure W funds to create real, lasting solutions to homelessness in Alameda County.
In the Town Halls, we heard directly from community members about your priorities for Measure W, and this has informed our strategy for how we invests Measure W funds:
- Center people with lived experience of homelessness to design the solutions
- Focus on closing racial disparities for who falls into and experiences homelessness
- Expand programs that serve all people, including the LGBTQ+ community, seniors, youth, families, people with disabilities, and those with behavioral health needs
- Invest in supportive services, such as mental health care and supporting the transition into permanent housing
- Explore all models of shelter, including Tiny Homes and safe parking
- Ensure accountability and oversight so there is greater transparency of how Measure W funds are spent on effective homelessness solutions
 If you missed the event or would like to revisit it, you can find the presentation slides here and the recording here. A special thank you to our co-hosts and presenters: Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii, Oakland Councilmember Carroll Fife, Berkeley Councilmember Ben Bartlett, and Jonathan Russell, Director of Housing & Homelessness Services with Alameda County Health. We also are grateful to Beth Eden Church and Center for Independent Living for hosting us.
Trump Signs Big, Brutal Budget Bill — Fighting to Protect our Safety Net
President Trump recently signed a Congressional budget that may be the most dangerous bill in American history, a catastrophic assault on working families disguised as fiscal policy. This so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” is not beautiful, it is brutal, cruel, and disconnected from the realities facing everyday Americans.
With this budget, 12 million people stand to lose their health care – tens of thousands here in Alameda County. Millions of children and families will be deprived of the food assistance they rely on to survive, all so a handful of billionaires can receive more tax breaks. This bill also includes a devastating $170 billion in new funding for immigration enforcement and detention, increasing ICE's funding beyond anything we have seen before.
Here in Alameda County, we are already staring down the sunset of ARPA federal funding and anticipating deep cuts to Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and mental health services. We are fighting to preserve housing, food security, health care, and dignity for our most vulnerable – working people, immigrants, children, seniors, foster youth, the mentally ill, queer & trans, and the unhoused. The passage of this bill threatens to collapse our fragile safety net system.
As I shared recently in my county budget memo, we must protect our social safety net and re-commit to equity and transformational change. As a county government, we have several funding options to address the expected cuts to our safety net services, including reserve funds; savings from vacant positions; the federal impact fund created in 2017 at the request of Supervisor Wilma Chan; and Measure W, a 10-year one-half percent general sales tax. On July 22, the Board gave direction to staff to invest 20% of the $1.8 billion Measure W to Essential Services impacted by state and federal budgets.
The Measure W Essential Services fund ($250 million) and the federal impact fund ($60 million) will provide more than $300 million to address these federal cuts and threats to our most vulnerable communities. It is not nearly enough to offset all the losses to Medi-Cal and CalFresh, but it’s a start.
Over the next 10 years, the richest 1% will get $1 trillion in tax breaks while the most vulnerable among us are stripped away of $930 Billion in Medicaid funding (Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy). This massive theft from working people to give more tax breaks to billionaires and corporations cannot go unchecked. We must work with our state leaders to close these tax loopholes and protect our safety net.
 We cannot, and will not sit back in silence. We deserve leaders who fight for the people, not billionaires and the privileged few. At a time when our most vulnerable are being abandoned by the current administration, we must rise together with clarity, courage, and conviction. The fight for justice, for dignity, for the basic promise that everyone deserves housing, health care, and food, that fight belongs to all of us.
Immigration/ACT for All Update — “Safety and power through organizing and solidarity”
The Alameda County Together for All (ACT for All) Ad Hoc Committee, which I chair, will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 14th at 3:00 pm. This space serves as a forum to coordinate a proactive response to protect, support, and lift up communities that are impacted by the federal administration’s policies and budgets.
On August 14th, ACT for All will receive an update from community partners on the important work to maintain services for immigrant and refugee communities as well as the crucial work of preparing and organizing to remain in their communities and with their loved ones. The agenda for the committee will be available here.
ICE Out of Dublin
On July 19, my team and I joined hundreds of community members at an action led by Tsuru for Solidarity, in partnership with the ICE Out of Dublin Coalition and Bay Area Japanese American organizations, to demand the permanent closure of FCI Dublin prison and strongly oppose any attempt to reopen it as an ICE detention center.
Thank you to the Japanese American community for your courage in speaking out against the brutal imprisonment of more than 125,000 Japanese Americans during World War II and against ICE detentions.
 Reopening Dublin federal prison as an immigration detention facility would have a devastating effect on immigrant families and communities across the Bay Area and Northern California.
FCI Dublin was shut down in April 2024 after years of powerful advocacy by survivors who exposed widespread staff sexual abuse, retaliation, and medical neglect. Non-citizens were especially targeted because of their immigration status. Since 2019, at least ten staff, including the former warden and chaplain, were charged with sexual misconduct, turning FCI Dublin into a national symbol of systemic abuse. The Bureau of Prisons itself deemed the facility unsafe, citing toxic conditions such as asbestos and mold. Reopening it now would only further that harm.
The immigration detention system is similarly plagued by abuse, neglect, and preventable deaths; 11 people died in ICE custody between January and June of 2025 alone. From 2018 to 2023, communities organized to shut down three Northern California ICE detention centers, leading to greater safety and dignity for those impacted. Research has shown that reopening facilities like Dublin increases ICE enforcement in surrounding areas, putting entire communities at risk.
This powerful gathering was a reminder, and affirmation, of the work ahead. We must build safety and power in our communities through organizing and solidarity.
Learn more about this event at:
Call to Action
As attacks on immigrant and marginalized communities escalate, we must prepare. That means developing neighborhood-based rapid response and safety net systems that leave no one behind. Communities across Los Angeles have shown what’s possible; now it’s time for every city, county, and neighborhood in California to be equipped with resources, communication systems, and mutual support to respond swiftly to enforcement and crisis.
We must also educate both small and large business owners about their rights and responsibilities. Businesses are more than workplaces, they are anchors in our communities, and they play a crucial role in resisting attacks and protecting workers during this time.
This moment calls for deep coordination and collaboration. Acting alone is not enough, we must act together.
Immigrant workers have long led the way through community organizing and political education, winning dignity, safety, and transformation. We must continue fighting for the liberation of all people from detention, in California and beyond.
Our work must include and go beyond legal defense and rapid response. We must build power, reimagine safety, and advance bold, community driven strategies for justice.
This is how we meet the moment: by organizing, educating, and protecting one another. Together, we fight for a world where all people live free from fear, with dignity, respect, and freedom.
Talk to your neighbors. Prepare. Give your time and commitment where you can. Be part of building safety and power in our communities.
Below are some of the key efforts you can plug into and support right now:
Board Approves Long-Awaited Oakland Coliseum Deal
At our July 22 meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted to finalize the deal to sell the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC (OAC). Approval of these agreements bolsters the City of Oakland’s efforts to pursue robust economic development at the Coliseum property. This vote is a major milestone in the complicated and lengthy process to sell the Coliseum complex to one organization with the experience and expertise to redevelop and revitalize the property for the benefit of Oaklanders and residents of Alameda County. Now, the parties will work towards closing the deal and transferring ownership to OAC by June 30, 2026, concurrently with the City of Oakland’s timeline.
 Getting this far in such a complex deal has been a community-wide effort and a testament to the resilience and persistence that makes Oakland so special. I look forward to a transformative project in collaboration with OAC and the community to revitalize the Coliseum for Oakland and the entire East Bay.
As the former Oakland City Council President, I added language to the June 2024 ordinance that ensures the sale includes deed restrictions requiring at least 25% affordable housing for low-income households and a community benefits agreement to address labor standards, small, local business contracting, workforce and living wages, sustainable green development, and more.
As a new Alameda County Supervisor in January 2025, I proposed and the Board approved a term sheet that provided a policy statement and direction for assigning the County’s 50% interest in the property from Coliseum Way Partners, LLC to OAC.
The Board’s approval on July 22 paves the way for OAC to gain 100% control of the property and pursue economic development with the City of Oakland and the broader community. This is an important opportunity for deep investment in East Oakland to create long lasting regional community benefits including good local jobs, affordable housing, green infrastructure, and a stronger tax base. Read more in Local News Matters.
East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments
I am pleased to represent the Board on the East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments (EBWC), a regional consortium of elected officials representing cities, counties, and fire districts committed to safeguarding our communities and natural landscapes in the East Bay Hills. Our July meeting included an informative presentation by the East Bay Regional Parks District on how they are building resilience through addressing tree die-off, prioritizing fuels management throughout our hills, and strategizing fuels mitigation and quick fire suppression to help prevent catastrophic wildfires.
The Oakland Fire Department also shared helpful information on Zone Zero strategies - including how the Governor is beginning to lay out expectations for new and existing homes. This will be a community-wide effort over the coming years and we encourage everyone to learn more and get yourself (and neighbors!) involved: with your local fire department, FireSafe Council, and other groups and organizations addressing fire and climate resilience and emergency preparedness. Visit the Oakland FireSafe Council here.
 Please see the East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments (EBWC) website for more information, including past and future meetings. Berkeleyans: see the Berkeley FireSafe Council webpage for information on the recent legislation passed by the City of Berkeley, Effective Mitigation for Berkeley’s (Zone Zero) Ember Resilience (EMBER). You can also use the Berkeley Fire Weather Planning Tool to assess the steps you need to take to be prepared in case of an emergency. Finally, take advantage of the city’s free Chipper Program to help you and your neighbors prepare for wildfire season by removing high-risk vegetation from your property.
Thank You to Our Summer Interns
I was excited to host five interns this summer who helped us with important outreach, research, and administrative projects. They all distinguished themselves with their strong analytical skills, diligent work and commitment to service in District 5 and throughout the county. Our awesome interns were: Ella Heckman, Valentina Urness Garcia, Kadence Yim, Ixchel Arista, and Kuzari Kinchen.
 Valentina (front row, left), Ella (front row, second from left), and Kadence (fourth from right) with the rest of the District 5 team at the Homelessness Solutions Town Hall in Berkeley
 Kuzari (left) and Ixchel (front, sitting) doing street outreach with ACUDIR interns
Ella worked on several policy projects, including one that looked at possible funding sources for arts and culture. Valentina investigated ways to improve food security and helped write a Board letter. Kadence researched and catalogued dozens of community organizations in District 5 and throughout Alameda County. Kuzari and Ixchel conducted community outreach in support of our immigrant communities and small businesses. Thank you to all of our interns for your enthusiasm and hard work on behalf of the residents of Alameda County!
Town Nights at Hoover Elementary School (August 1)
 Join us for Town Nights, a series of free community events with a focus on community cohesion and fostering unity, offering safe spaces for families, friends, and neighbors to come together and enjoy free food, music, games, and more. Tomorrow from 12 to 5 PM, Town Nights will come to Hoover Elementary School (890 Brockhurst St, Oakland). Celebrate safe spaces in the Town!
San Francisco Mime Troupe (August 2, 3)
 This Saturday and Sunday, the San Francisco Mime Troupe will round out a month of performances of “DISRUPTION - A Musical Farce” with two shows at Live Oak Park in Berkeley (both days at 2 PM). Enjoy “America's Foremost Theatre of Political Satire”, and arrive early for live music 30 minutes before the event. Learn more here.
Oakland Municipal Band Concert (August 3)
 Come to Lakeside Park this Sunday for the finale of the Oakland Municipal Band’s 2025 concert season! Rounding out a month of performances, this free concert will take place on August 3 from 1 to 3 PM at the Edoff Memorial Bandstand. Bring friends, family, and a picnic lunch as you celebrate one of Oakland’s oldest musical traditions! Learn more and see the program here.
Berkeley Parks Live Music Series (August 9)
Berkeley’s parks come alive this summer with a series of free, family-friendly concerts featuring rock, bluegrass, funk, kids’ music, and Latin rhythms. The series includes seven Saturday afternoon events spread across parks from the waterfront to the hills, with some featuring food trucks, kids’ activities, and community giveaways. Full details and event links are available on the Berkeley events calendar here!
There will be one concert this upcoming month:
- August 9, 2:00 pm–4:00 pm at Strawberry Creek Park: Salsa Fest will have music by La Gente SF. You’ll be able to buy food from Las Cabañas.
Berkeley Pride 2025 (August 16)
 Berkeley Pride 2025 is on the horizon! Mark your calendars for a celebration of Queer Joy and community right in downtown Berkeley. Berkeley Pride is hosted by Pacific Center for Human Growth and co-hosted by Downtown Berkeley Association and Visit Berkeley on Saturday, August 16, from 11am-5pm. Learn more here and buy your tickets here!
Solano Avenue Stroll (September 14)
 A mile of entertainers, music, shops, crafters, food booths & family fun on Solano Avenue in Berkeley/Albany!
Since 1974, Solano Avenue and the twin cities of Albany and Berkeley CA have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the East Bay’s largest street festival! The Solano Avenue Association invites you to see what makes Solano Avenue a wonderful place, featuring over four hundred vendors including 50 entertainers, 25 food booths, 100 government and non-profit agencies, 100 artisans, jewelers, makers, and much more!
Be sure to save the date - Sunday, September 14 from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Ava Bike Electric
 This month, Ava Community Energy launched Ava Bike Electric, one of the largest e-bike programs in the U.S., expected to incentivize 8,200 to 9,200 new e-bikes through December 2026.
This $10 million program is funded with $6M from Ava and a $4M grant from Alameda County Transportation Commission. As a result of this grant funding, Ava Bike Electric participation is open to non-Ava customers in Alameda County. E-bike incentives range from $400 to $1,500. 40% of e-bike incentive funds are dedicated to income qualified participants with a higher e-bike incentive for those participants, as well as a $250 safety equipment (helmet, lock, lights) rebate.
Learn more here and apply here!
Emeryville Housing, Planning & Development Map
 Are you wondering what that construction in your neighborhood is all about? Curious about that new housing project or other development you heard about? The Emeryville Eye has you covered with this interactive map of developments. Explore the map here.
Community Kitchens 500K Meals
 Huge congratulations to Community Kitchens on reaching an incredible milestone of serving 500,000 meals in our community, feeding our unhoused neighbors!
Food insecurity is higher today than at any point during the pandemic, and the loss of pandemic relief funds is devastating. At a recent budget hearing, I proposed and the Board supported the restoration of $4 million for food assistance, an investment that will help groups like Community Kitchens continue their crucial meal delivery programs.
See ABC7 Bay Area’s coverage here.
West Oakland Housing Solutions Tour with Councilmember Fife
 My staff and I appreciated joining Councilmember Carroll Fife and many other partners exploring housing solutions to combat homelessness in Oakland! This West Oakland tour brought together two dozen key stakeholders to examine challenges, opportunities, and planning needs for tangible results. We look forward to working together for positive impact, especially with the addition of Measure W funds.
SEIU Rally to Protect Healthcare Access
 On July 15th, I joined SEIU 1021 at a rally to call on the state government to protect healthcare access and our healthcare system. We rallied at Highland/Wilma Chan Hospital, one of Alameda County’s premier public hospitals, where everyone who needs care receives it. We called out that everyone who voted for Trump’s budget will strip away healthcare from 12 million people – tens of thousands here in Alameda County. The billionaires who will profit while working people lose healthcare and food assistance are right here in California. And, it’s up to us to work with our State leaders to recapture those tax breaks and defend our social safety net. These billionaires and corporations need to pay their fair share to protect our social safety net and those who rely on these services.
Temescal Street Fair
 Our staff and interns represented our office at the Temescal Street Fair in Oakland, sharing information about the County’s work with constituents and supporting local businesses. We will continue to table at local community events around the district to connect with and inform District 5 residents.
Groundbreaking for Maia Correia Memorial Bikeway
 On July 25th, in my old Oakland City Council district, we commemorated the groundbreaking of the Lakeshore Safety Project and the Maia Correia Memorial Bikeway. I’m grateful to Maia’s family for their advocacy amidst the grief of losing their child. Working together with our broader community, Oakland is paving Lakeshore Ave. two years early and adding protected bike lanes to make our streets safer for all. Read more in The Oaklandside.
Find Alameda County resources here: ACGOV - Services | Alameda County.
Find Information on Board of Supervisors meetings here: bos.acgov.org/broadcast/.
|
