Diversity is our strength in District 2!
Alameda County is a Welcoming County, first declared in 2016 by the Board of Supervisors, honoring the fact that one in three residents is an immigrant and nearly half of our population speaks any number of our County’s 120+ languages other than English at home.
Photo caption: As Vice Chair of the Alameda County Together For All (ACT) Ad-Hoc Committee, I am committed to the creation of an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to ensure we have the right safety-net infrastructure to better serve our diverse region. Click here to watch the ACT Committee’s most recent discussion where I reiterated this priority since raising the urgent need to address this gap during the Board of Supervisors recent budget deliberations given the current federal administration’s attacks.
Your Voice Is Valuable: Apply to Join an Alameda County Board or Commission
Long before becoming a county supervisor, I found my passion for public service by becoming a City of Hayward Human Services Commissioner and later a Planning Commissioner. During this time, I had an opportunity to learn more about my local government and how it is a critical space for advancing real solutions to serve our Community.
From advancing grant funding for essential non-profit service providers to becoming the first Commissioner on the record to talk about aging in place and universal design in the City’s general plan, my participation in public advisory bodies has been one of the most meaningful experiences in my life.
Photo caption: Are you also passionate or curious about making an impact within your local community? Here I am with my late grandfather, Ignacio Ramirez, when I served on the Human Services Commission in 2006. Serving on a board or commission is a great way to share your voice, skills, and perspective to regional decision-making efforts, and your voice may be needed now more than ever.
If you are curious or have questions about the application process, please do not hesitate to reach out to my District Director, Rodney Loche, at rodney.loche2@acgov.org and/or (510) 813-1856. Take this opportunity to help shape the future of Alameda County by consider applying today!
Inspiration from the Youth Generation of Civic Leaders
Photo caption: “Poetry gives voice to the silenced, turns pain into protest, and transforms personal stories into collective movements. It challenges me not only to reflect, but to act. Through poetry, I’ve learned that even the most intimate emotions can spark wider understanding and that a single line can stir hearts, shift minds, or start conversations that matter,” Anika Mangla, 2025 Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate.
On August 7, 2025, Alameda County Library announced the winners of the 2025 Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate competition: Anika Mangla, a rising high school senior from Fremont, was named the 2025 Youth Poet Laureate.
Now in its fifth year, the annual competition celebrates teen voices, civic engagement, and literary excellence across Alameda County. This year’s winners were selected by a panel of judges based on the content, craft, and voice of their work.
Congratulations to our new Poet Laureate as well as all of the other participants, including District 2’s own 2025 finalists Willow Perry from Hayward and Mia Rosales from Newark! We thank all the youth for taking the time to share your voices and talents with our Community and cannot wait for Anika Mangla’s forthcoming poetry book, “Embers and Flame”.
Photo caption: Since the Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate program’s start in 2021, previous laureates have advanced to state, regional, and national levels. This includes southern Alameda County’s own, Jovina Zion Pradeep, the 2024 Youth Poet Laureate from Fremont, who I had the opportunity to meet at the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame reception earlier this year shortly before she placed as a finalist in the 2025 National Youth Poet Laureate in May!
Before we head into the long holiday weekend, join me in honoring the positive contributions and lasting impacts driven by the Labor Community.
Working families are the backbone of Alameda County’s economic and social vitality.
This Labor Day and each day after, let’s continue to collectively uplift the worker movement, amplify the voices of working people, and strengthen our communities in District 2 and beyond!
 Photo caption: Touring Santa Rita Jail in support of the collaboration between the Sheriff's Office and LIUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America). The partnership offers a 12-week vocational training program in the field of construction for individuals who are incarcerated. The program aims to increase the well-being of participants, reduce recidivism, and provide a path towards employment upon release.
In Service & Solidarity,
 Elisa Márquez
Supervisor, Second District
Alameda County
 Congratulations to Anika Mangla and Anjanae Lewis on becoming Alameda County's 2025 Youth Poet Laureates!
Anika, the 2025 Youth Poet Laureate, views poetry as a form of dialogue, protest, and healing, and a deeper sense of belonging within her community. Anika is publishing her first poetry book, Embers and Flame, this summer.
Anjanae is the 2025 Youth Poet Vice-Laureate, is a recent high school graduate preparing to start college in the fall. Her poetry is shaped by her community and a deep belief in the power of imagination to create change.
SPECIAL THANKS to our 2025 Judges for their support of young Alameda County poets and for their commitment to lifting up youth voices.
Interested in applying for the Youth Laureate program next year? Learn more about the responsibilities and application process at aclibrary.org/youth-poet and mark your calendars to apply in April 2026!
 Laguna Commons, an affordable housing property located at 41152 Fremont Blvd., has an open waitlist for 1-bedroom rental units. The property is managed by MidPen Housing. The deadline to apply is Monday, September 15, 2025.
Applications can be found at midpen-housing.org/property/laguna-commons/. Applications are also available for pickup at the rental office at: 41152 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94538 or by phone: (510) 306-1222 or (650) 357-9773 TTD Email: lagunacommons@midpen-housing.org Completed applications may be submitted online, returned in person or be postmarked by US Postal Service no later than September 15, 2025. A lottery will be run periodically during the application period and applicants will be placed on the waitlist in order of lottery number within consecutive lottery runs.
To learn more and for a full list of qualifications and criteria, view the resources below:
 Alameda County Library is working on a plan to improve family spaces at eight library locations and requests your input on how best to do it!
Please take a few moments to complete a short survey. Your voice will help AC Library to create spaces that feel like they belong to all of the booklovers who enter their doors.
The survey is open through Monday, September 15 and is available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Farsi.
Take the Family Spaces Survey at aclibrary.org/FamilySpaces.
 Say goodbye to ticket lines! BART’s new tap-and-ride system launched on August 20, making it easy to get around the Bay Area. Simply tap your contactless card or phone at the fare gate and head to your destination – perfect for commuters and visitors alike.
For more info, visit bart.gov/contactless.
 Recent federal legislation has set expiration dates for several clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act. If these upgrades are already on your radar, here's what you need to know:
Coming up soon:
Ending this year:
- 30% tax credits for heat pump water heaters, HVAC systems, and energy efficiency upgrades (up to $3,200): Expires December 31, 2025
- 30% tax credits for home battery systems and solar: Expires December 31, 2025
**For homeowners who lease a solar and/or battery system, the company that owns the system can still access the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) through the end of 2027 (solar) or 2035 (batteries). The ITC generally provides a 30% credit that can be passed through to customers who lease these systems.
You still have time:
- 30% tax credit for installing EV charging property at home (up to $1,000 per item): Expires June 30, 2026
Even with these federal changes, electric vehicles and home electrification remain smart long-term investments. EVs typically save owners thousands in fuel and maintenance costs over time, while electric appliances can improve your home’s comfort and air quality.
Visit Ava Community Energy to learn more about all available federal and local incentives and programs.
 Learn all about our local gray foxes and how to identify evidence of their presence!
- Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
- Time: 2pm - 3pm
- Location: Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (2 Marshlands Rd, Fremont)
On a walk/talk from the Visitor Center out into the refuge, Bill "The Fox Guy" Leikam will show you how to identify indications of the presence of foxes, and tell stories about gray foxes that he’s studied and learned from. Bill will answer questions along the way and at the end reveal something about the foxes at the Visitor Center that not many people know is even there!
This program meets outside the Visitor Center. Portable toilets are available onsite. Wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection/layers!
For more information, click here.
 Join Polly's Heart Health Fair and Memorial Walk hosted by the City of Union City.
- Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
- Time: 9am - 1pm
- Location: Ruggieri Senior Center (33997 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City)
Start the day off with a short ceremonial walk then enjoy free fitness demos and explore a variety of health and wellness vendors.
For more information, click here.
You can also get more details by calling the Ruggieri Senior Center at 510-675-5495, or emailing RuggieriSeniorCenter@unioncity.org.
 The Hayward Public Library is collaborating with Eden Area - Rubicon Programs to organize the Fall Job and Resource Fair.
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Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025
- Time: 11am - 1pm
- Location: Hayward Public Library - Fremont Bank Room (888 C Street, Hayward)
Don’t miss the opportunity to network with leading employers at our Fall Job & Resource Fair, offering career advice, interviews, and job openings.
To learn more, such as the list of employers, click here.
Newark Days is a four-day festival held to commemorate the birthday of the City of Newark held every year in September. In 2025, Newark will be celebrating its 70th birthday with the theme, Celebrating the 70s!
- Date: Thursday, September 18 - Sunday, September 21
- Time: Visit the event schedule here
- Location: MacGregor Playfields and Newark Community Center (35501 Cedar Blvd, Newark)
Newark Days is enjoyed by over 100,000 people every year. In 2025, Newark will be celebrating its 70th birthday with the theme, Celebrating the 70s!
Festivities include:
- Carnival Rides
- Food Festivals
- Car Show
- Parade
- Family Runs
- Arts, Crafts, & Trade Fair
- BMX Balance Bikes for Kids
- and much more!
Visit newarkdays.org to learn more.
 East Bay Regional Park District is hosting a Volunteer Day dedicated to cleaning up our shorelines as part of Coastal Cleanup Day, a global event that draws thousands to clean up shorelines, rivers, and habitat space.
- Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Time: Depending on location
- Location: Multiple Locations
Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way to support your community, ecosystem, and the environment. It’s also a lovely way to spend a day outdoors!
Participating parks include:
- Big Break Regional Shoreline
- Contra Loma Regional Park
- Del Valle Regional Park (2 locations)
- Hayward Regional Shoreline
- Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline (2 locations)
- Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
- Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
- Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area
- Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline
- Robert W Crown Regional Shoreline
Registration is requested but walkups are welcomed. Register here: Coastal Cleanup Registration
Learn more at Coastal Cleanup Day | East Bay Parks.
 District 2 appointments are available to those who live or work in Hayward (incorporated), Union City, Newark, and portions of Fremont (Ardenwood, Bayside, Canyon Heights/Vallejo Mills/Niles Crest, East Industrial, Lakes & Birds, Northgate, and Warm Springs).
Not sure if you’re in District 2? Find your district by clicking here
For further information, contact District Director Rodney Loche, rodney.loche2@acgov.org and/or (510) 813-1856. Please send a resume and request an application.
Learn more about County Boards and Commissions at https://www.acgov.org/bnc/#/board.
District 2 is actively seeking applicants for the following bodies:
1. Advisory Commission on Aging:
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Objective:To act as an independent advocate for older persons as mandated by the Older Americans Act, and the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act by taking positions on matters pertaining to federal, state and local policies, programs and procedures, and any legislation affecting older persons.
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Term: 4 years
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Meetings: 2nd Monday of each month at 9:30am
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Location: 6955 Foothill Blvd. Suite #300, Oakland, CA 94605
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Qualifications:
2. Elections Commission
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Objective: Established in the County of Alameda ("County") a body which shall be known as the Alameda County Elections Commission ("Commission") to oversee all public federal, state, district and municipal elections conducted by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. The Commission shall oversee the implementation of general policies for the Registrar of Voters and shall periodically report back to the Board of Supervisors regarding the proper administration of general practices of the Registrar of Voters as it pertains to administration of elections in the County.
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Term: 3 years
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Meetings: Third Thursday of each month, 4pm - 6pm
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Location: TBD
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Qualifications:
3. Public Health Commission
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Objective: To review and assess emerging health needs; initiate and improve health and disease prevention programs and policies; make recommendations regarding opportunities for building community capacity as related to public health priorities; and advocate for adequate resources and increased County action to improve community health.
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Term: 2 years
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Meetings: Commission meetings shall be held monthly for a total of 12 monthly meetings per calendar year. Contact staff for meeting dates and times.
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Location: 1000 Broadway, Suite 500 Oakland CA 94607
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Qualifications: The PHC membership is open to all Alameda County residents who are supportive of the improvement of the health and well-being of residents living in Alameda County. New members shall be recruited through an extensive outreach process, taking into consideration PHC's strong commitment to ethnic and geographic diversity.
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211 Alameda County: 211alamedacounty.org
Alameda County Housing Portal: Affordable Housing Rentals
Alameda County Housing Secure: Tenant and Landlord Housing Resources
Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA): Medi-Cal Enrollment
Alameda County Employment Openings: www.acgov.org/careers.htm
Board of Supervisors Meetings: Information on how to participate in public comment is available on the LIVE Broadcasts page on the Board of Supervisors' website.
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