 Dear Community Partner,
Immigrants and refugees are our Community's backbone and beating heart.
With their hands and hopes, my family and thousands of others helped build Central and South Alameda County and they continue to sustain it daily through their work, care, and resilience. But in the face of unprecedented and unconstitutional attacks on our Community, I am working with leaders across the Bay Area, including non-profits and philanthropic organizations, to stand up.
 Photo caption: The Stand Together Bay Area Fund has a goal of raising $10 million from grassroots donors, philanthropy, and local leaders to provide rapid support for urgent needs, including rent, groceries, and legal aid. I will seek approval from my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to allocate $50,000 towards our shared goal and urge my fellow elected leaders to join me.
Our collective efforts go beyond generosity. It is about solidarity. It is about standing with the people who have built our region and continue to sustain it daily. When immigrant families have support, our schools, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods all remain stronger and more resilient.
 Photo caption: Together, we can ensure that the Bay Area remains a beacon of hope and refuge for all. Thank you to the San Francisco Foundation for partnering with the Alameda County Together For All (ACT) Ad Hoc Committee, which I serve on with Supervisor Fortunato Bas, to launch direct emergency grants to trusted, local non-profit organizations that help families remain safe and secure. Click here for The East Bay Times coverage.
Visit sff.org/stand-together-bay-area to contribute; no amount is too small and every dollar counts. Your support makes a real difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Share Your Voice: Russell City Redress Fund Survey by Friday, October 3rd
As we take meaningful steps toward redress, it’s essential that the Community help us to shape the path forward.
A survey has been created to allow people to share their thoughts and suggestions surrounding the Russell City Redress Fund, which includes $400,000 in seed funding from my office.
I encourage everyone—whether you have a direct connection to Russell City or not—to complete the survey and let us know how you feel. This is your opportunity to help guide how we honor the legacy of Russell City and begin the work of repair.
 Photo caption: I want to express my deep appreciation to the organizers and attendees at last month’s Russell City Reunion Picnic for welcoming me to their 43rd annual gathering. If you love podcasts or prefer to listen to your news, click here to listen (or read) KQED’s “The Bay” feature story: “Displaced Russell City Residents Set to Receive Reparations”.
Click here to complete the Russell City Redress Fund Survey or email Russellcity-rip@hayward-ca.gov to participate by Friday, October 3! Your input will help inform the eligibility criteria and ensure the fund reflects community values, priorities, and a shared commitment to honoring Russell City’s history.
To date, $1.2 million has been raised to tangibly address the harm experienced by the living former Russell City residents, inspiring state and international efforts.
Thank you to the Alameda County Board of Education for pledging $100,000 to the Fund this month, including Trustee Aisha Knowles who is a founding member of the City of Hayward’s Russell City Reparative Justice Project Steering Committee.
Alameda County Measure C Emergency Grants in Action
This September, I also had the opportunity to present one of the first Measure C - Children’s Health and Child Care Initiative emergency grants to Katina Young’s Center in Hayward to ensure her business can continue to serve young children and their community!
 Photo caption: Katina is one of the many vital child care providers who show up everyday for children and families even during their hardest years, including through the pandemic.
In June, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a historic, nearly billion-dollar investment to implement Alameda County Measure C’s five year plan which was developed by local families, providers, and early educators across the County and includes a tax payer oversight structure.
Child care is essential to a healthy and thriving Alameda County. Our young people, caregivers, and economy are stronger when we prioritize this critical infrastructure.
I am grateful for our partners at First 5 Alameda County who have swiftly administered Measure C’s Emergency Grants for Family Child Care Providers and Programs and look forward to continuing to strengthen early care and education across the cities of Hayward, Newark, Union City, and Fremont which make up County District 2!
Happy Birthday, Newark!
As we transition into Fall, I want to wish Newark residents and their great City a very happy 70th birthday!
 Last weekend, the District 2 Office celebrated Newark Days, a wonderful four-day festival held to commemorate the birthday of the City of Newark, California held every year in September. Congratulations to the amazing volunteers who gave their time throughout the year to plan the festival’s events that cultivate the Newark community and Tri-Cities more broadly!
In Service,
 Elisa Márquez
Supervisor, Second District
Alameda County
 Need Emergency Care? St. Rose Hospital offers fast and accessible care where emergency patients will be seen by a provider in 30 minutes or less!
St. Rose Hospital is a STEMI Receiving Center with award-winning cardiac care. As a local and trusted facility, St. Rose offers convenient emergency care where and when you need it.
With over 40,000 visits a year, the St. Rose Hospital Emergency Department is here to care for you when you need it most! The emergency department is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is fully equipped and staffed with a team of Board Certified Emergency Room physicians, experienced nurses trained in emergency care, and a support staff ready to respond to all medical emergencies quickly and efficiently.
Visit www.strosehospital.org to learn more.
Community members, please complete the Russell City Redress Fund Survey by Friday, Oct. 3.
The Russell City Redress Fund exists because families of Russell City were forcibly displaced in the 1960s, losing their homes, community, and sense of belonging. This fund is one step toward acknowledging the harm and contributing to the process of repair.
To begin this work, $1.2 million has been pledged with support from the Hayward City Council, Alameda County Supervisors Elisa Márquez, Nate Miley, David Haubert, Nikki Fortunato Bas, and the Alameda County Office of Education.
While past conversations have guided this work, this survey is a focused step to gather additional input specifically regarding eligibility criteria before any decisions are made.
The results of the survey will directly shape eligibility and guide how funds are used to honor Russell City’s legacy.
Please continue to visit and share the Russell City Reparative Justice Project website with other potentially impacted families and funders.
 The City of Union City is updating its Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the first time in 25 years to reflect the community’s changing needs and guide the parks and recreation planning for the next 15 years.
Since the City’s last Master Plan was adopted in 1999, Union City has grown significantly, adding new parks and expanding recreational offerings. The focus will be on reimagining existing spaces, improving access, and ensuring parks remain safe, inclusive, and responsive to community needs. This is an opportunity for residents to help shape the future of parks and recreation in Union City. The key to creating a successful master plan that is truly reflective of the vision, needs, and interest of the community is to ensure their voices are heard. Your voice matters!
Here are 3 ways to get involved:
All residents are invited to share their ideas, experiences, and priorities. Feedback gathered through surveys, events, and workshops will directly shape the strategies and goals of the Master Plan, ensuring it represents Union City’s diverse community.
For more information and to access the community survey, please visit: www.unioncityparksandrecmp.com/
 Corner stores in Alameda County can apply for one-time grants of up to $25,000 to expand healthy food options. Funds may be used for equipment (like refrigerators or shelving), signage, food demos, or other improvements that make it easier for the community to access healthy, culturally relevant foods
The Healthy Retail Grant Application and Informational Guide are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Farsi, and Cambodian. Please visit the website to access these materials.
Apply here. Applications Due: Friday, October 10 at 5pm.
Submit your questions and completed application, budget, and photos to SSAInnovations@acgov.org.
All application materials must be submitted via email only; no hard copies will be accepted.
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
 The Alameda County Social Services Agency, with support from the Hellman Foundation, is pleased to announce a significant funding opportunity for established Guaranteed Income (GI) programs. This initiative is designed to strengthen and augment existing programs that are actively serving Alameda County residents.
Key Information:
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What: Up to three grants will be awarded, with each grant not to exceed $175,000.
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Who: This grant is for established nonprofit GI programs that have a physical location in Alameda County and serve specific high-need populations.
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How to Apply: Please find the application here. Submit your application via email to SSAInnovations@acgov.org. All application materials must be submitted via email only; no hard copies will be accepted
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Deadline: All applications are due on October 10, 2025, by 5pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
All application materials are available in the following languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Farsi, and Cambodian. Please visit the website to access these materials.
Please send all questions to SSAInnovations@acgov.org.
 The Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is updating its Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP), and your input matters! The 2026 CTP Community Survey is now live.
Share your transportation experiences and priorities to help Alameda CTC shape the future of transportation in Alameda County.
You can get involved today:
Learn more here.
 Join the next Foster Family Support & Resource Parent Recruitment Town Hall.
- Date: Wednesday, October 1
- Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
- Location: Fremont Main Library, Fukaya Room (2400 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont)
Hear powerful stories from current Resource Parents (formerly Foster Parents) and gain insight into what it’s like to care for children in the foster care system. Light refreshments will be provided and an ASL interpreter will be present.
If you feel called to offer love, safety, and guidance to a child in need, this is a meaningful opportunity to learn about the need for wonderful Resource Parents and how to become one. Get your questions answered and leave with a clear understanding of the next steps in becoming a Resource Parent—whether through Alameda County or a Foster Family Agency.
RSVP here.
 Join the City of Fremont and Tri-City Animal Shelter for a tail-wagging good time at Downtown Dog Days - Fall Edition.
- Date: Saturday, October 4
- Time: 10am - 2pm
- Location: Fremont Downtown Event Center (3500 Capitol Ave, Fremont)
This FREE, family-friendly event features:
- Dog Adoptions
- Halloween Dog Costume Contest
- Low Cost Pet Vaccination and Microchip Clinic
- Dog Handling Demonstrations
- Hands-on Dog-Themed Crafts
- Trick or Treat with Our Vendors
- Local Vendors
- Live Music
- Food Trucks
Come celebrate our four-legged friends and connect with your community!
Vaccination Clinic with Cheap Shots Inc. in Partnership with PAWS. First-come, first-served for CATS and DOGS @GetCheapShots
For more info, visit bit.ly/DowntownDogDays.
 Bring your pups and get ready for a spook-tacular time at Howl-O-Ween!
- Date: Saturday, October 18
- Time: 10am - 12:30pm
- Location: NewBark Dog Park (35501 Cedar Blvd., Newark)
Admission is FREE.
Events include:
- Vendor Fair
- Costume Contest (for you + your pup!)
- Photo Booth
- Giveaways
- Día de los Muertos Pet Altar
- And more!
Don't miss the tail wagging fun!
Learn more here.
 RAMS Pacific Islander Wellness Initiative is hosting it's 3rd Annual Pacific Islander Wellness Day & Hall of Fame Celebration!
- Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
- Time: 11am - 3pm
- Location: Bret Harte Middle School (1047 E St., Hayward)
This event focuses on healing, culture, and community pride for the Pacific Islander community and will include wellness activities for all ages, cultural performances, and health resources.
To learn more about RAMS and their vision for mental wellness for all people, visit their website at ramsinc.org.
In partnership with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Union City Police Department (UCPD) will participate in Drug Takeback Day.
- Date: Saturday, October 25
- Time: 10am - 2pm
- Location: Union City Police Department Front Lobby (34009 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City)
Drop by the police station to drop off any unused medication, E-Cigarettes, or vape pens for the DEA DRUG TAKE BACK DAY!
Please note that UCPD will not accept needles.
UCPD will collect vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers only after the batteries are removed from the devices.
Materials Management Facility will determine if they accept these devices, and for additional guidance regarding proper disposal.
For more information about DEA Take Back Disposal locations and disposal methods, visit the DEA Take Back Day Website.
 To create an environment in which each person may realize the highest potential unhampered by any discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigrant status, gender, age, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and mental or physical feasibilities protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.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. Consumer Affairs Commission
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Objective: Established to improve the business climate in Alameda County, educate the citizenry, and advise the Board of Supervisors regarding issues that affect the quality of life for everyone.
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Term: 2 years
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Meetings: 2nd Thursday of each month, 4pm - 6pm
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Location:1221 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94612
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Qualifications:
3. Human Relations Commission
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Objective: To create an environment in which each person may realize the highest potential unhampered by any discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigrant status, gender, age, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and mental or physical feasibilities protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Term: 3 years
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Meetings: 4th Wednesday of each month, 6pm - 8pm
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Location: 24100 Amador St., Hayward, CA 94544
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Qualifications:
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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