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Greetings,
As we welcome the fall season, I hope you had a wonderful summer filled with meaningful time outdoors and memorable moments with family and friends.
September promises to be an exciting month, highlighted by the 23rd Annual Healthy Living Festival on September 24 at the Oakland Zoo. As my signature event for older adults (ages 55 and older), the festival brings together valuable health, wellness, and community resources in a fun, informative, and engaging setting. I encourage you to review the event flyer included in this newsletter for additional details. Registration is required, and paid parking is limited, so please register as soon as possible to reserve your spot.
It is an honor to serve the residents of District 4, and I remain committed to delivering results that strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for all. If you need assistance with any county-related matter, please don't hesitate to contact one of my offices. Our contact information is listed at the bottom of this newsletter, and my staff and I are always here to help.
It is a privilege to serve you.
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Click HERE to register for the Healthy Living Festival
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D4 Celebrates National Night Out
Celebrating Community - National Night Out brings neighbors together!
Communities across the county recently came together to celebrate National Night Out, an annual event dedicated to strengthening the relationship between residents, law enforcement, first responders, and community organizations. This event highlights the importance of neighborhood partnerships, public safety awareness, and civic pride. Families, neighbors, and local organizations gathered at events throughout the county to enjoy food, games, music, and activities for all ages. Residents, including children, had the opportunity to meet first responders in a fun and welcoming environment. These interactions build trust, foster communication, and provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about the valuable services available in their community. Strong neighborhoods build strong communities! We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who helped make this year's National Night Out a success. As we reflect on another successful National Night Out, we are reminded that the strength of our county lies in the people who call it home. By continuing to support one another and stay engaged throughout the year, we can build an even stronger, safer, and more connected community for everyone. We look forward to celebrating again next year!
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Board of Supervisors Unanimously Adopts Safe Firearm Storage Ordinance in Unincorporated Areas of Alameda County
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On August 4, my colleagues and I voted 5-0 to adopt a new Safe Storage of Firearms in Residences Ordinance for the unincorporated areas of Alameda County. This ordinance that I championed requires firearms kept in residences to be secured with a trigger lock or stored in a locked container, helping reduce the risk of accidental shootings, youth access to firearms, suicide, and firearm theft. The ordinance aligns with existing California law while providing Alameda County with the ability to enforce these safe storage requirements locally. Research has consistently shown that properly securing firearms can save lives. National studies have found that millions of children live in homes with unlocked firearms, and that safe storage practices are associated with a significant reduction in youth suicides and unintentional shootings. The ordinance supports Alameda County's Vision 2036 goal of providing equitable and effective crime reduction strategies and was adopted with no net County cost. The ordinance takes effect on September 3, 2026.
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Opening of Affordable Housing Project
 We celebrated the the opening of 104 permanent, deeply affordable homes with supportive services at Edes Avenue Community Apartments for neighbors who have experienced homelessness. The County purchased the former Comfort Inn in 2020 through the State's Homekey Program, initially providing non-congregate shelter through Abode Services. With Measure A1 and other funding, the property has now been transformed into permanent supportive housing - complete with community kitchens, a community room, and a food pantry. This project is a great example of what we can accomplish when Alameda County voters, local and State partners, and our community work together to create lasting housing solutions.
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Expanding services for LGBTQIA+ residents |
I am proud that the Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1.5 million initiative to expand healthcare and support services for LGBTQIA+ residents. On August 4, we unanimously approved the LGBTQIA+ Community Health Access, Navigation & Health Equity Initiative. The program will focus on improving access to gender-affirming care, mental health services, crisis response, and healthcare navigation, with particular attention to transgender and nonbinary residents.
Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas and I spearheaded this effort after concerns about disparities in healthcare access were raised at a June 2025 hearing of the Alameda County Together for All ad hoc committee. I believe our support needs to go beyond words. That’s why I fought for funding to support LGBTQIA+ health needs across Alameda County, including access to gender-affirming care and support for the Oakland LGBTQ Center’s campus in East Oakland. The funding comes from the county’s Measure W Equitable County Services Fund, backed by a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2020. We were also motivated by concerns about federal funding cuts under the Trump administration.
Alameda County Health estimates that the program will serve about 1,050 people each year. In addition to connecting residents with healthcare and public benefits, the initiative will expand outreach in southern and eastern parts of the county and establish a countywide system for tracking outcomes and identifying gaps in care.
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Public comment requested for Home Together 2030 Plan
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I’m excited to share that the draft Home Together 2030 Plan has been released for public comment and feedback will be accepted through October 1, 2026. The Housing and Homelessness Services team is gathering online feedback, leading upcoming community meetings, and holding drop-in hours at system access points to help people fill out the feedback form. Home Together 2030 builds on the 2026 plan to provide a shared roadmap for reducing homelessness, advancing equity, and strengthening the systems and partnerships needed to help more people move from crisis to safe, stable housing. Led by Alameda County Health’s Housing and Homelessness Services (H&H) in collaboration with the Oakland-Berkeley-Alameda County Continuum of Care (CoC), the Plan was developed with guidance and input from people with lived experience of homelessness, housing and service providers, city and county staff, community partners, and subject matter experts.
To participate in the comment period, community members can visit the Home Together 2030 page here to download the plan, reference the appendices, and submit feedback through the online form.
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25th Anniversary of the September 11th Terror Attacks
 This year marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a day that forever changed our nation and touched the lives of countless families and communities.
On this solemn anniversary, we remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives that were lost, honor the extraordinary courage of the first responders who rushed into danger, and recognize the members of our Armed Forces who answered the call to serve in the years that followed.As we reflect on this milestone, we are reminded that the strength of our nation is found in our resilience, our compassion, and our commitment to one another. The acts of heroism and unity witnessed in the aftermath of September 11 continue to inspire us to build stronger, safer, and more connected communities. May we never forget their sacrifice, and may we continue working together in the spirit of service, hope, and unity.
Report Illegal Dumping on Union Pacific Railroad Property
 See illegal dumping on or near Union Pacific railroad property? Don't pass by it, report it.
Every report goes directly to Union Pacific staff, allowing them to respond more quickly and effectively. Together, we can be part of the solution. By partnering with Union Pacific and taking a moment to report illegal dumping, we're protecting our communities and creating a cleaner environment for everyone.
Report Illegal Dumping on Union Pacific Property
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Community Tree Workshop - September 29th
Help decide where new trees get planted across Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, Hayward Acres, and San Lorenzo. Alameda County is creating a 50-year Urban Forest Plan for the unincorporated communities of Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, Hayward Acres, and San Lorenzo — and we want to hear from you.
Your lived experience matters. Your input will directly shape where new trees get planted and how the County invests in tree canopy over the next 50 years.This workshop will include a project overview, hands-on activities to identify where trees and shade are needed most, and a facilitated discussion of neighborhood priorities.
Learn more by clicking this link.
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Hosted Annual Oakland Clergy Breakfast
 I was honored to host my annual Oakland Clergy Breakfast at the Buttercup Diner. Together, we had a meaningful conversation about the Port of Oakland, behavioral health and social services, the Coliseum Joint Powers Authority, and the important role faith-based organizations play in partnering with Alameda County to strengthen and serve our communities. I am grateful to our clergy leaders for their continued commitment, insight, and collaboration as we work together to improve the lives of those we serve.
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Alameda County Agricultural History Center
I was honored to celebrate the grand opening of the Alameda County Agricultural History Center at the historic Meek Estate in Cherryland. I'm proud that Alameda County helped make this project possible through investments from Park in-lieu fees and ARPA funding, preserving our rich agricultural heritage for future generations. Congrats to the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District and everyone who helped bring this vision to life!
To learn more, click HERE.
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Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department 2025 Annual Report
The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Annual report is here! This report reflects a year of dedicated work across the department, from emergency response and community risk reduction to training, partnerships and public education. It's a look back at how LPFD served Pleasanton and Livermore throughout 2025, and a chance to share the numbers. milestones. and stories behind that work.
Take a look at what the crews accomplished this year! Access the report HERE.
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Tri-Valley REACH - Groundbreaking of new ADU project in Pleasanton.
This project used Measure A1 funds and will serve extremely lower income households. This ADU features two bedrooms and two bathrooms with shared living spaces. Tri-Valley REACH offers affordable housing to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
To learn more about how the Measure A1 Affordable Housing Project is keeping people housed, click HERE.
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