Initiatives

With a population of over 1.5 million residents and its central location in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alameda County has tremendous opportunities. Alameda County also deals with challenges to ensure vital safety-net services are delivered to indigent populations. Governance in Alameda County is more than just acting as an arm of the state and a pass through for the federal governments. In District Two governance includes advancing initiatives important to our communities. Collectively working together we are advancing the following key initiatives.

District Two co-chairs the Ad Hoc Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights with District Three Supervisor Wilma Chan. Our offices asked the Board of Supervisors to create this special committee to review how Alameda County can ensure it is protecting the rights off all our residents regardless of residency status. In light of federal government actions or policy desires it is important that Alameda County stand-up and fight for the rights of all people who call our County home. View the final report of the Alameda County Ad Hoc Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights here.

The proposed Hayward Youth and Family Center is intended to be a catalyst project for South Hayward and it residents. The site, 680 W. Tennyson Rd, is situated in the center of the Tennyson Corridor and placed next to a large park and the Matt Jimenez Center for Boys and Girls. Integration and cooperation with the Hayward Area Recreation District (HARD) and the City of Hayward will allow youth and families access to the parklands, a skate park, gymnasium, and commercial kitchen and open the way for mutually beneficial partnerships to serve the community.

The center would provide services which would include but are not limited to:

• Pediatric Clinic which includes dental
• Alameda County Office of Education Community School
• Behavioral Health counseling services
• Early childhood development center and day care for infants and toddlers
• Job training programs and education
• A potential arts and cultural component
• Computer clubhouse
• Numerous youth educational and vocational assistance programs
• Potential meeting space, which is currently very limited

In October 2012, Supervisor Valle launched the Tennyson Corridor Initiative to assess/explore how to better serve the needs of the South Hayward community. Data provided by the Alameda County Public Health Department demonstrated the need for local investment in the community; view the data from the May 8, 2014 town hall presentation. From community town halls to facilitated stakeholder group meetings, the plan evolved to continue the idea the City of Hayward previously had and build a new center at the site. The project has secured a $5 million grant from Kaiser Foundation and a $9.6 million contribution from Alameda County toward its construction costs. A Steering Committee made up of community stakeholders and City and County officials has been meeting to advance the project through the planning phase and into construction.

The Fatherhood Initiative is a collaborative between County departments and community based service providers to elevate and recognize the important role fathers have in their children’s lives. Most importantly it works to identify and rectify institutional barriers that have negative impacts on reunifying children with their parents. District Two supports the efforts of the Alameda County Father’s Corp and their efforts to bring awareness and creative solutions around fatherhood.

While separate and distinct initiatives, District Two focuses great effort on children and youth development. Healthy children and healthy parents are important for healthy neighborhoods and communities. To that end District Two is invested in:

• efforts to expand childcare for ALL county residents
• the Union City Kids Zone
• the City of Newark Ash Street Park Program

Each of these programs deserve support on their own merits. The District Two Office places a top priority on supporting ALL children and youth to have access to health services, healthy relationships, and opportunities to reach their potential.

The Niles Canyon Corridor Multi-Use Trail is a conceptual project that will create a pedestrian and bicycle trail separate from, but following Niles Canyon roadway (Highway 84). The trail would originate in Fremont at Mission Boulevard and 84 and end in Sunol. This project would help complete a gap between the Bay Trail and the Iron Horse Trail.

The Niles Canyon Stroll & Roll grew out of our effort to build the Niles Canyon Trail. District One and District Two spearheaded the first Stroll & Roll in 2015 to great reception from local Sunol and Fremont residents. This unique event closes Highway 84 (Niles Canyon Road) to vehicle traffic to allow pedestrians and bicyclists one day to experience this scenic and historic canyon. While the Stroll & Roll is not an annual event, we will continue to work with local groups to host the event when possible until the Niles Canyon Trail is built. To learn more about the Stroll & Roll visit https://www.84strollroll.com/.

District 2 hosts the Bi-Ennial Science in the Park event! This event strives to help make science and health fun and approachable for youth in Hayward and Union City. Educators, community organizations, and companies come together and bring interactive activities that spark curiosity and an interest in learning. To learn more about past Science in the Park events or receive updates on Science in the Park 2018 visit http://www.scienceinthepark.org/.

St. Rose Hospital is a vital community benefits hospital for central and southern Alameda County residents. As a recognized cardiac receiving center, the only emergency room hospital, and a disproportionate share hospital in central and southern Alameda County the District 2 office is committed to fighting to ensure the hospital remains financially stable and its doors remain open. Since 2011 Alameda County has committed and leveraged over $63 million to help stabilize St. Rose Hospital. District Two has also convened a St. Rose Hospital Stabilization Working Group that concluded its meetings in 2017 with recommendations to the Board of Supervisors Health Committee ( click here to see the presentation). With uncertainty in Washington D.C., District Two will remain vigilant to ensure that St. Rose Hospital has the support it needs.

Raising Leaders is a workshop and internship model created by the Hayward Adult School to give at-risk youth an opportunity to hear from leaders within our community and gain hands-on paid work experience. Students attend an 8-week workshop led by City of Hayward government officials and department directors in order to learn about career pathways and workforce skills. Following the workshop, students can continue with an 8-week internship within a city department such as Maintenance Services, City Manager’s Office, Fire Department, Police Department, among others.

District 2 is partnering with the Raising Leaders program to expand the model to Union City. This model presents an effective and invaluable opportunity for our city’s low-income youth to grow and succeed.

To find out more about the program, please click here for an informational video.

Remembering and honoring the sacrifices and service of our veterans is a time honored tradition. District 2 is proud to be working with a group of veterans to complete a veterans’ memorial in Union City at the Veteran Memorial Park on Dyer and Regents Street. Groundbreaking on the project is set for late Summer 2017 with a completion ceremony being planned for Veterans’ Day November 11, 2017. For more information on the Veterans Memorial Project please click here.