Alameda County Social Services isn't happy about Hayward's lawsuit

County CBOs, health care facilities are finding it difficult to compete for experienced employees, plus June campaign finance data, and more!

COUNTY NEWS

HAYWARD LAWSUIT

—THE REBUTTAL—When the City of Hayward filed a lawsuit last week claiming the Alameda County Social Services Agency had allowed a facility in the city to become a danger to foster youths it was a rare moment when a municipal disagreement in the East Bay was being played out in the public realm.

—A letter from Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas sent to the county on May 26 included allegations from a private security firm at a county-run assessment center for the foster youths in Hayward that older teenagers were “grooming” younger girls for human trafficking.

—In addition, a general sense of mayhem at the facility has ensued since Alameda County sheriff’s deputies ceased their services at the center, the letter continued.

—Less than a month after the city’s worries were first brought to the county, Hayward filed a lawsuit against the county demanding the Social Services Agency “restore order” to the assessment center.

—The Social Services Agency responded to the lawsuit in a statement on Friday afternoon, disagreeing with the city’s description of the alleged incidents and criticizing Hayward for filing the lawsuit while both sides were working toward solving the assessment center’s issues.

—“We do not agree with the City’s characterization of recent isolated incidents with certain high needs foster youth. The County is fully aware of the ongoing challenges of providing safe spaces for foster youth in our community and throughout the State,” the county said.

—“We encourage the City to continue the discussions that the County initiated after it received the Mayor’s letter. It is unfortunate that the City chose to file suit less than a month later rather than continuing the collaborative efforts that were in process.”

—To underscore how infrequent this type of internecine fights between jurisdictions is the county’s statement noted that it typically does not comment on “active litigation,” especially with this much specificity relating to the complaint.

—PROGRAM NOTE—The newsletter is taking a break for the Fourth of July holiday and will return Thursday morning at 6 a.m. Meanwhile, a new episode of the East Bay Insiders Podcast is coming later this afternoon!

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