Alameda County Supervisors approve $269 million for Santa Rita Jail renovations

Some supervisors expressed concerns about approving a large expenditure without a proper vetting; Oakland receives good news about its current fiscal year budget; Dublin has $200 million reserve fun

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted, 4-1, on Tuesday to approve $269 million for long-deferred maintenance and renovations at Santa Rita Jail.

The funding, requested by the county’s General Services Agency, will address serious infrastructure failures at the 39-year-old jail, including aging electrical systems and fire sprinklers that officials say is far past its life expectancy.

General Services Agency Director Kimberly Gasaway said the jail is “experiencing regular failures,” requiring repeated emergency funding requests. Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez echoed the concerns, citing ongoing electrical issues in several jail units.

“This is not an expansion of the jail,” Supervisor Lena Tam said in response to critics. “The people that are there need to have life safety access, whether it’s a fire alarm system that works, that there’s power and an electrical system, a toilet that flushes, all of these things.”

The $269 million is part of the county’s capital improvement plan. A full assessment of Santa Rita Jail was completed in 2018, but Gasaway said the county had been unable to deliver all needed work due to funding constraints, prioritizing critical services like healthcare and jail infrastructure.

Gasaway also warned that if the board delayed the vote, some construction bids currently on the table could expire—potentially increasing costs.

Some supervisors expressed discomfort with the process.

“This is the last large allocation I will approve without proper vetting,” said Supervisor Elisa Márquez.

Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas cast the lone “no” vote, citing concerns raised in 2023 about the possibility of Measure W sales tax funds being used to support jail maintenance.

Alameda County Administrator Susan Muranishi acknowledged that, as a general tax, Measure W funds can legally be allocated for any purpose.

—More inside:

• Alameda County Democrats returned disillusioned after lackluster messaging at last weekend’s state convention; State Dems elected local as party vice-chair.

• Oakland’s budget woes receive a boost for the current fiscal year, but next year’s budget remains daunting.

• A lucrative proposal for five new digital billboards in Oakland comes to next week’s council committee meeting.

• Oakland celebrates Barbara Lee this weekend, San Leandro celebrates cherries.

• Oh, Dublin, stop taunting the rest of us about your large budget surplus and reserves.

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