County is slow-footing hotly-debated Ethical Investment Policy
Policy backed by county treasurer will not be discuss until September at the earliest; County Fair attendance up 13%; Former East Bay elected official re-emerges as reality TV star
☕️MORNING BUZZ
—Alameda County Board of Supervisors President David Haubert said the county treasurer’s Ethical Investment Policy will not be heard until sometime after the August recess, disappointing a large number of public speakers on Tuesday who charged the county with obstructing debate of the controversial issue.
In December, the Board of Supervisors directed Treasurer-Tax Collector Hank Levy to bring back an Ethical Investment Policy within 90 days. Former Supervisor Keith Carson, who retired in December, was a key supporter of creating the policy.
No action was taken prior to March, but momentum for the proposed policy appeared to be gaining. On May 6, a draft Ethical Investment Policy was approved by the Alameda County Treasury Oversight Committee.
The draft policy was initially scheduled for the board’s June 3 meeting, but was withdrawn from the agenda in order to be considered following the county’s budget deliberations.
Proponents of an Ethical Investment Policy in Alameda County had hoped for the issue to come before the Board of Supervisors on July 22.
On Tuesday, Haubert suggested the draft policy required more work, but assured the public that the item will be heard in the fall.
In early November, Carson was able to place the ethical investment policy item on the board’s agenda. But Haubert moved to continue the item to Dec. 10.
Last fall, Levy sold $32 million in county bonds for Caterpillar, Inc., one of many companies targeted by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. The group contends that companies like Caterpillar benefit from Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. As the elected treasurer, the sale is within Levy’s purview.
Several speakers noted the incongruity of the Board of Supervisors declaring July 19 as “Safe Kids Day” earlier at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Our public investment should never fund the killing of innocent children anywhere in the world,” said Moina Shaiq of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County. “How many more dead boys and girls will it take for us to take action and exercise our influence?”
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—More inside:
A resounding “no” from some unincorporated residents in three Alameda County flood zones leaves aging infrastructure unfunded and future safety projects in jeopardy.
Despite public distrust in institutions, EBMUD earns high marks in internal poll, even as concerns over rates and visibility persist.
Alameda County Fair attendance was up, despite the loss of live horse racing.
As cities demand their fair share of the $700 million homelessness sale tax, known as Measure W, concerns grow that Alameda County will divert much of it to its general fund.
Former supervisorial candidate is starring in a new reality show.
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