County supervisors to offer Gaza proclamation
Just cause back on the Board of Supervisors' plate; With less than two weeks before Election Day, not many ballots have been sent in; The strategy to boost Beckles in the SD7 top two
COUNTY NEWS
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—EVENHANDED EDICT—The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will offer a measured response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on Tuesday.
—A proposed proclamation before the board condemns antisemitism and Islamophobia, and is critical of both sides of the conflict, although it labels Hamas’ attack as an act of terrorism.
—It does not call for the permanent ceasefire many Palestinians and their allies in the East Bay are seeking. Instead the proclamation tiptoes around the issue.
—“The terrorist acts carried out by Hamas and its agents on October 7, 2023 were a tragedy and crime against humanity,” the proclamation reads. “The trauma from this day and the continuing pain being suffered must be acknowledged, dealt with, and all hostages taken must be returned.”
—The proclamation, calls out Israel’s response as “out of proportion leading to unimaginable suffering for innocent children and families. The humanitarian needs, suffering and trauma of the Palestinian people in Gaza must be prioritized with a cessation of hostilities.”
—Board of Supervisors meetings have largely avoided the levels of contention seen across city halls across Alameda County since November. It’s yet to be known whether this proclamation will satisfy vocal critics on either side of the issue.
—JUST BE-CAUSE—Nearly a year after its demise, a just cause renters protections ordinance returns to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday afternoon.
—Recall the board approved just cause in December 2022. But with swearing-in of a new board in January 2023, the second and final reading of the ordinance failed.
—The latest iteration of the just cause for the unincorporated areas of Alameda County again includes renters protections over and above existing state law.
Just cause protections kick in after occupying the unit for six months (state law is 12 months).
Three months of tenant relocation assistance for no-fault just cause evictions (state law is one month), and an additional one month if the household includes someone under 18 years old (no provision in state law).
Tenants would have the right of first refusal to return to a unit in which they were evicted for an owner move-in or substantial remodel within five years
—Exactly where the third vote for approval of just cause resides in unclear.
—Renters protections, however, has been a hot-button issue in the District 4 primary pitting Supervisor Nate Miley against Jennifer Esteen.
—The California Apartment Association, which vehemently opposes rent control and just cause, has spent nearly $400,000 during the primary in support of Miley’s re-election campaign and in opposition of Esteen.
—The board will also discuss another renters protection ordinance that was turned away a year ago involving the creation of a rent review and mediation process.
ELECTION 2024
8 days to Primary Day
—TAKING THEIR TIME—Voters in Alameda County are very busy people. But time is running out before vote-by-mail ballots are due next week.
—Just four percent of Alameda County’s 937,000 registered voters have mailed in their ballot, as of Friday. Neighboring counties also have paltry percentages of ballot turn-ins, as of Friday, but not as low as Alameda County.
San Joaquin County 8%
Contra Costa County 7%
Santa Clara County 7%
Alameda County 4%
—The combination of a presidential primary and contentious U.S. Senate race would appear to be strong reasons to stoke the interests of local voters. But there’s still time.
—Total turnout in the March 2020 primary reached 51 percent. The June 2022 primary was nearly 33 percent.
7TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—CHESS MATCH—That odd mailer sent last week by housing providers in support of rent control advocate Jovanka Beckles forced her to disavow their effort even though it praised her.
—A second piece from the same group, also in support of Beckles, appears on the way, according to finance records. Fighting for our Future reported spending $31,000 in support of Beckles.
—Similar to the strategy being employed by U.S. Senate candidate Adam Schiff against Republican Steve Garvey, the housing providers are making a concerted effort to boost Beckles, a perceived weaker candidate, into the top two primary.
—The beneficiary would be Jesse Arreguin. The same housing providers and developers have spent a fortune in support of Arreguin’s campaign, while also opposing his top opponent, the well-financed labor leader Kathryn Lybarger.
—Facing Beckles in November benefits Arreguin, so the theory goes, and would be much less expensive than facing Lybarger. Independent Expenditure Committees have spent more than $5 million in this race
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
—MONEYBALL—Form 497 large campaign contributions filed on Feb. 23-25.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Nate Miley (District 4), State Building and Construction Trades Council of California PAC, $10,000. TOTAL: $10,000.
—Jennifer Esteen (District 4), Beth Ogilvie of Castro Valley, $1,000; PowerPac.org Voter Fund, $1,000. TOTAL: $2,000.
—Nikki Fortunato Bas (District 5), Ella Baker Center Action Fund, $5,000; Nancy Skinner for Treasurer 2026, $2,500; Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local Union 16 PAC, $1,000; Transport Workers Union of America Political Contributions Committee, $1,000. TOTAL: $9,500.
—Chris Moore (District 5), East Bay Rental Housing Association PAC, $3,500. TOTAL: $3,500.
ALAMEDA
—Alameda Forward (Measure E - Alameda USD parcel tax), Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 342, $2,500; Sprinkler Fitters & Apprentices Local 483, $2,500. TOTAL: $5,000.
BERKELEY
—Committee To Support Berkeley Public Schools Educational Excellence Act of 2024 (Measure H - Berkeley USD parcel tax), Berkeley Council of Classified Employees AFT Local 6192 COPE, $2,000. TOTAL: $2,000.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—East Bay Working Families for Kathryn Lybarger for State Senate 2024, Sponsored by AFSCME Local 3299 (7th State Senate), Dignity CA SEIU Local 2015, $50,000. TOTAL: $50,000.
—Jesse Arreguin (7th Senate District), Bay Area Citizens PAC-All Purpose Account, $5,500; James Dina of Vancouver, Wash., $5,500; Mbae Lewis of San Francisco, $1,000; Pacific Merchant Shipping Association PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $13,000.
—Tim Grayson (9th Senate District), Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association of America PAC, $2,000; The Travelers Indemnity Company, $1,500; International Paper PAC, $1,000. TOTAL: $4,500.
—Marisol Rubio (9th Senate District), SEIU Local 1021 Candidate PAC, $5,000; Mallika Potter of San Leandro, $2,000; Karen Perkins of Walnut Creek, $1,000. TOTAL: $8,000.
—Nurses and Educators Supporting McNerney for Senate 2024 Sponsored by Labor, Consumer and Reproductive Health Organizations, (5th Senate District), SEIU 1000, Keeping California Healthy, Safe and Strong, $30,000. TOTAL: $8,000.
—Jerry McNerney (5th Senate District), Robert Brosamer of Alamo, $5,500; Linda Brosamer of Alamo, $5,500; Nat Simons of Berkeley, $5,500; Daniel Drake of Mill Valley, $3,300; 314 Action Fund Washington, DC, $2,500; Thomas Perkins of San Francisco, $2,000; David Casey of San Diego, $1,500; Jeanette King of Livermore, $1,000. TOTAL: $26,800.
—Carlos Villapudua (5th Senate District), Anheuser-Busch Companies, $5,500; Ernst & Young U.S. LLP, $3,000. TOTAL: $8,500.
STATE ASSEMBLY
—Buffy Wicks (14th Assembly District), Anheuser-Busch Companies, $7,500; Magellan Rx Management LLC, $1,500, 21st Century Alliance Good Government PAC, $1,500. TOTAL: $10,500.
—Mia Bonta (18th Assembly District), The Travelers Indemnity Company, $2,500; California Association of Health Plans PAC, $2,500; Centene Management Company, LLC and it's affiliate Health Net Community Solutions, Inc., $2,500; California Radiological PAC, $2,000; Magellan Rx Management, LLC, $1,500. TOTAL $11,000.
—Liz Ortega (20th Assembly District), The Doctors Company PAC, $1,500. TOTAL: $1,500.
—Alex Lee (24th Assembly District), Santa Clara County Probation Peace Officers' Union Local 1587, $1,250. TOTAL: $1,250.
—IE SPENDING—Form 496 Independent Expenditure Committee (IE) spending in support and opposing candidates or ballot measures filed on Feb. 23-25.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
—Jennifer Esteen (District 4), California Working Families Party. SUPPORT (Digital ads—$19,000). TOTAL: $19,000.
—Nate Miley (District 4), Preserving Agriculture in Alameda County. SUPPORT (Telephone—$10,465, Emails—$783). TOTAL: $11,248.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
—Janevette Cole (Area 5), California Charter Public Schools PAC. SUPPORT (Literature—$14,966). TOTAL: $14,966.
STATE LEGISLATURE
STATE SENATE
—Kathryn Lybarger (7th District), JobsPAC. OPPOSE (Mailer—$48,882). TOTAL: $$48,882.
—Kathryn Lybarger (7th District), UC Berkeley Cooks, Custodians and Nursing Assistants for Kathryn Lybarger for State Senate 2024. SUPPORT (Telephone—$75,000). TOTAL: $75,00.
—Jovanka Beckles (7th District), Fighting for our Future. SUPPORT (Literature—$31,340). TOTAL: $31,340.
—Tim Grayson (9th District), Leadership for California: Coalition to Restore California's Middle Class, Including Energy, Manufacturing and Technology Companies who Produce Gas, Oil, Jobs and Pay Taxes. SUPPORT (Mailer—$123,686, Consulting—$3,000). TOTAL: $126,686.
—Tim Grayson (9th District), Leadership for California: East Bay Committee, sponsored by Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy. SUPPORT (Mailer—$36,068). TOTAL: $36,068.
—Tim Grayson (9th District), Leadership for California: Cooperative of American Physicians Independent Expenditure Committee. SUPPORT (Mailer—$7,834). TOTAL: $7,834.
—Jerry McNerney (5th District), Nurses and Educators Supporting McNerney for Senate 2024 Sponsored by Labor, Consumer and Reproductive Health Organizations. SUPPORT (TV ads—$316,329). TOTAL: $316,329.
—Jerry McNerney (5th District), Fighting for our Future. OPPOSE (Telephone—$85,000). TOTAL: $85,000.
—Carlos Villapudua (5th District), Leadership for California: East Bay Committee, sponsored by Californians for Jobs and a Strong Economy. SUPPORT (Mailer—$35,242). TOTAL: $35,242.