Here comes the judge

Ursula Jones Dickson takes over a beleaguered Alameda County DA's office; Search begins for funding to boost county's legal services for immigrants; Loren Taylor ad links Barbara Lee to Sheng Thao

Alameda County DA Ursula Jones Dickson after receiving the oath of office from Judge Charles Smiley of the California First District Court of Appeal for Division One.

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—Ursula Jones Dickson was sworn in as Alameda County district attorney amid a packed chambers on Tuesday afternoon that included her family, supporters, numerous county department heads, and three former Alameda County DAs (not named Pamela Price).

Dickson, who served as an Alameda County Superior Court judge for the past 13 years before her appointment on Jan. 28, was joyful and emotional about her unexpected new journey, if not heedful of the work ahead.

“I’ve had a lot of blessings and this is one of the greatest ones. I get to do good work for the community,” Dickson said with tears in her eyes.

“I feel like I owe this county,” Dickson said. “They gave me everything.”

Several county supervisors urged the public to give Dickson some time to stabilize the DA’s office. Dickson asked for the same consideration.

“You are going to have to give me some time to get it tight, get it right because things are out of whack. But, I’m going to tell you what, I’m going to fix it. I’ll make that promise.”

Former Alameda County DAs Nancy O’Malley, Tom Orloff, and Lowell Jensen, along with new DA Ursula Jones Dickson.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins also attended the swearing in. Dickson told Jenkins, “Trust me. I’m a partner.”

—More inside:

• County funding to bolster services for immigrants and refugees moves forward, funding source remains unknown.

• Bid for the county’s half of Coliseum property hits another roadblock, but officials believe a deal is forthcoming sometime in March.

• The county clerk is retiring this week. The county clerk is returning to her job next month as a retired annuitant.

• Towers at two Alameda/Oakland drawbridges are infested with rodents.

• Loren Taylor has poll showing Oakland’s special mayoral election is tightening; Taylor campaign releases ad highlighting Barbara Lee’s ties to Sheng Thao.

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