ISSUES

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented and significant impact on Alameda County and the rest of our nation. It has brought a host of new and difficult challenges, but also the opportunity to create new bonds in our community as we support each other through this crisis. I am constantly amazed by the generosity of our non-profit and faith based organizations as well as so many residents who are helping people in need, including seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families.

 Our Public Health Department has made thoughtful decisions based on research and science during this difficult time and I am proud to work hand in hand with our medical professionals to reopen our economy without jeopardizing people’s health. Please continue following the safety guidelines laid out by the CDC and the Alameda County Health Department, including:

  •  Wear a face covering when in public (your face covering must cover your mouth and nose)

  • Frequently wash your hands for at least 20 seconds

  • If washing your hands is unavailable, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol

  • Maintain a distance of 6 feet from everyone who does not live in your household when in public

  • Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces on a daily basis (i.e. tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks)

  • Get tested if you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are experiencing any symptoms of the virus

This time has not been easy for anyone, but I am proud to see Alameda County supporting each other and following the guidelines laid out for our safety. I pledge to continue making decisions that are in the best interest of our community.    

Affordable Housing/Smart Growth

For many families in the Bay Area, a disproportionately large part of their annual income goes to housing costs. Many struggle to afford the Bay Area’s high cost of living, which leads to poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, and other societal problems. Action needs to be taken to ensure that Bay Area residents can comfortably live in the area where they work and raise a family. As Supervisor, I will spearhead solutions to increase affordable housing options, including subsidized housing and vouchers, requirements on future development to offer affordable housing programs, density bonuses, and higher sales tax programs to fund affordable housing. 

 Land use and development are very important, but complex topics. Our County has many different needs, and it is necessary to balance environmental protections with the housing development we need to support our growing workforce. I know that Alameda County can make smart land use decisions that provide a mix of affordable residential units, retail options, and office space so that residents can comfortably balance their lifestyle while remaining close to home. As Mayor of Dublin, I am proud to have lead several award-winning affordable housing communities, including Valor Crossing, Emerald Vista, and Camelia Place. I look forward to spearheading similar affordable housing projects throughout Alameda County.

 I believe that developers should contribute to the community as a whole if they wish to build in our County. As Supervisor, I will ensure that developers pay the necessary taxes and fees to fund our local schools, parks, transportation, and other community needs. Paying their fair share will help balance a growing population with the infrastructure needed to support our community. Additionally, I pledge to never approve a development unless I believe it is the best solution for Alameda County residents. 

Homelessness

Homelessness is a statewide issue that has only worsened in recent years. In the Bay Area, the high cost of living coupled with the lack of affordable housing has undoubtedly added to this crisis. As Supervisor, I will provide solutions that result in real, significant change for our most vulnerable residents, including increased affordable housing, mental health services, and addiction rehabilitation.

 In order to address our homelessness crisis, we must build more affordable housing. I am proud to have lead several award-winning affordable housing communities in the City of Dublin and I will continue that record of success as Supervisor. I believe that everyone deserves to have a roof over their head, especially if they are battling mental health issues or addiction. It is unconscionable that this crisis continues to grow and we allow individuals with troubling afflictions to languish in encampments without treatment. I will work to create policies that provide necessary treatment, job skills training, and suitable housing options for our homeless community.

Traffic

Traffic is one of the main concerns of our daily lives. Long commutes and traffic delays take away an individual’s personal time to relax and spend time with loved ones, which ultimately reduces their quality of life.

 I support adding roads and lanes when needed, and making necessary improvements to major roads to reduce gridlock. As Mayor of Dublin, I supported widening Dougherty Road, Dublin Blvd., and Tassajara Road, as well as improvements to San Ramon Valley Blvd  to make those corridors more efficient. However, traffic solutions need to go beyond building expensive new roads. We must do a better job balancing jobs and housing, including not allowing more office space in areas that do not have enough housing. I am proud that the Tri Valley region has the best jobs to housing balance in the Bay Area. I want to bring that success to the rest of Alameda County.

 Investing in more public transportation will also help reduce traffic in Alameda County. That is why I support the Valley Link Project, a train that will provide seamless connections with BART and the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE). Providing cost-efficient transportation alternatives to vehicles will help commuters reach their jobs while reducing gridlock throughout the Bay Area.

18 Point Social Justice Plan

By David Haubert, Mayor/Educator

 “Alameda County is characterized by rich diversity and culture…Alameda County is now one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the Bay Area and the nation.”

(Source: https://acgov.org/about/)

 Recognizing Alameda County’s diversity and acknowledging disparate treatment among people along racial lines is a start.  But words alone are insufficient.  There must be action. 

 That is why I drafted this Social Justice Action Plan.  Now is the time to move forward with action that builds on the rich diversity of our county, restores trust between the people and institutions of government, and promotes the health and welfare of all residents.

 Within the first 100 days of office, I will convene stakeholders, policy experts, and those impacted by racial disparity to discuss my Social Justice Action Plan to see what we need to do to implement the bold reforms described below, which are so desperately needed for Alameda County. 

The 18-Point Social Justice Action Plan:

1.       Employ Diversity.  Alameda County employs over 9,000 people, many who serve critical roles in public safety.  Improving diversity should start with the hiring process.  Recruiting and retaining qualified public safety, especially law enforcement officers, who reflect the race, ethnicity and socioeconomic makeup of communities they serve needs to be a top priority.  Since 1969 the U.S. government has set goals and timetables to promote diversity within its government contractors and federal departments, and it is time the State of California and Alameda County set goals and meet those goals, utilizing its annual Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) as an input tool. 

2.       Use Data.  In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the Data-Driven Justice Initiative, aimed at disrupting the cycle of incarceration. Many counties across the nation have joined the initiative, but Alameda County is not yet one of them.  Alameda County should become a leader in using data to reduce racial bias in our criminal justice system and consider joining the Data-Driven Justice Initiative. 

3.       Better Training.  Implicit bias training should be required annually for all Alameda County employees who interface with the public, including County Supervisors.  Subject matter experts with a proven track record of positive results should be employed in content design to ensure the training is culturally competent, substantive, meaningful, and impactful, not just another box to check.

4.       Chief Equity Officer.  It is time for Alameda County to create the position of Chief Equity Officer, and to search for the right person to lead the effort locally to help us monitor our progress. The Chief Equity Officer should work with existing local nonprofits already engaged in the work of equity.

5.       Return to Community-Based Policing. Community-based policing, if done right, can improve relations between law enforcement and community stakeholders, and reduce crime.  Not all interactions between police officers and community members should be when responding to a crime in progress.  Community-based policing, rather than traditional law enforcement strategies, should be deployed whenever feasible.

6.       Reduce Inequality in Housing.  There is a history of housing discrimination in our country, and persons of color are more likely to be in need of housing.  For example, African Americans represent 13% of the people, but 40% of the homeless population.  I support fully funding the enforcement of Fair Housing Laws, through HCDD or District Attorney, so all county residents are protected from discriminatory rental and home ownership practices.  In addition, the Homeless Prevention Program, currently only serving the City of Livermore, needs to be expanded countywide. I also support expanding programs such as the Rapid Rehousing Program by ABODE Services and the CityServe program for crisis stabilization.

7.       Expand Alameda County Justice Restoration Project. This program is a pilot within the Alameda County District Attorney’s office and offers a new way of supervising and engaging individuals with prior felony crimes who have committed a new crime.  Using certified Peer Support Specialists is one unique component that is different from traditional Probation.  I support adopting and incorporating the tenets of the ADA’s ACJRP that have resulted in reducing recidivism, while maintaining personal accountability for the people who benefit from these programs.   

8.       Court Diversion Programs.  Court diversion, including pre-filing diversion and alternative sentencing programs can create better outcomes for justice-involved persons while reducing court congestion and making our neighborhoods safer. 

Alameda County currently has 10 alternatives to incarceration including a juvenile based Restorative Justice Program that is more than 12 years in operation. Recidivism rates of these programs is as low as 10%. I support leveraging our existing social services by making them available for all eligible justice involved youth and adults, while maintaining personal accountability for the people who benefit from these programs.

9.       Court Responsibility.  State law exempts the court system from the Public Records Act, making it extremely difficult to get meaningful data about arrests, charges, bail, convictions and sentencing.  State law should require the release of data so the public can see if there are disparities along racial lines.

10.     Independent Prosecutor. I support a process for our District Attorney to utilize another prosecuting agency, preferably the California Attorney General’s Office, for the investigation and evaluation of criminal charges when there is a death as the result of a use of force by any law enforcement officer.  I support the proposed Assembly Bill Assembly Bill 1506 would allow local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys to more regularly request the attorney general to launch a formal review of situations where an officer used force that resulted in death or harm. Until such time as this process is feasible I support creating a stand-alone unit, walled off from other units, responsible for investigating and prosecuting where legally appropriate.

I support ALL of the #8CANTWAIT criminal justice reforms designed to reduce use of force by police agencies across America.  One study suggests these reforms could reduce police-involved killings by 67%.  Specifically, the reforms I support include the following:

11.     Ban Chokeholds.  Using neck holds and restraints that cut off breathing, sometimes called a sleeper hold or carotid restraint, is dangerous. I supporting ending its use as a restraint technique across the country. 

12.     Require De-Escalation Before Force.  I support policies and training that require officers to use de-escalation techniques prior to resorting to force.  De-escalation is not possible to achieve in every instance, but it should be policy to attempt to de-escalate to reduce the need for force. 

13.     Require Warning Before Discharging Firearm.  Everyone knows that use of deadly force must be limited to the rarest of occasions.  Requiring verbal warning (along with de-escalation training) could significantly reduce officer-involved shootings and make interactions safer for the public and officers. 

14.     Require Officers Exhaust Alternatives Before Shooting.  Use of deadly force should be the last resort and only used after de-escalation and less-than-lethal force options are exhausted. It will not always be possible to use other alternatives, but department policies should mandate this when it is possible. 

15.     Duty to Intervene and Report.  When one officer witnesses another officer violating the department’s use of force policies, it should be mandatory that the officer intervene and report the incident to a superior officer. There will be times when the only witness to an officer’s misconduct is another officer so this rule is fundamental and critical to ensure use of force policies are being followed. 

16.     Ban Shooting at Moving Vehicles.  Discharging a firearm at a moving car is rarely effective, and often puts passengers and other people at risk. Obviously, when a car is being used as a weapon an officer may need to discharge his firearm, but in virtual all other instances it should be banned.

17.     Use of Force Continuum.  A use of force continuum is a series of steps used, starting with de-escalation, all the way to using force and, eventually, deadly force, if the contact becomes violent.  While some departments already require a use of course continuum, it should be mandatory.  Additionally, we need more scenario-based training to ensure officers are ready for any encounter. 

18.     Comprehensive Reporting.  Criminal justice data, including data released by law enforcement agencies, is often insufficient for policy makers to use when making decisions. There needs to be comprehensive reporting for all law enforcement agencies across the state and nation so departments can measure results and reduce instances where force is used.