Public commenters at the Nov. 17 Board of Supervisors meeting urged immediate county action on two fronts: rental assistance for unincorporated communities and intervention in Coliseum food-service contracting.
Wylene Huber, identified herself as "the president of Unite Care Local 28 50," said that if the Coliseum Authority allows the Levy’s contract to lapse Dec. 1, "all of their rights, including their right to be recalled when the business comes back, will disappear with that contract." She told the board that many affected workers are Alameda County residents who rely on Coliseum employment and employer-sponsored health insurance.
Several speakers representing Ashland, Cherryland and other unincorporated communities asked the board to ensure $5 million in rental assistance explicitly serves unincorporated residents and to use the county's community‑locator tool to verify eligibility. Barisha Briggs asked for an audit to confirm funds reach the unincorporated area, and Brianne Ngala said local 2‑1‑1 call volumes showed the Eden area dominated recent rental‑assistance requests.
County staff responded that the rental program applies to the entire unincorporated area and that the eviction moratorium was modified to remain coterminous with the local emergency declaration (extending protections beyond Dec. 31 depending on the emergency end date).
The board thanked speakers and approved the mass consent calendar by roll call later in the meeting; supervisors also discussed outreach and measurement plans for communications and community-based contracting.
No county action on Coliseum contracting was taken during the meeting; speakers asked supervisors to press Coliseum Authority representatives and the executive director to negotiate on workers' behalf.