Supervisors Carson explained the role of the County in supervising not just unincorporated areas, but also managing the county medical system (Highland Hospital West Oakland Health Center, the hospital at Fairmont and many other clinics).
The County also manages social services including the Foster Care program, the Food Stamp program, and has its own Workforce Investment Board. It is the overarching law enforcement wing of the County through the Sheriff's Office and operates the Santa Rita and North County jails. The County services on the main transportation boards such as ACTIA and BART, and is the emergency response principal coordinator for the entire County.
In particular Supervisor Carson talked about his role on the County Retirement Board, the First Five Board for children, ACTIA (countywide transportation board) and on Healthy Oakland, which is supported by the Alameda County Public Healthy Agency. Most importantly Supervisor Carson explained his 20 year experience with the East Bay EDA which he presides over, and explained how the organization was initiated 20 years ago in order to support and lobby for the dredging of the Port.
In the 20 years of the organization the County has taken in over $200million in bond financing for local private sector business in the County, with $35.9 million going to Oakland businesses, through the Industrial Bond and other State financing programs.
These funds have generated over 686 jobs and retained 1,200 or more jobs in the County. Supervisor Carson has helped to attract over $3billion in federal grants to the County, has helped attain the World Trade Center designation in Oakland, and has led business attraction tours to China, envisioning a greater future in the County for clean tech and solar has been an advocate for the retention and growth of local business, and secondly the attraction of new business to the County and to Oakland in particular. He served as a strong advocate for the major dredging of the Port.
The Supervisor introduced Karen Engel, the Director of East Bay EDA, who began her governmental career in Oakland but who has an extensive background as a private sector economist and economic developer. Karen has worked internationally as a consultant and was, prior to accepting the Directorship at East Bay EDA, the Oakland Metro Chamber's Economic Development Director. Ms Engel again reinforced the role of East Bay EDA to primarily strengthen the existing business community; to conduct regional economic assessments and analyzes that benefit the individual member cities; to create regional marketing; and to support funding and initiatives to strengthen infrastructure and transportation amenities in the two counties.
Ms Engel mentioned their role in analyzing legislation, including being a voice within the Sustainable Community Regional Strategy- an enforcement and planning mechanism for the enforcement of SB375 (greenhouse gas reduction measure). Ms Engel invited the audience and WOCA to look at the research and information, especially the forthcoming Economic Assessment (due to be released in September) on their website www.eastbayeda.org
