Social Service Human Relations Board Meeting – April 29, 2026 (Date Discrepancy with Transcript)
Social Service Human Relations Board Meeting – April 29, 2026
Note: The meeting date is listed as April 29, 2026 per instruction, but the transcript indicates the meeting occurred on April 23, 2026. This discrepancy is noted here.
The Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) convened on April 23, 2026 (per transcript) at 7:07 PM to discuss CDBG funding recommendations, a UC Berkeley partnership for senior volunteer programs, the board's annual scope of work, and updates from task forces. The meeting included public comments, staff presentations, and board discussions, concluding at 8:30 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (March 26, 2026): Unanimously approved by voice vote. All members present.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Craig Browning (Vehicle Dweller): Expressed concerns about homelessness policies under Trump and Newsom, seeking clearer legal spaces for vehicle dwellers. Mentioned efforts to find semi-permanent parking with resources and noted issues with harassment at Village of Love. Provided video links to board member Gerald Bryant.
- Corinne Kirschbaum: Criticized the board for ignoring unhoused voices, accusing members of not reading contracts, reports, or the city's "Road Home" plan. Alleged fraud and cover-up regarding Village of Love funding. Claimed board members publicly insulted her and physically blocked her from a meeting. Said the board is a "wall against the unhoused."
Discussion Items
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4A: Fiscal Year 2026-27 CDBG Sub-Recipient Award Recommendation:
- Staff (Andre Fairley) presented the draft action plan. The city will receive $1,080,816 in CDBG entitlement funding, a $15,400 reduction (1.4%) from the prior year. Public service providers face about $388 cuts per program (e.g., Alameda Family Services proposed at $20,400).
- Board members questioned contingency plans for lower federal allocations, data-sharing processes (quarterly data collection), and the lack of flexible funding for homelessness prevention. Member Samantha Green expressed strong opposition to the BOOST program (technical assistance for child care providers), calling it ineffective. Gerald Bryant emphasized leveraging grants to prevent first-time homelessness. Staff noted that a full review of these programs is due next year.
- No formal vote taken; the recommendation will go to City Council on May 5, 2026.
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4B: UC Berkeley Public Health Program Update (Age-Friendly Alameda Volunteer Program):
- Board member (identified as Samantha Green) presented a student-designed volunteer program called "Ripple Effects" for adults 55+. The program aims to increase social inclusion through community coordinators, a buddy system for transportation, and volunteer stations at local centers. A short video was shown. Board members praised the program for not requiring new city funds and suggested pairing high school seniors with older adults. No vote needed.
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4C: Discussion of SSHRB Fiscal Year 2026-27 Scope of Work:
- Staff (Simone Falls) proposed a revised scope with three subgroups: (1) Funding Review and Recommendations, (2) Program Oversight and Performance, and (3) Community Engagement and Public Participation. The goal is to focus on CDBG grant oversight, policy review, and community needs assessment.
- Board members discussed balancing technical work with existing programs like United Against Hate and the Domestic Violence Task Force. Gerald Bryant expressed concern that these human relations programs could be lost if consolidated. Staff emphasized limited staff capacity and the need for board input on funding decisions. The board agreed to review the draft in their existing work groups and aim for approval at the May meeting. No vote taken.
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4D: Work Group Reports:
- United Against Hate (Gerald Bryant): Reported on the recent open mic event (poetry, music, spoken word) with youth participation. Noted a national webinar on digital hate and algorithms. Encouraged board to share insights.
- Domestic Violence Task Force (Bernie Wolf): Scheduled for May 4, 2026. Awaiting speaker confirmation from Alameda Family Services and APD for latest stats.
- Road Home (Samantha Green): Third planning meeting canceled due to accessibility issues; staff will circulate the report for feedback. Upcoming overdose response training for city staff, later to open to the public.
- Age-Friendly Survey (Samantha Green): Survey nearing final revisions, targeting mid-to-late May launch (Older Americans Month). Discussed challenges with survey wording and transportation barriers at Mastick Senior Center.
- Dignity Village Community Garden: Member Samantha Green is working with 100,000 Trees and a West Oakland co-op to secure supplies for raised beds. Alameda Backyard Growers suggested as a resource.
Key Outcomes
- CDBG Recommendation: The board reviewed the FY 2026-27 funding plan, which will be forwarded to City Council on May 5, 2026, with a $15,400 reduction and $388 cuts per public service provider. No formal vote was taken by the board.
- Scope of Work: The board will discuss the proposed scope of work in current work groups and aim to approve a final version at the May 2026 meeting, with a target to present to City Council in July 2026.
- Staff Communications: Scott Means announced the reopening of the Day Center (operated by Restorative Pathways) on April 27, 2026, with a resource fair and voting for a new name. An RFP for residential rehabilitation was released April 14, 2026, with submissions due by May 14, 2026.
- Board Communications: Gerald Bryant made a statement urging the board to refocus on work plans and avoid disruptions. Announced the ribbon cutting for Arnold's Place (Crab Cove Alameda Wellness Respite Center) on April 30, 2026, at 3:30 PM. Member Samantha Green noted a city survey on built environment and infrastructure bond planning, with concerns about postal mail access skewing responses.
Meeting Transcript
Bear with me here. Okay, that's all right. You want to do it there right. All right. Okay, we're live. Oh, we are we're live. Oh then. Um, welcome to the April twenty third, two thousand twenty-six social service human sorry, social service human relations board meeting. Um this meeting is being recorded if the chat function has been turned off. I'm sorry, the chat function has been turned off. If members of the public would like to comment on an item, there are multiple options to do so. If attending via Zoom, digitally raise your hand, and Secretary Menaeon will announce when it is your turn. You will then have an option to unmute yourself and proceed with your public comment. Email your public comment to Secretary Mena at G M-A-N-N-A-H-A-Y-N-O-N at Alameda C A dot Gov before or during the meeting with your name, the agenda item number through front referencing and your comments. Comments submitted during the meeting before the conclusion of the public comment section will be read into the record. Her email address is also on the meeting's agenda. If you're calling in my phone, please email Ms. Mena. As we cannot see you, raise your hand. You can also dial star nine to raise your hand and we will call on you. Please complete a public comment slip with your name and the agenda item number you will be speaking on. Second, under each agenda item, there will be an opportunity for public comment on that specific item. Each item follows a format similar to city council meetings. First, after presentation, we will ask if there are any clarifying questions from Shrub members for staff. And finally, after public comment, we will open the item up for board discussion and anti vote if recommended. And I'm um adding a uh a little uh text tonight um that's provided by Housing Human Services Division. I'd like to remind everyone that this is a business meeting, not a theater, not a sporting event. We are conducting business of the city of Alameda, so therefore I asked that there not be applause, boos, cheers, jeers, and we actually don't do the wave. Even though it's really tempting with the way we're all up here right now. We just listen respectfully when when others are speaking. Public speaking can be very stressful, and sometimes we have someone who is speaking for the first time. We never want someone to feel so intimidated that they don't want to share their views. Um we want to create a safe space for people to share views, and I also like to remind people that sometimes there are young people in the audience or they may be watching from home. So I'd like us all to get a good civic example. Um, if anyone, I don't see anyone with signs, but if someone does want to hold signs, it is your first amendment right, unless you're sitting in that last row of the chambers. Um, you're gonna block people's views if if you do have a sign now. California PEL Code Section 403 states it is a criminal offense for any person to without authority of law willfully disturb or break up any assembly or meeting that is not unlawful in its character, other than an assembly or meeting referred to in penal code section 302 or elections code 18340. First violations will receive a warning and continued violations will require additional actions, which could include police intervention. Um, and as a reminder, we have uh an exit um right here. And is that door actually an exit too? Or is that just uh oh, it's a fire escape. So okay, we're not using that one. There's our exit right there. Okay, an emergency, yes. Um we can now call. Thank you for sitting through all that. We can now call the meeting to order at 7 07 p.m. We will be doing roll call. Um Chantel Carter present. Bernie Wolf here, Gerald Bryant here, Michelle Buckholz here, Samantha Green here, Scott Means also here from Housing and Human Services.
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