CSAC Presidents Tour: Alameda and Marin Counties

From behavioral health and wildfire prevention to responsible AI, health and housing, California counties are putting local solutions to work on some of the state’s biggest challenges.  

On Wednesday, CSAC President and Santa Clara Supervisor Susan Ellenberg and CSAC Chief Legislative Advocate Kimberly Rodriguez visited Alameda and Marin County.  

Their first stop of the day was in Marin County, where they visited the renovation of the historic Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium. This building is a cultural landmark that’s being modernized to serve the many generations to come.  

They then moved to the Marin County Civic Center for two presentations. 

First, they learned about the county’s work to protect vulnerable coastal and bayside communities from sea-level rise. 

That was followed by a presentation on the county’s CARE Court program, and its “no wrong door” approach to connecting people with immediate, comprehensive, behavioral health support and services.  

Finally, they headed outside to explore county fire prevention efforts, including the FIRE Foundry program that prepares local participants for careers in the fire service while also supporting critical vegetation management. 

After lunch, the CSAC crew crossed the San Francisco Bay to Alameda County. 

Supervisor David Haubert, County Administrator Susan Muranishi and their team shared an inside look at Vision 2036 and a tour of the Alameda County Information Technology Department building.  

Staff demonstrated how technology is helping county departments search records, redact documents, transcribe and translate videos, and work more efficiently — all guided by a countywide generative AI policy developed in consultation with labor.

The visit wrapped up with tours of the Trust Clinic, where physical health, behavioral health and housing services come together under one roof, and a former Comfort Inn that’s been transformed through Project Homekey into supportive housing.