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Workers and residents urge county to audit fairgrounds after horse‑racing operations halted; supervisors pledge housing and legal help
Summary
Public commenters told the Board the Alameda County Fairgrounds voted to end horse racing, eliminating hundreds of jobs; speakers demanded a financial audit and county oversight. Supervisors directed county agencies to coordinate rent support, legal assistance and employment services for affected families.
Several members of the public told the Board April 1 they and their families were harmed when horse‑racing and stabling activities at the Alameda County Fairgrounds were stopped.
Donald Smith told supervisors the fair board’s vote to end horse racing eliminated employment for "over 500 people," asked where state water board fines cited as the reason were documented, and urged the Board to enforce contract terms. "Board of Supervisors, we look to you for answers because we cannot seem to get any when we talk to the fairgrounds management," Smith said.
Stephanie Wedge urged a full financial audit of Fairgrounds operations, telling the Board sanitation officials have found regulatory noncompliance and that "hundreds of families, most of which are impoverished, people of color, are unemployed, and soon to be evicted." She asked that financial transactions move into the public record rather than closed session.
Board members asked staff to follow up. Supervisor Marquez summarized a Spanish‑language commenter’s account of children removed from school and families losing employment, and Supervisor Tam asked the Community Development Agency to outline support options. Sandy Rivera, Community Development Agency director, said the county will look to use county housing programs to provide temporary rent assistance, partner with Pleasanton’s nonprofit housing services and organize an event to connect families with employment, shelter and legal services.
No formal county enforcement action or audit was announced at the meeting; public commenters asked for a formal review of contracts and county oversight of fairgrounds management.
