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Residents press Alameda County to implement Ethical Investment Policy; treasurer's plan and timeline requested
Summary
Multiple Alameda County residents urged the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18 to implement the county's Ethical Investment Policy (EIP) without delay, citing concerns that county funds remain invested in defense contractors and surveillance firms; callers requested clear timelines and transparency on next steps.
Dozens of callers and community members used public comment on Nov. 18 to urge Alameda County supervisors to implement the Board-approved Ethical Investment Policy (EIP) and to provide a clear timeline for doing so.
Ruth Laurie Weinstock told the board that the EIP had been developed collaboratively and approved by the Treasury Oversight Committee and pleaded with supervisors not to stall: “Please do not stall on implementing the EIP, the Ethical Investment Policy,” she said, arguing county investments should not support companies she named in testimony as linked to human-rights abuses.
Other speakers — including Fish Sarushyan, Ranjeet Tate and Jake Pedersen — echoed those calls and asked when the board and the treasurer will move from approval to implementation. Callers repeatedly named companies such as Lockheed Martin and Palantir as examples of firms they believe the EIP should screen out.
Several speakers referenced Treasurer Levy’s work on the policy and asked for clear administrative steps and timelines for implementation. Board members acknowledged the comments: Supervisor Marquez earlier in the meeting had asked for a public update on the EIP implementation status, and multiple supervisors reiterated that staff would provide updates when available.
No formal action to change the policy was taken; the public-comment period served to place community pressure on staff and the board for an implementation timeline and transparency about next steps, including any further committee reviews or consultant work the board might require.
Next steps: board members asked county staff to provide status updates on the EIP implementation process; the board did not set a formal implementation date on the record during this meeting.
