Alameda County supervisors unanimously reaffirm request that Alameda Health System defer layoffs and program closures through June 30

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on March 10 to reaffirm a March 3 directive asking Alameda Health System (AHS) to defer all program closures and reductions in force through June 30, 2026 while the county, AHS and labor representatives work in an ad hoc committee to evaluate financing and alternatives.

Supervisor Miley, who moved the reaffirmation and co-authored a board letter with Supervisor Fortunato Bass, said the letter was meant to clarify the board’s intent and give the newly formed work group time to find revenue or savings. “We’ve set dates for the ad hoc meeting as well in April, May, and June so that along with the county, AHS, and labor, we could work on the financial situation,” Miley said.

The motion does not direct AHS’s trustees to act — supervisors emphasized the trustees retain decision-making authority — but it formally requests that AHS postpone layoffs and program closures through June 30 so the ad hoc group can produce recommendations. Supervisor Miley told the board the letter also makes clear the county is “willing to allocate county resources if necessary to eliminate the deferments through June 30,” and county administration will report back to the board on March 17.

Public commenters representing AHS staff and labor urged the board to ensure the trustees follow the board’s direction and to protect patient access. Tony Fuentes, ACMEA director, warned that when services close the impact is immediate for residents with few alternatives: “Alameda Health System is the safety of the county safety net health system. Caring for more than 150,000 patients each year, the vast majority of whom are low income…” Fuentes said AHS delayed some layoffs only briefly and the board’s reaffirmation is needed to secure a longer deferral.

Several union speakers, including Nathan Hansford of SEIU, thanked the supervisors for the March 3 direction and urged AHS to restore staff where possible. Therapist Drew Scott described the planned March 23 closure of the Fairmont intensive outpatient program as a lifeline for clients with severe mental illness and said the trustees’ subsequent actions had caused “so much undue stress and chaos” for staff and patients; he urged the board to approve the reaffirmation letter.

Workers also raised operational and quality concerns. Ashley Marr, a laboratory technologist, provided contamination statistics and warned of added workload and burnout: “In 2025, there were 10 contaminated blood cultures according to the CLSI definition… In January 2026, there were 30, which is 3 percent or triple the previous rates.” Susan Sandoval, an SEIU member at San Leandro Hospital, said the board’s letter would help protect level-1 trauma services at Highland Hospital and asked the county to pursue a state budget request of $5,000,000 for public health system services.

Supervisors stressed the limits of county authority: the board can request and support deferred actions, and the county will pursue funding and options, but the AHS Board of Trustees holds the ultimate staffing authority. The ad hoc committee is scheduled to meet the first Wednesday of April, May and June; county administration is scheduled to report to the supervisors on March 17 with additional information and any recommended county resource allocations.

The board voted by roll call: Supervisors Marquez, Tam, Miley, Partonado Bosch and President Halbert each voted Aye. The special meeting was then adjourned.