Sheriff's ICE Cooperation Draws Fire as Board Eyes Non-Cooperation Ordinance

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors held its annual TRUTH Act community forum on Aug. 25 — and what was supposed to be a routine accountability check became a two-and-a-half-hour showdown over whether the sheriff should notify federal immigration agents at all, setting the stage for a pivotal ordinance vote on Sept. 8. Separately, health officials delivered a sobering fiscal outlook: the county's public hospital system faces a cumulative $730 million deficit over five years, driven by the largest Medicaid cuts in the program's history.

• Board preps Sept. 8 vote on ICE non-cooperation ordinance after roughly 20 public speakers and an immigration attorney challenge the sheriff's notification practices
• Contra Costa Health projects $730M cumulative deficit through FY 2030-31 as federal HR1 cuts and state Medi-Cal changes threaten coverage for up to 93,000 residents
• Teamsters Local 856 wins two-year contract with 3% annual raises and reclassified mental health positions at a cost of $15.4M
• Head Start expands 70 childcare slots and implements immigrant family data protections under AB 495
• Pittsburgh residents demand countywide ban on hyperscale AI data centers citing diesel pollution near homes and schools

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Sharp Lines Drawn on ICE Cooperation Ahead of September Vote

The basics: Under California's TRUTH Act, counties must hold annual public forums examining local law enforcement's interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. SB 54, the California Values Act, restricts — but does not prohibit — sheriff cooperation with ICE, allowing notifications for certain qualifying felonies and "wobbler" offenses.

Where things stand: Sheriff David Livingston reported receiving 724 ICE requests in the reporting period, resulting in just 92 unique individual notifications — a 12.7% response rate. "The total requests received from ICE were 724. We made 124 notifications of an inmate's release. Notifications on the same person, however, accounted for 32 of those, which left us with total notifications of 92," he said, adding that "75%, maybe 80% of sheriffs do exactly what I'm doing, which is to notify when they have an individual that meets SB 54."

Livingston emphasized that ICE agents may only access public lobby areas and receive no other assistance. He presented detailed conviction histories showing many notified individuals had extensive prior records. When Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston asked whether not cooperating with ICE would constitute a legal violation, the sheriff replied simply: "No, that wouldn't be a violation."

The other side: The community response was overwhelmingly in one direction. Approximately 20 public speakers demanded the county stop all ICE notifications, pass an enforceable non-cooperation ordinance, terminate its Flock Safety license plate reader contract, and reject State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAP) funding.

Mio Tenacora, an attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, argued the sheriff is notifying ICE of anticipated release dates for people not yet arraigned — a practice she said crosses a clear legal line. "I strongly recommend the sheriff stop immediately this policy, as that is a clear violation of SB 54," she said. She also warned that the county's Flock Safety contract creates data vulnerabilities that ICE could exploit, noting reports of license plate reader information being accessed by outside agencies.

Jesus Ruiz of the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance echoed these concerns, while Jovita Mendoza, a Brentwood City Council member, reported that Brentwood police have already ceased all ICE cooperation and called for an SB 54 audit and a ban on ICE agents on county property. Anna Pan of the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley noted that 120,000 immigration cases have been transferred from San Francisco to the Concord Immigration Court, increasing ICE presence in the county and underscoring the urgency of an enforceable ordinance. Liz Ritchie was the sole public commenter who spoke in support of continued ICE cooperation, arguing that immigration enforcement protects safety and sovereignty.

Supervisors Split on Where to Draw the Line

The board itself was not unanimous in tone. Supervisor Candace Andersen backed the sheriff's approach, framing the discussion narrowly: "Today we're talking about a very narrow cooperation under SB 54 of those who are here without documentation, who have committed very serious crimes."

Supervisor Scales-Preston pushed back forcefully, questioning the fundamental premise of notifications. "It's just hard to understand why we keep contacting ICE," she said. "If they're going to be charged just like a U.S. citizen and they're undocumented, then they're going to pay for the crime that they're convicted of." She urged colleagues to act simply: "Community is just asking for you to stand in community and support them. They want to feel that the people they elected support them."

Supervisor John Gioia staked out middle ground, saying he believes the sheriff's notification threshold is set too broadly but stopping short of calling for a total end to cooperation. "I've always said, I think the sheriff's line is not where I think it should be. Are there some serious crimes and felonies in which there should be notification? I think there's a lot of people who believe we need to figure out what that right line is," he said. Gioia also reiterated his push for formal sheriff oversight: "No matter who the sheriff is, I think we should always have sheriff oversight, whether it's through an inspector general or citizens oversight committee."

Decisions: No formal action was required — the TRUTH Act forum is an accountability hearing, not a legislative session.

What's next: Board Chair Diane Burgis indicated the Sept. 8 meeting will include options for a non-cooperation ordinance, which could fundamentally change how the county interacts with federal immigration enforcement.

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County Hospital Stares Down $730M Deficit as Federal Cuts Bite

Why it matters: Contra Costa Regional Medical Center serves 1 in 5 county residents, operates 11 community health clinics, and is the only 5150 psychiatric receiving center countywide. Without a reversal in federal policy, hospital leadership says the system becomes financially unsustainable after FY 2029-30.

Where things stand: Health Services Director Dr. Grant Colfax, CFO Andrew Murrell, and CCRMC CEO David Culberson laid out the damage. The near-term FY 2026-27 deficit has been reduced from $80 million to $10 million through $70 million in revenue capture and cost containment — including $25 million in provider productivity improvements, $15 million from health plan restructuring, and $5 million from improved billing and coding.

But the long-term picture is far grimmer. A cumulative $730 million enterprise-wide deficit is projected through FY 2030-31, with the hospital-specific shortfall reaching $890 million. The drivers: HR1 — characterized as the largest Medicaid cuts in the program's history — the loss of $180 million from the Global Payment Program, the state's disenrollment of 47,500 undocumented, income-eligible (UIS) individuals from managed Medi-Cal, and a drop to fee-for-service reimbursement rates that pay roughly 10 cents on the dollar. Up to 93,000 county residents could lose health coverage.

"We know that without coverage, without health care coverage, people get sicker and some people will die sooner," said Dr. Colfax.

The hospital is working with consultants Alvarez & Marsal on a multi-specialty modernization strategy examining four options: status quo, a behavioral health focus, closure, or the recommended multi-specialty approach. CEO Culberson said the recommended path would restore critical services: "One of the biggest ones that I can identify both from provider as well as community would be inpatient dialysis. Right now we don't offer inpatient dialysis."

The other side: Community health providers and labor warned the crisis is already hitting. Yui Nishike of Lifelong Medical Care, an FQHC serving 52,000 patients, reported a 21% reduction in Medi-Cal visits since October and significant monthly deficits. She warned that the UIS transition to fee-for-service eliminates specialty care coordination and estimated 15–30% of patients could be affected by work requirements.

Sean Stahlbaum of SEIU Local 21 challenged the health system's enrollment loss assumptions as more pessimistic than state projections, urged greater investment in enrollment staffing, and criticized the lack of worker engagement in planning. He noted only $6 million in IT contract reductions have been made so far with room for more.

Supervisor Gioia pressed on operational flexibility, asking why county hiring processes take far longer than competitors. "It was taking us double the amount of time to hire nurses than Kaiser. Why? Because of our various, within county government structure," he said, urging reforms to help CCRMC compete.

Decisions: The board unanimously accepted the report (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

What's next: Staff will continue the multi-specialty modernization analysis with Alvarez & Marsal and return with further updates as federal budget legislation advances.

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Teamsters Contract Brings 3% Raises, Mental Health Reclassifications

The board unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2026-319, approving a successor memorandum of understanding with Teamsters Local 856 covering Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2028.

Deal math: 3% salary increases in each year of the contract, totaling $15.4 million in additional personnel costs; $3.9 million to reclassify mental health positions, including creation of licensed and unlicensed mental health clinical specialist classifications; maintenance of current Kaiser Teamsters Trust healthcare subsidy; and a side letter authorizing a compensation study during the contract term. The union ratified on Aug. 20.

Supervisor Gioia thanked Teamsters leadership and members. Passed unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

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Head Start Adds 70 Slots, Shields Immigrant Family Data

Director Marla Stewart presented the August Head Start update highlighting several developments: 70 new state-funded childcare slots opened at existing locations, and two new infant-toddler classrooms of 16 children each are nearing licensing at Los Nogales (District 3) and Livonia Allen (District 5). The program now serves over 4,000 children monthly and achieved a 98% federal enrollment rate.

The county implemented AB 495, the Family Preparedness Act of 2025, which requires backup caregiver designations and data protections for families who may face immigration-related detention — a measure with heightened relevance given the TRUTH Act discussion earlier in the meeting.

The FY 24-25 single audit returned zero findings. Staff also revised governance policies to reduce required meetings from every other month to six per year and to align fiscal controls with updated 2 CFR Part 200 federal regulations. A staff member was separated from the county after pulling a child's arm during nap time.

Federal HHS proposed rulemaking to significantly reduce Head Start regulations is open for public comment until Oct. 6.

Passed unanimously (For: 5, Against: 0, Absent: 0).

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved (5-0): 114 items including $25 million in revenue bonds for a 48-unit affordable housing project in Lafayette, $2.1 million in Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund grants, and multiple labor and procurement actions. Items C.29 (JPA withdrawal) and C.82 were pulled; C.82 will not return.
• Overdose Awareness Month recognized: April Rovero, executive director of NCAPDA, reported sustained nationwide declines in overdose deaths linked to naloxone distribution and fentanyl awareness. An International Overdose Awareness Day event is planned for Aug. 31 in Concord. Supervisor Andersen shared the personal impact of overdose on her family.
• Child Support Awareness Month and pilot program: Matt Brega, director of Child Support Services, announced a first-in-nation in-kind payment pilot — backed by a federal waiver signed the prior week — that will allow parents to satisfy child support obligations through transportation, school clothes, and other non-cash services. Developed with San Joaquin and San Francisco counties, the pilot is expected to launch within two to three months.
• Harvest Time's 50th anniversary recognized: The board honored the Brentwood-based agritourism institution that drew roughly 600,000 visitors to East Contra Costa in 2025.
• Data center opposition: Multiple Pittsburgh residents demanded a countywide ban on hyperscale AI data centers during general public comment, targeting the proposed Avayo Perseus project near Delta View golf course on Wesley Lynn Road. The project would include 37 diesel backup generators within 400 feet of homes, a church, and Rancho Banos Junior High School. Speakers noted that neighboring cities Oakley and Brentwood have enacted or are considering moratoriums.
• Nonprofit grants announced: Los Medanos College president Pamela Raulston announced the 2026 East Contra Costa County Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative, funded by a $1 million Measure X investment, offering at least 12 sub-grants of $10,000–$20,000 with an Oct. 18 application deadline.
• Meeting adjourned in memory of Mary Ann Mason, former county counsel who served 35 years.