Alameda County Newsletter: Women’s History Month, Business Personal Property, and the Dublin St. Patrick’s Festival

Dear Alameda County Residents,

This month, we honor Women's History Month and International Women's Day! Celebrated every March since 1981, Women's History Month offers us the chance to acknowledge the incredible contributions women have made throughout history and reflect on the continued progress towards achieving a more equitable society for all women.

This brings me to a very important matter: the allegations against César Chávez are profoundly disturbing. This revelation does not simply shock; it wounds. My connection to this moment is deeply personal. My father, a refugee, labored in the fields as a farmworker in southern Alameda County after arriving on American soil. I also served on the board of the first rape crisis center in the nation, Bay Area Women Against Rape, for seven years. Because of this, Chávez' actions are not abstract; they cut to my core.

While Chávez was a prominent figure in the farmworker and broader labor movement, no legacy can excuse abuse, assault, rape, or any form of sexual and predatory violence. Contributions do not absolve harm.

During Women's History Month, and always, we are called to speak with clarity and courage. We must stand with survivors. I am sincerely sorry that Dolores Huerta and the other victims carried the weight of such a painful secret for so many years. Moving forward, we must do better—not only in what we say, but in the safeguards we build and the accountability we demand.

Sincerely,

Phong La

Alameda County Assessor

Important Deadlines Upcoming In April

Please keep in mind the following deadlines:

April 1st - Filing deadline for Business Personal Property Statements

April 10th - Last day to pay second installment of secured property taxes without paying penalties

Business Personal Property

What is Business Personal Property?

Business Personal Property (BPP) includes any tangible property owned, claimed, possessed, or controlled in the operation of a business, trade, or profession.

Unlike real property (land and buildings), BPP refers to movable items such as:

Machinery and equipment
Computers and telephones
Office furniture (desks, chairs, bookcases)
Supplies

Business inventories are considered exempt and not subject to property tax.

The Assessor is required by law to annually assess taxable BPP at fair market value as of January 1 each year.

Filing Requirements

Businesses must file a Business Property Statement (Form 571-L) if:

The total cost of business personal property is $100,000 or more, or
The Assessor requests a filing, regardless of cost.

A separate filing is required for each business location. The statement must list the cost of all equipment, fixtures, supplies, and any construction in progress as of January 1.

Due Date: April 1
Delinquent After: May 7
Amendments Due: May 31 (if the original was filed on time); since May 31 is a Sunday, the due date this year will be Monday, June 1.

Failure to file by May 7 may result in the Assessor estimating your property's value and applying a 10% penalty.

Tips for Accurate Filing

When preparing your Business Property Statement, make sure your asset list includes:

Date of acquisition
Total purchase cost (including tax, freight, and installation)
Location of each item (if multiple sites)
Disposal date of any retired equipment

Business Property Statements are confidential and used solely for assessment purposes.

Learn More:

Visit the Business Personal Property FAQ and find Form 571-L Filing at the Assessor's Office website.

Alameda County Hiring Election Workers for 2026 Election Season

The Human Resource Services Temporary Assignment Pool (TAP) Program is currently recruiting temporary workers for the upcoming 2026 election season.

The Registrar of Voters is actively recruiting candidates to serve the community while they work with a great team in a safe environment. Depending on the position, the pay rate is either $28.85 or $31.08 per hour. We would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word as we recruit for various positions including instructors, recruiters, data entry, outreach, and warehouse - logistics support - to name a few.

Many roles, but not all, require candidates to be bilingual in English and one or more of the following languages: Bengali, Burmese, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malay, Mongolian, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese. If you know of someone interested in doing this work, and they are also bi/multi-lingual please be sure to let them know about this great opportunity.

Please encourage all candidates to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time. Interested candidates can get more information and apply by using this link.

Women's History Month:

Remembering Betty Reid Soskin

Betty Reid Soskin lived a life that stretched across more than a century of American history—and spent much of it helping the nation better understand its own past. Born in Detroit in 1921, she spent part of her childhood in New Orleans before her family settled in Oakland, where she grew up and graduated from Castlemont High School. Her family's story reached back to slavery—her great-grandmother had been born enslaved in 1846—and that heritage shaped Soskin's lifelong perspective on race, community, and belonging in America.

During World War II, Soskin worked as a file clerk for the segregated Black auxiliary of the Boilermakers Union, witnessing firsthand the inequality of the wartime home front. Decades later, after serving as a field representative for California state legislators Dion Aroner and Loni Hancock, she became involved in early efforts to recognize the women who supported the war effort at home. Those efforts helped lead to the creation of Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in 2000, where Soskin later became a consultant and, in 2007 at age 85, a ranger with the National Park Service.

Soskin quickly became one of the park's most powerful storytellers. By the time she retired in 2022 at age 100, she was the oldest active park ranger in the United States, sharing lived history with visitors from around the world. In 2018 she published her memoir, Sign My Name to Freedom, and she remained a passionate voice for preserving Bay Area history until her death in 2025 at the age of 104.

Oakland Celebrates Black History,

Culture, and Community

(L-R): Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, Nola Turnage, Black Filmmaker Impact Honorees Adriane Hopper Williams & Derrick Williams, Mistress of Ceremonies and Bay Area NBC reporter Velena Jones, and President of OAACC Cathy Adams.

The Assessor's Office was honored to be part of the Black History Month Celebration at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts on Thursday, Feb. 26. The event's theme for this year was "Black History in Motion: Culture, Community & the Future We Build (1926–2026)." Those in attendance enjoyed live music and spoken word performances, wine tastings and art, as well as delectable food prepared by some of Oakland's most prominent chefs. It was an evening of uplifting culture, honoring Black filmmakers and leaders, supporting local artists, and celebrating the resilience and brilliance that continue to shape the city's future.

City of Newark Holds Inaugural Lunar New Year Celebration Event

(L-R): Mona Barra-Gibson from the Assessor's Office, Newark City Council Member Julie del Catancio, State Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab, Newark Mayor Mike Hannon, and Newark City Council Member Terrance Grindall.

The City of Newark held its first Lunar New Year event on Saturday, February 28 at the Newark Library located at the city's Civic Center. Over 20 community groups and organizations participated, and the inaugural event drew over 1,100 community members. Visitors were treated to the Lion Dance, Taiko Drum performances, and a martial arts demonstration. They also got to engage community resources, partake in many arts and crafts booths, and celebrate together.

It was a fun and very successful event--surely, the first of many. Assessor Phong La was happy to co-host the event in partnership with State Senator Aisha Wahab, Newark Council Member Julie del Catancio, and the Alameda County Library. Congratulations to the City of Newark!

Alameda County Historic Spotlight

Dublin Crossroads & St. Patrick's Day Festival

Often called the "Crossroads of the Bay Area," Dublin has long served as an important gateway between the East Bay, the Central Valley, and the South Bay. Historic travel routes through the Amador Valley connected communities traveling east toward Stockton, west toward Oakland and San Francisco, north to Contra Costa County, and south toward San Jose. For generations, this corridor welcomed Native American traders, early settlers, Gold Rush prospectors, farmers, and ranchers moving through the region.

Dublin is home to one of the largest Irish populations in California; its strong Irish heritage dates back to the mid-1800s, when Irish immigrants settled in the area and helped shape the small rural community that eventually became the City of Dublin. Today, that heritage is celebrated each year with Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Festival. First established in the 1980s, the festival has grown into one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the region. Drawing nearly 60,000 attendees each year, the festival features traditional Irish music and dance, authentic food and beverages, over 250 fine arts and commercial vendors—including a dedicated Irish Marketplace—plus carnival rides, and the beloved Irish Tea Cottage.