Alameda County Assessor's June Newsletter Solar & Rainwater Catcher Exclusions and The History of the Alameda County Fair

Dear Alameda County Residents,

Happy Pride Month! The Assessor's Office is proud to celebrate and honor Pride Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. We stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ staff, colleagues, community members, and are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all.

June is also National Immigrant Heritage Month, highlighting the diverse backgrounds and experiences that strengthen American communities. We recognize the important role immigrants have played throughout American history.

On June 19, we celebrate Juneteenth. This holiday commemorates the day when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom. This historic day serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience, courage, and determination of those who endured slavery and persevered in the pursuit of liberty.

On June 21, we celebrate Father's Day. Let us honor the fathers in our lives and show them the appreciation they deserve. Whether it's your own father, a father figure, or a special man who has made a positive impact on your life, this day is an opportunity to express gratitude and love. Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there!

As always, we remain committed to serving the residents of Alameda County.

Sincerely,

Phong La

Alameda County Assessor

Juneteenth: Let Freedom Ring!

Image from the Galveston Daily News

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved people were free. Led by Major General Gordon Granger, the soldiers delivered General Order No. 3, bringing news of freedom to approximately 250,000 enslaved men, women, and children in Texas.

The delay in delivering this news has been attributed to Texas's isolation during the war, though some historians believe slaveholders intentionally withheld the information. Over time, June 19—known as Juneteenth—became a day to commemorate freedom, honor the resilience of African Americans, and reflect on the ongoing pursuit of equality. In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States.

Alameda County Hidden Gem: Pride in Our Superior Court

DID YOU KNOW...Alameda County Superior Court has had, for several years, the distinction of having the largest known group of openly LGBTQ judges of any county court in Northern California? As of the end of 2024, the court had 10 openly LGBTQ judges on the bench—a remarkable shift from just over a decade ago, when there were few or no openly LGBTQ judges serving there.

Community Heroes Scholarships Awarded to James Logan High School Students

A proud James Logan High School graduate, Assessor Phong La gives back to the community every year by personally donating three scholarships to help local students achieve their educational goals. Each year, the Assessor names three people who have served their communities in extraordinary ways as "Community Heroes," and the scholarships are awarded in their names. Here are this year's community heroes and their chosen student awardees:

(L-R) Awardee Violeta Chaparro Salas and Community Hero Michael Freed

(L-R) Awardee Alexa Sandoval and Community Hero Yurika Vu

(L-R) Awardee Kaylynn Tan and Community Hero Suzanne Lee Chan

Alameda Brewery Re-CO₂-gnized for Air Capture Innovation

Most people don't think about where the bubbles in their beer come from, but breweries rely on a steady supply of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to carbonate their beverages. When a nationwide CO₂ shortage hit in 2022, many breweries faced rising costs and supply challenges, highlighting how dependent they were on outside sources.

Looking for a better solution, Alameda-based Almanac Beer Co. partnered with Berkeley climate technology company Aircapture to capture CO₂ directly from the air. Using a small onsite system, the brewery pulls carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, cleans it to food-grade standards, and uses it to carbonate its new beer, Flow – Clean Air Edition.

The result is what is believed to be the world's first beer made with carbonation sourced directly from the air at the brewery itself. Instead of relying on trucked-in CO₂ from industrial suppliers, Almanac is creating its own supply onsite—turning an invisible part of the brewing process into an innovative example of how technology can help build a more sustainable future.

Spotlight: Alameda County Fair

Today, the Alameda County Fair feels almost timeless—a place where history and celebration blur together each summer. Beneath the glow of neon rides and fireworks, echoes of its past linger...

Long before the flashing carnival lights, the smell of funnel cakes, and the roar of roller coasters, the land that would become the Alameda County Fair thundered with the sound of galloping horses. In 1859, the Bernal family built a racetrack on the vast Rancho Valle de San Jose, where locals gathered on quiet Sundays to watch races beneath the open California sky. A simple pastime grew into legend, drawing large crowds year after year until businessman Rodney G. MacKenzie transformed the excitement into the first official county fair in 1912. By 1939, the fair had found its permanent home in Pleasanton, carrying with it decades of stories, traditions, and memories.

What was once a small racing gathering has grown into Northern California’s largest fair, filled with live music, livestock competitions, petting zoos, demolition derbies, and the irresistible scent of corn dogs and deep-fried Oreos drifting through the night air. For generations of families, the fair has become more than an event; it is a summer ritual, a living piece of Alameda County history, and a place where old memories and new ones meet under the same glowing lights.

https://annual.alamedacountyfair.com/