Hayward, Alameda County Propose Redress Fund for 1960s Russell City Demolition Survivors

Hayward and Alameda County leaders proposed a $900,000 reparations fund for residents affected by the demolition of Russell City, a historically Black and Latino community, during the 1960s. The fund aims to provide financial compensation to surviving residents whose properties were seized for industrial development. Proposed allocations include $250,000 from Hayward, $400,000 from Supervisor Elisa Márquez’s office, and $250,000 from Supervisor Nate Miley’s office. Russell City, once home to approximately 1,400 residents, boasted a vibrant local identity and a notable music scene featuring artists like Ray Charles. In 2021, Hayward formally apologized for its involvement in the destruction, and Alameda County followed with its own apology in 2023.

That year, Alameda County also established a Reparations Commission to address the harms done to Russell City residents. Supervisor Márquez emphasized the importance of local action in addressing historical injustices, stating, “We control our own voices, values and destiny at the local level. ” The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the proposal at its meeting on July 22.