Hayward · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hayward public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
General Municipal Election — City Hall Vote Center
The November 3 council meeting was canceled so City Hall can serve as a vote center for the General Municipal Election. Residents can vote in person on Election Day from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, or early from October 31 through November 2. The next regular council meeting is November 17, 2026.
Business license tax modernization
The city is quietly moving toward a November 2026 ballot measure to modernize the business license tax, untouched for nearly 50 years. A consultant is being hired to build a fiscal model, and a community poll could happen within weeks. Estimates discussed ranged from $13-21 million (union estimate) to a prior assessment well below a $28 million figure.
Tobacco retailer license enforcement and youth protection
The city is cracking down on tobacco shops that repeatedly sold flavored products, vapes, and items appealing to youth. Four licenses were revoked, and residents — including students and a prevention professional — urged the commission to hold violators accountable.
Election Information
Election Day is just around the corner, and Hayward's City Clerk is reminding everyone to check their registration and find their local drop box. Voters will be casting ballots for mayor and specific council districts, so it's time to make a plan to vote.
Downtown density increase via General Plan amendments
The commission recommended raising downtown density limits to 40–210 units per acre and remapping 130 parcels to match the Downtown Specific Plan. Consistency makes Hayward more competitive for One Bay Area Grant and transit-oriented community funding — potentially millions in state and regional money.
Shelter crisis declaration and tiny homes for domestic violence survivors
The council extended legal authorization for tiny homes on Huntwood Avenue that shelter survivors of domestic violence through 2036. A public commenter urged the city to also plan winter shelter for the city's 400-plus unhoused residents.
Business Friendly Hayward regulatory overhaul
Councilmembers Syrop and Andrews heard from developers that Hayward's permitting takes too many rounds of comments and drives up costs — like requiring separate water meters for each of 13 units. They want a coordinated push to make Hayward 'open for business.'
Care facility funding concerns raised in public comment
BACS will build an 83-bed locked mental health treatment center on the former Navigation Center site in West Hayward. The use is allowed by right under state law; the commission weighed only variances for building size, setbacks, and a 14-foot security fence driven by the parcels' odd shapes and easements.
AC Transit fiscal cliff and potential service cuts
The city put another $1.1 million of Measure BB money into paratransit rides, raising the Onward Health contract cap to about $1.98 million.
Russell City Redress Fund
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation was approved as fiscal sponsor for the Russell City Redress Fund, moving the redress effort forward.
Police surveillance technology expansion (Axon DFR and ALPR)
The council approved a five-year, up-to-$2.9M Axon package including drone-as-first-responder equipment and 64 license plate reader cameras, replacing expiring Flock cameras. Supporters point to solved abduction cases; critics worry about mass surveillance, data misuse, and ICE access.
Data center environmental concerns
Data centers under 50 megawatts will be decided by the Planning Commission; bigger ones need City Council approval under a new major conditional use permit. Some commissioners questioned why large data centers face extra hurdles when Hayward sits on prime power and fiber infrastructure.
Eden Ranch 72-unit townhouse condominium development
Hayward is getting 72 new three-story townhouse-style condos on Mission Boulevard, including eight affordable homes — more than the city's minimum requirement. The project replaces a long-vacant site and preserves 1.5 acres of hillside as open space.
Police Department Service Impacts and New Programs
A police department scandal involving a $1,000 bribe to cover a massage parlor was acknowledged; the implicated individual has pled not guilty and an investigation is underway.
Downtown Loop Redesign (Safe Streets Downtown)
Public commenters urged the city to convert downtown one-way streets back to two-way and rethink the freeway loop, arguing downtown feels like a pass-through. Professor Sherman Lewis presented a traffic circle concept for Foothill/Mission/Jackson with underground pedestrian crossings.
Homelessness Down 21% in Hayward
The latest county point-in-time count shows Hayward's homeless population dropped 21% — from 512 to 404 people — better than the countywide 13% decline. The mayor credited regional collaboration and housing investments.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Funding (WIFIA/SRF)
The Water Resource Recovery Facility phase two upgrade is shovel-ready but has been waiting over a year for a federal WIFIA loan. Staff and Senator Padilla's office are pushing to unblock it; the project would create roughly 1,500 construction jobs and must be done by 2034.
Fire Department Staffing and Response Capacity
Hayward has about 100 trained CERT volunteers ready to deploy in a disaster, with a goal of adding 50-100 per year. Council members discussed recruiting more, partnering with Cal State East Bay, and whether council members should take the training themselves.
Public Safety Center Siting
The current police station no longer meets the department's needs, and the former Air National Guard site is now the preferred location for a new Public Safety Center. Staff is exploring phased approaches and possible public-private partnerships since the city can't fund full construction now.
CDBG Funding and the Future of the Community Services Commission
With the community agency funding cycle canceled due to budget shortfalls, about $1.5 million in federal CDBG money is going to one-time internal projects instead of nonprofits. Commissioners told the council they felt shut out of the process, and the council directed staff to expand the commission into an advisory role with a community needs assessment.
FY27-FY36 Capital Improvement Program
Public Works launched an online dashboard letting residents track 100+ city construction projects, with council members asking for maps, renderings, and clearer status descriptions.