Hayward and Alameda County Establish $900,000 Redress Fund for Wrongfully Evicted Russell City Residents

Hayward, California – The City of Hayward and Alameda County have jointly announced the creation of a $900,000 redress fund aimed at providing payments to former residents of Russell City who were wrongfully displaced in the 1960s. The fund, announced on July 10, 2025, is a significant step in acknowledging and making amends for the historical misuse of eminent domain that led to the seizure of property and displacement of a vibrant, multi-racial community. The initiative follows years of advocacy and formal apologies from both governmental bodies.

Russell City, once an unincorporated and diverse community, was home to approximately 1,400 residents. Despite lacking basic services like plumbing and electricity, it was a thriving cultural hub. In the 1960s, Alameda County used eminent domain, citing "blight," to acquire roughly 700 parcels of land, clearing the area for commercial and industrial redevelopment. Residents were often compensated with "pennies on the dollar" for their properties, leading to widespread displacement and significant intergenerational hardship.

The establishment of the Russell City Redress Fund is a direct outcome of the Russell City Reparative Justice Project, initiated after the Hayward City Council issued a formal apology in 2021, followed by Alameda County's apology in 2023. The fund will be seeded with $250,000 from the City of Hayward and $650,000 from Alameda County, with contributions from Supervisors Elisa Márquez and Nate Miley. This funding aims to offer tangible redress to living former residents whose property was seized.

The redress payments are intended as a concrete step to acknowledge the lasting harm, though they are not set to reflect the present-day value of the seized properties. Eligibility requirements, the application process, and specific payment amounts are currently under development and will be announced at a later date. This initiative represents a continued effort by local authorities to address historical injustices and support the affected community.

The journey toward reparations has faced various perspectives, with some discussions centering on whether the displacement was primarily a "race issue" or a "class issue." Despite these ongoing dialogues and occasional legal challenges to reparations efforts, local leaders emphasize the importance of moving beyond apologies to tangible actions. As stated in a tweet by Dan Cohen (FCP), the fund is "Proposed To Provide Payments To Wrongfully Evicted Russell City Residents."