Election Day coverage: Reporting all day from Emeryville polls

Emeryville voters will need umbrellas for their trip to the polls today, as the forecast calls for rain throughout Election Day.

Voters will consider changing the city’s business license tax and increasing the sales tax to cover growing public transit deficits. They also will be selecting two City Council and three Emery Unified School District board members.

Here is what voters at the polls told Emeryville Today:

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11:05 a.m.

On the day of the election, the Department of Justice announced in a press release that it will send about 1,000 election monitors and observers across all 50 states. Alameda is among the four counties they will be deployed in California. The rest are Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego. 

Alameda County Registrar of Voters Cynthia Cornejo told KTVU that she was informed of the deployment, but she didn’t know where exactly the monitors would be at. She also said they would be dressed in business casual and wear a badge identifying themselves. 

Earlier this week, Richmond Confidential reported an official from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in an October court filing that the department is monitoring the election to “ensure compliance with the law.” Monitors will observe, take notes and interview willing voters outside polling place about their voting experience, “where appropriate,” the filing said. They will not be acting as law enforcement personnel. 

We asked voters how they would feel about the possibility of having election monitors on site. Bridgette Mallory said it would be “creepy” if they were there. 

“I think that they should not be monitoring nobody’s business. It’s your business who you vote for,” said the 50-year-old. She voted in person at around 11 a.m.

When asked about what she voted in the election, Mallory said Measure BB is a no for her, and that housing is an important issue she wants the next elected officials to solve when they take office.

“I think that Emeryville has been exclusive for a long time, and I see that there is, especially with the warehouse district, they’re open, they’re available, and I think they would be great for low-income housing.”

Jennifer Xu voted earlier a little bit past 10:10 a.m. She said she used the KQED voter guide to research the election.

“I listen to KQED every morning. And I’m also interested in what other people on social media are voting for, so I look on TikTok as well,” the 32-year-old said. 

She added that Prop 45 is what stands out to her in this election. The bill proposes to establish deadlines for public agencies to do environmental reviews and lawsuits for projects such as housing, roads and water systems. 

“I feel like there’s just been so much work that’s been gone into protecting our air quality, our water quality, and doing something like lessening or making faster the process is just going to make people rush, and our environment just won’t be as protected. So I felt like it was important,” said Xu. 

Nathan Weaver, who voted in person, said the wealth tax Prop 40 is the main reason for him to vote. 

“That’s why I’m here,” he said. ​”Pass a billionaire wealth tax. That’s it for me.”

Reporting by Sharon Ochola, Isabella Merino, Joy Chang, and Ricky Gottschalk.

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7 a.m.

It was a rainy Tuesday morning as voters cast their votes at Emeryville Senior Center when the polls opened. 

Some came to vote in person, but mostly, morning commuters stopped by to drop off mail-in ballots on their way to work. 

Francisco Avila, 41, said public safety was one of the most important issues for him.

​”Being the father of three children. I want my kids to have safe schools, safe streets, and that’s the most important.” He added that Measure BB and the Regional Transit Measure are “a no” for him. 

 “It was a tax increase, and I am actually looking to pay lower taxes, not higher taxes,” he said.

Ray Hsia, on the contrary, voted yes for Measure BB, which would simply the business license tax to a percentage that’s based on a business’ size. 

“It felt like the entire Emeryville City Council and Town Hall was supportive of it,” he said. “If this is something our leadership and the small businesses of the community are behind, let’s see if this will be the thing to do.”  

Xavier Smith, 49, was among the first voters. It was the first time she voted in person on Election Day. In addition to voting for the governor, she said Prop 40 is “a big one” for her. The bill proposes a 5% tax on the net worth of billionaires. 

“I hope the people who are willing to work for California work for the people of California, help the people of California — the elderly, the disabled, the young kids, small businesses. I hope they get the help that they need to make California a better California,” she said. 

Sydney Mitsui, 30, decided to drop off her ballot. She said when she votes, she mostly thinks about where she is in her life.

“I’d like to buy a house eventually, and that’s kind of hard to do in California. So that was one that was interesting. And then I also take BART transit, so I think keeping BART around and making sure people are employed.”

Reporting by Sharon Ochola, Isabella Merino, Joy Chang, and Ricky Gottschalk

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Emeryville voters will consider changing the city’s business license tax to generate more than $12 million annually to fund basic city services.

Two City Council incumbents — David Mourra and Kalimah Priforce — are trying to fend off challenges by Corry Frydlewicz and Brandon Soublet.

Five candidates are vying for three seats on the Emery Unified School District board. With only one incumbent, Regina Chagolla, running for reelection, the board could see a majority change-over. The other candidates are Christopher Keith Allen, Brian Donahue, David Ridlehuber and Kimberly Solis.

Emeryville Today will be at the polls, talking to voters about issues important to Emeryville residents. This report will be updated throughout Election Day.

(Top photo of polling site, by Sharon Ochola.)