Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 2
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $38,500, to Justice At Last to provide free legal services to survivors of human trafficking in San Mateo County, and authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended in November 2016 for a total of thirty years.
The Board of Supervisors (Board) held study sessions on Measure K expenditures and approved funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget cycle, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for one-time district-discretionary needs and projects. District 2 has submitted a request to use their district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 2 (Supervisor Noelia Corzo) - Justice at Last: Free legal services for survivors of human trafficking |
$38,500 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 2 indicates that this organization is either a public agency operating within the County or a nonprofit organization registered and in good standing with the California Attorney General. District 2 indicates that the sponsoring Board member, member’s family, and member’s supervisorial staff do not serve as an officer, director, or play a policy role for the grantee organization.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to Justice at Last and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $38,500, to provide free legal services to survivors of human trafficking throughout San Mateo County. The County Executive's Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District 2 indicates that this organization has not previously received Measure K district-discretionary funding.
Founded in San Mateo County in 2015, Justice at Last is the only legal firm in the county dedicated exclusively to serving the legal needs of trafficking survivors. Its mission is to provide survivors of human trafficking with free legal representation and supportive services regardless of age, gender identity, abilities, nationality, or type of trafficking. Justice at Last focuses on the areas of law most critical to survivors, including immigration relief, survivors' rights, and criminal record clearing. In 2024, Justice at Last represented 209 clients across the Bay Area, including 68 survivors trafficked within San Mateo County.
This district discretionary grant will be used to fund the following project or services:
Support staffing and indirect costs to provide full legal representation to 10 trafficking survivors, including access to immigration relief, crime victims’ rights enforcement, and post-conviction criminal record relief.
This district-discretionary grant will enable the organization to meet the following need or service gap within the County: Free legal representation for survivors of human trafficking in San Mateo County.
District 2 has informed the grantee organization this grant is a one-time only award, and the grantee organization will need to find other sources of funding going forward. The grantee organization will use the Measure K grant as follows:
|
Item |
Amount |
|
Personnel |
|
Attorney - 0.24 FTE |
$20,000 |
|
Advocate - 0.19 FTE |
$15,000 |
|
Subtotal Personnel |
$35,000 |
|
Indirect Costs |
$3,500 |
|
TOTAL |
$38,500 |
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented and provided between December 2025 and December 2026. The project is estimated to be completed December 02, 2026.
The following other community organizations are involved in or contributing funds to this project/these services, as follows: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $38,500
The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of an agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
Justice At Last
Rose Mukhar
Chief Executive Officer
600 Allerton Street, 2nd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063
rose@justiceatlast.org <mailto:rose@justiceatlast.org>
(650) 995-4893
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Provide full legal representation and advocacy services to 10 human trafficking survivors in San Mateo County. |
100% Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
By supporting this program, the County strengthens its ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and ensure access to justice for the most vulnerable members of the community who may not otherwise have access to legal support.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2025-26 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget.