After hours of debate and public comment, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday decided, in broad brush terms, how to divvy up hundreds of millions of dollars that are suddenly available for housing, homeless services, and other uses.

Voters narrowly passed Measure W in 2020, implementing a 10-year, half-cent sales tax. But the money was held up for years as the county dealt with legal challenges. The county ultimately prevailed in court, meaning the $810 million in revenue that’s accrued since 2021 is finally available.

Lee and mayors from all 13 other cities in the county went even further — imploring the board in a letter sent last week to spend 100% of Measure W funds on homelessness.

“Voters trusted us with Measure W to address homelessness,” Lee said at the rally.

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