Residents are demanding that Union City adopt Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) guidelines to prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting companies tied to war crimes, environmental destruction and private prisons.
At a recent city council meeting, Jeffrey Kurohara urged officials to follow the lead of Hayward, Dublin and Alameda County, which have already implemented ESG policies. He condemned investments in Caterpillar, whose military bulldozers have been used in Palestinian home demolitions, and private prison operators like CoreCivic and GEO Group, which profit from immigrant detention centers.
“We demand that Union City draft ESG guidelines for our investment policy,” Kurohara stated. “Please act now.”
Implementations of ESG Guidelines often involve reviewing portfolios, withdrawing funds from flagged companies, and reinvesting in socially responsible alternatives. To ensure accountability, some cities conduct regular audits and public reporting.
Musa Tariq, policy coordinator at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also addressed the council. After thanking the mayor for his Ramadan proclamation, he pressed officials to act, citing Alameda County’s decision in December to divest from genocide. He emphasized that Union City has a moral obligation to follow suit.
“Your community is watching closely to see whether elected officials demonstrate moral clarity in this crucial moment,” Tariq said.
City officials have yet to announce whether they will move forward with drafting an ESG policy.
