East Bay officials call for censure of AC Transit director Joel Young

Thirty-three East Bay elected officials have formally requested that the AC Transit board of directors censure at-large board member Joel Young. The request follows an independent investigation by the law firm Meyers Nave, which concluded that Young engaged in gender-based harassment.

The investigation focused on an incident in September 2025 where Young subjected fellow board member Sarah Syed to ‘unwanted physical contact’ during a meeting recess. While Young previously stated he was attempting to offer ‘comfort and support’ following the death of a colleague, the investigation found his actions violated the agency’s harassment policy.

In a public letter, the officials—including various Berkeley and Oakland councilmembers and an Alameda County Supervisor—described the incident as part of a ‘pattern’ of misconduct. They cited several past allegations, including a 2012 police report involving threats and a 2013 board censure for ethics violations.