2024 Year in Review: Loss and Community Resilience
Loss and Community Resilience
2024 was a year that tested our community’s strength in the face of profound loss. It was also a year that showed how our community comes together to support each other during difficult times.
Remembering Patrick Michael Corder
On February 1, 2024, Alameda Peep and Alameda Fire Fighter Patrick Michael Corder passed away following a difficult battle with Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI). Patrick was 43 years old and had served the citizens of Alameda with honor and distinction for 15 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic, retiring in 2023.
Patrick was instrumental in the success of the fire department’s Community Paramedic program, in which he was one of the first Community Paramedics in California. He served in this role for seven years, devoted to helping community members, including the unhoused, in meeting their basic medical needs.
Throughout his career, Patrick was extremely involved in Alameda Firefighters Association IAFF Local 689, serving on the union’s Executive Board as Trustee, Recording Secretary, and President. He was a staunch advocate for the mental health of his fellow firefighters, sharing his story on a podcast and returning to the City of Alameda to educate recruits following his retirement.
Patrick was embraced by many community members as a public servant who had an amazing personality that allowed for positive engagement with everyone he encountered. He organized and spearheaded the Alameda Firefighters’ annual Toy Program, participated in children’s reading programs, and the fire safety town for Alameda schools. He was also involved with other community programs such as Meals on Wheels.
His death deeply affected the Alameda Peeps community. Patrick was not just a first responder—he was one of us, a member of our community who had given so much to help others. His passing was a stark reminder of the importance of mental health support for first responders and the need to continue conversations about PTSI and mental health in our community.
Even beyond his death, Patrick continued his legacy of serving others and giving them a second chance at life with the donation of his organs.
The community came together to honor Patrick’s memory and support his family during this difficult time. A memorial service was held at the USS Hornet on February 17, 2024, with uniformed personnel participating in a Sea of Blue.
City Council Election and Community Discussion
The 2024 City Council election brought significant change to Alameda’s leadership. The election saw two new councilmembers elected: Michele Pryor, a special education teacher, and Greg Boller, an Alameda County prosecutor. Both candidates won seats in the November election.
The election season was marked by extensive community discussion in both the Alameda Peeps Facebook group and on the Alameda Reddit subreddit. A particularly notable topic of discussion involved then-Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer, a former mayor of Alameda, who was the subject of media coverage following an incident that occurred while she was attending a League of California Cities conference in Long Beach in October 2024. According to KTVU reporting, Long Beach police responded to a call regarding an intoxicated person, and the incident became a subject of public discussion in the weeks leading up to the election.
The Alameda City Council later declined to take formal action regarding the incident. Spencer, who was running for re-election, ultimately lost her bid for one of the two open council seats, finishing in third place behind Pryor and Boller. Her tenure on the council came to an end with the election results.
The extensive community discussion around these events highlighted how Alameda Peeps and Alameda Reddit serve as important platforms for civic engagement and community dialogue about local governance and public service.
Community Support
Despite the profound loss we experienced and the political discussions that unfolded, the Alameda Peeps community continued to support each other and our neighbors throughout 2024. Our annual Turkey Drive continued, though final totals are still being compiled.
Looking Forward
As 2024 came to a close, we carried Patrick’s memory with us and were reminded of the importance of supporting each other, especially those who serve our community. We looked forward to 2025 with a renewed commitment to community support and mental health awareness.