An op-ed by Cory Wolbach, Civic Leadership Program Manager
Photo by KQED
Last month, the SV@Home Action Fund announced our endorsement of Measure A to save our local hospitals from Trump’s attacks. This month, I’m filling out and mailing my ballot (early!) to make sure it passes. I’m also volunteering.
Here are three reasons:
First, sticking up for our community members who will be impacted by Trump’s cuts. Frankly, because Trump and Republicans in Congress are cutting our healthcare so much — $1 Billion annual shortfall in Santa Clara County alone — our whole healthcare system will be impacted, and that means all of us. Some key points compiled by the Yes on A team:
- 1 in 4 Santa Clara County residents rely on Medi-Cal
- Half of all Santa Clara County hospital patients use Medi-Cal
- 465,000 people in Santa Clara County depend on it for care
- Santa Clara Valley Healthcare’s four hospitals handle nearly half of all ER visits in the county—about 750 a day.
- Without action, core services like ERs, trauma care, mental health support and cancer treatment will be slashed. Clinics will close.
Second, sticking together across civil society sectors. It would be easy to focus exclusively on purely housing measures. The Trump regime would love for us to be so scared of the future and so full of uncertainty that we silo ourselves. They would love for civil society groups and leaders to turn their backs on each other. We are not going to do that. Housing, healthcare, transportation, environment, education, and more are all pillars of a healthy, vibrant, equitable community. Right now, health care is on the ballot. That means, right now, housing advocates like us (and you) need to support health care. When housing is on the table, we will of course ask our friends in healthcare to help out. But the fight right now is Measure A so it’s time to show what solidarity means.
Second, sticking up for ourselves. To resist the dismantling of our democracy and our society, we Americans must build and participate in interstate, state, and local institutions and efforts to replace work previously done by the federal government. Measure A is a great example. Trump thinks he can screw over “blue” places like Silicon Valley by slashing our healthcare funding? Guess what, Donald? We will take care of our own. Someday (sooner rather than later with hard work and luck), we will restore federal leadership in healthcare funding. In the meantime, we must, can, and will do it ourselves.
Click here to volunteer for Measure A.
Click here to read answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Measure A.