Campaign Kicks off for Yes on Measure E: Protecting Emergency Care in Santa Cruz County
Community and healthcare leaders advocate for November ballot measure, endorsed by Santa Cruz Community Health, Sutter Health, Watsonville Community Hospital Foundation, Community Action Board, Community Bridges, California Nurses Association, Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association and many more
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Measure E, the ballot measure to protect emergency care for everyone in Santa Cruz County, held a kickoff event at Live Oak Health Center, home of Dientes and Santa Cruz Community Health, on Thursday, Sept. 17. Speakers highlighted the critical need to Vote Yes on Measure E on November 3.
Speakers at the kickoff event included: Monica Martinez, Santa Cruz County Supervisor; Maria Elena de laGarza, Community Action Board CEO; Dr. Donaldo Hernandez, Sutter Health; Laura Marcus, Dientes CEO; and Adam Spickler, Cabrillo College Trustee.
Measure E is a direct, local response to federal funding cuts that are an attack on Santa Cruz County’s public health services. Measure E provides temporary (expires after five years), locally controlled emergency funding to:
Keep local hospitals and emergency rooms open and protect 9-1-1 ambulance response;
Maintain community health clinics and access to urgent healthcare, reproductive care, mentalhealth care and substance use treatment;
Support local food banks and food assistance;
Prevent homelessness and preserve housing stability; and
Protect seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, foster youth, children and working families.
Organizations supporting Measure E: Santa Cruz Community Health, Sutter Health, Watsonville Community Hospital Foundation, Community Action Board, Community Bridges, California Nurses Association, Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association, Santa Cruz County Democratic Party, Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County, Democratic Women’s Club of Santa Cruz County, Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, SEIU Local 521, Pajaro Valley Collaborative, NAACP Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County Middle Management Association, Santa Cruz for Bernie, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 104.
Measure E is a half-cent sales tax that will generate approximately $27 million annually for five years, helping to replace the more than $200 million in annual federal and related state funding losses affecting local healthcare and safety-net programs. Every dollar will stay in Santa Cruz County and be allocated through theCounty's public annual budget process.
Learn more at yesonesantacruzcounty.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
###