Pajaro Valley Community Leaders Rally at Watsonville Hospital for Yes on Measure E: Protecting Emergency Care in Santa Cruz County

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Pajaro Valley leaders were joined today by community members to rally for Measure E, the ballot measure to protect emergency care for everyone in Santa Cruz County, at Watsonville Community Hospital. The hospital is among local healthcare services intended to benefit from voter approval of Measure E, a temporary half-cent sales tax that will help the County of Santa Cruz recover 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 the County's public annual budget process.

Speakers at the event included: John Laird, California State Senator; Monica Martinez, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chair; Tony Nuñez, Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board Chair; Maria Orozco, Watsonville City Councilmember; Donna Young, Salud Para La Gente CEO; Maria Elena de la Garza, Community Action Board Executive Director; and Elaine Johnson.

Measure E is endorsed by dozens community leaders and local organizations, some of which include:

• Pajaro Valley Health Care District

• Watsonville Community Hospital Foundation

• California Nurses Association

• Community Bridges

• Pajaro Valley Collaborative

• Salud Para La Gente

• Santa Cruz Community Health

• Dientes Community Dental

• Community Action Board

• Santa Cruz County Fire Chiefs Association

• Hospital Council of Northern and Central California

• Santa Cruz County Democratic Party

• Monterey Bay Central Labor Council

• SEIU 521

For complete list of endorsements, visit www.yesonesantacruzcounty.com/endorsements

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: help 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, mental health 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.

Learn more about Measure E at www.yesonesantacruzcounty.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

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