HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/6/2020 Public Comment, Barnes
Wilbanks, Megan
From:chrys barnes <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Please Support the Medicare for All Act of 2019
Dear Mayor Harmon and Esteemed Members of the SLO City Council,
I am writing in support of the Medicare for All Act of 2019. I would like the City Council to hear a
resolution in support of this legislation. The reasons for doing so are as follows:
Healthcare expenses are draining local household budgets during this unprecedented period of disease
and job loss. Medicare for All would provide relief for hundreds of San Luis Obispo residents.
I’m worried about unequal access to healthcare among POC, the poor, the mentally ill and other under-
served groups. POC make up a far greater share of COVID cases in SLO county than their share of the
population. Universal healthcare, efficiently funded in a Medicare for All platform, is the clear remedy.
I worry about essential workers, people who can’t work from home, but must show up and work in close
quarters. Often, these essential workers take care of our seniors, or keep restaurants, hospitals, agriculture,
and warehouses running. This means they work in close contact with others, creating a significant risk of
taking COVID home to their family and the greater community. Essential workers often lack employer-paid
health insurance. Medicare for All would cover essential workers.
Employee healthcare is one of the SLO city’s own primary expenses. But double digit increases in private
health insurance premiums show us that private insurance continues to be a bad deal that puts an
st
unacceptable strain on city budgets. It is inadequate to the task of providing a 21 Century level of
coverage for everyone. Medicare for All is a more just, more efficient, lest costly way to provide medical
care.
I think it’s important to take a moment out of the Council’s schedule to consider a resolution of support.
It’s important to make this decision, to be part of the solution. Covering everybody -- rather than letting
those who are poor, who have lost jobs, or who work in the gig economy “fend for themselves” --
improves the health of the entire community. NOT covering everybody is unjust and drags our economy
down, particularly during this pandemic.
It is clear to see that these changes are on the horizon. This isn’t the time to get stuck in the past nor to
proceed with a lack of vision. Now is the time for the City of SLO to go on record declaring our willingness
to commit to common sense changes in our medical infrastructure. Please support the Medicare for All Act
of 2019.
Sincerely,
Chrys Barnes
San Luis Obispo resident since 1979
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