As immigrant communities face unique challenges with the healthcare system, the campaign for the Healthy California Act is inviting immigrant community members to town halls in Los Angeles and Oxnard Thursday, July 13, to learn about S.B. 562, a bill introduced in the California Senate in February that would guarantee healthcare to all California residents by establishing a Medicare-for-all type system in the state.

The Oxnard town hall will be held entirely in Spanish, and the L.A. town hall will provide simultaneous Spanish and Korean translation via headphones for all participants.

“The campaign for S.B. 562 seeks to achieve equal access and quality of care for ALL Californians. We’re holding these town halls to make sure our immigrant community members have all the information they need to understand what single payer healthcare is, what it will mean to their families, and how to stay organized and continue holding legislators accountable for representing the most vulnerable and not insurance companies,” said Jenni Chang, steering committee member for Progressive Asian Network for Action, a co-sponsor of the L.A. town hall.

SB 562 Town Halls, Thursday, July 13

Los Angeles: English, Korean, Spanish

7-9 p.m., 3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 9005

On-site contact: Jenni Chang, 917-434-3220  

Korean and Spanish-speaking communities will be invited to learn more about S.B. 562. Speakers, including patients and nurses, will discuss the current healthcare landscape, the obstacles to care, and how Californians can fight for a just system that covers everyone and not just the privileged.

Oxnard: EVENT ENTIRELY IN SPANISH

6-8 p.m., 141 W 5^th St., Oxnard, CA

On-site contact: Chelsea Nevé, 805-765-5889

This S.B. 562 town hall geared toward Spanish speakers will include testimony from Penny Fargo, of the Democratic Socialists of America, speaking about her experience as a breast cancer survivor, dealing with her insurance company, as well as a short talk by Dr. Leslie Lynn Pawson, of the Progressive Physicians of Ventura. Attendees will also be invited to participate in a Q&A on single payer.

The Healthy California Act, SB 562 passed the full Senate last month and was set for consideration in the Assembly in late June when Speaker Anthony Rendon abruptly refused to let it out of the Rules Committee. Since then supporters have redoubled their efforts organizing support for the bill on the grassroots level, conducting door-to-door canvassing in various Assembly districts, including the 63rd, which Rendon is supposed to represent, and holding several lively protests at the state capitol building in Sacramento.  

The California Nurses Association sponsored a recent study by expert economists at University of Massachusetts Amherst on how to pay for SB 562—revealing that enacting the bill would save Californians $37 billion off our current cost for healthcare.

For more information: www.healthycaliforniaact.org