GREAT NEWS! Our resolution in support of universal single payer health insurance has been put back on the agenda for a vote by the City Council Meeting for Monday 12/18/23. It was on the agenda on 9/11/23 and was removed to be replaced at a later date when that council meeting was excessively long due to controversy over the city development plan. We are finally back on after 3 months of asking. I have attached the resolution again for your review. This is the wording of the Resolve:
Be it resolved that the City of Ventura supports the concept of Medicare for All and calls on our federal and state legislators to work towards passage of a bill establishing a universal, single-payer, Medicare-for-All–type system at the federal and/or state level.
The meeting begins at 6:00 PM . There is no way of knowing at what time our Resolution will come up.
The resolution is referred to on the agenda as: Endorse and pass a Resolution in support of Expanded and Improved Medicare for All.
5 Ways in which you can all help get our resolution passed: Please choose a way to help!
1.Prior to 12/18. If you have already sent a letter ( back in September) in support of the resolution - send the city council members the same letter again. This will put it front of mind again. I suggest you just state that you sent them the letter in September and want to remind them of your support and why they should vote YES on ITEM #17. Instructions for submitting.
To submit written comments (up to 1,000 characters) for the City Council’s consideration and inclusion in the public records, email city...@cityofventura.ca.gov by 4:00 p.m. on the meeting date. Please include the Agenda Item Number in the subject. We are ITEM # 17. Councilmember Campos recommends adding in the subject line " Deliver to All Council"
2. Prior to 12/18. Write a letter explaining that you are a doctor, that you want them to vote YES on the resolution ITEM # 17 on the 12/18 agenda and include an example of one of your patients that has been harmed by our current broken for- profit health insurance system. To submit written comments (up to 1,000 characters) for the City Council’s consideration and inclusion in the public records, email city...@cityofventura.ca.gov by 4:00 p.m. on the meeting date. Please include the Agenda Item Number in the subject. We are ITEM # 17. Councilmember Campos recommends adding in the subject line " Deliver to All Council"
3. On Monday 12/18. Attend the meeting in the council chambers at City Hall on Poli Street and speak in support of the resolution asking the council members to vote YES on the Resolution in support of Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, ITEM #17. Upon arrival you will fill out a speaker's request card at the entrance to the chambers. There is a place on the card to write in the ITEM # 17 that you want to speak on. You have a maximum of 3 minutes. I will be there.
4. On Monday 12/18. Speak at the council meeting via remote access. The platform they use is WEBEX . You need to submit your intention to speak.
To access the meeting remotely: Join the WebEx meeting live at:
To request to speak on an item, use the chat function to notify the City Clerk by including the Item Agenda Number in your comment. The City Clerk will announce public speakers and promote them to a panelist, which will allow the use of camera and microphone. To join with audio only, call (213) 306-3065 and use access code: 2554 961 6051 This can be done just before the meeting begins much like filling out the card in #3 above.
5. On Monday 12/18. Attend the meeting, sit in the audience and hold a Support Medicare For All 8'x11" sign printed for us by INDIVISIBLE Ventura . You can hold the sign up when any of us are speaking and while any discussion occurs.
We only have 2 sure votes. They are Councilmembers Liz Campos and Mike Johnson. We need at least 2 more votes for the resolution to pass.
I would appreciate you letting me know that you plan to help pass this resolution and in which of the above ways you are choosing to help.
Hopeful,
Leslie-Lynn Pawson
