All PfPVC/ PNHP Ventura,
Follow Up regarding our City Council Resolution in Support of Single Payer Expanded Medicare For All- We didn't lose. We didn't win- yet. Due to a community controversy over an agenda item that was to be heard and discussed prior to our agenda Item #26 ,ours would not have come to the floor until close to midnight. Therefore we asked Mayor Schroeder, the City Clerk and Councilmember Liz Campos to remove Item #26 from the 9/11 night's agenda and place our item on the agenda of the next City Council meeting - Monday 9/25/23.
I have attached the submitted resolution again.
Things you all can do to help us pass this resolution:
A. Send letters. It is not too late to send more letters of support to the City Council members. The City Manager told me that these letters from physician supporters are very important and are taken very seriously by the councilmembers. I am aware of 7 of us having sent letters. We need more to influence their vote. We need more of Ventura's physicians to show the City Council that you support universal health insurance via a single payer system. You can send your letters to
city...@cityofventura.ca.gov by 4:00 p.m. on 9/25/23. Put "Deliver to all Council" in the subject line. All you need to do in your letter is say who you are, ask them to
Vote YES on Resolution: Supporting Expanded and Improved Medicare for All and describe a patient's story illustrating how our current system hurts your patients. When you send your letter I would appreciate knowing that you did so.
B. Speak at the 9/25 City Council Meeting during the meeting time where the resolution will be discussed. It will be during the agenda portion after 6:30 but we won't know the exact time that our item will come up.
You can speak in person or virtually. I plan to speak in person. Upon arrival you will complete a card indicating your intention to speak. The maximum time allotted is 3 minutes. I will send an updated WebEx link when the new 9/25 link is available.
Instructions from City Clerk for remote speaking: To access the meeting remotely: Join the WebEx meeting live at: https://cityofventura.webex.com/cityofventura/j.php?MTID=m4bf26027fbea17d8e5b37edb794ef8ab 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: 2559 937 8612 C. Attend the 9/25 City Council Meeting as a member of the chamber audience. Indivisible Ventura Chairperson Adriene Coulter has printed 8"x11" Medicare For All posters. Supporters, like you, can hold up these posters when any of us are giving our 3 minute speech asking for the YES vote in full view of the Council members indicating community and community physician support.
Let's get our Universal Single Payer Health Insurance Resolution: Supporting Expanded and Improved Medicare for All passed!
Thanks,
Leslie-Lynn Pawson
