Giving Voice to Progressive Democrats for Over 60 Years
We have 5 volunteers already signed up (covering setup, takedown, 10-12 noon and 12-2pm), but we still need a few more volunteers to staff our booth at Cerrito Vista Park during:
10-12 noon (1 needed)
2 – 4pm (2 needed)
4:30 pm takedown (1 needed)
Thanks!
Marlene Keller
VP-Records
On April 4 the El Cerrito City Council heard firm community opposition to Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston’s planned expansion of the West County jail, from County Supervisor John Gioia among others. The Council then voted unanimously to oppose this expansion, which would cost County taxpayers more than $20 million for construction and $5 million annually to operate.
Supervisor Gioia indicated that the proposed new wing of the facility, adding 400 beds and about 120,000 square feet, would be unnecessarily large and far too costly for the county. It might also be used to house immigrants detained by the federal ICE program, bringing it into sharp conflict with El Cerrito’s status as a sanctuary city. Community members also expressed the strong opinion that the County should allocate more funds to services for the mentally ill and to follow-up services which reduce recidivism, rather than spending heavily on infrastructure.
Taking action on the vote, the City Council authorized the mayor to send a letter to the California Board of State and Community Corrections, opposing the Sheriff’s $70 million grant proposal for the jail expansion.
In retaliation for the Council’s vote, Sheriff Livingston put politics ahead of public service by backing out of a planned contract to provide lower cost Police and Fire dispatch services to El Cerrito.
Rep. Justin Amash is a Republican congressman from Michigan and a self-described libertarian. I clipboarded this straight from his Facebook page, so these words are either his or his minion’s:
The bill does not change the ACA’s federal requirements on guaranteed issue (prohibition on policy denial), essential health benefits (minimum coverage), or community rating (prohibition on pricing based on health status). In short, Obamacare’s pre-existing conditions provisions are retained.
The latest version of the AHCA does allow any state to seek a waiver from certain insurance mandates, but such waivers are limited in scope. Guaranteed issue cannot be waived. Nobody can be treated differently based on gender. And any person who has continuous coverage—no lapse for more than 62 days—cannot be charged more regardless of health status.
Consider what this means: Even in a state that waives as much as possible, a person with a pre-existing condition cannot be prevented from purchasing insurance at the same rate as a healthy person.
Bear in mind two things, please. First, these are aspects of Trumpcare that the Congressman doesn’t like. Second, he’s confused; one look at the Trumpcare website will prove that Obamacare’s pre-existing conditions provisions are not retained.