Dry conditions and increased demands prompt inflation of Russian River Alexander Valley film festival celebrates seventh year in spring SSU Department of theatre arts & dance presents virtual spring dance: t-e-c-h-n-o-b-o-d-y New CSU study highlights Sonoma State’s statewide economic contributions Visitors to Jack London State Historic Park can enter weekly drawing Petaluma Elks Lodge partner to expand local program Matsuri! Japanese arts festival The Friendly City Labyrinth California significantly expands medication take-back bin network Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation event Honoring Earth Day through action Sonoma Life Support provides tips for distracted driving prevention Sonoma County Pride is back, Beyond the Rainbow - thriving, reviving and surviving Sebastopol drive through food drive Prescription Drug takeback WSCUHSD concerns and unity SSU presents sonnets for an old century Sebastopol Senior Center Join us on Earth Day Armed and prohibited persons system program report A fundraiser for Huntington’s Disease Man sentenced to seven years in prison Ca. Citizens Redistricting Commission is hiring Writing our way out of our crises, virtual Northern California Rotarians to recognize ethically minded Shop into spring at La Plaza Children’s museum opens Attend a garden camp Cotati City Council unanimously endorses a resolution opposing racism Free Easter Egg hunt Library offers early learning resources for local kids D.I.Y. pesticides… Are they safe? Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater users to view, correct information Easter 2021 coloring contest award recipients Avoid seal pups on California beaches! Vaccinations available for adults 16 and up who are homebound My Turn COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling System California Department of Justice secures $5.3 Million Settlement We need your help March is Problem Gambling Awareness month

• 

  The event was a car caravan for the kick-off day of action for CalCare single payer for California, spearheaded by the California Nurses Association. It was in Petaluma on Feb. 6 and there were 22 other similar events around the state the same day. Photo courtesy of Karen Preuss

February 19, 2021

Local health care advocates working with the California Nurses Association hosted a local car caravan Saturday, February 6 urging state legislators to pass California Guaranteed Health Care for All (CalCare), similar to Medicare for All on the national level.

Activists and nurses hosted car caravans in 23 cities across the state as part of the nurses’ kickoff day of action, highlighting the need for universal health care during the Covid-19 health care crisis. At least 2.7 million Californians currently lack health insurance.

CalCare would guarantee health care as a human right in the state of California by providing comprehensive, high quality health care to all. The California Nurses Association has been leading the fight for guaranteed health care for decades and is actively working to introduce a new single-payer bill in the state legislature.

“Single-payer is about freedom from uncertainty.” said event organizer, Hilary Smith.

Linda Carpenter, Petaluma, who also participated in the caravan, said, "About 15 million Americans have lost employer-provided health insurance since the pandemic started. This includes Americans who were laid off, and their dependents. With a single-payer system, this just simply would not have happened."

Event attendee, Marian Killian, said, "CalCare is important to me because I want to live in a society that values all people, a humane society."

According to CNA president Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, “The nation has long looked to California for inspiration and guidance in the national fight for universal health care. We’ve come closer than any other state in history to passing guaranteed health care for all our residents. The nurses will always do what it takes to protect our patients, and we know CalCare will save lives.”