Latest news with #AmyBublak
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Golden Valley Health Centers CEO ‘deeply concerned' about proposed Medicaid cuts
'How Congress can help millions of Californians who can't afford health care | Opinion,' ( May 7) As the CEO of Golden Valley Health Centers, I am deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California). We serve 165,000 low-income Medi-Cal patients annually, and these reductions threaten the health of millions throughout the state. Medi-Cal covers 15 million people, providing patients with access to comprehensive health care at community health centers like Golden Valley. When patients have access to health care, especially preventative care, communities are healthier. Preventative medicine allows people to stop relying on emergency rooms for care. Routine prenatal care means fewer pregnancy complications and early detection means more affordable chronic disease management. If Congress cuts Medicaid, millions of people could lose access to critical care, and patients would have no choice but to forgo preventative care, leading to more emergency room visits and increased costs for both patients and taxpayers. Access to health care shouldn't be political. I urge our congressional representatives to stand up and fight for California's patients. Amy Collier Carroll Modesto Opinion 'Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak holds We Care funds hostage,' ( April 6) Mitigation of the challenges of homelessness requires collaboration by many partners in the community. The mayor and certain council members demanded simplistic solutions to a complex issue. They burdened We Care with the responsibility of solving Turlock's homelessness issue — well beyond the capacity of any one organization. The 'my-way-or-the-highway' management approach by Mayor Bublak and Councilmembers Rebecka Monez and Erika Phillips raises serious questions about their abilities to realistically address problems in Turlock. Ann Yonan Turlock 'Modesto can be dangerous for pedestrians. We looked at data and talked to experts about why,' ( Oct. 11, 2024) Many years ago, the county roads and shoulders were well maintained and regularly cared for. Today, however, we are seeing a concerning decline. I live on Orange Blossom Road, and the weeds growing along the roadside have become unsightly. More importantly, they pose a significant fire and traffic hazard. It would also greatly improve safety if stop signs were installed at several of the intersections on Orange Blossom Road between Highway 120 and Knights Ferry. The amount of traffic has increased dramatically, and so have the speeds at which people are traveling. The addition of stop signs would act as a deterrent to speeding and could help make this stretch of road safer for everyone. Nancy Raineri Oakdale 'Central Valley air quality 101: How to protect yourself from it and report on it,' ( Jan. 10) The Central Valley faces a serious and ongoing air pollution crisis. Our region consistently ranks among the worst in the country for air quality, with dangerous levels of particulate matter and ozone. These pollutants directly harm our health, leading to higher rates of asthma, lung disease, heart conditions and premature death. Despite this alarming reality, we still do not have strong, reliable public transportation options to help reduce the number of cars on the road. Public transportation is not just a convenience, it is a vital part of improving public health and protecting our environment. Investing in clean, affordable and efficient buses and trains would cut emissions, ease traffic congestion and give more people access to jobs, schools and medical care. Expanding and modernizing our transit system should be a top priority for Central Valley leaders. Brianna Tellez Modesto 'Want to cool down? Escape the Stanislaus heat with day trips to these destinations,' ( July 6, 2024) As summer is approaching and temperatures rise, Stanislaus County is unprepared for the blazing heat. Our city is overrun with asphalt, concrete and rock with a severe lack of trees to provide shade or greenery to absorb heat. This can prove deadly for the elderly, young children and those without access to air conditioning. We need policies that call for more tree planting, grass yards, green or white roofs on buildings, white walls, streetscape planting, additional water features and even a community garden. By implementing these policies, we will see decreased usage of air conditioning, higher property values, decreased air pollutants improving air quality and more outdoor social activities. It is time to cool our city, and improve our community. Whitney Renga Ceres
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor of Turlock spar over homeless shelter funding
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the City of Turlock are continuing their funding fight over the Turlock-based homeless shelter, We Care. On Friday, Newsom wrote a letter to the city and expressed disappointment with their decision to reject allocating a single dollar. "It is imperative that the City reconsider its priorities and demonstrate the kind of collaborative, accountable, and solution-oriented leadership this crisis demands. Enough. Do your job," wrote Newsom. But Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak said she decided against approving the letter and dollar until the shelter took accountability. "This isn't about $1," Bublak said. "This is about accountability, and it wasn't a huge ask." She said she had received numerous complaints regarding homeless loitering during the daytime. We Care is closed during the day and reopens shortly before 6 p.m. CBS News Sacramento asked the mayor if she worried that, if We Care closed, there would be more reports of loitering. "There's potential, but probably not. Many are transient by nature. Many aren't from here, so they'll go somewhere else," said Bublak. Newsom called out Turlock during his briefing urging cities to implement anti-homeless encampment policies Monday. "The city refused to put a dollar in to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funding for a shelter," Newsom said. "Those dollars should come back in this case, they don't deserve those dollars. I wonder if local representatives deserve to lead the people of those communities." Newsom said Turlock needed to allocate resources to We Care or share other alternatives they will pursue to combat homelessness by March 30. We Care told CBS News Sacramento that they've informed members of their program they will likely close by the end of June if nothing changes.
San Francisco Chronicle
03-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Absolute moral failure': Newsom slams California city after $1 dispute forces shelter to fundraise
A homeless shelter in the Central Valley is scrambling to raise funds online after the Turlock City Council voted against a $1 contribution and letter of support that could have unlocked $267,100 in state funding, prompting sharp rebukes from state leaders and drawing national attention to the small city's political divisions over homelessness. We Care, the only homeless shelter in Turlock, had secured funding through California's Permanent Local Housing Allocation program, but the grant required nominal support from the city — a symbolic dollar and a formal endorsement — which the council denied in a 3-2 vote last month. A special meeting that could have reversed the council's decision was not scheduled before last week's deadline to apply for the grant. The shelter, which provides overnight beds and services to 49 men, now faces possible closure by June 30, according to Corey Mai, We Care's director of operations. 'This is not about funding; it is about partnership and mitigating negative impacts for downtown businesses and residents,' said Mayor Amy Bublak in a statement Monday. The mayor, along with Council members Rebecka Monez and Erika Phillips, opposed the measure, citing concerns about the lack of 24-hour restrooms and a downtown cleaning crew. 'As mayor, I have to consider the broader fairness and fiscal responsibility to our entire community,' Bublak said in an email to the Chronicle after the vote. 'Our local residents, businesses, and taxpayers deserve to know that city funds are being spent in a way that benefits the full population, not just select programs.' We Care Program Director Corey Mai said the shelter offered to open existing restrooms inside its facility, but the city declined. 'Not receiving this funding could shut down our shelter,' Mai said, adding that a GoFundMe campaign is now underway to fill the funding gap. As of Friday afternoon, it had raised less than $2,500. She noted that the grant from the state would cover half of We Care's yearly budget. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has allocated over $24 billion to address homelessness statewide, this week called the city's refusal 'an absolute moral failure' in a social media post. 'Truly a ridiculous lack of local leadership,' Newsom said. 'In Turlock, their only shelter is at risk over a single dollar. The state has done its part. Local leaders need to step up.' Republican State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil defended the city, accusing the governor of overreach.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Obstructionist bureaucrat': Turlock mayor holds funds hostage for critical We Care Program
'Turlock approves 114 houses amid neighbor complaints. The site has long grown strawberries,' ( Feb. 15) At the March 25 Turlock City Council Meeting, Mayor Amy Bublak put on an appalling performance regarding a resolution about the We Care Program, an important partner in Turlock that provides transitional and emergency shelter, mental health treatment and job training to help homeless individuals become more self-sufficient. The program has been awarded a large grant from Stanislaus County, with a routine, administrative step to receive a letter of support from the Turlock City Council by April 28, before the funds can be released. Bublak, however, opposed the resolution, contending that the county failed to identify what funds the county will pay to the City of Turlock to address homelessness. The mayor now apparently intends to hold the We Care Program hostage 'until the county comes to the table,' despite the impending April 28 deadline. This is a dispute between the city and the county, not with We Care. The decision to block funding for this critical program is the move of either a naïve politician or an obstructionist bureaucrat. Turlock residents deserve better. Myrna Wachs Turlock Opinion 'Budget cuts impact national parks: What visitors need to know,' ( March 13) American writer and historian Wallace Stegner once called our national parks 'the best idea we ever had.' Yet President Donald Trump's rush to cut spending and eliminate federal jobs for those who work at the national parks is at odds with this great notion. On the chopping block are park rangers who respond to medical emergencies, visitor center employees and crews that clean bathrooms and empty garbage cans. Firing thousands of employees with no notice or reason is cruel — leaving individuals without paychecks, unable to serve in the parks they love. Recent court orders from two federal judges have led to the reinstatement of about 1,000 National Park Service employees; however, further cuts are still planned, potentially impacting park operations and visitor experiences. Further proposed cuts include a potential 30% payroll reduction for the National Park Service. One might hope the national parks would be spared the current political polarization many governmental agencies now find themselves embroiled in. It is reasonable to believe that former President Teddy Roosevelt, a great Republican, would not be in favor of the cuts the current administration is proposing to the national parks — America's best idea. Kent Mitchell Riverbank 'Trump orders removal of 'divisive,' 'anti-American ideology' Smithsonian exhibits,' ( March 27) President Donald Trump continues his war on truth. In addition to authorizing Elon Musk to tear apart the government and cut funding to critical agencies and government programs, now, our national parks are at risk. Our rights are threatened when the presidential administration not longer adheres to the laws of the land. Trump even fired the inspectors general of 17 federal agencies, individuals who were the watchdogs for fraud and waste. Now, the operations of the Smithsonian Institution and the Kennedy Center are being interfered with by Trump. The president now seeks to remove all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from the Smithsonian. Instead, he wants to propagate his version of 'truth' and eliminate our history. Diane Kroeze Modesto 'California Democrats were called 'soft' on sex trafficking. This could make it worse | Opinion,' ( March 25) Every year, the California legislature and news media push anti-trafficking bills focused on policing and criminalization, approaches that have harmed survivors and failed to prevent exploitation. This recent column is a necessary reminder that real solutions require more than punitive laws. They require a public health approach. For 25 years, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast) has provided services to survivors in Los Angeles, Our data shows the impact of criminalization: Nearly half of the 250 survivors in our long-term services disclosed having criminal records, often due to being forced into crimes by traffickers or misidentified as offenders, which creates significant and lasting barriers to jobs, housing and stability. Survivors are not a monolith, but one principle is clear: We can't cause harm to end harm. Instead of continued criminalization, lawmakers must invest in housing, healthcare and economic opportunities — real solutions that prevent human trafficking. Kay Buck CEO, Cast
