Two recent reports – the UCLA Anderson Forecast and another by the state Employment Development Department (EDD) – both found that the state's economy will remain “sluggish” but there are some signs of improvement.
Paul Saldana, CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Tulare County, agrees.
“Definitely, we've seen some positive signs,” said Saldana, but cautioned the area is nowhere near returning to the boom years.
Jim Holly, president of Bank of the Sierra, said there has not been much improvement in the local economy.
“I think we're improving, but it's painfully slow. At least it's not getting worse,” said Holly who has been in the banking business in the county around 30 years.
Holly, like others, feel it could be two to three years before a significant improvement in the local economy is seen.
Steve Salomon, city manager for Visalia, and John Lollis, city manager for Porterville, say the economy appears stagnant right now.
“It certainly isn't a bright picture,” said Lollis, although he pointed out Kohl's Department Store opens there next week with 130 employees.
Salomon painted the bleakest picture.
“I'm not saying it's still not going to get worse,” he said, noting that the most recent sales tax income was less than expected and that July and August have been two of the worst months for new construction in many years.
“In the short term, I think it's going to continue to be what we've seen,” he said, but added there are some signs that on the horizon there are better days.
“There is some reason to be guardedly optimistic,” he said.
Positive Signs
Saldana pointed to the recent announcement that VWR International is going to build a large distribution center in Visalia and a smaller company is opening a facility in Pixley as signs the economy is beginning to turn around.
“Things seem to be good on the horizon,” he said, adding that inquiries at the EDC appear to be on the rise.
However, he, like Salomon, doesn't see a return any time soon of the housing industry. Saldana said that except for the boom years of 2003-06, housing has not been a big player in the local economy, but until the boom, was fairly consistent. Those boom years, therefore, are somewhat misleading.
Patty Rocha, manager of Preferred Outlets of Tulare, the large outlet center in that city, said the shopping center has actually seen an increase in traffic and sales during the economic downturn. Like the Walmarts and Targets that have also seen sales increase, the outlet center is where people shop for bargains.
“When the economy is down people are trying to maximize their dollars,” said Rocha.
What did drop is the consistent flow of out-of-state and even foreign tourists to the center. Rocha said that is now beginning to come back. She has seen an increase in shoppers from Fresno and Bakersfield.
Still, the outlet center has been adversely affected. Plans to develop another phase have indefinitely been put on hold due to the tight financing market. And, said Rocha, she has seen a few brand name stores close or struggle not because the Tulare store is doing poorly, but the company as a whole is doing poorly.
However, she expects the center to be 98 percent leased by the end of the year.
“We're very excited about prospects out there and looking to good days ahead.”
Salomon also points to some positive signs. He said besides the large industrial user that should bring 200 to 300 jobs to the area not to mention the construction jobs, there is Hobby Lobby opening in the old Mervyn's store site.
“There are some good signs – not going to help in three or six months – but positive after that.”
He said the city's industrial park is well-positioned and with improvements to Plaza Drive, Riggin and Betty Driver interchange, the industrial park will become even more attractive to companies looking to locate in the Central Valley.
Lollis said there are three large national retailers looking at Porterville right now. “It gives you some sense that it's not completely stagnant,” he said.
Another positive sign, noted Holly, is that people are saving money like no other time in recent memory.
“People are hoarding money like never before,” said Holly, explaining that in this recession people have become adverse to debt and are accumulating cash. He agreed that eventually people will return to their spending ways.
Buxton, a Texas-based firm specializing in identifying customers, potential sales, analyzing trade area gaps and putting successful businesses together with the right community, presented its findings on August 25.
According to its website, Buxton is a company that specializes in market planning and marketing services for; retail stores and restaurants, healthcare organizations, consumer packaged goods companies and government and municipalities.
The company studied customers and potential customers of Downtown Visalia. The information that has been derived will provide a list of business prospects for recruitment and details to help current businesses increase sales.
“Our goal is to fill all of the vacancies,” said Kelly Hauert, chief executive officer for the Downtown Visalia Alliance.
Currently, there are approximately five vacant locations in the downtown ground area between Floral and Bridge streets, Hauert added.
During its study, Buxton focused on a 17-minute radius around Visalia, which also included Goshen, Ivanhoe, Farmersville, Exeter and portions of Tulare. This also covered the 217,000 people that are located within the 17-minute map.
Information about the people who live within that 17 minute drive from downtown Visalia was also gathered and separated into dominant segments.
According to the study, a segment that represents at least three percent of a trade area is a dominant segment. The study identified eight dominant segments (of the community). By determining dominant segments and reviewing their segment descriptions, lifestyle habits and preferences can be identified, including what their income is, how they spend their money and even what they do during their free time.
For example, the description of Visalia's most dominant segment was found to be Latino Nuevo, which represents 9,058 households and covers 13.5 percent of households in the area. The second largest segment of population is labeled as Urban Blues Young, which covers 6,593 households or 9.83 percent of the city.
The study even looked at where the highest leakage (customers going elsewhere to shop) is coming from, which is called Leakage analysis.
“They can do things in order to capture a larger portion of what is leaking out of our community,” she added.
Leakage can come in two different ways. Consumers are either buying somewhere else or they aren't making purchases because this area doesn't carry the items.
“Now they [businesses] don't have to guess where they need to spend their advertising dollars,” she said. “It also gives them potential for new customers.
Although the results provide a massive amount of information, Hauert will now be able to use the information to recruit businesses for the downtown area.
Pam Coz-Hill, an owner of Mike's Quality Cameras, said the that the study will be something the Economic Development Committee of downtown Visalia can use to effectively communicate with the different population groups of Visalia.
“It's also useful to the property owners because there are vacancies,” Coz-Hill said. “The report can be used to bring business to downtown but also to show them that there is a population to buy the products.”
Private Schools Seeing Increase in Students
After realizing her five year career working with disabled individuals wasn't working, Krista Robinson of Dinuba, decided to seek other options.
“With the economy and budget cuts I decided it was time for a new career change,” Robinson said.
When Robinson found out that the Milan Institute, a private college, offered a variety of courses and had class openings in her newly desired career field, she enrolled right away. Within two weeks she started classes to become an Administration Specialist.
The Milan Institute's Allied Health Campus, on Mooney, is seeing a rise in its enrollment, said Patrick Taylor, school director.
The college relocated last November to a larger location which allowed it to have more growth, he said.
Although the Allied Health Campus and the Milan Cosmetology Campus are separate, enrollment is strong at the Cosmetology campus as well.
With most of the options equally being popular, the medical choices are much stronger, he added.
“Education in a different field is a positive experience,” said Don Wright, campus director for San Joaquin Valley College, a private junior college.
A business that started 33 years ago has approximately 1,100 students attending the Visalia campus while 6,264 students are attending campuses college-wide.
The college offers a wide range of courses in Business Administration, Corrections, Health Care and Nursing with most courses offered morning, noon and night, he added. They also offer associate degrees of Science and some certificate programs as well.
“The most popular courses include some form of medical or medical field support,” said Wright.
Medical Assisting-Health Care Administration, Pharmacy Technician, Dental Assisting, Registered Nursing and Respiratory Therapy are the top five courses.
The college has 10 campuses ranging between Rancho Cordova to Rancho Cucamonga; including Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia and Modesto.
Fresno Pacific University, a Christian university, has its main campus located in Fresno with extended centers in Bakersfield, Visalia and one in North Fresno.
Currently, the college has 3,314 in its student body, which over 1,000 is enrolled at the Visalia campus.
“We seem to be doing very well,” said Stephen Varvis, vice president for enrollment management.
“Enrollment is up by 25 percent over last year.”
School officials have seen a strong interest in Early Child Liberal Arts and Business Management, which both have programs for the bachelor's degree.
Varvis said that when the economy is down, he's noticed students turning to education.
Formerly known as Chapman University, Brandman University has seen steady growth and has exceeded its enrollment expectations by 15 percent, said Sonia Gutierrez-Mendoza, campus director.
This year, the college has had the largest fall class in recent history, she added.
Students that are seeking education from Brandman are those who are still employed but want to higher their education level at work, while others want to just change their career path.
At Brandman, students can earn a bachelor's and master's degree, credential and extended education programs in a variety of disciplines including education, leadership and psychology.
“Education has always been a strength and it continues to be a strength,” Gutierrez-Mendoza said.
Overall enrollment for University of Phoenix's Central Valley campus has increased year over year between fiscal 2008 and 2010, said Danica Ross, director of public relations.
For those same three years, the top five programs have consistently been bachelor of Science in Psychology, bachelor of Science in Business Management, bachelor of Science in Human Services, bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
University of Phoenix is the nation's largest private university, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs at more than 200 locations, as well as online in most countries around the world.
Jason Britt, who recently was appointed Tulare County Human Service Director, replacing David Crawford, said it is almost impossible to plan ahead as the economy flucuates. Britt has been with the department for 15 years.
The latest data shows 14,000 families receiving aid in Tulare County, up about 800 from the same period one year ago. In 2008, the total was 12,400.
Britt said, “We saw this gradual uptick with the 2007 freeze. In December 2006, the number of families receiving aid was approximately 11,000.”
Since the freeze, the overall economic decline has been the prime factor in the rising caseload, Britt said.
TulareWORKS, commonly referred to as welfare, pays out $7.4 million a month to families in need.
Although the funds are a combination of state and federal monies, Tulare County administers the program. The county pays about $10 million overall in social welfare costs each month.
In Tulare County, the maximum benefit level is $661 per month for a family of three (a mother and two children.)
California's welfare reform program requires recipients to work or seek employment to receive assistance, similar to welfare reform in most states. But with California having about 12 percent of the nation's population and about 30 percent of welfare costs, calls for even further reform continue to gain momentum.
Critics say the CalWORKS program failed to meet its expectations and continues to be mired in controversy especially in light of California's on-going budget crisis and debate. As of November, 2009, CalWORKS caseload has decreased 45 percent. In Tulare County the decrease has been less, with the most recent figures showing a 35 percent drop, county officials say.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed eliminating the program but agreed to a compromise plan to reform CalWorks allowing it to continue providing basic shelter, food and clothing assistance to the state's lowest income residents working toward self-sufficiency. Just how far-reaching those potential reforms will reach remains as unclear and unsettled as California's financial crisis.
The thrust of reform proposals in California include shortening the time recipients are eligible and toughening job requirements. In most cases, the limit is two years but doesn't always apply.
Months ago the governor
suggested six-month eligibility reviews by edibility workers
but that has not been implemented and is still part of debated
reform considerations.
He said CalWORKS case numbers are cyclical, especially in
Tulare County. “We see higher numbers in the winter
months as many of our program participants work in the agricultural
industry”
He said many recipients “do work but can only find part-time work or minimum wage work that just doesn't cover their family expenses for rent, food, etc.”
For Visalian Elisa Rosales, 21, and a single-mother of two children - a 2-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son - her part-time job in a day-care center isn't enough to make ends meet. She attends College of the Sequoias in the mornings seeking a potential career in the criminal justice field and works afternoons.
“It really helps me out,” she said of the assistance she gets. Rosales receives around $400 per month in addition to a child-care allowance and some food stamps.
Without the child care assistance, she said, having a part-time job would not be possible. She feels that some changes in the welfare system probably are needed because some recipients abuse the program, making it harder on those who are attempting to become self-sufficient.
The level of assistance varies with some recipients receiving food stamps only or child care allowances.
Mike Hernandez, 45, who said he recently was released from Pelican Bay state prison, is not enrolled in a job program and receives $200 in food stamps for his 8-year-old daughter.
Britt said he and other county officials just have to wait and see what will happen statewide to CalWORKS and make adjustments once the state budget is finalized.
Last year, Tulare County's Human Services Division was forced to cut 150 positions but later was able to re-fill 50 of those jobs after funding was restored.
The six projects will cover 1,000 acres in southern Tulare County between Allensworth and Alpaugh.
All but about 20 acres of 1,216 acres destined to generate solar energy via solar panels are currently fallow, according to permit applications approved by the Tulare County Planning Commission.
Although about 530 acres of project land are under Williamson Act contract, cancellation proceedings have started on nearly all but about 40 acres, county officials said.
Solar Project Solutions, LLC, a Southern California-based alternative energy company, is leasing the land from the Alpaugh Irrigation District and the Atwell Irrigation District and a private property owner. The power will be sold to Pacific Gas and Electric which owns an 115,000 volt line with a 130-megawatt capacity.
The solar farms will be built near PG&E substations.
The commission's approval for the six projects is conditional pending approval by Tulare County Supervisors of developer agreements and reclamation plans, part of the criteria set a month ago by supervisors. Those agreements are expected to come before the board in two to three weeks, said John Heiser, a county planner who has been overseeing the solar power generation issue for some time. He said construction could begin by December or January.
Permits for several other projects are pending and expected to be considered soon, said Heiser. About 15 permit requests have been filed in the county, he said.
The Alpaugh North site is a 20-megawatt facility and the other Alpaugh site is a 50-megawatt facility. Both are on 550.5 acres that sit between Avenue 68 and Avenue 56 west of State Highway 43.
The other 30-megawatt facility, known as the White River Solar Generation Facility, is on 180 acres between Avenue 50 and Avenue 52, west of Road 56. About 40 acres are under Williamson Act contract.
The third site, referred to as the Atwell Island Solar Generation Facility Project, will contain three 20-megawatt facilities on 480 acres about one mile north of the Tulare-Kern County line east of Road 48.
Heiser said nearly all the land for the projects currently is fallow due to lack of water and only about 20 acres of a 40-acre Williamson Act contract parcel is used for growing cotton.
A contract cancellation for part of that site is being considered, he said.
Williamson Act contracts provide land owners with reduced property taxes in exchange for restrictions of non-farming use.
The standards set by supervisors basically provide a two-level criteria plan for farmland to be considered for solar farms, one level for contract land and one for non-contract property.
The California and Tulare County Farm Bureaus have opposed solar farms on Williamson Act land and were involved with the Tulare County Agricultural Advisory Committee, county officials and other to help establish criteria.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
What's New
Lindsay Mann, CEO of Kaweah Delta Hospital District, got approval to begin design of the now-shelled fifth and sixth floors of the Acequia Tower. Mann said that the recommendation is the fifth floor will be for cardiology and the sixth floor for surgery patients. The two floors will add 48 beds to the hospital.
No pot sales – medical or not – in Visalia. Despite pleas from three people, the Visalia City Council voted 5-0 to extend the city's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and collective or cooperative cultivation and distribution enterprises in the city for a second year. The council rescinded its ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries a year ago and city attorney Alex Peltzer said there is still a lot of uncertainty over medical marijuana. He said that could get even more uncertain depending on what voters do with Prop. 19 – the initiative to legalize pot in California – in the November election.
Nina Akin, director of membership and sales for the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, has been hired as president/CEO of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce. See Tulare Voice for story.
The City of Porterville is very close to a final agreement with Southern California Edison on a 5 to 7 megawatt solar field near the Porterville Airport. The project is joint effort of the city, SCE and the Tule Indian tribe that owns the 40 acres the solar field will sit on.
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States increased by 43.7 percent to 2.3 million, more than twice the national rate of 18.0 percent between 2002 and 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. About 45.8 percent of all Hispanic-owned businesses were owned by people of Mexican origin.
The keynote speaker at this year's Drug Court Graduation ceremony on Oct. 28 will be Peter Tork, former member of the band, The Monkees, and the television show of the same name. The ceremony will be held beginning at 7 p.m.
Surroz Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep officially becomes Lampe Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram this weekend. Lampe, which has closed its closed its Tulare store at Highway 99 and Paige Avenue, takes over the Surroz dealership at 151 N. Neeley near Plaza Drive just east of Highway 99 and north of Highway 198. The adjacent BMW store will remain under Surroz ownership.
Sequoia Mobility, Inc. in Visalia has recently increased its line of durable medical equipment (DME) and medical supplies to include a full line of diabetic and arthritis products intended to improve circulation and mobility. The line has been expanded to include compression stockings by Jobst, arthritis care products by Therall, and “diabetic” shoes by Relano in response to the large demand for retail diabetic and arthritis medical supplies in the Visalia area.
The nation's homeowners paid a median of $1,000 in monthly housing costs in 2009, compared with $808 for renters, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, renters usually paid a higher percentage of their household income on these costs than did owners (31 percent compared with 20 percent).
Approximately 9,000 people in California are estimated to die prematurely each year as a result of exposure to fine particle pollution, according to a report issued by the California Air Resources Board.
The California Energy Commission approved the construction of the proposed Beacon Solar Energy Project, the first solar thermal power project permitted in 20 years. The project is a concentrated solar electric generating facility on approximately 2,012-acres in eastern Kern County on the western edge of the Mojave Desert, four miles from California City and 15 miles north of the town of Mojave.
Tulare County - Area auto dealers say they are cautiously optimistic that the new car market will pick up speed.
In addition, the sale of used cars continues to be soft in the wake of fewer trade-ins resulting from the slumping new vehicle sales over the last year or two as well as owners keeping their vehicles longer.
Last year's federal Cash for Clunkers program also had some impact on the used car market, dealers say.
Improved inventories are helping as manufacturers roll out new products. Dealers say buyers and potential buyers are keeping their eyes on what is available and what new products are being launched as they make their decisions. The new models are being delivered but not all are yet in dealer showrooms as manufacturers adjust their production schedules.
Paul Brown, general sales manager of Surroz Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram, said sales were up 35 percent over a year ago, noting that the automakers' problems of a year ago and the company's upswing and new products are reflected in those numbers.
He says the introduction of new 2011 Dodge Charger, Durango, Chrysler 200 and 300, and new Ram trucks are expected to draw interest.
Published reports show Chrysler sales rising 7 percent compared to August, 2009, the fifth straight month of year-over-year increases. He credited increased inventories from the previous year in the midst of Chrysler's financial crisis and the new design of some 2011 models for the rebound.
At Surroz, the sale of used vehicles, Brown said, continues to be slow but should pick up if new car sales continue to increase.
In Dinuba, Ed Dena said August and September sales have been good, with August sales the best in about three years.
Dena, who credits having an improved inventory as a major factor in increased sales, says he is cautiously optimistic and expects a slow industry recovery. “We are not out of the woods, yet,” he said, adding that it will be some time for overall consumer confidence to return.
Dena's comments echo those of General Motors executives who recently forecast a slow recovery.
In a recent Bloomberg report, Don Johnson, vice president of GM sales operations in the U.S, said he expects sales to modesty increase through the end of the year adding that GM will not respond to the slow recovery with incentive deals.
He said GM does not plan to resume putting incentives into the marketplace to keep plants going. He expects redesigned heavy-duty large trucks and the new Chevy Cruize and Buick Regal to lead the way in increased sales.
Don Groppetti, whose multi-line dealerships lead the way in volume sales in the Visalia area, reports business has been steady in recent months across the board with Toyota continuing to be the top seller. The massive recall of Toyota vehicles had only a three week or so negative impact on sales, he said, and the brand is by far the top selling line in the company's stable of dealerships which includes Honda, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, and GM.
August sales were up over last year overall with indications that September sales also will he higher, Groppetti said.
Recent figures show the Groppetti auto group having a 29 percent share of sales in the Tulare and Kings counties, an increase of about 5 percent over previous reports.
Groppetti said inventories are not the problem they were in some cases although the industry is still adjusting to changes in the way it produces products.
According to industry reports, the built rates and inventory levels across the board are the lowest in years.
“They've changed their business models,” Groppetti explained, becoming more selective in the lines they produce as well as not flooding dealerships with massive inventories. Groppetti also sees a slow industry rebound linked to the overall national financial recovery.
The era of some manufacturers rolling out their new models well before the end of the calendar year is basically a thing of the past, but announcement of what will be coming has become an industry trend.
Dena expects introduction and delivery of Chevrolet's compact Cruize and the highly touted electric powered Volt with greatly increased fuel mileage and performance will spark interest.
By Marina Gaytan
Farmersville - Farmersville's Annual Fall Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 2 in downtown Farmersville. The festival will highlight a car and motorcycle show, live music, vendors, community booths, activities for children and a sidewalk sale at the Farmersville Hock Shop.
Later that evening the City of Farmersville will be celebrating 50 years of incorporation with Dinner under the Stars. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Church/Museum at 881 N. Farmersville Boulevard.
The event will feature Liz Gonzales of KMPH Channel 26, as emcee. Guests will also have the first peek at the renovated old Methodist Church. All proceeds will benefit the City's Church/Museum project. The event is being sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Farmersville.
Farmersville, which dates back to the 1850s, is the youngest incorporated city in Tulare County. It was incorporated Oct. 6, 1960.
The City is planning a Time Capsule event, another project to commemorate the City's incorporation at 10 a.m. October 6 at the Church/Museum location. The Capsule will be buried there as well. All residents can present items to the city for consideration to be placed in the time capsule.
For ticket information about Dinner under
the Stars or more on the city's history call City Hall at
747-0458.
Farmersville History
According to the history of the city compiled by Farmersville City Manager Rene Miller:
The first history of the Farmersville area was in the 1850s. There was a community developed called Deep Creek. It is located near the present Deep Creek Cemetery and there are headstones that date back to the 1850s. There was a school built there to accommodate the farm children in the area. The Fly family history, which is preserved in a book written about their travels to California, there is talk about attending the Deep Creek School in the 1860s.
Until 1863, many of the residents living on the east side of the county traveled Visalia Road by wagon to get their mail, purchase supplies and bring their goods to sell. The trip was so long that many would stop at the Wiley Hinds farm, just south of present day Farmersville, to ask to sleep in their barn and continue their trip home the next day.
Wiley Hinds was a former slave, his brother Archibald, came from Arkansas in 1858. He settled in Farmersville, purchased other parcels for farming and was very prosperous.
In approximately 1865, two entrepreneurs, Crowley and Jasper, decided to capture the sales of residents on the east side of the county on their way to Visalia to get their mail. Unfortunately, they were not successful. In 1868, T.J. Brundage purchased the business and applied for a post office status. This was the trick needed to get the eastern residents to stop in Farmersville.
Brundage also had a lumber yard across the street from the general store. Oxen would pull the lumber shipment from the Sierra mills.
Just east of the Brundage General Store was the Brown Hotel. It was built in 1870 by Edward Balaam and purchased by Charles Brown. The hotel was two stories and a popular stop over by those needing a rest from the Overland Stage trip that would stop at the livery stable, owned by Brown, to change horses.
Farmersville's first school house was built at the southwest corner of the Four Corners. It was a two story building with the classrooms on the first floor, and a community room on the second for meetings and dances in 1869. It was torn down and a new school was built at the present day Snowden Elementary site. That schoolhouse was replaced in 1951.
The discussion to incorporate started as early
as 1945. However, Don Freeman began the petition and application
process that ended on October 6, 1960, in the City's incorporation.
The first council was; James Tornow, Mayor, Truman Qualls,
Don Freeman, Willis Freeman, Jim Steven and council members.
Carl Waddle was the first City Clerk.
The City struggled to get proper water delivery and wastewater
treatment. It was in 1968 that the Wastewater treatment
plant loan was made for $480,000 to build the first plant
and transmission infrastructure. The City was discussing
disincorporation by the late 1960s.
The City had already voted in 1945 to pay for its own police department so the City already had public safety.
Built in the1880s, the chapel of the former Farmersville Methodist Church was rolled to Farmersville on logs, with horses pulling it, in approximately 1902. It was established on Farmersville Blvd. just south of Visalia Road, also known as the “four Corners” around 1947; a Mrs. Avery donated a parcel of her land that is now Avery and Ash. The chapel portion of the church was moved again, to that location. The steeple broke during this move. It was rebuilt with the fishtail shingles.
The church has been home to the Boys and Girls Club, but the city hopes to build a community center at that site.
Today, Farmersville is a city of approximately 9,000 residents and looking to the future with plans for a major shopping center along Highway 198.
By Marina Gaytan
Visalia - The Mad as Hell Doctors tour will roll into Visalia next week to promote a single-payer health insurance program.
The organization will discuss single payer health care at 6:30 p.m. on October 8, at 210 Café in downtown Visalia.
Mad as Hell Doctors promote single-payer health insurance as a fiscally conservative, affordable way to provide universal health care to all Californians who are currently uninsured.
The doctors also promote to improve coverage for those who currently have catastrophic insurance at best; and to help every insured Californian cope with declining benefits accompanied by increasingly high premiums, deductibles and co-pays.
“Single payer health care is only one aspect of the fight we all have on our hands for a just system and true democratic power to the people,” said Cynthia Koval, Health Care For All California, Tulare - Kings Counties.
Dr. Marc Sapir, who has been a primary care physician for 39 years, will be one of the doctors speaking about current issues directly related to single payer.
“We'll be speaking about these things and a lot more in a lively almost theatrical presentation about why each of us, as a doctor who works in this dysfunctional health care system, is mad as hell,” he said.
The event will include video and audience participation along with music by Mariachi Colonial, a band of eight from Porterville.
“It will be a fun and informative evening, and a chance to show our community that we are a strong and vital force,” Koval added.
This event is a follow up of a national tour that the doctors did from the west coast all the way to Washington D.C. last year. This year's tour will hit 22 cities throughout California and will end October 12.
According to Dr. Sapir, the U.S. already spends about $8,000 per person, per year on health care, which is twice as much as the second most expensive country and yet it still only ranks 37th in a World Health Organization composite indicator for health outcomes.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
September 30, 2010
