November 19, 2003

Letter to the Editor, The Californian
Salinas

To the Editor:

The local chapters of the League of Women Voters endorse Measure Q, the half-cent health-care sales tax.

Measure Q will ensure the stability of the health-care delivery system of Monterey County.

The proposed half-cent sales tax is a new source of revenue that will stay in the county and provide a strong financial footing for Natividad Medical Center. Natividad, a county-owned hospital, is dedicated to providing the highest quality, most cost-effective health care to all residents.

The state and federal governments have slashed their budgets, resulting in less funding for health care. Meanwhile, the number of uninsured patients is increasing at Natividad along with medical costs. Measure Q will help provide revenue for Natividad. It is a local solution to a national problem.

Natividad serves 58,000 patients annually, primarily the workforce in our major industries: hospitality, retail sales and agribusiness. Without Natividad, displaced patients would seek medical care at the other three hospitals in the county, overwhelming our health-care delivery system.

Vote "yes" on Measure Q and save our health-care safety net.

Beverly G. Bean, VMD
President, the League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula