Black Leaders Across California Urge Voters to Support Proposition 35

For Immediate Release
September 5, 2024

Prop 35 will protect and expand access to care for 15 million Medi-Cal patients and all Californians

Sacramento – Today, the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference joins the Minority Health Institute, the California Black Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento and Los Angeles Chapters of the National Action Network in supporting Proposition 35.

“California is facing an urgent health care crisis and more must be done to ensure that everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, receives equitable access to health care,” said Rick Callender, President of the NAACP CA/HI State Conference. “Proposition 35 will protect and expand access to care so that more Black and Brown Californians who rely on Medi-Cal for health coverage will have access to the primary care doctors, specialists, dentists, and mental health professionals that they need and deserve.”

“The Minority Health Institute was created to address the lack of equal access to medical resources, lack of cultural competency and bias in how Black and other minority groups are treated in our health care delivery system,” said Dr. Richard Williams, President and CEO of the Minority Health Institute. “Prop 35 will provide the necessary funding to hire and train more culturally competent health care professionals to ensure that regardless of your background or health coverage, you have access to essential health care. For too long, Black women have faced exceptional challenges in Medi-Cal – especially as it relates to prenatal and childbirth care – and Prop 35 provides the resources to finally reduce these burdens.”

Prop 35 secures ongoing revenue by extending an existing levy on health insurance companies – without raising taxes – and dedicates these funds to protect and expand access to care for all Californians. Prop 35 permanently extends the existing levy on health insurance companies that will otherwise expire in 2026.

“Access to preventative health care has been tied not only to better health of individuals, but of the communities in which they live,” said Jay King, President and CEO, California Black Chamber of Commerce. “We support Prop 35 because we know that the health of people and their communities are essential for a thriving and economically strong California.”

“Prop 35 is a critical step toward achieving true health equity in California. This measure will ensure that the 15 million residents who depend on Medi-Cal have access to the care they need and deserve,” said Dr. James Washington III, M.D., Riverside neonatologist. “Voting yes on Prop 35 will significantly improve health outcomes across the state, particularly in underserved, disenfranchised, minority communities that have been historically overlooked.”

Prop 35 makes sure money set aside for health care actually goes toward health care. It prevents the state from redirecting these funds for non-health care purposes.

“Eliminating the health disparities in California starts with improving access to care for the nearly 15 million Californians – including more than a million Black Californians – who rely on Medi-Cal for their health coverage,” said Dr. Tecoy Porter, National Action Network Sacramento Chapter President. “Currently, the lack of adequate funding means Medi-Cal patients must wait months to see primary care doctors or cardiologists, oncologists, pediatric specialists, or orthopedists. We need Prop 35 to expand access to care and reduce wait times for all patients when and where they need it.”

Prop 35 is supported by a large, bi-partisan coalition that includes nurses, health care workers, first responders, physicians, dentists, hospitals, Planned Parenthood, community health centers, social justice organizations and both the CA Democratic and Republican Parties because it will improve access to health care for ALL California patients.

For more information visit VoteYeson35.com.

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