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Long Beach council backs Measure ER to shore up county clinics and public-health safety net, amid fiscal debate
Summary
Mayor Richardson asked the council to take a formal position supporting Measure ER, a five-year county sales-tax measure to fund clinics and public health; the council voted to support it after testimony from clinic leaders and unions, though one councilmember opposed taking a formal position.
The Long Beach City Council voted on May 5 to take an official position in support of Measure ER, a proposed Los Angeles County temporary sales-tax measure intended to provide a stopgap to stabilize clinics and public-health services facing federal and state funding reductions.
Mayor Rex Richardson framed the request around recent federal policy changes that he said would reduce Medi-Cal eligibility and strain clinics, emergency rooms and the city’s public-health system. "We have an opportunity," he said, describing an annual county allocation that would direct approximately $8 million to Long Beach from a countywide $10 million annual allocation earmarked to two cities and the county public-health system.
Health providers and union leaders urged the council to back Measure ER. Dr. Elisa Nicholas, pediatrician and CEO of TCC Family Health (the Children’s Clinic), said the clinics serve tens of thousands of local residents and that losing funding would force service cuts and layoffs. Claudia Powell of Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County and other clinic and union representatives described the measure as a vital five-year bridge to protect preventive and primary-care services.
Council discussion included expressions of support based on public-health concerns and calls for financial accountability at the county level; Councilmember Allen said she could not support the city taking a formal position because of the tax burden on residents and preferred leaving the choice to voters. The council ultimately approved the motion to support the measure; the record reports "Motion is carried."
