by Desiree Aquino
On February 28, hundreds of immigrant families gathered at the San Francisco Immigration Building on Sansome St. to protest the increase in ICE raids nationwide and in the Bay Area. This was the third day of the Week of Action Against ICE Raids for Immigrant Rights.
Several immigrant rights groups denounced ICE tactics of arbitrary interrogation based on racial profiling and detention tactics. Immigrant rights are calling on ICE to stop their operation and on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to call for a moratorium on all raids until Congress decides on newimmigration legislation.
Medicare plan services not adequate for limited English proficient callers The National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) has found that prescription drug coverage companies for Medicare beneficiaries in California are not meeting their obligation to provide services in languages other than English. A survey conducted by the NSCLC found that over 60 percent of calls placed never reached someone speaking the language of the caller, and more than 50 percent all calls ended without any attempt by the representative to connect the caller to someone speaking the caller’s language.
Almost 30 percent of California’s one million low-income beneficiaries are limited English proficient.
San Francisco’s universal Health Access Program changes implementation
A program to provide universal health care access for all uninsured San Franciscans will be implemented in phases, to increase the flexibility of local businesses to understand the program and to meet the health car needs of their employees.
The ordinance adjusts the phasing of participation in the program, with the Health Access Plan beginning on July 1 as the first phase of enrollment for the most vulnerable, uninsured residents. The second phase begins January 1, 2008 for individuals whose participation is funded by employers.
Local group urges community to stop Oakland high school closure
Education Not Incarceration (ENI) is urging Bay Area community members to take action to prevent the closure of East Oakland Community High School (EOC). The group supports EOC because it represents ENI’s four point program to stop students from being pushed out of school and into prison.
A march and rally were held on February 28 to the Oakland School Board meeting. ENI is urging community members to contact School Board Members, Mayor Ron Dellums and the State Appointed Administrator.
San Mateo County presents 2007 Adolescent Report
The Health Department and Youth Commission of San Mateo County presented the 2007 San Mateo County Adolescent Report to the Board of Supervisors on February 27.The report provides a snapshot of the health of County youth and recommends policies to improve health.
The report found San Mateo County lacking in developmental assets around youth and adult partnerships and mentoring opportunities. The report is available online at www.smhealth.org/hppp.
