Health Care: Job Losses Can Make You Sick

Re “L.A. Trauma Care Network Is Revived, but at a Cost,” Nov. 7: My union, the Service Employees International Union, Local 660, took a lead role in the Measure B campaign along with Republicans, Democrats, private hospitals and business groups to save our trauma hospitals. But now we’re being criticized for saving “jobs.” I’ve been a public health nurse for L.A. County and a member of SEIU, Local 660, for 20 years. My job has been on the line before, or I should say, the health services I provide.

Think about it. When there’s job loss in health care, it means that patients don’t get needed treatment. It means communicable diseases go unfound and untreated. It puts our entire community at risk.

So yes, I’m fighting to keep my job and keep our hospitals and clinics open to ensure access to health care for everyone in L.A. County. And on Nov. 5, voters said overwhelmingly through Measure B that they’re standing with me to keep our communities healthy.

Rosie Martinez

Alhambra