Pajaro Valley Collaborative stages large rally against Medi-Cal and CalFresh fund cuts
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) -- “Our services can and are being cut in a drastic way.” That message rang loud and clear Tuesday morning as the Pajaro Valley Collaborative (PVC), alongside 23 local nonprofit organizations, gathered for a rally in Watsonville to protest proposed state and federal budget cuts that threaten to dismantle essential social services.
The concern are programs like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and school meal funding, services that tens of thousands of families in the Pajaro Valley region rely on for healthcare and food access.
Nonprofit leaders say the proposed cuts would disproportionately impact the most vulnerable, including farmworkers, seniors, LGBTQ+ youth, and low-income families.
“The federal government needs to keep their hands off social services, health care services,” Stephen Gray, CEO of Watsonville Community Hospital said. “These are things that keep people alive, that keep kids alive, that help veterans, that help the people who grow our fruits and vegetables to keep food on their families tables.”
PVC leaders warn that if funding is slashed, the consequences would be immediate. Jobs could be lost. Food insecurity could rise. Health outcomes could decline.
“All of these things are vital services,” Gray said. “We can’t have cuts to them, people will lose jobs, people will lose their livelihoods.”
“If services to our partners are impacted, then that means it lessens our ability to provide robust, quality services,” Stephanie Barron Lu, Executive Director of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance said.
Currently, 40% of Pajaro Valley residents rely on Medi-Cal, and in Santa Cruz County, over 41,000 people use CalFresh.
“Depending on what the state decides, if they can fill those federal funding gaps or not, services will be cut,” Gray said. “People who lose access will lose coverage under Medi-Cal. People will lose the services they rely on.”
School meal programs are also at risk. For many children, these meals are the most reliable source of nutrition they receive each day.
“We’re concerned about cuts or reductions to school meals,” Erica Padilla-Chavez, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank said. “We know from history that when children can’t access food, it impacts their health, learning, and ability to thrive.”
“When my ten-year-old comes to school and asks me, will I still be able to get lunch at school," Barron Lu said. "That hits hard, even I’m feeling the effects of these proposed Medi-Cal cuts.”
The rally also highlighted growing fears about potential reductions to the SNAP.
“Our biggest concern right now is the conversation around reductions to SNAP,” Padilla-Chavez said. “If those benefits are cut or eliminated, we’ll see a surge in demand at food banks. And we’re already doing everything we can to keep up.”
Nonprofit leaders urged the community to take action, by contacting lawmakers, staying informed, and speaking out.
