Pajaro Valley Leaders Sound Alarm on Devastating Medi-Cal Cuts in May Revise

Community rallies to defend healthcare access as proposed budget slashes safety net for most vulnerable residents

Watsonville, CA (June 2, 2025) - As the federal government considers sweeping Medicaid cuts, California’s May Revise budget proposal released on May 14, 2025 adds to the concern. The proposal includes rollbacks of recent Medi-Cal expansions for undocumented immigrants, threatening healthcare access for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

Starting in 2026, Governor Newsom’s proposal would reduce Medi-Cal enrollment and impose monthly premiums on those who remain covered. These changes risk reversing historic progress in health equity in California.

Pajaro Valley leaders and community advocates will gather at a press conference to raise awareness, assess the local impact, and urge state leaders to protect access to essential care for all.

WHAT:

Pajaro Valley Community Leaders Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, June 2, 2025, 11 AM

WHO:

Speakers will include:

Maria Elena De La Garza, CEO, Community Action Board

Irma Marquez, County Human Services Department, Employment & Benefit Services Division Director

Angela Di Novella, Executive Director, Catholic Charities Diocese Of Monterey County

Iris Borjorques, Program Director, Proyecto Salud, Community Action Board

WHERE: Watsonville City Plaza, 358 Main St, Watsonville, CA 95076

INTERVIEWS:  Interviews will be available directly following the speakers’ remarks, in both English and Spanish.

PRIMARY MEDIA CONTACT: Adilene Hernandez, Program Coordinator, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, Cell: (831) 345-2115, adilene.hernandez@SantaCruzCountyCa.Gov 

SECONDARY MEDIA CONTACT: Carina Chavez, Associate Director of Public Relations and Communications, Salud Para La Gente, Cell: (831) 262-2212, cchavez@splg.org

About Pajaro Valley Collaborative: 

The Pajaro Valley Collaborative (“PVC”) is a collaboration of 26 nonprofit partner organizations strategically aligned to advance positive outcomes throughout the Pajaro Valley with a priority emphasis on improving health and wellness, economic mobility, and civic engagement.

Partner organizations commit leadership, organizational resources, staff, and time at various levels to address joint priorities. Having responded to public health emergencies and other disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic and severe flooding, the PVC partners are collectively committed to evolving beyond crisis management to form a permanent collaboration to support health and wellness, economic mobility, and civic engagement in the Pajaro Valley.

For more information visit: https://www.pvcollaborative.org/about