Monterey County Health Director Warns of dire Consequences from Governor’s Proposed Budget Cuts to Public Health Funding

Monterey County Health Director Elsa Jimenez has expressed her concern about the proposed budget cuts to public health funding by Governor Gavin Newsom. The $300 million cut could threaten some programs that are crucial for the department’s response to public health emergencies, including a recent avian flu outbreak. Jimenez explained that the proposed funding cut could affect 24 full-time local jobs and impact 1,253 proposed new positions aimed at improving staffing shortages in public health statewide.

The funding also supports Monterey County’s Healthy Housing Program, which monitors homes for health and safety hazards like mold. If the program is forced back into a reactive mode, it will only address issues after receiving complaints, which could harm the health of many low-income residents, especially BIPOC individuals who are already disproportionately affected by health disparities. Jimenez highlighted the challenges faced by BIPOC residents in finding safe and affordable housing in the community due to high living costs.

Jimenez emphasized that it is crucial to ensure that all residents have access to safe and healthy housing, especially low-income and BIPOC individuals. She stressed that reverting to a reactive approach rather than a proactive one in addressing health and safety issues in housing could have far-reaching implications for public health programs and services in communities like Monterey County.