NWL’s Jamie Hoffman discusses the New York Health Act on the Joy of Resistance Radio Show
On 4/15/18, NWL neighborhood consciousness-raising coordinator Jamie Hoffman was a guest on the WBAI Joy of Resistance radio show, speaking about health care as a feminist demand and the case for a social wage. More specifically, these topics were discussed in the context of the New York Health Act (NYHA), legislation that would provide comprehensive, universal health care coverage for all New Yorkers. The bill has passed the NY state assembly three years in a row, but is stalled in the state senate by just one state senator, Simcha Felder of the 17th Senate District in Brooklyn. Grassroots efforts are looking to build people power to bolster the push for the NYHA to pass it in the next 5 years. This is seen as part of a bigger movement nationally, in the vein of the Medicare for All bill introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, as well as legislation introduced in states like California. Jamie also shared the NWL perspective on universal health care as a feminist demand: because health care is tethered to employment and marriage, women become dependent on partners and jobs despite doing the majority of the unpaid care work at home. Ultimately, the fight for universal health care is part of the fight for a larger demand of a social wage — which includes all the things women need to be free from dependence on employers and spouses such as child care, housing, public pensions and more.
Jamie shared many ways to get involved to support the NYHA bill. Find out who your state senator is and whether they are a co-sponsor of the NYHA bill, while also keeping their feet to the fire and letting them know you support this bill. There is also petition for individual New Yorkers to express their support, as well as businesses. Lastly, those who want to support the bill can participate in Lobby Day In Albany, NY on June 5th, 2018 where they can learn how to lobby and share personal health care testimony with representatives. To learn more about the bill and to get involved, go to the Campaign for New York Health website.