AYF Calls on LA County Supervisor to Drop Privatization Plan

Dear Supervisor Antonovich,

We write to you as Armenian youth extremely concerned with your proposed plan to privatize the Glendale Health Center (GHC).

As a primary care facility which serves over 3,500 patients—most of whom are uninsured seniors and first-generation immigrants—GHC provides critical medical care to those in our community who need it the most. The majority of the clinic’s patients are of Armenian descent and rely heavily on the culturally competent care offered by the diverse, multi-lingual staff. Many of these patients travel from far distances to come to the center so they can be treated in an environment where they are comfortable and understood.

Privatization poses the risk of severing these long-established relationships patients have developed with the center’s doctors, nurses and caretakers. Handing over GHC to a private agency will likely disrupt the important culturally appropriate care patients so desperately rely upon.

The proposed privatization also threatens to erect excessive barriers to access, accountability and efficiency. A private agency will not be able to service the over 80% of uninsured patients which frequent the center. Higher costs, restriction to access, and compounded obstacles to receiving care are bound to result should the center be privatized.

As an organization dedicated to social justice and public service, we find the proposal to privatize Glendale Health Center detrimental to the needs of our community. At a time when people need quality and affordable healthcare more than ever, cutting off such important services is something we firmly stand against.

We ask you to reconsider the proposal to privatize the Glendale Health Center and protect the health services for those in our community who need it the most.

Sincerely,

Armenian Youth Federation
Western Region
Central Executive