Don’t Starve California - Remarks from Lance Toma
PRESS CONFERENCE :: Don’t Starve California, May 21, 2025
GOOD MORNING.
Lance Toma makes his remarks at the rally
I am Lance Toma, CEO of San Francisco Community Health Center. We are at the footsteps of SFCHC and Project Open Hand to FIGHT BACK against the federal threats that will have devastating impacts to our City.
At San Francisco Community Health Center, we provide medical, behavioral, and dental care for over 5000 individuals. Over 90% of our clients have Medi-Cal. Our clinic and community resource center are up on the 4th floor. We care for the homeless community and have teams of providers offering health care in the streets of the Tenderloin. We care for the Trans community here and at our Trans Thrive facility on Pine Street – and our Trans-focused emergency shelter in SOMA.
The threats to Medi-Cal mean cruel harm to the lifeline for too many people in San Francisco. Medi-Cal ensures that over 140,000 San Franciscans have access to health care.
What is happening at the federal level is that Congress is balancing the budget on the backs of low-income people and giving tax breaks to the wealthiest. San Francisco Community Health Center is part of a lawsuit against the Trump Administration because nearly 40% of our budget comes from federal dollars. The federal administration is coming after undocumented people, after Trans people, after LGBTQ communities – and we will NOT let this happen. As a sanctuary city for undocumented people, trans people, everyone at the margins, San Francisco will always be a beacon of hope, refuge, and resistance.
We will not be silent. We will not allow these vicious and unconscionable attacks to happen without a fight. Thanks to CPA, SF Rising and the other organizations for mobilizing us rapidly. We stand in solidarity with our cities across our state who are fasting to ensure lifelines for all of us.
Sincerely,
Lance
Lance Toma, LCSW (he/him)
CEO, San Francisco Community Health Center