Neil Sehgal

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights defines terrorism as acts of violence that target civilians in the pursuit of political or ideological aims.

The immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis is violence used to advance political and ideological aims, at the expense of civilian safety.

Pausing SNAP benefits would leave 900,000 Washingtonians—1 in 9 of our neighbors—without access to food. “This will mean empty cupboards, missed meals, and impossible choices,” writes HSPOP's Neil Jay Sehgal in The Seattle Times . https://loom.ly/j6TxVF0

#SNAPBenefits #PublicHealth #SeattleTimes

According to USDA, in May (the most recent month for which data is available) more than 905,000 Washingtonians received a total of $167M in SNAP benefits.

Since SNAP participation tends to increase towards the end of the year, this is likely an underestimate.

Based on the Governor’s own estimates, $2.2M/week would replace about 5% of the federal SNAP funding Washington is projected to lose. A good start, but a press release is not a policy solution and food banks can’t replace a federal entitlement that serves nearly a million Washingtonians every month.

And then this evening they published this.

(I know, I know… correlation does not imply causation.)

A pause in SNAP benefits is a public health emergency; WA must act now | Op-Ed A pause in food benefits will land heaviest on families, older adults and people with disabilities in Washington.

I had a piece in the @seattletimes.com this morning.

“Without Medicaid funds, hospitals will struggle, if not fail, leaving residents with limited access to emergency or specialty care. Washington already has the fewest hospital beds per capita of any U.S. state; we simply cannot afford another hospital closure.”
-Neil Sehgal, Director of MHA Programs

The University of Washington School of Public Health, too.

Destroying public health to own the libs.

Fixed it for myself: “The confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will put the nation’s health in jeopardy with potentially catastrophic consequences.”

RFK Jr.’s nomination to lead HHS is a direct threat to public health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may present himself as a champion of public health, but his track record reveals a starkly different reality.

At the heart of HHS’s mission is the promotion of evidence-based public health and medical practices.

Kennedy’s anti-science views and opposition to vaccines — among the most effective tools for preventing disease in human history — directly contradict that mission.

@seattletimes-rss.bsky.social

Oh, hey! I’m that buddy.