President's Message

Welcome to New NHF CEO; Minimum Wage Initiative Update

Dr. Felita Jones

HASC Welcomes Dr. Felita Jones

After an extensive executive search, I’m delighted to announce that Dr. Felita Jones started this week as President/CEO of National Health Foundation (NHF).

Dr. Jones brings many years of leadership experience in nonprofit management, community outreach, fund development, health, behavioral health and social services. She is well positioned to lead NHF’s efforts to advance community-forward solutions that strengthen access to health services and build upon the success of NHF’s existing recuperative care programs and services.

Dr. Jones previously served in senior-level positions at REACH (Resource for Education, Advocacy, Communication and Housing), Inland Empire United Way, FACT (Family, Adult and Child Therapies), Casa Colina Hospital Foundation and Pediatric Asthma Disease Management Breathmobile Clinics.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Jones to the team. We’re proud of NHF’s long history of achievement in addressing health inequities, and we look forward with anticipation to this next chapter.

Local Minimum Wage Initiative Update

As you’re aware, the city councils in Los Angeles and Downey passed separate deeply flawed and unfair ordinances establishing a new $25 minimum wage for some workers at some health care facilities, while excluding the vast majority of health care workers in each city. After weeks of collecting signatures from Los Angeles and Downey voters, a coalition led by CHA and HASC recently filed the signatures in both cities.

By submitting over double the required number of signatures in both cities — about 88,000 in Los Angeles (40,717 signatures required) and about 17,000 in Downey (6,452 required) — the coalition is confident that the referendums will push these ordinances to the ballot to let voters decide. I’m pleased to share that the ordinances shall remain suspended and will likely not take effect, pending a decision by voters in the next city election.

While the minimum wage issue has risen to the state level and discussions are ongoing, we will continue to keep you apprised of any updates that may impact Southern California’s health care community.

Take care and stay safe.

George G.