Beverly Press Park Labrea News: L.A. hospitals, airports feel weight of government shutdown

Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Burbank), who represents Hollywood, West Hollywood and Glendale, has been waiting to be called back to Washington, D.C., since the government shutdown began last week. Representatives will be given a 48-hour notice on when to return, but as of Oct. 8, no such notice had been made.

On Oct. 4, Friedman held a press conference in front of Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, surrounded by physicians, staff and Covered California beneficiaries, explaining why she refused to vote for the Republican-backed budget.

“They’re allowing for the subsidies that for many years have been offered to citizens under the [Affordable Care Act] expire,” Friedman said, adding that many residents’ insurance costs would skyrocket as a result.

The medical center, a “safety net” hospital that serves patients regardless of insurance coverage, would be irrevocably affected were the current budget to pass, Friedman said.

“[The staff is] not here because of politics. They are not political operatives. They’re here because they care about their patients, and I didn’t ask any of them what political party they subscribe to,” the congresswoman said. “They’re here because they know that what’s at stake are the people that they serve, the patients who are behind us in this safety net hospital. They’re here today because they want to save lives. They’re not here because they want to navigate the chaos in Washington. They’re leaving that to us, but they are afraid of Donald Trump’s agenda.”

Liliana Viamari, Hollywood Presbyterian’s communications and marketing director, said the proposed Republican-backed reconciliation bill would hurt vulnerable communities in Los Angeles.

“Safety net hospitals already operate under intense financial pressures, and this bill would push many of us past the breaking point,” Viamari said. “While the bill includes a rural hospital fund, it does nothing meaningful for urban safety nets like those in Los Angeles who routinely care for the state’s most vulnerable residents, regardless of insurance status. Our communities cannot afford to lose hospitals like ours. Safety net hospitals are not only buildings. We are the backbone of the public health system.”

“The truth does not matter to Republicans, as they have repeatedly spread this false slander, partly so you won’t pay attention to the expiration of the ACA subsidies,” Covered California policy holder Larissa Merriman said. “Amidst their nightmare agenda, they use this insane narrative to justify making health care unaffordable and thus unobtainable, not only for me, but to the 24 million eligible citizens who buy insurance on the exchange – all so they can give a tax break to the wealthiest people in our country.”

Other parts of Los Angeles have felt the effects of the shutdown, including nearby airports, which rely on government employees like TSA agents and air traffic controllers. On Oct. 6, the Hollywood Burbank Airport operated without ATC – many of whom have called out, refusing to work without pay – for several hours. A resident named Jason, who asked not to include his last name, said that he sat stuck on the tarmac while the situation was resolved.

“The captain literally got on the loudspeaker and said that we didn’t have the air traffic controllers we needed to takeoff. They eventually got it figured out, but it made me get in late, a bunch of people missed their connections, and honestly made me a bit concerned about safety – air traffic controllers are pretty important considering all of the plane incidents we’ve had this year,” Jason said. “It’s pretty frustrating that this administration has first attacked these public servants through DOGE, and are doing it again through this government shutdown. I don’t see how shutting down the government and further harming businesses does any good for America or its citizens – quite the contrary.  It slows down people, work and ultimately the economy, and we – regular citizens – will be dealing with these effects for months to years while Trump sits pretty in his – now literally – gilded mansion doing nothing. We deserve better than this.”

On Oct. 8, the U.S. Senate voted against hearing government funding proposals presented by both parties. The last government shutdown occurred in December 2018 through January 2019 and lasted 35 days, the longest in the country’s history.