Farmworker Suicide

TUESDAY, JULY 29
PROGRAM #10849 11:00 PM PT

Farmworker Suicide. 

The suicide of a worker at a meatpacking plant in California’s Central Valley reveals an urgent reality: Who is looking after the mental health of those who sustain much of our economy? Current and former employees at one of the largest plants in the San Joaquin Valley report working conditions that are dangerous and inhumane. A journalist and contributor investigated the implications of the worker’s death.

Guest: Melissa Montalvo, Accountability Reporter, The Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA.

Mass Deportations: An Economic Hit. The Valley’s informal economy is already feeling the impact of Trump’s immigration policies. While the fields and packing plants of Merced in California continue to operate, local street markets are showing signs of crisis. Academic analysts also warn of broader consequences for the state’s economy. What would happen if immigrants are deported en masse? Can California sustain its agricultural industry without them? Who will ultimately bear the actual cost of these policies?

Guest: Christian Betancourt, Community Issues Reporter, The Merced Focus – El Enfoque de Merced, Merced, CA.

Changes to Medi-Cal: What lies ahead for undocumented immigrants in California. Due to the multi-billion dollar deficit facing the state of California, Governor Newsom proposed freezing Medi-Cal enrollment for immigrants aged 19 and older who do not have permanent legal status, in addition to eliminating dental care and implementing a monthly fee of $100 for enrolled beneficiaries. After some changes and negotiations in the legislature, the proposal was approved last June despite opposition from lawmakers such as Democratic Assemblyman Joaquín Arámbula. A reporter explains the anticipated impact of these changes on low-income undocumented communities.

Guest: Daniela Rodriguez, Reporter, Radio Bilingüe, and UC Berkeley Fellow, Fresno, CA.

Photo: Tim Mossholder/Unsplash

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