Supports health care and education

Editor’s note: The Hill is part of the 28th state Senate District. Jeff Stone, Republican from Temecula, is the incumbent. Joy Silver, of Palm Springs, is one of two Democrats challenging him.

Joy Silver, born in Pennsylvania, spent much of her early career on the East Coast. She moved to New Mexico, was involved in healthcare and in 2007 settled in Palm Springs, where she continues to be concerned about services for people who need help.

Joy Silver, Democratic candidate for the state Senate District 28 seat.
Photo courtesy Tom Kuhn

Two issues on the tips of most politicians’ tongues are healthcare and housing. Silver has devoted much of her adult life to both of these issues. And she was able to combine both when she became involved in senior care.

“All of my background combines the issues of our time,” she said proudly.

While she has managed healthcare and housing programs, she has not been a political candidate until now. However, she is not a novice in the political arena. For years, she has been an advocate for LGBT and health issues.

Her calling to these issues naturally led her onto a path of advocating for them and then, eventually, becoming an activist for several issues. Following the 2016 presidential election, she and others organized Courageous Resistance in the desert communities. From this platform, she acknowledged that being a legislator was how she could help her clients and her community even more.

Silver’s experience providing and expanding healthcare to women and underserved populations fills her with pride and confidence taking this step. “I want California to continue to move forward. Waiting will destroy critical pieces of what keeps our population progressing,” she stated.

Donald Trump’s election as president discouraged her. But as she watched public events and actions during the past two years, she became motivated. Silver sees Sen. Jeff Stone, the incumbent, as another representative of the Far Right’s agenda.

“He is walking in lock step with Washington politics,” she argued. “So, it was time for me to stand up and do something.”

And if elected, her primary goals will be support for more affordable housing, education and healthcare for all. She also will support programs that help create a green-energy economy, she added.

She also wants to find more state money for Riverside County. This is something she believes Stone fails to do successfully.

Finally, she is a strong defender of the sanctuary state laws. She opines that these are simply local enforcement and support of the 10th Amendment of the Constitution.

In other words, while the federal government can enforce the immigration laws, it cannot force local governments to do federal work.

“Basically, feds do federal work and locals do local,” she summarized. “We won’t use our resources for local enforcement to do federal jobs.”

The issue of single-payer health insurance, which Bernie Sanders emphasized during his campaign, has become a major issue in the current California gubernatorial election. From her healthcare background, she acknowledges and supports its establishment.

However, Silver points out that there are many nuances to its success. For example, the supply of doctors and other health providers must be expanded.

Just as important, but rarely identified with healthcare, is the building for better, faster and more reliable technology networks. Silver points out that the future will bring computers into the debate because X-rays, videos and other health records will need high-speed networks to transmit these data between physicians.

The Internet infrastructure is less of a problem in urban areas, but Silver sees the need for more communication technology and support in rural areas in order for single payer to serve everyone.

Idyllwild is not a point on a district map to Silver. She has been here several times before and since starting her campaign. “At this stage of the election, I’m amazed at the support of the people,” she said.