Re Coastal Comm'n Exec Director, Links To: (1) Letter By 35 Former Coastal Comm'rs/Alternates That Former Coastal Comm'r Robert Garcia and Former Alternate Suja Lowenthal Didn't Sign; (2) Letter By Multiple Enviro Groups Supporting Coastal Comm'n Exec. Dir. Lester; (3) Letter by CA League of Conservation Voters Mum On Whether To Retain or Oust Lester, Whose Board Includes...</small>

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Garcia Attempt To Enroll Most In ObamaCare Comes Up Short; Among 20 White House Chosen Cities, LB Finishes 13th, Prez Will Visit Milwaukee

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(Feb. 13, 2016) -- An attempt by Mayor Robert Garcia to meet a White House challenge to enroll the most new taxpayers in "ObamaCare" from among 20 White House chosen cities (and thereby receive a visit from President Barrack Obama) has come up short.

In a release today (Feb. 13), the White House stated that Milwaukee finished first...and Long Beach finished 13th nationally in terms of the Ratio of New Plan Selections to Eligible Uninsured. The release said Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Oakland "rounded out" the top five for what the White House called its "Healthy Communities Challenge."

As January 2016 ended, Mayor Garcia made a last ditch effort using his social network contacts and a photo op on January 30 at LB's Dept. of Health and Human Services to seek new enrollees.

[Scroll down for further.]

In a White House release listing efforts by the cities that came up short, it said "In California, Mayor Robert Garcia of Long Beach recruited community organizations to undertake large canvassing efforts in areas with high-uninsured, subsidy-eligible populations."

Congressional enactment of ObamaCare, while popular among Democrats, effectively cost Democrats their majority control of the House, subsequently the Senate, and the President's 2012 campaign pledge [various iterations] that "if you like your health insurance you can keep your health insurance" has proven false with some consumers saddled with coverage they don't want, or less coverage than they do want, including higher deductibles.

In today's White House release, President Obama said, "I congratulate Milwaukee, and all of the other communities who took part in the challenge, for their passion and innovation in finding ways to make sure they and their neighbors could get the health care and peace of mind that they deserve. That;s what the Affordable Care Act is all about. The efforts from mayors, local officials, assisters and residents remind me of what's best in America, and what I see whenever I travel around the country: good people in strong communities who look out for each other and take care of their own. As always, Washington can learn a lot from the communities we represent."

In a recent televised interview, President Obama quipped that he'd like to come to California as part of the "Healthy Communities" challenge; instead, he'll be headed to Wisconsin (with a somewhat different climate.)

The President is currently in California, and will be in Palm Springs over the weekend for a trade summit...after the administration signed the "Trans Pacific Partnership" trade deal on Feb. 4, an action that has produced polarized responses pro/con spanning party lines.

As a result of Feb. 10 Council vote (6-0, Lowenthal, Uranga absent for entire meeting, Mungo exiting Council Chamber prior to the vote, then returning), the City will invite Mrs. Obama to come to Long Beach for a dedication ceremony to name the City's new North branch library the "Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library."