A researcher holds a syringe containing the COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo: Viacheslav Lopatin, via Shutterstock)OPINION: Every physician knows that prevention is the easiest, fastest and most reliable way to save lives. This week the California Assembly is considering SB 866, a bill grounded in prevention that can help us save lives.
Photo illustration of a child victim of human trafficking. (Photo: 271 EAK MOTO)As many Californians struggle with the effects of COVID-19, what this pandemic means for human trafficking victims is their abusers have yet another way to coerce and exploit. Before COVID-19, victims already faced extreme barriers to safety, health services, and employment; now, they are vulnerable to even greater unrelenting abuse.
Jodi Hicks at her office in Sacramento in November 2017. (Photo: AP/Rich Pedroncelli)Jodi Hicks is co-chair of Mercury Public Affairs’ Sacramento office. She is the first woman and the first Asian-America to serve in that role and is regarded as one of the Capitol community’s foremost advocates of quality health care. Capitol Weekly’s Chuck McFadden caught up with her recently for a chat.