Opinion: An Open Letter to Our Federal Representatives

To all Congressional Representatives representing the Riverside region:

As constituents of your district and proud members of our community, we write to you with a shared concern and a heartfelt appeal: to ask that you champion policies and federal budgets that directly address the real needs of our district, rather than simply aligning with party lines or national agendas that overlook the unique challenges we face locally.

Too often, we witness political decisions driven more by partisan loyalty than by the lived experiences of the people you were elected to represent. Federal policies and budgetary priorities should reflect the voices of communities like ours-where infrastructure requires investment, public schools need support, housing is becoming increasingly out of reach, environmental concerns threaten our safety and well-being, local for profit and non-profit businesses seek sustainability, and healthcare access remains strained. These are not abstract policy issues; they are daily realities for your constituents. Decisions, for example, that weaken the stability of MediCal not only threatens the 42% of Riverside County's population that rely on MediCal for access to healthcare but also threatens access to decent healthcare and the economy for all of us as a result of the likely hospital closures and residual negative economic impacts that will reverberate through the detrimental effects for all those who work with, benefit, or do business with those in the healthcare industry. Likewise, decisions that result in the elimination of funding for essential housing programs (including permanent supportive housing and Section 8) not only will immediately increase the number of homeless individuals and families in our region, but would be detrimental to students and schools as a result of hundreds of families loss of stable housing.These are real local impacts that may result from the current national decisions being weighed by Congress.

We recognize that party affiliation plays a role in shaping legislative priorities, but we believe that effective governance requires more than allegiance to a platform-it demands responsiveness, collaboration, and courage. It calls for elected officials to be advocates first and foremost for the people who entrusted them with their vote

Support legislation that brings tangible investment and job creation to our district.
Advocate for federal funding that strengthens our local education systems, healthcare services, and public safety.
Promote infrastructure projects that improve our roads, transportation, water
systems, and digital access.
Engage directly with local leaders, community organizations, and residents to ensure our voices inform your decisions.

We are not asking you to abandon your values or party; we are asking you to elevate the voices of the people who live and work in your district above the pressures of party politics. You were elected not to serve a platform, but to serve a place-a community with real hopes, struggles, and aspirations.

Let your legacy be one of leadership rooted in principle, accountability, and a genuine commitment to your constituents. Let us work together to make our community stronger, more resilient, and better represented.

Respectfully,
The Raincross Group