PUEBLO: Falcone

[ Excerpted from the PUEBLO Press Conference, 11/4/2005, Opposing Iya Falcone for City Council ]

While we have not been satisfied with some of her decisions, PUEBLO has not
previously opposed Iya Falcone's candidacy for City Council. However, her
vote on the Proposition 75 resolution was the last straw. This issue is too
close and too important for our elected officials who claim to be pro-labor
to sit on the sidelines. We need council members who will stand up for
working families. We need candidates who will do what they say.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that Iya Falcone has let working
people down. We ask people to NOT vote to re-elect Iya Falcone. Please
vote for Grant House and Dianne Channing for City Council.

... On Tuesday, Council members Das Williams and Roger Horton proposed a
resolution for the City Council to oppose Proposition 75. The goal of
Schwarzenegger-backed Proposition 75 is to silence working families, by
making is more difficult for union workers to contribute to politics, while
further empowering corporations to give unlimited
contributions to Schwarzenegger and his initiatives.

With 6 Democrats on the council who claim to support working people, the No
on 75 resolution should have been a no-brainer. Proposition 75 is opposed
by teachers, firefighters, and police officers statewide. But the resolution
did not pass. Voting in favor of the No on 75 resolution were Das Williams,
Helene Schneider, and Marty Blum.

Voting against the resolution were Dan Secord, Brian Barnwell, and Iya
Falcone. Roger Horton, although a sponsor, was not at the meeting.

Since Dan Secord is very consistent in his opposition to any labor-supported
proposal, and Barnwell is a strong opponent of the living wage ordinance,
their opposition did not come as a surprise.

However, we are left to wonder about Councilmember Iya Falcone. Ms. Falcone
describes herself a strong supporter of organized labor. She says that
working people should have a voice, and that collective bargaining is a
beautiful thing. However, she voted against taking a stand on the most
important initiative targeting working people in years.

Council resolutions are not new. The City Council routinely passes
resolutions on various issues affecting our community on a state and
national level. Ms. Falcone and the Council have taken positions on the
Patriot Act, the war in Iraq, the drivers license bill, and more.

It is important that our elected officials take public stands on issues that
affect our community. We elect people to be leaders.

This is not the first time that Ms. Falcone has refused to stand up for
working families on an election issue... [Last year's] Proposition 72 [for example]...

Ms. Falcone was upset that this time two council members put the resolution
on the Council agenda instead of going to her legislative committee. Maybe
she did not want the public to see her true colors.

Perhaps we should not be surprised. After all, her largest individual
campaign contributions come from the family that recently hosted Arnold
Schwarzenegger to come to Santa Barbara and tout his anti-worker
initiatives. In the past, Ms. Falcone has also received substantial
contributions from Bill Levy, who is turning Santa Barbara into a playground
for the rich, with multi-million dollar timeshare projects.

She has also done little to see a resolution on the living wage ordinance,
and has let it languish her entire four years in office. Most recently, Ms.
Falcone further watered down the living wage ordinance as Chair of the
Ordinance Committee.

Santa Barbara needs candidates that will stand up for working
families. Our community is more sustainable when workers have living
wages, affordable housing, and a good public transportation system. We need
leaders who will ensure that working people are represented.