Falcone to Announce Mayoral Bid
Press release from the Falcone campaign...let the games begin! Not like it's Falcone's fault, but I just wish we had a bit more recovery time since the last election....whew!
Citing the need for city government to "get back to basics" by prioritizing public safety, needed infrastructure improvements, and providing for an environment where a vibrant economy can flourish, Santa Barbara City Council Member Iya Falcone will announce her campaign for Mayor at a press conference to be held at 1:15pm Monday, February 23rd at the Storke Placita of De La Guerra Plaza.
"As Mayor I will ensure Santa Barbara remains safe, clean and economically viable. Fixing our sidewalks, and paving our streets, dealing with the gang crisis and graffiti removal may not be glamorous, but they are the heart of what a city must focus on to effectively serve its citizens. I will provide proven, experienced leadership as Mayor."
Falcone is former attorney and crisis counselor who has served for the last seven years as a member of the City Council. Falcone has also worked with developmentally disabled children with autism, downs syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
Falcone received a BA in Child Development from Cal State Northridge, with concentration in abnormal psychology. Falcone earned her Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific in Sacramento. Falcone is a seventeen year resident of Santa Barbara who moved to California in 1967. Falcone has a daughter, Niki, as well as two step- sons, two granddaughters and two twin grandsons from her marriage to her late husband, Vincent Falcone.
Citing the need for city government to "get back to basics" by prioritizing public safety, needed infrastructure improvements, and providing for an environment where a vibrant economy can flourish, Santa Barbara City Council Member Iya Falcone will announce her campaign for Mayor at a press conference to be held at 1:15pm Monday, February 23rd at the Storke Placita of De La Guerra Plaza.
"As Mayor I will ensure Santa Barbara remains safe, clean and economically viable. Fixing our sidewalks, and paving our streets, dealing with the gang crisis and graffiti removal may not be glamorous, but they are the heart of what a city must focus on to effectively serve its citizens. I will provide proven, experienced leadership as Mayor."
Falcone is former attorney and crisis counselor who has served for the last seven years as a member of the City Council. Falcone has also worked with developmentally disabled children with autism, downs syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
Falcone received a BA in Child Development from Cal State Northridge, with concentration in abnormal psychology. Falcone earned her Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific in Sacramento. Falcone is a seventeen year resident of Santa Barbara who moved to California in 1967. Falcone has a daughter, Niki, as well as two step- sons, two granddaughters and two twin grandsons from her marriage to her late husband, Vincent Falcone.
Labels: City of Santa Barbara, Mayoral Race 09
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 2/22/2009 08:12:00 PM
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38 Comments:
Looks like she picked Storke Placita to be as close as possible to her boi toy Travis Armstrong.
Stork Placita makes a small crowd seem larger between those walls.
Cute.
Strong feelings here -- let's keep it a bit more professional...
Well, Iya has "worked with" all the these children I am supposed to feel sorry for, and she is a recent widow, so I am now convinced to ignore her record of approving every bad land use development project ever on the agenda, her routine flip flops on which way the wind is blowing, and orchestrating $500,000 of city taxpayer money for a museum that did not even ask for the money.
Looks like the Blue Line crew is up late blogging!
Not that Iya follows through on anything she says but since words matter, I do like her words.
"Prioritizing public safety" at the cost of what? Santa Barbara needs a balanced approach. There's a lot to this town. Why we live here. Why people want to play here. The people I know will work and vote for Helene Schneider because of her positive approach to improving our community. LC
I know who I'm voting for and it will not be Ms. Falcone. "Prioritizing public safety" is a scare tactic. I didn't volunteer for months and vote for Obama for this type of tone. We need a balanced approach to our city governance. My friends and I will be working for and voting for Helene Schneider!
wow, didn't take long for the surrogates who've been lurking in the alleyways to start swinging at Iya! Good to have a glimpse at the "positive" campaign Helene will be running.
By the way, to call "prioritizing public safety" a "scare tactic" is really digging in a bit too deep, dontcha think?
Agreed -- Falcone has made a career out of supporting law enforcement which isn't a bad thing. With another stabbing Sunday morning -- it's bound to be on voter's minds.
News to LC: I have lived in Santa Barbara over 30 years, I voted for Obama and consider myself far left of center. I also support Iya, and I'm alarmed at the increase in violence in Santa Barbara and the haphazard way it is [not] being addressed. So please don't make the mistake of equating concern about public safety with something sinister. By the way, most of my Santa Barbara neighbors, all if not most progressive democrats ALSO hope that public safety is prioritized in this time of shrinking resources.
I like them both in some issues (and don't like them both in other issues) and hope there is a third (and strong) candidate who does not have a history on the city council.
Both of these would-be mayors voted to increase city employee salaries by 5% in these recessionary times (public employees vote, yeah!); both of these candidates have scorned the citizens' height initiative efforts; probably both of them voted to allow some city employees to be able to retire at 50 with full pay.
We in the city need someone who's a little less imprinted by the governmental status quo than either Iya or Helene and thinks of the people and the soul, if you will, of the city first rather than their own individual ambitions. Yes, indeed, public safety is critically important, but so is the rest of what constitutes a governmentally healthy Santa Barbara.
There will be a new face for mayor, along with new faces for all the city council openings. No one want anything to do with what this last group has done to ruin out city in the name of "progressive" enlightenment.
BTW: Iya's support for the police is just more employee union pandering. She has done nothing to address or reduce the growing crime and blight in this city. Nothing.
The new candidates will have the strongest platforms for change and protection of our city, our streets, our homes and our resources. Just wait.
Let these two failed hacks fight it out and wound themselves with sniping cat fights and fake hissy fits.
I stand by my earlier comments. This last election was the first time I volunteered on a campaign, and I did a lot of it. The message from Obama was never to scare people. I don’t like the tone of Ms. Falcone’s campaign. Of course we need to invest in public safety. But that’s not all we need to do. I think she is playing on people’s fear. The people of Santa Barbara deserve more than that.
Sara,
Bloga Barbara has come a long way since 2005 when this area was a free fire zone as far trashing Falcone. I would hope that this will be reflected in a more evenhanded approach on this blog this go around. This mayor and council ALL have a lot of explaining to do concerning the pettiness and back-biting that will be their legacy. Rising above the perpetual snarkiness would be a good place to start.
It's kind of early for me to make up my mind. Both Schneider and Falcone are acceptable to me, Without seeing the entire slate of candidates for the council, it must be relatives or die hard fans that are already wedded to either. My opinion is that there is at least one other council member that would make a more experienced and qualified candidate.
With homeless issues, this economy and ongoing crime wave (all have national origins BTW) we could have a political outsider or two mix up the dynamics of the usual local politics. A mixup of the usual scenario was evident during the last election cycle. But those fearful of tall buildings from behind the windshield of a BMW and Prius alike will possibly be adding the most mixup factor in this election. It may just boil down to who can gain the support of Mary Lou and all those endless radio advertisements.
Voters want a mayor with NO union ties. It will be that simple. And a city council with NO union ties to back the mayor up. This will be easy. Just vote for the person not endorsed by the unions, no matter what clever disguise they use. The boon of the internet to unmask the union candidates. Yippee!
Same as it ever was -- good allusion to Talking Heads :)
You'll notice my admonition above -- I'll do the best I can.
Speaking of which Lettuce B? Maybe the last line could have been worded differently?
We need a mayor who will balance the budget and take on the unions.. Neither Iya or Helen appear to be up to the job. Dale was the only one to vote no on the recent pay increase. Dale for Mayor!
No good to make Dale mayor if he is outvoted by the rest of the profligate spending lefties on council. Clean house.
Dale Francisco basically burned his bridges with Santa Barbara when he decided to make financial donations to Proposition 8. When he runs next, be it for City Council or Mayor, he'll have lots of 'splainin to do
It is short-sighted to dismiss Dale Francisco just because you disagree with his position on Prop. 8. To do this would be a classic example of throwing the baby out with the bath water...something most Santa Barbarans are experts at. Which is why we end up with horrible mayors like Marty.
Wake up people. We need a strong leader who will make decisions in the best interest of the citizens of this city, and will eschew the special interest groups that continually hold this city hostage. We need a moderate who will find the middle-ground.
I remain hopeful that an intelligent, capable, well-funded candidate will emerge. It will take someone strong who is willing and able to swim upstream and fight the machine.
Sorry Bill---fundamental human rights have never been considered "bathwater" in Santa Barbara. If Dale was serious about aspiring to higher office here, he could've done his homework on that one. So, besides his poor choice on donating money to Prop 8, he also demonstrated a complete lack of political acumen by that choice.
Next, please?
I was just bemoaning the lack of choice for mayor when I heard Steve Cushman was getting in the race. Case closed. That's the REAL CHANGE we need. Someone from the business community that hasn't grown up in the local Dem party incubator.
Is Dr Dan Secord termed out for mayor?
Bill Carson assumes that everyone has a narrow "common sense" and then would vote accordingly identical and apparently a slate of candidates to overthrow the current wretched regime headed by that horrible Mayor Blum.
It is possible that this election could get extremely tricky with the Mayor and 3 council positions becoming available. With potentially 15, 20 or more candidates running, the vote could be spread out very thin and even spoilers could upset the council character in a surprising direction.
Even more fun, if Schneider wins, I think the City Charter allows the council the prerogative to seat Schneider's replacement. In theory we could end up with 4 Bobby Jindals on the council. So, I hope the Progressive Democrats are doing the numbers crunch because I'm sure the Regressive Republicans have probably already tapped into their resources.
There are plenty of reasons not to vote for Dale Francisco, but since many seem to have a Prop 8 litmus test and since Francisco isn't up for re-election until 2011 I'll stick to that issue. If Francisco should think he is mayoral material he could run now. Francisco would have to overcome loosing No on Prop 8 voters since many now view him as a bigoted "stealth" candidate. But Francisco could also gain Yes on Prop 8 voters now that he's been outed as a bigot. So, regardless of Francisco's political ambitions, it is a fun fantasy to think about throwing a recall into the mix.
Don -- supporting Prop H8 does not necessarily a bigot make....for many it was a question of faith. I don't agree as a person of faith, you don't agree -- but they probably wouldn't self-identify as such. Calling Francisco a bigot doesn't really work for me -- and shouldn't have a place here with all due respect. AND, I totally see where you are coming from. I don't mean to make you an example but I also know you can take it and understand. Thanks in advance for understanding.
As all of you can see,the Mayoral campaign will bring out emotions in all of us. I'd really like to have us all do a good job at keeping the conversation as civil as possible. Okay?
Don -- supporting Prop H8 does not necessarily a bigot make....for many it was a question of faith. I don't agree as a person of faith, you don't agree -- but they probably wouldn't self-identify as such. Calling Francisco a bigot doesn't really work for me -- and shouldn't have a place here with all due respect. AND, I totally see where you are coming from. I don't mean to make you an example but I also know you can take it and understand. Thanks in advance for understanding.
As all of you can see,the Mayoral campaign will bring out emotions in all of us. I'd really like to have us all do a good job at keeping the conversation as civil as possible. Okay?
Francisco is not a "stealth" candidate and he is not a bigot. Nor was he outed. He was very upfront with his choice about Prop 8. His views on this matter do not affect his position as city council person as they deal with matters outside their jurisdiction. Everyone knows this so your own views get little traction.
We want a council that sticks with issues in their jurisdiction and do waste our time, patience and money painting blue lines or opposing the war in Iraq. Too many real local issues that the council has been ignoring whey they wasted our time on their symbolic ones.
Issues closer to home are gangs, blight, union contracts, public services and infrastructure. I don't see Prop 8 or the Iraq War on that list. They would be crazy if they came out for or against abortion too, so don't take any of this personally.
Voters want a council that can run this city; not pretend they can save the world. If you can't make your own city function safely and soundly first, you have no business telling the rest of the world what to do.
Thanks Sara. You took the words out of my mouth. I, for one, feel that gay couples should have the exact same rights as straight couples. Exact. But I also believe that our society can provide equity without giving gay couples the right to marry. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Prop. 8 had to do with the definition of marriage. Prop. 8 was not about equal rights. It was about the definition of a religious sacrament. It was about preserving that word (marriage) and that sacrament for union of a man and a woman.
And, most of all, Dale's position on either side of this issue should not be a litmus test for his qualifications as a council member. From where I sit, Dale has been the strongest advocate for the citizens of this city that I've seen in a long, long time. I'd hate to lose someone of such value over the definition of a word.
I think Prop 8 was about equal rights once the word was defined to include gay marriage but religious sacrament was not in the initiative. There's nothing that would keep a church from politely declining a request for marriage for instance. This probably wouldn't happen to much as I don't think many would go to a Rick Warren to preside over their wedding :)
The fact that church organizations made it about sacrament is one of those crazy church/state things that get things a bit crazy. This is especially when someone like myself -- an admitted person of faith, thinks love is love and that God would want us to honor that and be true to our partner.
Old testament references against gays never really address the fact that if we followed everything in the old testament in such detail, we'd be selling our first daughters to slavery and not touching pigs (no bacon!). It also fails to recognize that the bible stories are about a tribe that is fighting for survival in the desert. Of course you wouldn't want men having sex with me -- you want children to keep the tribe going. Wasting seed would be a crime in that scenario....
In any event -- whatever our opinions, the name calling can kept to ourselves!
Sarah, I know you're all about peace in the plaza so I apologize if I came too close to violating your guidelines. I guess I could have used the adjective bigotry to soften the comment. Perhaps I should have used hypocrisy.
Bill Carson; Sticking to this issue about Dale Francisco's fairness and ability to represent I would advise people to be very observant. A lot of people voted for Francisco because they knew what they were getting. I think a lot of people may be disappointed in voting for him simply because of this one Prop H8 issue and in my opinion justifiably so. It really says a lot about his controlling personality or inability to get along with others that are disparate. Prop H8 was not a litmus test for me because it was not an issue when he was elected. Now it just adds to my dislike for Francisco as a council member.
In 2007 when Francisco arrived at my doorstep with a neighbor seeking support, I informed Francisco that I had just voted absentee and that I did not vote for him. Francisco did not seem to have the curiosity to ask why. If he had asked I would have told him that I do not agree with his actions and statements nor do I care for the company he keeps.
I think Francisco represents some very privileged ideas and people in the community. Often they are unreasonable, mean and unfair in their assessment of the city's policies, environmental review, council and staff. Don't get me wrong I can certainly be critical and I can tolerate Francisco's views. What I have difficulty with is Francisco's and his constituents are trying to overthrow established policy that was hard fought for by disparate groups in the city. The city has problems, needs continuous work but it is in pretty good shape.
Again Bill you have very narrow views and apparently belong to this very select group of "citizens" that Francisco is advocating for. Bill, some of Francisco privileged constituents have much worse demeanors in the council chambers than I do here in this forum. Lastly Bill, when you say you want a "strong leader" it just means that you want to be a follower. Some would call your suggested style of government a dictatorship.
Sara I disagree with you about Prop 8. From what I remember Mr. Francisco ran as a “Moderate Libertarian Type” …had I known about his position on Gay Rights I might have gotten involved in trying to defeat him. I expect that my City leaders will respect ALL citizens rights. This is very personal to people that I care about. I’ve been happy to see both Ms. Falcone and Ms. Schneider attend local Marriage Equality events. That’s an area where the two are comparable.
Thanks Don -- I appreciate your comments.
LC -- I understand what you are saying and very much agree. Stealth -- maybe a little....I just didn't want to see him called a bigot which is a bit more serious.
Thanks to all!
It is the current city council that represents a small privileged group of noisy special interests with an agnry entitlement attitude that has gotten its way too many times at the expense of the residents who want to protect this city.
The vast army of voters from virtually every precinct who chose anyone but the incumbents last time would indicate McDermott overstates the appeal of the current council.
There was nothing stealth about Francisco. He appealed to the common sense of the electorate and won an overwhelming victory in this city across the board against a sitting incumbent.
The two other incumbents came within a whisker of getting beaten by total unknowns. That is how angry this town is.
Don't delude yourself if you think opposition to the sitting incumbents only comes from your sense of class envy. You insult the rest of us who can no longer sit and watch this city destroy itself from the top town, but these privileged few who run it as their own private kingdom.
Tony, don't be a Phony.
Do tell about how the City is destroying itself and how it is run as a private kingdom.
Do you have any examples to back up your rhetoric, or are you just another NIMBY with his head in the gravel?
Tony the Tiger, the name, your kidding right. Geeerrrrreat puddy tat.
I didn't realize I overstated the popularity of the council. Do you think you could be a little more specific as to who this "small privileged group of noisy special interests with an agnry entitlement attitude" is? Otherwise without more specifics you're just spewing rhetoric.
Dan, I notice you threw the gauntlet first.
Name your "very privileged people", your "privileged constituents", and finally your "very select group of constituents" you hold in such abhorance.
Curious minds wish to know. You want to beat up on them, so it is only fair they are given notice.
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