Victories

 

Public Transportation


County elected officials developed a proposal to spend $1.6 billion in transportation projects by placing a transportation sales tax on the ballot in November 2006. PUEBLO is organizing to make sure that public transportation gets its fair share. In order to support the transit tax, we want a balanced proposal that not just funds roads, but funds bus service, bike paths, rail, and other forms of alternative transportation. For more information about our position, click here: http://sbpueblo.blogspot.com/2006/02/measure-d-editorial.html. PUEBLO is a part of Coalition for a Fair Measure D and is currently organizing around this issue in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Guadalupe. This is be one of the most important decision for the future of public transit in 20 years.


Living Wage


In December 2004, PUEBLO launched a new living wage campaign in Santa Barbara. PUEBLO formed a coalition, now called “Santa Barbara for a Living Wage”, made up of several labor, faith-based, and community organizations to push for a living wage ordinance. Santa Barbara for a Living Wage is a coalition of labor, faith-based, and community organizations. The living wage ordinance would require employers who benefit from local tax dollars through service contracts of at least $10,000, to pay their workers a living wage of $13.40 with health insurance, or $15.40 if they do not provide health insurance. For more information and research links on the living wage check out the website of Santa Barbara for a Living Wage: www.sblivingwage.org

 

County Split


The current proposal to split Santa Barbara County in two would be devastating for working families. The new “Mission County” will start off with a $30 million annual deficit, by conservative estimates. It would probably be much more. This would result in widespread service cuts and increased taxes for largely working class communities in North County. In order for the County Split to pass, it will need a majority of the whole county, AND a majority of the proposed “new” county. PUEBLO is focusing our organizing against the County Split in North County, but we urge our South County supporters to oppose the Split. It would set a dangerous precedent where communities could simply split off working class communities from any jurisdiction out of narrow self interest, while further marginalizing the working poor.


Affordable Housing

 

PUEBLO’s South Santa Maria Chapter includes a mobile home park housing about 100 families. The Santa Maria Airport District has unveiled plans to convert this mobile home park into a golf course. Residents are fighting these plans, arguing that affordable housing should take priority over golf courses. This Chapter is also looking at longer term policy solutions to address the increasing housing crisis in Santa Maria for all residents.


Immigrant Rights


In 2007 the proposed immigration reform bill failed to pass. In the absence of progress by the federal government towards reforming the nations immigration laws, state and local governments have deliberated over whether to invest in policies that assist immigrants in integrating into their communities or that attempt to marginalize them. Hundreds of immigrant-related measures have been introduced in state legislatures across the country addressing policies such as local enforcement of federal immigration laws. The hostility in the state and local debates, coupled with increased activity by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE, formerly known as INS) agents, have fueled a climate of fear and uncertainty among the immigrant community.


HR 4437


The increasing anti-immigrant fervor sweeping the country has resulted in legislation that criminalizes immigrants and organizations that work with immigrants. The most alarming bill is HR 4437, which will build a wall along the border, give local police the power to enforce local immigration laws, and make it a felony to be an undocumented immigrant. For more information on HR 4437 click here: http://www.nclr.org/content/policy/detail/35618/