City employees oppose Prop. T
DOWNTOWN The union that represents roughly 1,500 city employees has decided to endorse the four City Council incumbents running for re-election this November, a representative from the group said Thursday.
The Coalition of Santa Monica City Employees also chose to not endorse Proposition T, which would limit commercial development to 75,000 square feet per year in an effort to reduce traffic in the seaside city plagued by gridlock.
“After much consideration, we believe that council members Richard Bloom, Ken Genser, Herb Katz, and Bobby Shriver are the right choice for Santa Monica,” said coalition representative Lauralee Asch, a non-sworn employee of the Santa Monica Police Department. “Each has demonstrated a commitment to providing the resources we employees need to maintain the high level of customer service the residents of Santa Monica expect.”
The coalition does not represent police officers or fire fighters, who are expected to make their endorsements later this month.
Asch said city employees opted to not endorse Prop. T because “it negates years of public input and staff, Planning Commission and City Council effort in drafting a new Land Use and Circulation Element.”
In a city with strict campaign contributions limits — candidates cannot receive more than $250 from individuals, unions or political action committees —having the support of the coalition is key to winning in November. Not only does it mean money, the endorsement also means volunteers, and plenty of them.
Officials with the coalition said they will be contacting members via e-mail, urging those who are residents to vote for the incumbents and against Prop. T. Those who are not residents will be asked to volunteer and go door-to-door asking for votes.
Steven Belhumeur, a consultant for the coalition, said the union also expects to spend money on an independent campaign in support of the candidates. Independent expenditure committees are not bound by the campaign contribution limit, according to past interpretations of the law.
“We will be taking out advertisements in local newspapers to make sure people know who we are rallying behind,” said Belhumeur, who believes that several hundred members of the union are eligible to vote in the election.
The coalition came together in 2000 when representatives from all city, non-safety bargaining units met and formed an alliance to deal with City Hall’s plans regarding rapidly increasing medical insurance costs.
After successfully negotiating the medical insurance issue and creating the medical trust to assist with retirement medical insurance, the non-safety bargaining units decided to create a permanent body as an ongoing force to address matters significantly affecting all city employees, which transcend the narrower concerns of the nine non-safety bargaining units, according to the coalition’s Web site.
The coalition Board of Directors is made of representatives appointed by each bargaining unit to act on their behalf to deal with issues affecting all non-safety employees equally.
Seven candidates for the four council seats up for grabs were interviewed by a panel of union members on Sept. 6. Each candidate had roughly 30 minutes to state their case.
The panel made recommendations to the union’s board, which made the ultimate decision on who to endorse, Belhumeur said.
Those interviewed included the four incumbents, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ted Winterer, Airport Commissioner Susan Hartley and Herbert Silverstein.
“We had to compare the sitting members and their actions against the three challengers,”Belhumeur said.“We really felt continuity was important. There have been long-term issues … of contracting out, big decisions that need to be made. We felt like council members have been fair minded even though we haven’t always been in agreement.
“There’s too much at stake right now to have to bring people up to speed.”
Hartley, an attorney who has represented employees in labor disputes, said she was disappointed by the union’s decision, but was not surprised.
“While it was a pleasure to meet with the coalition, I understand their fear of not endorsing the incumbents who are their employers,” Hartley said. “I realize the irony though of the coalition not endorsing an attorney who has represented employees for 28 years in employment cases. “When I’m elected, I won’t hold it against them,” she added. “I support them and their concerns.”
Those who were endorsed said they were honored to have the backing of city employees.
“I think the endorsement reflects the fact that I have worked very hard to cultivate good relationships with city staff and have worked very hard with the city manager and City Council to make sure we are always negotiating with good faith when we have contract issues with employees,” said Mayor Pro Tem Richard Bloom.
Councilman Ken Genser said the endorsements reflects his belief that all employees should be treated fairly.
“This community has gone through a lot in terms of employee rights and the living wage movement,” Genser said, referring to law that went into effect in 2005 that set a minimum wage of $11.50 an hour for city employees. “It’s more than just salary. It’s about respect for our workers, an issue I care a lot about.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 12, 2008. Read the original PDF.