Candidate for
Council Member; City of Santa Barbara

Iya Falcone

Former City Councilmember Iya Falcone, is campaigning to return to the City Council to address Santa Barbara's most pressing issues. "I am concerned that the important business of Santa Barbara is not being addressed by the current council, which has become too polarized and stuck in gridlock." Iya stated. The big question is: Where Do We Go From Here?

She feels the Council must listen to and involve the residents to plan for the future, preserving our small town character, continue to make public safety the number one priority and to foster a vibrant sustainable local business economy. Iya understands that we must live within our resources, both environmental and financial and has a solid track record of working to reduce costs, while providing essential public services, and maintaining our basic infrastructure including clean parks, roads, beaches and preserving our neighborhoods. We must all work together to plan for the next phase of the future of Santa Barbara.

Iya served for two consecutive terms on the Santa Barbara City Council, when they created both a Sustainability Committee, Committee on Solid Waste and a Legislative Committee, created the Integrated Pest Management program, the South Coast Youth Violence Task Force, increased recycling to over 70%, expanded the capacity at Casa Esperanza, established and chaired the Council Sub-Committee on Homelessness and Community Issues, helped establish the Creeks Committee and created the off-leash dog beach east of Arroyo Burro Beach to name a few accomplishments.

She has a Bachelor's Degree in Child Development (concentration in Abnormal Psychology) and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific in Sacramento and is licensed to practice law in both the States of California and Nevada. Before serving on the City Council, she worked in the field of developmental disabilities in children; autism, downs syndrome, cerebral palsy. From that background, she moved into the field of crisis counseling, working with severely emotionally disturbed adolescent girls, and became the Director of the Crisis Center on the campus of a residential treatment facility.

Iya has the experience needed to make the tough choices, concentrating on the basics, protecting public safety and public infrastructure, working with other jurisdictions on regional issues, including wildfire prevention, transportation, trash, workforce housing. She understands that we must have a comprehensive response to gang violence that includes prevention, intervention and law enforcement from multi-jurisdictional governments, agencies, non-profits and the community working collaboratively. She was instrumental in developing the South Coast Youth Violence Task Force and looks forward to continuing that and other important work.

For more information about her campaign, http://www.iyafalcone.com, iyafalcone2011@gmail.com or call her at (805) 962-5980.