Campaign calls on socialist Calif. politicians to get out the vote
LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCILMEMBERS COME TO GLENDALE
GLENDALE, ARIZ. – UniteHere, the labor union whose political arm is behind Proposition 499, the job-killing measure on the ballot in Glendale this year, was forced to import help from California last weekend to canvass neighborhoods in the face of meager local grassroots support.
Los Angeles City Councilmembers Hugo Soto Martinez and Nithya Raman were in town – as was podcaster and self-described “standup comic” Adam Conover– to attempt to convince Glendale voters to adopt the same policies that have turned California into a basket case.
“We’re always happy to welcome visitors from California who want to enjoy Glendale’s hotels, attractions, restaurants, and shopping, but these activists came on a mission to bamboozle Glendale voters into adopting a reckless, job-killing ballot initiative,” Save Glendale Jobs Chair Kim Grace Sabow said. “Glendale voters won’t be fooled. They don’t need L.A. politicians and Hollywood C-listers to tell them what’s best for their own community.”
Soto Martinez
- Soto Martinez, a socialist, holds views far outside the mainstream of Glendale. He cites Bernie Sanders as the politician with whom he’d most like to have lunch.
- He has 16 years of experience as an organizer for UniteHere Local 11
- He supported the failed effort in L.A. to force hotels to house the homeless.
Raman
- Raman is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. DSA said Raman’s March 2024 primary victory meant that DSA could continue its fight for “defunding the police,” among other goals.
- Unite Here Local 11 spent more than $100,000 supporting Raman’s March primary win.
- Raman was arrested last year for disruptions related to Unite Here’s protests near LAX.
Conover
- Conover has been described as a “better-dressed Michael Moore.”
“Since the out-of-state union that cooked up Proposition 499 did so without any input from Glendale leaders, its business community, or is residents, it’s no wonder they’ve been forced to bring in help from California to help with the campaign,” Grace Sabow said. “California activists parachuting into town to push a narrow, radical agenda, won’t work. Glendale voters know that Proposition 499 will drive up costs for Glendale families, depress visitor spending, and make the community worse off by forcing the city either to make deep budget cuts to things like police and fire, or to raise taxes. These guys can take their tired act back to L.A.”