Top Campaign Issues
Building a Sustainable Community for All
Isabel believes that environmental, social, and economic sustainability must guide city decisions. What does this mean? Essentially, sustainability means living in such a way that meeting your needs does not detract from the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions now to avoid irreversible and catastrophic climate change within the next 20 years. Sustainability also means conserving natural resources, being fiscally responsible with public funds, and ensuring the social web that binds us together is healthy. This last point indicates that we should not leave any member of society behind as our society progresses. For a healthy future, everyone must be involved in our community, and we must help others to become self-sufficient so they can enrich the community with their skills and ideas.
Isabel pledges to:
Grassroots Democracy
How can we best tackle the huge tasks related to sustainability? By working together and listening to input from multiple perspectives. We have a lot of people with knowledge and experience in Bloomington who can help us achieve our community's goals. Isabel will meet and listen to constituents, and she will clarify avenues for public input and shine light on city government processes.
Isabel pledges to:
Support for Labor
I strongly support organized labor and believe that labor unions are a necessary balance to the power of management in today’s society, as they have been for the past 150 years. I appreciate the labor movement for giving us many benefits we take for granted today. The 8-hour day, weekends off, worksite safety rules, age minimums for employees, and the minimum wage are just a few of the protections in place due to the advocacy of labor unions.
In 2019, labor unions are under attack through so-called “Right to Work” legislation passed in 26 states, which allow workers to receive the benefits of union advocacy without paying union dues. While there has been no definitive research on whether “Right to Work” legislation leads to job growth, it is clear that wages in right-to-work states are lower than in those that don’t have such legislation. Unfortunately, Indiana is a "Right to Work (for less)" state.
Locally in Bloomington, we have been quite progressive in passing a living wage ordinance (2005) to require the city itself and any entity doing business or receiving funds from the city to pay a living wage that is tied to the cost of living. In 2019, I negotiated with the mayor’s administration to include seasonal employees in the category of those required to make a living wage, and we will see this enacted by Jan. 1, 2020.
Isabel's Record
As a member of the City Council, Isabel has authored or co-authored various items of legislation, including:
Isabel believes that environmental, social, and economic sustainability must guide city decisions. What does this mean? Essentially, sustainability means living in such a way that meeting your needs does not detract from the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions now to avoid irreversible and catastrophic climate change within the next 20 years. Sustainability also means conserving natural resources, being fiscally responsible with public funds, and ensuring the social web that binds us together is healthy. This last point indicates that we should not leave any member of society behind as our society progresses. For a healthy future, everyone must be involved in our community, and we must help others to become self-sufficient so they can enrich the community with their skills and ideas.
Isabel pledges to:
- Use public funds responsibly
- Implement environmentally sound practices
- Help build an inclusive, compassionate community
Grassroots Democracy
How can we best tackle the huge tasks related to sustainability? By working together and listening to input from multiple perspectives. We have a lot of people with knowledge and experience in Bloomington who can help us achieve our community's goals. Isabel will meet and listen to constituents, and she will clarify avenues for public input and shine light on city government processes.
Isabel pledges to:
- Go door to door to talk with residents in District 5 throughout the 2019 campaign
- Hold monthly constituent meetings to review pending legislation and other issues before the Council, like she did in her first two terms (and does currently)
- Be accessible to constituents to talk about specific issues with neighborhood groups or one-on-one
Support for Labor
I strongly support organized labor and believe that labor unions are a necessary balance to the power of management in today’s society, as they have been for the past 150 years. I appreciate the labor movement for giving us many benefits we take for granted today. The 8-hour day, weekends off, worksite safety rules, age minimums for employees, and the minimum wage are just a few of the protections in place due to the advocacy of labor unions.
In 2019, labor unions are under attack through so-called “Right to Work” legislation passed in 26 states, which allow workers to receive the benefits of union advocacy without paying union dues. While there has been no definitive research on whether “Right to Work” legislation leads to job growth, it is clear that wages in right-to-work states are lower than in those that don’t have such legislation. Unfortunately, Indiana is a "Right to Work (for less)" state.
Locally in Bloomington, we have been quite progressive in passing a living wage ordinance (2005) to require the city itself and any entity doing business or receiving funds from the city to pay a living wage that is tied to the cost of living. In 2019, I negotiated with the mayor’s administration to include seasonal employees in the category of those required to make a living wage, and we will see this enacted by Jan. 1, 2020.
Isabel's Record
As a member of the City Council, Isabel has authored or co-authored various items of legislation, including:
- The Green Building Ordinance (2009), which led to significant energy-efficiency improvements to city buildings and cost-savings for taxpayers
- A resolution welcoming refugees and opposing Governor Mike Pence's plan to reject refugee families (2016)
- Over 40 amendments to improve the Comprehensive Master Plan that was passed in 2018
- An ordinance that increased City Council oversight of high-dollar expenditures by the executive branch (2018)
Piedmont-Smith for City Council
Bloomington, IN 47402
piedmoni@bloomington.in.gov
Bloomington, IN 47402
piedmoni@bloomington.in.gov
Site paid for by Isabel Piedmont-Smith for City Council.
