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,. . . , . . - Mayor Ruskin said he believed this Proposition was so unwise it would probably be overturned in the courts. He asked his colleagues to adopt a Resolution expressing their - opposition to Proposition 226. Mayor Howard called upon those people in the audience who wished to speak to this Issue. Manuel Sotomayor, 12 Riviera Circle, expressed his support of Vice Mayor Ruskin's proposed resolution. He described some early experiences that taught him what could be done to lowly paid people with no power. Mr. Sotomayor described how he had marched in picket lines during long ago labor strikes and said he had a very strong, emotional tie and support for organized labor. He said the critical point of this Proposition "was its unfairness, singling out one of the major stakeholders in the struggle between employers and employees." Mr. Sotomayor said he was also a stockholder of many companies and he would gladly support a similar Proposition if it also applied to the Board of Directors of the companies in which he held stock. MIS: HARTNETT/CLAIRE. TITLE READ BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARTNETT. RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSITION 226 Council Member Leipzig said he believed that this matter should have been submitted to the Council Legislative Committee. He said the issues last week before the Council were - matters before the state legislature, another elected body, that the Council works with and tries to influence. Council Member Leipzig said this was a matter of personal concern to Vice Mayor Ruskin and asked if the Council wanted to set a precedent to take stands on matters of personal concern. He said the Proposition was a statewide initiative and the voters should decide the issue. He said he didn't want to get into a debate on how unions take dues from their members, or how businesses or stockholders operate. Council Member Leipzig said discussing this matter was a waste of the Council's time. Council Member Claire said that the Council had voted in 1978 to oppose Proposition 13, and had over the years expressed its opinion on other Propositions. He said that this Proposition would affect the City as an employer, causing the City to spend taxpayer's dollars to keep extensive records. He added that it was important for the Council to oppose legislation that requires the City to keep data on the voting preferences of its employees. He said he couldn't support such a measure. Vice Mayor Ruskin said, "We give legislators our opinions and it seems equally right and proper that we can give the public our opinions as well." He said this was an important and vital matter and it needed to be discussed publicly. MIS: HARTNETT/CLAIRE. TITLE READ BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARTNETT. ,", - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MAY 18, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 503 PAGE 25