On 18 June 2019, the city of Santa Barbara, California officially endorsed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (UN Ban Treaty) and voiced its opposition to the investment of city resources in companies associated with nuclear weapon production.
Each year, City Council adopts a legislative platform. This platform summarizes the Council’s official position on a variety of state and federal policy issues. It authorizes City representatives, most commonly the Mayor, to take action on pending legislation on behalf of the City. It also enables the City to act quickly when advocacy is needed.
Based on the unanimous recommendation of the committee on legislation, the legislative platform was adopted at the city council meeting on 18 June 2019. The platform states:
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Support federal and administrative efforts that, subject to Congressional oversight:
- renounce the option of using nuclear weapons first;
- end the President’s sole, unchecked authority to launch a nuclear attack;
- take U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert;
- cancel the plan to replace the entire U.S. arsenal with enhanced nuclear weapons; and
- actively pursue a verifiable agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.
Oppose legislation or efforts, subject to Congressional oversight, that lead to developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, otherwise acquiring, possessing, or stockpiling nuclear weapons.
Support legislation and measures, subject to Congressional oversight, that encourage the U.S. to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Oppose the investment of city resources or the creation of contracts with businesses that are involved in nuclear weapons production.
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The City’s legislative platform (“Platform”) serves as the foundation for the City to support, remain neutral, or oppose regional initiatives and/or state and federal legislation. A comprehensive and current platform enables the City to act quickly when advocacy is needed. Periodically, staff reviews the platform to ensure it reflects current policy issues and positions of the Council. The City Council adopted the current legislative platform in June of 2017. The revision of the platform can be watched here.
This revision to the Platform was proposed by ICAN partner the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.
Rick Wayman of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation presented the proposal to the council.