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March 3, 2020 <br />Dear Santa Ana City Council and Mayor. <br />My name is Es4?"r and I am writing this letter in support of <br />THRIVE Santa Ana, the first community land trust (CLT) in Santa Ana, promoting development <br />based on local needs, local vision and resident participation. I urge you today to approve the <br />Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) with THRIVE Santa Ana, Inc. for the <br />Walnut and Daisy Micro -Farm project, including a 99-year lease. <br />The Walnut and Daisy project is an opportunity for the City of Santa Ana to model sustainability, <br />using the CLT model to combine powerful resident participation and smart land stewardship. <br />Over 250 cities and diverse communities in the United States are using the CLT model to make <br />development projects more equitable and sustainable. <br />CLTs have demonstrated effectiveness in strengthening the economy throughout the US, <br />especially in neighborhoods of need. During the foreclosure crisis, CLTs outperformed other <br />types of housing, with far fewer foreclosures and higher rates of secure homeownership. As <br />platforms for development, CLTs bring together residents, developers, and City officials — <br />something that is urgently needed throughout Santa Ana. <br />The Walnut and Daisy Micro -Farm will provide much needed access to healthy food, economic <br />opportunity, locally grown produce at affordable rates, social and educational gathering space <br />for all ages. Urban farms have been shown to benefit local property values, tax benefits to the <br />City as a whole, as well as the physical and mental health of participants. <br />Please approve the Walnut and Daisy DDA that leads to CLT ownership of the land. The <br />importance of ownership in building community wealth is now well understood and accepted. <br />Take this opportunity to establish a framework for real economic growth in Santa Ana, rooted in <br />the local community. <br />Thank you. <br />Sincerely, <br />