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V SANTA ANA ACTIVE STREETS March 3, 2020 Dear Santa Ana City Council and Mayor My name is Lynnete Guzman, and I am writing this letter in support of THRIVE Santa Ana, the first community land trust (CLT) in Santa Ana, promoting development based on local needs, local vision and resident participation. I urge you today to approve the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) with THRIVE Santa Ana, Inc. for the Walnut and Daisy Micro -Farm project, including a 99-year lease. Santa Ana Active Streets Coalition (SAAS) is a coalition of residents and community partners that aim to cultivate diverse community participation in creating a safe and accessible environment for active transportation in Santa Ana. Santa Ana is at a pivotal moment at this time. The City of Santa Ana has begun various strategic initiatives to make it safer for residents to walk, bike, and be mobile through multi -modal options. Yet, the city needs to promote land development patterns that will make the area healthier and support the large population of those who walk and bike in our community. The Walnut and Daisy project is an opportunity for the City of Santa Ana to model sustainability, using the CLT model to combine powerful resident participation and smart land stewardship. Over 250 cities and diverse communities in the United States are using the CLT model to make development projects more equitable and sustainable. CLTs have demonstrated effectiveness in strengthening the economy throughout the US, especially in neighborhoods of need. During the foreclosure crisis, CLTs outperformed other types of housing, with far fewer foreclosures and higher rates of secure homeownership. As platforms for development, CLTs bring together residents, developers, and City officials — something that is urgently needed throughout Santa Ana. The Walnut and Daisy Micro -Farm will provide much -needed access to healthy food, economic opportunity, locally grown produce at affordable rates, social and educational gathering space for all ages. Urban farms have been shown to benefit local property values, tax benefits to the City as a whole, as well as the physical and mental health of participants. Please approve the Walnut and Daisy DDA that leads to CLT ownership of the land. The importance of ownership in building community wealth is well understood and accepted. Take this opportunity to establish a framework for local economic growth in Santa Ana. Sincerely, Lynnete Guzman Chair Santa Ana Active Streets