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Orozco, Norma From: Soto, Daniel Sent: Tuesday, May 05, 2020 3:21 PM To: eComment Subject: FW: Item 60A From: Maria Ceja <ceja.maria95@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 9:11 AM To: Bacerra, Phil <pbacerra@santa-ana.org> Cc: Pulido, Miguel <MPulido@santa-ana.org>; Penaloza, David <DPenaloza@santa-ana.org>; Solorio, Jose <JSolorio@santa-ana.org>; Iglesias, Cecilia <Clglesias@santa-ana.org>; Villegas, Juan <JVillegas@santa-ana.org>; Sarmiento, Vicente <VSarmiento@santa-ana.org> Subject: Item 60A Good Morning Councilmember Becerra, I hope you are doing well. My name is Maria, I am a Santa Ana native and a volunteer tenant rights advocate and tenant counselor. I have had the privilege in being able to help many tenants that live within your ward. In the middle of f these tenants have received 3-day eviction notice, have been harassed by their landlord, received a notice to vacate, have been singled out by their landlord, are scared of losing their home because of not being able to pay rent, and are scared of what is next. They are human beings and most have not been informed of their protections under the eviction moratorium and rent freeze. What concerns me being a volunteer for a tenant rights hotline are the people who don't call, who are unaware of their protections, and the unreported traumatic experiences Santa Ana tenants are facing. Overall, many tenants have the inclination to pay the rent, but the reality is that because of job loss, loss of income, and reducing their hours to care for their children have left them unable to do so. I am here to ask that when the council discusses item 60 A, you consider these tenants. Many tenants who do not have a voice in these decisions that are determining their fate. We are all uncertain of what is to come, but we are all aware we are still in the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tenants should not face rent increases in the middle of a global pandemic that has exacerbated financial insecurities, especially for extremely low-income and low-income populations. I truly believe that the Santa Ana rent freeze should be extended to match the eviction moratorium's repayment period. Tenants should not face a rent increase while paying back the rent they were unable to pay between March 17th and May 31 st. Many tenants were put of out work because of the Safe at Home orders and for their own well being to flatten the curve. No one is 100% certain when their jobs will be available to them again. Everyone deserves the security of knowing that they can calmly pay back the rent at the best of their abilities without the weight of a rent increase. It is time to put the Santa Ana tenant community first, especially the community you were elected to represent. Their wellbeing is more important than the interests of the California Apartment Association. Take care, Maria