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i <br />-WATT TIEDER <br />WATT, TIEDER, HpFFAR & FITZGERALD, L.L.P. <br />May 7, 2020 <br />4 Park Plaza, Suite 1000 <br />Irvine, California 92614 <br />Telephone: 949-852-6700 <br />Facsimile: 949-261-0771 <br />www.watttieder.com <br />Colin C. Holley <br />Partner <br />Direct Telephone: 949-852-6768 <br />cholley@watttieder.com <br />VIA EMAIL AND CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED <br />Mayor Miguel Pulido and Santa Ana City Council <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />P.O. Box 1988, M31 <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />mpulidok santa-ana. org <br />Sonia R. Carvalho <br />City Attorney for the City of Santa Ana <br />Best Best & Krieger LLP <br />18101 Von Karman Ave., # 1000 <br />Irvine, CA 92612 <br />sonia. carvalhokbbklaw. com <br />v <br />Re: Demand for Action to Protect Sanctity of Political Process and Stop <br />Harassment, Intimidation, Abuse of Power, Trespassing, Theft, and <br />Destruction of Constitutionally Protected Political Signs <br />Dear Mayor Pulido, Councilmembers, and Ms. Carvalho: <br />We are writing as attorneys for Daniel Melton, a Santa Ana businessman who leases <br />commercial property at the corner of W. Edinger Avenue and S. Fairview Street ("Center"). Mr. <br />Melton allows limited use of portions of the commercial property for the posting of political and <br />election signs, only by persons to whom Mr. Melton has given specific authorization. <br />Over the past several weeks Mr. Melton has allowed use of the property for the posting of <br />signs supporting the effort to recall City Councilwoman Cecilia Iglesias. We are informed that <br />several actions have been taken to try to stop that Constitutionally protected political expression. <br />To the extent the events discussed below are confirmed to have occurred, they would constitute, <br />at minimum, illegal harassment, intimidation, abuse of power, trespassing, theft, and destruction <br />of Constitutionally protected political signs. Mr. Melton, as a good neighbor, has asked us to reach <br />out to you to express his outrage and to demand action to stop any such conduct so that the sanctity <br />of fair political process is protected, and so that his commercial tenants -which include essential <br />workers providing food service during this devastating pandemic -can operate without being <br />subjected to unwarranted threats, harassment and intimidation. <br />