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email, and not shared with the meeting viewers and the Council, I am not permitted to meaningfully engage as required by the Brown Act. I see the impact of this when I watch the meeting. It allows the governing body to those who were unable to participate due to age or medical condition. URGENCY Through the last meeting, comments by phone were permitted. Last week with, with no notice, the City converted to in -person only. This is at the height of the pandemic with our City reaching new Covid-19 milestones daily. Due to the recent change, upcoming meeting, and critical nature of my access to engage with those elected to govern in Santa Ana, I request an answer to this request for reasonable accommodation before the meeting today. The CDC continues to recommend that seniors and people with disabilities who may be designated as "higher - risk" for life -threatening impacts if they contract COVID-19 take all possible precautions to avoid infection. In Orange County, as infection rates continue to rise, we see new records for hospitalization, ICU, and death. Currently, the only way to participate in public comment would be to attend a crowded room, in a crowded line, where some individuals are likely not wearing masks and in fact, have shown aggression toward those who do at other in -person meetings in Orange County. Given my (age/medical condition), this effectively prohibits my participation in public comment at the meeting. CONCLUSION Therefore, I request that the City either (1) allow me to participate by phone/video or (2) contact me immediately to engage in the interactive process to determine a safe way to participate. Based on my experience, it is critical that I am able to participate in oral public comment because the written comments are not read aloud and do not carry the same weight. There is no means to guarantee each Council member has even read them before making decisions on a particular agenda item. Therefore, when making critical decisions about the budget, public health, and welfare of our City those elected are unable to consider the opinions of similarly situated seniors or people with disabilities. Similarly, the public does not hear written comments the same way it does for those who are able to safely attend the meetings in -person. Without this accommodation, the time allotted to the public for comment would unfairly favor people in lower risk health categories at the expense of the most vulnerable. The result: a clear discrimination against those who are senior or have medical conditions. When looked at together, the protections of the Brown Act (even as amended during this global pandemic), and state and federal laws that protect seniors and people with disabilities from discrimination are clear. I have a right to equal access to government meetings, public accommodations, and public space. Therefore, the City must grant my urgent request for a reasonable accommodation to meaningfully engage with the City through oral public comment at the meeting today. This is critical because the meeting will address items of interest to the public. I request that before the meeting the City call me by Facebook messenger or email me at isabellelopez7028Agmail.com to confirm whether I will be permitted to engage in oral public comment at this meeting in a way that complies with medical recommendations for my health and safety. Alternatively, I request the City contact me by that time to initiate the interactive process and determine what alternative will be available before the start of the meeting. Thank you, Isabelle Lopez