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<br />Orozco, Norma <br />From:Gaby Hernandez <gabaa_46@yahoo.com> <br />Sent:Tuesday, November 17, 2020 7:26 PM <br />To:eComment <br />Cc:City Council; !City Clerk <br />Subject:Downtown Santa Ana BID re Item 12A <br />Hello Council members, <br /> <br />I am writing to stress my concern with any additional fees for business owners. During this pandemic it has been difficult <br />for business to survive. The local businesses in downtown were already struggling pre COVID because of the high <br />parking fees/citations, the never ending street car, the changes in social climate as downtown catered more to out of town <br />younger crowds than the typical residents/families that used to frequent Calle Cuatro. More than 80 businesses have <br />gone out of business in downtown Santa Ana. The BID has shown to be more of a barrier to businesses than a resource. <br />Mega furniture is closing its doors after many years of struggling to remain in downtown. Ask the owners how much they <br />owe to the BID once they close their doors? The burden of these fees on business owners follows them even after they <br />close their doors. Now more than ever business should be protected from additional fees. <br /> <br />I am asking that you cancel this BID and not extend it. It has benefited only a handful of people, mostly people from <br />Downtown Inc who overprice their services. The businesses in downtown have the capacity to create their own <br />promotions without relying on Downtown Inc or Santa Ana Business Council. The services under the BID are already <br />provided by city taxpayers. A couple of years back 4 police officers were assigned full time to downtown, costing the city <br />over a $1million, there is no need for additional security. The decision to extend the BID or approve it should come from <br />business owners in downtown not members of DTI or SABC who have their own agendas. <br /> <br />In community, <br />Gaby Hernandez-Castillo <br />1 <br />