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<br />Flores, Dora <br />From:sunwoodcentral@aol.com <br />Sent:Monday, February 15, 2021 4:12 PM <br />To:eComment <br />Cc:connieh2002@gmail.com; sunwoodcentral@aol.com; philbacerra@gmail.com <br />Subject:Councilman Bacerra Ordinance to Create Min Security Staffing <br />Mayor Sarmiento and Council Members <br />Over the last two years, even before the pandemic, multiple neighborhoods worked with the city to curb criminal activity in <br />the South Coast Metro area. The city took action against one particular establishment the California Lodge where much of <br />the criminal activity had occurred. <br /> <br />But with the current explosion of homeless in the area it's difficult to target any specific location where criminal activity <br />takes place today. <br /> <br />Individuals in my neighborhood refuse to shop at our local shopping centers where big box stores Target, Vons, CVS, <br />Staples and Big Lots are located. Instead they drive a few miles away to the cities of Tustin/Irvine to shop where they feel <br />safe and the shopping environment is clean. <br /> <br />In my neighborhood I have watched individuals take down their pants and poop on the grass in front of the Target on <br />Bristol. I have seen individuals urinate on the walls next to Walgreen Pharmacy, Burlington Coat,behind Staples by 31 <br />Flavors and Kinkos. My daughter is afraid to ride her bike along the trail bordering MacArthur Fundamental School <br />because the homeless approached her and it's dirty with human feces. <br /> <br />While walking I saw CVS and Trader Joe employees chasing thieves out of their store. I contacted Target management to <br />discuss criminal activity and they told me their employees are of the utmost concern and should not confront anyone <br />stealing from their store. It was best to let it go. <br /> <br />Individuals on foot, bikes and cars are stealing from electrical outlets at the shopping center to charge their devices and <br />tapping into pipes for water. On one particular day I counted 8 homeless men hanging around the Bristol Shopping <br />Center. Why would anyone want to shop in Santa Ana when just down the road in Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Tustin <br />and Irvine you get a better shopping experience. My neighbors are uncomfortable shopping in their neighborhood. <br /> <br />As our elected officials you have a responsibility to help provide a safe and clean environment for everyone to shop and <br />live in Santa Ana. If it takes an ordinance to create minimum security staffing standards for larger commercial shopping <br />centers it should seriously be considered. It's one small step the city can make to help us take back the community we live <br />in. <br /> <br />Kathleen Kuilanoff <br />South Coast Neighborhood Association <br />1 <br />