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Dale Helvig 2536 N. Valencia St. Santa Ana CA 92706 714-541-7254 helvig_denny@msn.com March 2, 2021 Mayor Sarmiento and Santa Ana City Councilmembers City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, 8t' Floor Santa Ana CA 92702 Subject: Item 1— El Centro Cultural de Mexico You know better than most people in Santa Ana that the pandemic has put a strain on all inhabitants of the City. What has assisted in dealing with this situation are the rules provided to us by the federal, state or local governments. The common base has been social distancing, and the wearing of masks. When I drove past the Cultural Center encampment last week, I saw none of that. No social distancing or masks. I believe the Quality -of -Life Team (QOLT) has been to this site, but by all accounts, it appears few if any have accepted the assistance being offered. The Cultural Center is not a homeless shelter, nor should it be granted permission to act as one or as a camping site. Doing so will require the City to grant the same exceptions to all groups operating by the same or similar models, or risk being sued for discrimination. Assistance is one thing, setting up areas in the City that are not subject to basic health and safety rules is another. The City represents all residents and allowing a group of people to ignore the safety measures that are needed is unacceptable. If we are indeed all in this fight against COVID together, then we all need to follow the rules, like it or not. If there is room at the Yale Street or the Links facilities, the Quality -of -Life Team should assist in moving people into these facilities for the sake of all residents' personal health and safety. It is my understanding those locations are required to follow COVID protocols. The Cultural Center is in a tough spot, they understand both sides. They also know that by doing nothing they are not helping the situation. Their states in part: (bold and red for emphasis). "In a moment like this [COVID] it isn't possible, nor would it be responsible, to think or talk of reopening any part of the property for regular Centro activities (events or classes, either in the space or in the parking lots, since under present conditions it is essential that people not meet anywhere with others from outside their households. As far as renters, all we can do is strongly recommend that they maintain a sanitary protocol at least as strict as the one we published in August. We know this is a harsh policy, but as the ones who have accepted the greatest responsibility for Centro's conduct as a public, official entity, we have no choice but to respect and enforce quarantine until the danger is past. To do it any other way would be to invite tragedy." Page 1 of 2 2021-03-02 Letter to City Council