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Middleton, Samuel <br />From: <br />Sent: <br />To: <br />Cc: <br />Subject: <br />Importance: <br />Dear City Clerk of Santa Ana, <br />Renee Lancaster < Renee- Lancaster@nova-academy.org> <br />Tuesday, March 15, 2022 9:02 AM <br />eComment <br />Renee Lancaster <br />3/15 City Council Meeting - Public Comment - #4 OC Streetcar Project - Orange <br />County Transportation Authority <br />High <br />Today I am writing as a follow up to my previous emails, but with an even more impassioned plea for assistance in <br />moving OCTA's OC Streetcar construction staging site away from the front of NOVA Academy Early College High School. <br />Upon arriving to school yesterday (Monday, March 14), students and staff were stunned to discover an even bigger mess <br />than before in OCTA's staging area, accompanied by the overwhelming smell of urine. Closer investigation found the <br />smell was coming from several areas where transients had urinated and defecated on the property. Bottles of human <br />excrement were also found. <br />It is absolutely unacceptable that teenagers should have to navigate their way around human waste in order to enter <br />their school. It is equally unacceptable that an organization as large as OCTA cannot (or will not) be held accountable to <br />keep their space tidy. <br />The attached photos were taken yesterday morning to give you an idea of the disaster currently inhabiting OCTA's <br />staging site in front of NOVA Academy at 500 W. Santa Ana Blvd. The area has devolved into a homeless encampment <br />that is ravaged with garbage, drug paraphernalia, personal belongings, food containers, and empty cans of beer —along <br />with human excrement. <br />Some have argued that the site is fenced off and has a locked gate, and therefore shouldn't be causing any problems. I <br />can assure you that neither are at all effective in prohibiting transients from entering this area. Our staff have personally <br />witnessed them easily slipping through or over the fencing, even when the gate is locked. <br />Representatives from NOVA Academy will once again bring our request to move the staging site to today's city council <br />meeting (March 15). Please listen to our words and the urgency behind them. The health and well-being of your <br />community's children are at stake. <br />Thank you, <br />...-....w.,.ww.. <br />Renee Lancaster, CEO <br />NOVA Academy Early College High School <br />