Item No. 4 Public Comment_Menke, Wesley

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September 25, 2022 Re: 9/26/22 agenda item #4 Dear Chair Pham and Santa Ana Planning Commissioners, Please vote no ZOA 2022 - 03. We need regulation and taxation, not a blanket prohibition against short term rentals in the City of Santa Ana. I am a student of the Spanish language. Shortly after we started our short term rental five years ago I was talking with Marisala, the cleaning professional we work with. I used the words: invitados, turistas, and visitantes. I knew they weren't quite right. Finally Marisela helped me, and taught me a new word. "Huéspedes." The root of la huéspeda is the same as hospitality. Imagine what would happen if you change the zoning ordinance to "prohibit short term rentals"? Wouldn't you be prohibiting hospitality? Before there were large corporate hotels, there were strangers taking a calculated risk to provide hospitality to other strangers. This is as old as the human story itself. In exchange for housing a person might work, give something of value, or bestow a divine blessing, as many of the great world religions tell. Digital platforms have both revived an ancient practice, and admittedly created problems by pushing it into something never dealt with before. But like former president Obama argued during his term of office, "we shouldn't use an ax when a scalpel will do." Look at the data: regulation and taxation are the answer. We are now in the Dias Festivos. Soon Las Posadas will begin. I will never forget walking these streets in late november 2016 when many people were afraid to go outside. But those who could did. And we sang into the night:mi burrito sabanero voy camino a belén. My question to you is, is the City of Santa Ana really the city that is going to say: Aquí no es mesón Sigan adelante Pues no debo abrir No sea algún tunante. Here there is no inn Continue on ahead Well here we won’t open up You could be some robber Santa Ana is "the face of a new California." Let's show some leadership. Let's have some pride in our neighborhoods. Why wouldn't people from all over the world want to come here and stay with the people? They do. So let's not slam our doors in their faces. Let's figure this out equitably. Thank you for your time and consideration, Wesley Menke 1032 W. Park Lane Santa Ana, CA 92706