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Orozco, Norma <br />From: Alta Baja Market <altabajamarket@gmail.com> <br />Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 2:58 PM <br />To: eComment <br />Subject: comment for item #26 (Delilah Snell) <br />Good afternoon - <br />The 2 association model currently in downtown is wasteful of our money, time and very few receive benefits <br />from the current work of the associations. I completely understand why so many businesses in the BID are upset <br />or many do not even know what they are paying or why. And many businesses in the BID still are not aware of <br />what is happening. <br />Is cancelling the BID the right thing to do? I think that after a disastrous 3 years, Santa Ana merchants need the <br />relief ..especially from something they receive little benefit from. <br />While I do like parts of the proposal regarding a single association, having it made up of 2/3 of the old boards <br />does not seem like a change. It is more of the same, same people doing the same thing as before. <br />And if there is a single board, why do businesses have to pay for it? Is there a way to have a city funded <br />consultant (funded from the business license fee) who will work for the association/downtown merchant group <br />and this person can raise funds/create partnerships for events and marketing. We should be discussing ideas like <br />this and other ways that do not put added stress on small businesses that have already had to struggle over the <br />past 3 years. <br />This problem cannot be solved in a single meeting. This issue needs time and to me, it needs 6months to 1 year <br />for real work. Time to create a NEW association, build a funding plan that does not depend on businesses that <br />are already burdened. Create a strategic 5-year plan and properly survey the entire area and educate owners and <br />ask them their needs. Use the time to evaluate spending, set up systems of better communication and to make <br />downtown Santa Ana a place where businesses feel supported, heard and allowed to thrive. More of the same is <br />not going to work, it hasn't so far. <br />Thank you for your time. <br />- Delilah Snell <br />i Salud! <br />Alta Baja Market <br />Market + cafe celebrating the flavors above and below the US//MX border <br />Order our book: Beginner's Guide to Preserving <br />201 E. 4th St, ste 101 <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />714.783.2252 (BAJA) <br />@altabajamarket <br />