Correspondence - Non-Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

SAN FA PNn CITY QwE R : SEE 22'23 PM2. N.S Sept20,2023 Office of the City Clerk 20 Civic Center Plaza, M-30 SA, CA 92701 To the City Council Members of Santa Ana; I heard about the proposal last night in Santa Ana related to allowing non -citizens the right to vote in municipal elections. I've always advocated letting the people decide any issue on the ballot short of being completely insane but I must object to this idea. I'm a 3`a generation Mexican -American and I think I can speak for my entire family, even the ones born in Mexico, that this is not an agreeable position. Non -citizens pay taxes; therefore, they earn certain rights such as everyday services for their health and protection. Personally, that is not enough to give them the ultimate privilege of the vote in elections unless they have become citizens. This is something that should remain special and worth striving for and I just don't see that in my everyday interactions. I say this meaning no offense to the hard-working people making a living here, however, I also encounter those whom don't respect our laws, who don't care about learning English, who choose to wave their own National flag over ours and seem to be less concerned about engaging in our community events or our country's celebrations. I think we've been accommodating enough over the years. The vote should remain sacred and something to appreciate. It should be a valuable incentive demonstrative of a certain loyalty. So please, don't sell us short. I don't believe the notion that people are voting illegally. I do believe if they really want the vote then they should work towards becoming a citizen. That should not be taken lightly, ever. Thank you, J. Ramirez