Correspondence - #16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 3, 2023 Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 Via Email RE: ITEM 16 - Consider Options to Amend the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance to Require Two -Thirds Approval of all of the Members of the Santa Ana City Council to Amend the Ordinance in the Future Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, I write on behalf of Chispa to express our support for the requirement of a two-thirds approval of total council members for certain future amendments to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and Just Cause Evictions Ordinance (JCEO). The City of Santa Ana (City) must commit to safeguarding housing stability and the tenant protections that provide it. As an organization based in the City, Chispa seeks to engage with excluded peoples to uproot systems of oppression and cultivate systems grounded in community accountability, solidarity, and self-determination for our communities to thrive. We are a membership based organization for young Latinxs advocating for systemic changes across Orange County. We are strong advocates for tenant protections and affordable housing at both the Local and State level. As such, we support the preservation of the City's RSO and JCEO. Chispa urges you to provide direction to amend the City's RSO and JCEO to require a two-thirds approval for certain future amendments. It is necessary that these ordinances are protected as the crucial tools they are to maintain and increase housing stability; and that certain amendments are only made with a two-thirds vote. The City's RSO and JCEO policies are the result of decades of community advocacy that has included support from community members impacted by housing instability, charitable organizations, faith -based organizations, and more. These efforts must be respected and providing this direction will do just that. The City must do everything in its power to safeguard these policies and follow the requirement of a two-thirds approval that is required for other City items such as certain budget actions.