Correspondence #44 - Sanitation - Laserfiche WebLink

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Alcala, Abigail From: Dana Taylor < Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2023 8:42 PM To: eComment Cc: RM D Subject: Sanitation Charges and Homeless Encampments Hello, I am writing in response to the letter I received today regarding the increase in sanitation charges. I understand that the price of everything has to increase over time due to inflation, however I do not believe that this increase will be solving the underlying issue. It seems that since Mayor Sarmiento has left office in 2020, the underlying issue has been the significant increase in homeless people camping out in parking lots and behind buildings, leaving trash in gutters and along our streets, passing out on sidewalks that are necessary for those in wheelchairs, throwing garbage and used syringes in grassy area where our children walk to the stores and throwing beer cans over our fences because they "thought it was an empty lot". I know that programs have been created to try and provide resources and rehousing opportunities through programs such as QOLT and SMART, however I have found time and time again that submitted work orders in the MySantaAna app requests are being closed by "CityNet" with no resolution other than to "call the Santa Ana Community line at (714) 242-3706 to speak with a live dispatcher". Other times, work orders will be closed by "anonymous" posters and the resolution will be "for complaints regarding subjects loitering, please call the Santa Ana Police Department non -emergency". If the posts are answered by QOLT, pictures are attached showing the issue has been solved (which I greatly appreciate). I have called and submitted multiple work orders through the MySantaAna app for people living in their cars along the street near my house and yet every day they are still there. Trash continues to build on the sidewalks and in the streets. I no longer feel safe walking my children along that street. The increase in sanitation charges is only a bandaid to the underlying issue that is being pushed off to other departments instead of being handled in that moment. If there is an encampment or people loitering, does whoever is tasked with removing those individuals ensure they clean up the trash they have with them or are they tasked with cleaning it up themselves? If not, this step would drastically reduce the amount of trash and garbage left behind. I would like to know which department is responsible for ensuring that the work orders submitted through the MySantaAna app are being completed correctly and not being passed on to other departments unnecessarily. If someone would please forward my message to someone who has more information on this matter I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you, Dana Taylor 31