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SANTA ANA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION <br />1607 NORTH SYCAMORE • <br />[714] 836-1211 <br />December 17, 2024 <br />John Kachirisky <br />President, Santa Ana Police Officers Association <br />1607 N. Sycamore Street <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Dear Mayor Amezcua and Honorable City Council, <br />SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92701-3513 <br />FAX [714] 836-6108 <br />I am writing to express the support of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association referencing <br />item 29 on the agenda, the ordinance to prohibit conduct that interferes with public rights of <br />access to public property, also known as the anti -camping ordinance. <br />The drug addiction crisis is what is fueling many of these homeless encampments. We need to <br />take decisive action to take back our public spaces for law abiding residents. Our children have <br />been exposed to people openly engaging in drug use, openly using public spaces as a restroom <br />and other obscene activities no youth should ever witness. These actions are unacceptable, but <br />unfortunately our officers have been held back from enforcing the law. This ordinance, <br />combined with Proposition 36, will finally give our officers the tools to clean up the streets, give <br />an opportunity to those suffering from addiction to get the help they desperately need and <br />allow residents to use public spaces without fear. <br />In closing, several cities in Orange County have already taken action to enforce their anti - <br />camping laws. Santa Ana should join the other cities and prioritize the safety of our residents <br />first. Our Quality -of -Life team is already showing how this can be done with compassion and <br />empathy for those who may have hit a hard time in their life. This ordinance will give us more <br />tools to help those in the most need and protect our community. <br />Respectfully, <br />c7w,- X­Z--� <br />JOHN KACHIRISKY <br />PRESIDENT <br />SANTA ANA POLICE OFFIERS ASSOCIATION <br />