03-21-1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Santa Aha is one of 26 cities in Orange County, neither the largest nor the oldest. What distinguishes it, is that it houses 60% of the county's poor, and has the largest minority population--8 of every 10 students in its schools are Latino, Asian or Black. Santa Ana, of all cities in the county, is most like other central cities across the nation in which crime, poverty and deteriorating neighborhoods pose major problems for residents and local government. The All America Award is recognition of the fact that Santa Ana is doing something about those problems and that its residents, rather than sur- rendering, are fighting back. The award doesn't go to perfect cities that have solved their problems. The award committee could probably search the world over and never find a community worthy of that recogni- tion. Instead, it looks for cities working to resolve their problems and making significant gains. In that regard, Santa Ana is well qualified. When crime rates rose to troubling proportions, residents and police formed a partnership in a Community Oriented Policing program that earned widespread recognition and significantly reduced crime. The streets are safer. And a decayed downtown, because of rehabilitation efforts that are attracting more private capital than the public funds invested in redevelopment, is taking on a fresh look and new vitality. But, most important of all, Santa Ana is trying to involve all its resi- dents. Minorities were hardly visible on the civic scene a few years ago. Not so today. A major factor in winning the All America designation was the cooperation and involvement of the city's diverse groups. There are still conflicts, and there are still serious problems. But Santa Ana's chances for success are much better than they were a few years ago. That's something worth recognizing, and celebrating--in Santa Ana and throughout Orange County." MOTION was made by Griset, seconded by Acosta, to authorize the Vice Mayor to write a letter to the editorial staff members of the Los Angeles Times thanking them for their conception of the community of Santa Ana. Motion passed on the following vote: AYES: Acosta, Griset, Luxembourger, Markel, McGuigan, Serrato NOES: None ABSENT: Bricken 125 Councilmember Acosta inquired as to when a response would be made to a letter received from John Fainbarg on March 3. The City Manager stated that staff would respond appropriately. Councilmember Serrato requested staff investigate a deteriorating ceiling at Jerome Park. He also reported a meeting on March 30 at 7:30 p.m., at 1706 Pendleton Street relative to the recent floods and a meeting March 28, at 6:00 p.m., at McFadden Jr. High School relative to flood control and stop signs. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 93 MARCH 21, 1983