20A - EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT

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ATTACHMENT A Santa Ana City: The City of Santa Ana proposes to use the 2009 Justice Assistance Grant funding as follows: Project Objectives: The City of Santa Ana is the county seat and the largest and most densely populated municipality in Orange County. Its residents are overwhelmingly Latino and its population is the youngest of any city of its size in the nation with a median average age of 26.1 years. Census data reports 14.1% of all families and 16.5% of all individuals are at or below the poverty level as compared to the national averages of 9.8% and 13.3%. The housing foreclosure rate is 6.52%, compared to the national average of 1.84% and the State of California's Average of 3.47%. Unemployment in January 2008 was 7.2%, and in January 2009 it is 12.0%. During the last decade the City made great strides in reducing crime and disorder in the community through collaborative community partnerships, technological advancements (including crime analysis) and carefully targeted enforcement efforts. However, the City has disproportionallysuffered the consequences of the current recession and has been forced to make draconian cuts to its current and future budgets, thus significantly reducing the number of sworn officers. There are fewer officers now than in 1985. and budget deficits will further reduce their ranks as early as this year. Due to the current recession and financial crisis the gains from the last decade are in jeopardy and the well being of the community is threatened. The Department employs 1.02 officers per 1,000 population which is dramatically below state and national averages. This ratio is based on 42 unfunded sworn officer positions, more than 10% of total strength. Crime, which had been on a steady long-term downward trend, is rising in many categories. The Santa Ana criminal street gang population of approximately 6,900 which accounts for less than two percent of the City's population, this criminal element constitutes a significant impact on fear in the community and threatens the safety and stability of our neighborhoods. It is our belief that Gangs in Santa Ana are responsible for a disproportionate amount of the crime being committed. Through the use of grant funding the City of Santa Ana will augment its Gang Enforcement Units with front line suppression units working overtime to target enforcement of gang members involved in violent behavior. The Department currently lacks the man power and fiscal resources to address this problem, these officers will be deployed directly into the neighborhoods being most affected by the current state of affairs and will be funded for the three year grant period. This funding will equate to 3,125 hours of additional law enforcement presence on our streets. Goals: The goal supplementing the Gang Enforcement Units efforts is to decrease gang related crime in the city of Santa Ana to create a safe environment for residents and visitors alike. 2009- DJ-BX-0033 Page 22 of 27 20A-29