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EL CENTRO <br /> 1 CULTURAL <br /> ;�♦,r!;� DE M]EXICO <br /> January 201h, 2026 <br /> Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Council <br /> City of Santa Ana <br /> 20 Civic Center Plaza <br /> Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Re: Letter of support for 1901 W. Walnut St. Land Acquisition <br /> Dear Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Santa Ana City Council, <br /> On behalf of El Centro Cultural de Mexico, we appreciate the opportunity to express our <br /> strong support for THRIVE Santa Ana's efforts to purchase and permanently own the site of <br /> La Colmena(1901 W. Walnut Street) from the City of Santa Ana. Building on its success, <br /> THRIVE has now secured state funding to permanently acquire the site. We respectfully ask <br /> that the City Council direct staff to prepare a purchase and sale agreement, along with the <br /> required Economic Subsidy Report, to allow the City to accept THRIVE's offer of$8.52,000 for <br /> the property. <br /> El Centro Cultural de Mexico is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together <br /> Orange County's diverse community of immigrant workers, families, and students to support <br /> community-based organizing and initiatives that advance justice and equity. Since our founding <br /> in 1994, we have served as a vital community resource for cultural, educational, and artistic <br /> activities that strengthen identity, nurture local talent, and develop community-based <br /> leadership. <br /> We have worked alongside THRIVE Santa Ana since its founding. In 2020, the City of Santa <br /> Ana approved a 99-year lease for the site, including an Option to Purchase—demonstrating the <br /> City's long-term commitment to developing a community land trust strategy. Since then, <br /> THRIVE has collaborated closely with the City to advance a purchase agreement using <br /> funding awarded by the State of California through an Economic Development Pilot grant. <br /> Council approval is now needed to move forward with the purchase offer and to approve an <br /> economic subsidy reflecting the difference between the appraised land value prior to <br /> construction and its value following completion. We understand this item will be considered in <br /> closed session at the upcoming City Council meeting. <br /> At El Centro Cultural de Mexico, having a permanent, community-owned space has allowed us <br /> to train generations of community-based organizers working in health equity, housing justice, <br />