Correspondence - Item 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 19, 2026 1 The Honorable Valerie Amezcua RW 44 Mayor, City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 c9a RE: Self-checkout Ordinance Dear Mayor Amezcua, On behalf of the Santa Ana grocery industry, I write with extreme disappointment that as an elected body and as individual community representatives you have both ignored and failed to recognize the grocery industry or any Santa Ana grocers in your consideration of Self-checkout(SCO) regulation. The complete and total lack of communication with grocers leading up to the initial hearing and since the first hearing is inexcusable. Both California Grocers Association and grocery companies operating in Santa Ana have asked for individual meetings with the Mayor and Councilmembers before ordinance passage to educate you on impacts and share alternative policy options. The asks from grocers and CGA have come in the form of public requests, emails using the city website and phone calls to publicly listed phone numbers. Only one Councilmember connected with a Santa Ana grocer after several requests, but it did not occur until the day before the Second Reading. Ignoring grocery, a critical essential industry, while regulating them with negative consequences is shameful. We had hope that you would both agree and act on the basic premise of democracy that all voices should be recognized and heard, even when disagreements occur, with the goal of making balanced and appropriate decisions. We believe the city and its councilmembers cannot claim respectful and inclusive policy making by ignoring an entire industry. Sadly, we have all been recently subjected to government systems which regulate without participation, consideration or respect. However, we never thought that same treatment would occur in California, especially Santa Ana. The proposed SCO ordinance has been proven with data and experience to negatively impact employees,consumers and grocers. Both the operational and enforcement over-regulation have essentially forced grocers to abandoned the use of SCO.While some approve, it makes it even more difficult for brick-and-mortar grocers to compete with on-line grocery sales. Consumers prefer the convenience of SCO for smaller and quick purchases. Without SCO for that convenience, it is easier for them to drive past the store and order from home. We are saddened by the treatment of the grocery industry by the City of Santa Ana. It has been shown to us again that reasonable policy discourse is not an option. Our ask is for you to not move forward with the Second Reading and pause to hear directly from grocers and consider alternative solutions. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Tim James Director, Local rnment Relations California Grocers Association cc: Councilmembers, Santa Ana City Council CALIFORNIA GROCERS ASSOCIATION 1 1005 12th Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814 P: (916) 448-3545 1 F: (916) 448-2793 1 www.cagrocers.com