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Huizar, Maria <br />From: Bob stewart <bob@stewartsound.com> <br />Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 12:38 PM <br />To: Huizar, Maria <br />Cc: Vicky Baxter <br />Subject: Fwd: Letter <br />Dear Maria, <br />Several years ago I decided to move my business to downtown Santa Ana. I was seeing the beginning of an immerging <br />downtown. For several years after the advent of the Artist Village, I saw stagnancy in the downtown and began to feel I <br />had made a mistake. Nothing was moving forward. Several other property owners came together and decided to look <br />into the possibility of a Community Management District. DSABA (Downtown Santa Ana Business Association) was not <br />working due to infighting and lack of vision with a complete unwillingness to change. <br />It was not easy to run our businesses, formally begin a 501©6 nonprofit and be at the leadership of a changing <br />dow-Aown. However, we were committed to the prospect of revitalization in downtown Santa Ana. <br />We have given our time, money and donated our expertise at "no charge" when needed, to move this new nonprofit <br />into the successful organization it has become. Downtown Inc is not only a vibrant force to the businesses downtown <br />but has made inroads into the community and social issues facing this city. Vicky has convinced us that PBIDs cannot <br />ignore social issues such as the homeless and is at the helm of forming a coalition of civic leaders, the faith community, <br />government and others to begin an effort that could make us a model to all counties in California. She is basing this on <br />the Navigator Program used in Sacramento and San Diego that has received Presidential Awards. The Community <br />Policing Project formed with Santa Ana Police Department along with radios funded by Downtown Inc given to our <br />businesses, has been described by the Justice Department as a model to large cities our size. <br />I am on the Executive Committee with Downtown Inc and cannot understand this continued smear of the <br />organization. We have strived to be transparent, we invite the public to all our meetings and we have done everything <br />possible to recruit new diverse directors and members. We are focused on success and assisting all the businesses in <br />downtown. The naysayers and people who continue to storm City Hall hurt Santa Ana. Their agenda is beyond our <br />understanding because they refuse to come to the table. What is most amazing to me personally is that these same <br />people held contempt for each other before Downtown Inc and now they have formed a "social club". Perhaps we <br />should be commended for uniting them for the first time. If they would put the effort and time into what they so <br />fervently oppose, they may find common ground and realize we are all here to prosper our businesses, raise our families <br />and live the American dream in unity. My sincere desire would be to see all businesses in the district part of the <br />equation, actively involved with Downtown Inc and making a difference in revitalizing Downtown Santa Ana. <br />Last week we held a Tri Mixer with over 250 businesses represented. The positive comments and pleasure at what is <br />taking place in downtown Santa Ana was refreshing to hear from business people in Santa Ana and throughout Orange <br />County. Keeping this issue at the forefront at City Council hurts bringing consumers and new businesses downtown. If <br />PBIDs did not work, then there would not be 1500 across the United States and now internationally accepted and <br />embraced. Several Cities have called us for details in beginning a PBID (Orange, Brea, Pasadena, San Pedro, and <br />Newport Beach). Our success shows! <br />Sincerely, <br />Bob Stewart <br />Past President Downtown Inc <br />1 <br />85B-8