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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> • thanked the council committee and staff for a great job in moving in this <br /> direction. <br /> o Alex Vega indicated that the lottery process was corrupted, that he was lied to <br /> by Mayor Pro Tern Tinajero and Gerardo Mouet. The new league brought in <br /> six teams from Long Beach to increase the teams in their league. Mr. Nieto <br /> gave the new league Hector Godinez fields on Saturday. The Godinez fields <br /> are the best fields in Santa Ana. The new league was allowed to by-pass the <br /> process and used Mayor Pro Tern Tinajero to get fields. <br /> o Javier Ollevidos indicated that this is the first year for Santa Ana Pony <br /> League. Nearly 400 players participated in the program. Other cities are very <br /> competitive and Santa Ana never competed well against other cities. The <br /> Program is a volunteer program and he puts in approximately 15 volunteer <br /> hours a week as a coach and umpire. He is passionate about the game and <br /> thanked the Council Committee for allowing the Santa Ana Pony League to <br /> move forward. <br /> o Carlos Nava indicated he is the president of Santa Ana Pony League. <br /> Because of him, the league kids are coming back to Santa Ana to play <br /> baseball. The current youth leagues puts restrictions on players and Pony <br /> League eliminates those restrictions allowing the game to be played as it is <br /> meant to be played. The teams in Pony League represented Santa Ana very <br /> well. The league offers scholarships and allows players to grow and develop. <br /> They offer regular clinics to teach players basic fundamentals of the game. <br /> • The league conducts background checks on everyone involved with the <br /> league. The league keeps kids in Santa Ana where they should be and not <br /> going to other cities to play in other Pony Leagues or travel ball teams. He <br /> thanked the Council Committee for allowing Northwest Little League to <br /> transition to the Pony League and to continue forward. <br /> o Javier Contreras indicated that the adult leagues are not crying for fields but <br /> are crying for profit. Kids are fighting for the game and for fields to play and <br /> practice baseball. Does not understand why grown men are fighting for fields. <br /> Young athletes are proud, will not going to back down and will fight for fields. <br /> o Aaron Rodriguez indicated he is 12 years old and attends McArthur School. <br /> He is proud to live in Santa Ana and does not understand why they don't have <br /> fields and why they have to fight for fields. He plays baseball year round and <br /> baseball is an outlet for him and keeps him off the streets. He wants to make <br /> his parents proud and baseball gives him pride. <br /> o Harvey Contreras indicated that he does not know why we are here <br /> discussing field issues when Mr. Nieto does not even live in Santa Ana. <br /> Everyone is fighting for fields and this needs to end. He is fighting for Valley <br /> High School and Jerome fields because kids in his program live by these <br /> fields. Baseball keeps kids out of jail. He is a volunteer and is not doing it for <br /> profit like Mr. Nieto. The lottery was fine, the lottery needs to stay. Do it for <br /> the kids. <br /> o Tyler Lopez indicated he attends McArthur School and baseball is a lifestyle, <br /> it keeps him fit. His older brother plays for Godinez High School and the <br /> • fields are in bad condition. The team has to do regular fundraisers to help <br /> PREY Regular Meeting Page 3 July 29, 2013 <br /> <br /> 13A-9 <br />