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• <br />thanked the council committee and staff for a great job in moving in this <br />direction. <br />o <br />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 <br />Javier 011evidos 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 <br />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 />• <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 <br />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 <br />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 <br />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 <br />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 />• <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 />13A -9 <br />