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City Manager <br />OCTA Bus Terminal Building <br />March 26, 2012 <br />Page 4 <br />Unfortunately, we believe the use of the OCTA bus terminal for a homeless facility <br />would serve to worsen the barrier effect as pedestrians perceive an even greater reason <br />to avoid this area. <br />COMMUNITY CONCERNS <br />Community and Business Input is Essential <br />Stakeholders in all communities expect public agencies to inform and engage them in <br />matters that affect their community. And so residents and merchants in Santa Ana must <br />be included in these discussions about homelessness. It appears that the idea for the <br />County to purchase the OCTA bus terminal has been driven mostly by opportunity — <br />because it's for sale — rather than by a dialogue with the community. <br />Failure to Involve the Community Will Backfire <br />We are at a crossroads as a County in addressing homelessness. We are compelled to <br />act out of conscience, but we are also compelled to act by the law. It is imperative that <br />public agencies include communities in the discussion if we are ever to address <br />homelessness in a comprehensive way. Communities must have a hand in helping to <br />address homelessness in ways that fit the communities' circumstances. Rushing <br />headlong into projects like the OCTA bus terminal will damage the public sector's <br />credibility. And it will weaken relationships with the community at a time when <br />community support is essential. A good idea In a bad location is not success. <br />M. Trevino <br />JMT:rb <br />6b \M M•OCTA Bldg 3.2642 <br />85AA -34 <br />