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Mitre - Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 4:38 PM To: Mitre - Ramirez, Norma; Trujillo, Rose Ann Subject: FW: Wellness District - Please distribute to city council and city executive team Categories: RFCA, Correspondence Our first "ecomment" user!! From: Melissa Saenz [ Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 4:26 PM To: eComments @santa - ana.org; Huizar, Maria Subject: Wellness District- Please distribute to city council and city executive team Dear City Council Members and City Manager, I am writing as a resident and SAUSD teacher who lives in the Lofts on Bush and 3rd street. I am writing in regards to the wellness district proposal that is on the agenda for tonights Meeting. I am greatly concerned about how this proposal will affect my community and strongly believe that there are many other organizations that help the community and are not being utilized. First and for most am thankful for your time in considering this proposal and would like to to state my concerns as a resident and teacher. I would like you to know that I work at Heninger Elementary and walk to and from school everyday. As I walk I have seen the wonderful community our city has to offer since moving in 2004. My first question is why is there so much effort to change what is working so well in the downtown area? People are walking and riding bicycles now, events are occurring on the weekends which promote different things for all the varied people who live and work here. Secondly, I do not support the recommendation of changing the name of 4th street to Calle Cuatro in order to pull in tourism dollars, like a Chinatown or Olvera street. Culture should not be construed as a tourist attraction. What message does it give our students to have to sell our Culture as a stereotype in order to accommodate tourism? We should see our culture in all things either Latino or American because our students are products of both communities. Latino Health Access has a park on 4th street that is not always open and has restrictions in order to attend such as completing an application form. How is that inclusive for all children? Why don't they open up the park to all families? If they are going to open up Micro Farms will they require the same forms to be completed. My parents do not feel comfortable completing forms because of the information that is asked such as insurance verification. As a Santa Ana resident we need to promote wellness and have current organizations such as the City Parks and Recreation community classes, Elite Fitness Downtown which offers free classes, the Zumba classes at the church and Payan at the field. Since we have businesses and organizations which currently promote wellness why must we start a new proposal? Garfield community center is a sight at the Elementary school that is never utilized and I would like to know why since the boxing facility adjacent has students running on the sidewalk when the community center is closed to visitors. Closing facilities like the park and Garfield community center sends a message that we don't want to promote community, because they would be open if we wanted the community to engage in wellness.