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Santa Ana Healthy Neighborhoods Alliance
<br />1318 South Birch Street, Santa Ana, CA 92707
<br />September 11, 2017
<br />TO: Mayor Miguel Pulido, Mayor Pro Tern Michele Martinez, Councilmembers Jose Solorio, David
<br />Benavides, Juan Villegas, Sal Tinajero, and Vicente Sarmiento
<br />RE: Security Cameras at Madison, Windsor, Jerome, Chepa's, Santa Anita, San' o and Memorial Parks
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<br />From: Susan@ C. Sandoval, Irma P. Jauregw-411cA�-��, , . .
<br />Co -Chairs, Santa Ana Healthy Neighborhoods Alliance �
<br />The Santa Ana Healthy Neighborhoods Alliance supports, endorses and urges you to vote YesYes fob r
<br />approval of security cameras at Madison, Windsor, Jerome, Chepa's, Santa Anita, Santiago and
<br />Memorial Parks.
<br />As per the City Staff review and evaluation for use of CDBG, staff recommends approval for the cameras
<br />be approved. This analysis and recommendation is based on the Parks Recreation and Community
<br />Services Agency established criteria to identify and prioritize projects. "The criteria in order of priority,
<br />includes #1 Safety, #2 Deferred Maintenance, and #3 Opportunities to add park recreational open space".
<br />Please refer to Request for Council Action document dated August 15, 2017.
<br />In the identified parks named above, safety is THE major issue. Families and children are exposed to
<br />drug activities, prostitution, inappropriate behaviors such as drinking of alcohol, and more. Residents are
<br />afraid to use the identified parks, and the security cameras have been in discussion for years and
<br />promises for installation have been made. A YES vote demonstrates the Council's respect for resident's
<br />voices being heard on Safety, and the crucial need for the security cameras, and respecting the thorough
<br />process and procedures established by the City staff that resulted in their recommendation to approve the
<br />security cameras as the #1 priority. In a park poor city, the lack of safety results in severe underuse of our
<br />parks by children because parents are fearful pf 1he dangers. There exists the tremendous URGENCY
<br />to maintain the Safety of our parks; the security cameras are a necessity, not a luxury. All of our
<br />Police Officers have security cameras for safety; our parks merit this same policy for equity,
<br />especially because resources have already been identified to fund this NUMBER ONE CITY
<br />PRIORITY — SAFETY. We remind you that our Park Rangers Program is now extremely limited in
<br />rangers and coverage ---- a reduction to 80 hours total coverage per week for all of the city parks,
<br />and with the child kidnapping at Jerome Park, it was the security camera tape that solved this
<br />horrifying child abduction crime.
<br />We understand the desire for the proposed skate park. The FIRST priority is safety for our current parks
<br />identified. Staff followed the established criteria referenced in the Request for Council Action Report,
<br />August 15, 2017. As per this staff report, "Although it is not possible to fund the full list of possible
<br />projects, staff will continue to seek funding for a skate park to be added as resources become available."
<br />The skate park can be added for consideration once the security cameras for the identified parks are
<br />installed.
<br />As our elected officials, we urge your unanimous vote to approve the security cameras. The residents
<br />need to know that the Council supports safety as the top priority for the community and will vote YES for
<br />approval of security cameras. The attached signatures of Santa Ana residents support the YES approval.
<br />Copies: Cynthia Kurtz, David Valentin, Gerardo Mouet, aria D. HLOZ Sonia R. Carvalho
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