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AFFORDABLE HOUSING <br />ClearinghouseA network of lenders, community groups, and public agencies dedicated to the creation of quality affordable housing <br />David Levy, President <br />Fair Housing Council <br />Gary Dunn, Vice President <br />Banc of California <br />Elsa Monte, Secretary <br />Pacific Western Bank <br />Kandy Hung, Treasurer <br />East West Bank <br />Douglas Bystry <br />Clearinghouse CDA <br />Larry Christian <br />Old Republic Title <br />Alan Woo <br />Member at Large <br />Sandra M. Speed <br />Wells Fargo Bank <br />Gerald D. Turner <br />Heal Collective <br />Jose R. Lopez <br />Pacific Mercanllle Bank <br />Ajay Nayar <br />AOF Pectic Affordable Housing <br />Brenda J. Rodriguez <br />Executive Director <br />Santa Ana City Council and Mayor <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Cc: THRIVE Santa Ana, Inc. <br />P.O. BOX 1935 <br />Santa Ana, CA 92702 <br />April 30, 2018 <br />RE: In support of ENA with THRIVE Santa Ana <br />To Whom It May Concern: <br />Please consider this letter in support of THRIVE Santa Ana and the City of Santa Ana's approval of an <br />Exclusive Negotiation Agreement for the parcel of vacant land at 1901 W. Walnut St., Santa Ana, CA. <br />We wholeheartedly support THRIVE's vision of economic development led by residents, and we offer <br />our support for future projects on land secured by this community land trust (CLT). Working together <br />with residents, businesses, nonprofit and public agencies, together we can foster sustainable <br />development that benefits all Santa Ana residents and serves as an example to neighboring cities to <br />follow your lead. <br />The THRIVE Santa Ana community land trust will grow to provide space for parks, affordable housing, <br />commercial spaces, and other community benefits that are direly needed in Santa Ana. The identified <br />parcel will serve to improve the quality of life for many low-income and working families in the city. <br />Further partnership between the City and THRIVE will exemplify community -led development and bring <br />to light the City's leadership in this respect. <br />We encourage the City of Santa Ana to Identify further opportunities to allocate resources —Including <br />land or supportive funds —to the community land trust model. The CLT is a key strategy to engage <br />residents in the development process. The City holds over 90 vacant lots, like the Walnut and Daisy <br />property, which could make a tremendous Impact in the community's need for diverse economic <br />development. <br />We believe in the principles embodied in the Community Reinvestment Act, designed to encourage <br />commercial, financial, and institutions at all levels to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments <br />of their communities, including low -and -moderate Income census tracts. Congress passed this Act in <br />1977 to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low-income neighborhoods and encourage <br />sustainability and self-reliance in low -Income communities. <br />Affordable Housing Clearinghouse stands ready to assist in such efforts to reduce income inequality, <br />expanding economic opportunities for working families which include low-income residents of Santa <br />Ana. We look forward to assisting THRIVE and the Santa Ana community in fulfilling this mission. <br />Sincerely, <br />,�7 "—' r� <br />Brenda J. Rodriguez <br />100 <br />