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May 1, 2018 <br />Mayor Miguel Pulido and City Council Members <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />RE: Support for Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with THRIVE Santa Ana <br />Dear Mayor Pulido and City Council Members: <br />www.kennedyeommission.org <br />17701 Cowan Ave., Suite 200 <br />Leine, CA 92614 <br />949 250 0909 <br />Fax 949 263 0647 <br />The Kennedy Commission is writing this letter in support of THRIVE Santa Ana and the City of <br />Santa Ana's approval of an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (BNA) for the parcel of vacant land at <br />1901 W Walnut St. We wholeheartedly support THRIVE's vision of economic development led by <br />local residents, and have pledged to support future projects on land acquired by this community land <br />trust (CLT). Together, we can create sustainable development that benefits all Santa Ana residents. <br />The community land trust will provide space for parks, affordable housing, and other community <br />benefits that are direly needed in Santa Ana, including commercial spaces. This will significantly <br />improve the quality of life for many low-income and working families in the city. Further <br />partnership between the City and THRIVE will exemplify community -led development and re- <br />establish the City's leadership in this respect. <br />Further, we encourage the City of Santa Ana to seek out further opportunities to allocate resources — <br />including land or supportive funds -- to THRIVE Santa Ana. The cominunity land trust is a key <br />strategy to engage local residents in the development process. The City holds over 90 vacant lots, <br />similar to the Walnut and Daisy property, which could make a tremendous impact in the <br />community's need for economic development. <br />We believe in the principals embodied in the Community Reinvestment Act, designed to encourage <br />commercial, financial, and institutions of all kinds to help meet the needs of borrowers in all <br />segments of their communities, including low -and -moderate income neighborhoods. Congress passed <br />this Act in 1977 to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low-income neighborhoods and <br />encourage sustainability and self-reliance in low-income communities. <br />The Kennedy Commission stands ready to assist in such efforts to reduce income inequality, <br />expanding economic opportunities for low-income residents of Santa Ana. We look forward to <br />assisting THRIVE Santa Ana and the Santa Ana community in fulfilling this mission. <br />Sincerely, <br />Ces ru res <br />Executive Director <br />t'orkin„for systemic cliange xesutnngin the gr oiiucngn of homes afierdaltle to C)r angcoiinty's extrcriiely logy mcame households <br />a. ...v. v, v: ..... ` x <br />