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PUBLIC LAW CENTER PROVIDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ORANGE COUNTY'S LOW INCOME RESIDENTS VIA EMAIL TO ecommentsla,santa-ana.or May 1, 2018 Mayor Miguel Pulido and Members of the City Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza P.O: Box 1988, M31 Santa Ana, CA 92701 RE: Letter of Support to The City Council for the City of Santa Ana re Item No. 60C: Approve Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Community Land Trust Thrive Santa Ana, Inc., for 1901 West Walnut Street (APN: 007-332-08) (Strategic Plan No. 5) Dear Mayor Pulido and Members of the City Council: The Public Law Center ("PLC") is a non-profit pro bono law firm that provides access to justice for low-income and vulnerable residents of Orange County. In our Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit, we represent low-income families in housing related matters, advocate for sensible strategies to end homelessness in Orange County, and collaborate with community organizations, statewide advocates, and law firms to push Orange County jurisdictions to create effective housing policies for lower-income individuals and families. PLC submits this letter of support for Item No. 60C: Approve Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with Community Land Trust Thrive Santa Ana, Inc., for 1901 West Walnut Street (APN: 007-332-08) (Strategic Plan No. 5). We wholeheartedly support THRIVE's vision of economic development led by local residents, and we have pledged to support future projects on land acquired by this Community Land Trust (CLT). Together, we can create sustainable development that benefits all Santa Ana residents. The CLT will provide space for community benefits that are direly needed in Santa Ana. Approving the ENA as recommended by Staff will move THRIVE closer to its goals of improving the lives for many low-income and working families who live and work in the City of Santa Ana. Further partnership between the City and THRIVE will exemplify community -led development and re- establish the City's leadership in this respect. Adopting the ENA will also further the City of Santa Ana's efforts to meet its Strategic Goal No. 5 of its General Plan (Community Health, Livability, Engagement & Sustainability.) Further, we encourage the City of Santa Ana to seek out further opportunities to allocate resources — including land or supportive funds — to THRIVE Santa Ana. The CLT is a key strategy to engage local residents in the development process. We believe in the principals embodied in the Community Reinvestment Act' ("GRA"), which was designed to encourage commercial, 'See § 12 U.S.C. §2901, and implemented by Code of Federal Regulations, 12 CFR parts 25, 228, 345, and 195. 601 Civic Center Drive West • Santa Ana, CA 92701-4002 • (714) 541-1010 • Fax (714) 541-5157