HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - #29
Orozco, Norma
From:Victor Payan <vpayan@alumni.stanford.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, March 02, 2021 9:00 PM
To:!City Clerk
Cc:citycouncil@santa-ana.org
Subject:Unable to call in or participate in City Council meeting / Comment on Agenda Item
29
Hello,
I tried to call in and also to login to the zoom meeting for today's City Council meeting to comment on Agenda item 29.
In each attempt, I received a message that the meeting had been locked. If this were an in-person council meeting, I could join at any
time. I do not understand why it is not possible to join virtually while the meeting is in session. This is a clear limitation of access to
important civic participation, and the equivalent of locking the door to an open city meeting.
Please let me know what steps will be taken to ensure public participation in City meetings while they are still underway.
My comment on agenda item 29 is this:
I am opposed to removing requirements that a member of an advisory body to Boards, Commissions, and Committees be a
qualified elector ofthe City of Santa, because these are critical bodies that represent the voice and needs of residents. By
opening them up to non-Santa Ana residents, you open the door for lobbyists, special interest groups, developers and
representatives of deep-pocket business entities to usurp the rights of Santa Ana residents to participate in decisions that
impact their lives, their families, their neighbors and the future of their home city. Each advisory seat given to a non-Santa
Ana resident is a seat taken away from a Santa Ana resident. If the door is opened to this, when will it stop? How can
Santa Ana residents compete against the relentless onslaught of special interests jockeying for these positions and using
our tax dollars to push forward agendas that do not have Santa Ana residents' well-being at heart? How will Santa Ana
residents be guaranteed that their voices will not be drowned out by agents of other cities seeking to shape Santa Ana
policies to their benefit? This rule was put in place for a sound reason, and I am asking the Council to honor this
safeguard and NOT remove the requirement for members of advisory bodies to be qualified electors and residents of
Santa Ana. Members of these advisory bodies must be Santa Ana residents.
Please share this comment with all of the Council.
Thank You,
- Victor Payan
Resident of Santa Ana
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