HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - CS #2Orozco, Norma
From: Bryan Peraza <bryanjperaza@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2021 9:43 PM
To: eComment
Subject: El Centro and our Unhoused Neighbors
Hello,
The city of Santa Ana and Orange County should be ashamed. The two have had plenty of time to address the
needs of our unhoused neighbors. Instead they close shelters and make the ones available less accessible to
those who need them. We need real, long-term, solutions for this housing crisis and it is not going to solve itself
if you keep sweeping the unhouse population from corner to corner. To top it off, you want to take action
against an organization who has extended some assistance to the unhoused population. I repeat: the city of Santa
Ana and Orange County representatives should be ASHAMED. You have all failed miserably at meeting the
needs of the community.
Bryan Jesus Peraza
Orozco, Norma
From: Maria Ceja <ceja.maria95@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2021 9:27 AM
To: eComment
Subject: Closed Session Item: Potential Litigation with El Centro Cultural de Mexico
Hello Mayor and City Council Members de Santa Ana,
Housing is a human right. Instead of wasting resources and energy penalizing a local and valuable community
organization and volunteers/residents that have been supporting the unhoused community by providing them
space and support, it should instead be redirected to seeking REAL solutions. Let this serve as a
friendly reminder that our unhoused neighbors are human beings and NOT a burden as the city makes them out
to be. Use the resources and the capacity the city has to provide dignified housing. Instead of giving more
money to the Santa Ana Police Department, use that money to invest in the people, especially our unhoused
neighbors. DO BETTER THAN WHAT YOUR PRESENT GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS REFLECT.
Friendly reminder that being unhoused is not to blame on the individual but the systems and institutions that
perpetuate these inhumane conditions.
Best,
Maria Ceja
Orozco, Norma
From: Ava Steaffens <asteaffens@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2021 10:02 AM
To: eComment
Subject: No Legal Action agst El Centro Cultural
Dear Mayor Sarmiento and City Council,
In light of the agenda item on today's City Council meeting regarding El Centro Cultural de Mexico, I am very
much opposed to any legal action taken against El Centro.
I ask that the city make public lands and other resources available available to house our neighbors who need
housing.
El Centro should not be penalized for doing what the city should be doing.
Respectfully,
Ava Steaffens
Ava Steaffens
Orozco, Norma
From: Teresa Saydak <bubbasaydak@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2021 10:16 AM
To: eComment
Subject: Invest public resources to serve the unhoused population
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
On behalf of el Centro Cultural de Mexico and residents of Santa Ana, the city needs to do more to serve its
unhoused community. You continue to put the burden on residents of community organizations when there is a
responsibility and the means for the city to take a more positive action to provide solutions. The City has access
to federal funds to help these vulnerable community members during the pandemic, and even dozens of vacant
public lands where folks could live, avoiding constant harassment and conflicts with police or neighborhood
residents. We are asking for 1) to not place the burden on el Centro and community orgs on finding a safe place
for people to live, 2) to invest public resources, including land and funds, to help our houseless neighbors,
vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street!, and 3) to work with community organizations, like el Centro, and
service providers not against. There are countless city services that can be and have been a tremendous help and
we hope the City continues to provide those and even more services, rather than starting an abatement process
against el Centro or further criminalizing our community. Let's focus on finding real and transformative
solutions, not on kicking the problem down the line.
Thank you,
Teri Saydak
Woodland Place
Santa Ana, 92707
May 4, 2021
Dear Santa Ana Mayor Vincente Sarmiento and Councilmembers,
My name is Deyadira Arellano and I am a proud Santa Ana USD parent. I write to address
closed agenda item 11: Conference with legal counsel and potential litigation concerning El
Centro Cultural de Mexico at 837 N. Ross. This location is a welcoming and loving center that
our family cherishes to preserve cultural knowledge and practice our family values of collective
and community caring.
As a parent who also teaches my children compassion and caring for all of our neighbors
regardless of race, gender, social status, income, and property. I beseech you to not pursue
legal action against El Centro Cultural de Mexico for providing humanitarian aid to unhoused
people in the city of Santa Ana.
It is my understanding that caring volunteers in Santa Ana have worked alongside the
community of people in need of public resources to assist our houseless neighbors to access
resources. The city has the opportunity to be a leader in our region to prioritize humanitarian
relief and support for the community organizations and service providers in their efforts.
Allow me to revisit the city's guiding principles such as the purpose, vision, and goals. When the
term "safety" is utilized within these statements whom are we referring to? Is the public to
interpret that certain individuals are provided with quality service while others are forsaken? In
the city's vision statement are investments in children also not modeled by our actions toward
our unhoused neighbors? Are unhoused populations not part of our diversity? How will the
elected leadership of this city be an example among other Califonia Cities when caring for
unhoused communities? Lastly, how can the city's goals help us prioritize empathetic
humanitarianism in what the city of Santa Ana has set out to accomplish?
PURPOSE
Our purpose is to provide quality service to enhance the safety, livability and prosperity of our
community.
VISION
The dynamic urban center of Orange County acclaimed for our: Investment In Children,
Neighborhood Pride, Enriching Cultural Experiences, Appreciation of Diversity, Thriving
Economic Climate, Quality Government Services, and Leadership Among California Cities.
GOALS
• Ensure a safe community
• Be a catalyst for the positive development of young people
• Foster neighborhood pride and community understanding
• Provide and maintain first-rate infrastructure and community facilities
• Ensure an attractive and well -maintained city
• Create an environment that stimulates the growth of arts and cultural opportunities
• Recruit and retain a highly -skilled and diverse workforce
• Ensure the City's long-term financial ability to deliver quality services
• Attract and retain a prosperous business community
• Optimize workforce effectiveness through training, technology, equipment, and
facilities
• Develop and continuously improve system to assure high quality services to
customers
• Assume a leadership role in regional issues of primary importance to Santa Ana
Again, I reiterate for this body of elected leaders to exercise your power to protect the unhoused
communities of Santa Ana and provide them with much -needed resources. It is vital for the health
and well-being of unhoused people for you to not pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural de
Mexico at 837 N. Ross.
Sincerely,
Deyadira Arellano
CC: Mayor Pro-Tem David, Penaloza, Councilmembers: Phil Becerra, Jonathan Ryan
Hernandez, Jessie Lopez, Nelida Mendoza, Thai Viet Phan
Orozco, Norma
From:Valeria Esqueda <valeria.esqueda97@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 1:20 PM
To:eComment
Subject:NO LEGAL ACTION AGAINST EL CENTRO CULTURAL DE MEXICO
Good afternoon,
I am a long-time resident of ward 3 who's very concerned about Santa Ana City Council's approach to our
shelterless neighbors. Specifically, I am referring to the situation at El Centro Cultural de Mexico. The council
is threatening legal action over a matter that they can entirely assist with. The city has access to federal funding,
public lands, Project Roomkey, and other resources, so why expend energy with a litigation case when there are
needs the city can provide for. I respectfully ask the City Council to abstain from pursuing legal action against
el Centro Cultural for defending our unhoused neighbors. This is an enormous opportunity to change and
positively affect the houselessness crisis and I ask the City to treat it as such, not as a legal conflict. Countless
community groups and volunteers are taking on this unpaid labor to fulfill needs that have long been neglected
by corrupt and ineffective elected officials.
Valeria Esqueda
1
Orozco, Norma
From:timrush@bhhscaprops.com
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 2:41 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Tonights Council Meeting RE; El Centro Homeless Encampment
Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers;
I encourage each of you to vote this evening to end the nightmare on North Ross that has been created by El Centro
Cultural de Mexico. They are doing huge damage to that neighborhood and depriving the homeless from services that
could benefit them and help them get back on their feet. The environment they have created is fostering drug use,
alcohol abuse and other deviant behavior. And worst of all they are making a mockery of our zoning laws. The city has
gone way beyond being reasonable……..time to take action.
Sincerely,
Tim Rush, Wilshire Square Neighborhood Past President & Neighborhood Hero.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
13926 Seal Beach Boulevard
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(714) 299-4455
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Gilbert Sanchez <gilbertelias23@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:00 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Treat ALL people with dignity
Use public land, Roomkey and/or other resources to help our shelter less neighbors.
No legal action against el centro cultural de Mexico.
I, for one, applauded the proactive stance el centro has taken to treat people with dignity. For far too long the
community has been abused by the police and others who would just rather have people disappeared. By
threatening with legal action against a cultural center is just another example of gentrification and the
underlying of white supremacy power structure.
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Mock, Kelton (Medical Student) <kamock@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:04 PM
To:eComment
Subject:El Centro and Houseless Community
To Whom it May Concern:
My name is Kelton Mock and I am a fourth-year medical student in the Program in Medical Education for the
Latino Community (PRIME-LC) at UC Irvine. As someone who has done clinical and volunteer work with
unhoused residents from Santa Ana, I am concerned about the current confrontation between the City and
the Centro Cultural de México. In my view, the City needs to make use of public lands and public resources
such as Roomkey and others, to take responsibility for helping its unhoused residents. Rather than wasting
more public dollars in taking legal action against the Centro Cultural de México, the City should come together
with residents to work to find lasting solutions to the situation.
People at the Centro Cultural are only trying to do their best to help look after the community. Work with
them to find solutions and show that you are committed to helping people rather than locking them up or
shipping them away to other municipalities. Thank you for taking my comment into consideration.
Sincerely,
Kelton Mock
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Ventura, Jenny (Medical Student) <jennysv@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:20 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Comment to Santa Ana City Council
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public
resources to help our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response
towards homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all,
we ask that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
Jenny Ventura, MS1
UC Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
jennysv@hs.uci.edu | 562.417.6937
1
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
2
Orozco, Norma
From:Quintero, Edgar (Medical Student) <edgarq1@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:24 PM
To:eComment
Subject:The City of Santa Ana and El Centro Cultural
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public
resources to help our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response
towards homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all,
we ask that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
3
Orozco, Norma
From:Lopez, Martha (Medical Student) <marthal1@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:27 PM
To:eComment
Subject:City of Santa and El Centro Cultural: Comment
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public
resources to help our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response
towards homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all,
we ask that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
4
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Orozco, Norma
From:Pellecer, Alexis (Medical Student) <apellece@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:40 PM
To:eComment
Subject:CALL TO ACTION
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public
resources to help our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response
towards homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all,
we ask that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura,
Alexis Pellecer
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
Get Outlook for Android
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Greg Camphire <gcamphire@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:39 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Santa Ana Residents Experiencing Homelessness
Hello Councilmembers,
I am writing to strongly urge city officials to immediately create policies that address the homelessness crisis in
Santa Ana. City and county governments must work together with local organizations, businesses, and residents
to solve the many problems at the root of the homelessness crisis: public land availability, mental health
services, unemployment, job training, assistance in transitions to new living situations, rent control, eviction
moratoriums, and many other complex and intertwined issues. Otherwise, these people who are already
struggling will continue to be moved around without any of the problems actually being solved.
Another major issue that needs to be addressed is the unequal and unfair distribution of people
experiencing homelessness throughout Orange County. It's clear that these folks come from many areas around
the county, but Santa Ana alone is continually burdened with the overwhelming task of solving these problems.
Taking legal action against Centro Cultural de Mexico for the incidents currently occurring there will not solve
the complex range of problems connected with this issue; it will only result in further finger-pointing and
blaming that continues to ignore the people who are suffering the most.
Please do the right thing.
Thank you,
Greg C.
92701
3
Orozco, Norma
From:Stephanie Guevara <stephanie.guevara97@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:46 PM
To:eComment
Subject:City of Santa Ana and El Centro Cultural
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. Addressing this issue affecting the most vulnerable populations
should be the city's priority. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public resources to help
our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response towards
homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all, we ask
that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura,
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Alfaro, Ariceli (Medical Student) <alfaroaa@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:47 PM
To:eComment
Subject:El Centro cultural
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public
resources to help our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response
towards homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all,
we ask that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Ariceli Alfaro
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Peratoner, Erika (Medical Student) <eperaton@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:49 PM
To:eComment
Subject:URGENT: El Centro Cultural
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public
resources to help our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response
towards homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all,
we ask that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura,
Alexis Pellecer,
Erika Peratoner,
Ariceli Alfaro
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
Erika Peratoner, MS1
UC Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
eperaton@uci.edu | 949-374-1993
1
She/Her/Hers
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
2
Orozco, Norma
From:Cerda, Francisco (Medical Student) <facerda@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:58 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Public Comment for 5/4
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to learn
about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in their parking
lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is safe and educated about
resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El Centro recognized the hardships
caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on their premises. The City should realize that
homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural, and their intention is not to allow homeless
individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El
Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values
El Centro Cultural holds towards its community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the City
utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and conflicts with
police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public resources to help our
homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response towards homelessness will be
rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all, we ask that you work with community
organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Francisco Cerda,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura,
Alexis Pellecer
Erika Peratoner
Ariceli Alfaro
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Gonzalez, Irene (Medical Student) <ireneg1@hs.uci.edu>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:02 PM
To:eComment
Subject:ATTN: City of Santa Ana and El Centro Cultural
Dear City of Santa Ana,
On behalf of our medical school student team currently working with El Centro Cultural, we are disappointed to
learn about the threats to pursue legal action against El Centro Cultural and the homeless individuals residing in
their parking lot. Despite the pandemic, El Centro Cultural has worked diligently to ensure the community is
safe and educated about resources available to them. Rather than antagonize and criminalize homelessness, El
Centro recognized the hardships caused by the pandemic and has allowed homeless individuals to reside on
their premises. The City should realize that homelessness is not an isolated issue caused by El Centro Cultural,
and their intention is not to allow homeless individuals to reside there permanently. However, resolving
homelessness cannot be placed on the shoulders of El Centro Cultural, and any forced displacement of these
homeless individuals onto the streets is antithetical to the values El Centro Cultural holds towards its
community members.
Given that the City has access to federal funds to help our vulnerable community members, we request that the
City utilize vacant public land where homeless individuals can live peacefully, avoid constant harassment and
conflicts with police or neighborhood residents. We stand with El Centro Cultural in their message to use public
resources to help our homeless neighbors vulnerable to COVID-19 in the street! We hope that your response
towards homelessness will be rooted in respect, patience, and creativity towards solving such issues. Above all,
we ask that you work with community organizations like El Centro Cultural rather than threaten legal action.
Sincerely,
Irene Gonzalez,
Stephanie Guevera,
Martha Lopez,
Edgar Quintero,
Jenny Ventura,
Alexis Pellecer
Erika Peratoner
Ariceli Alfaro
Francisco Cerda
Medical Students at University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC)
This message may contain confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, do not use, distribute,
or copy this e-mail. Please notify the UC Irvine Health – Compliance and Privacy Office via email at hacompliance@uci.edu or by phone 888-456-7006
immediately if you have received this e-mail in error. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of
this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Marlha Sanchez <mamadragonrising@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:01 PM
To:eComment
Subject:El Centro Homeless Encampment
Council Members,
Please, I'm urging you to work with local organizations, volunteers, service providers and the community
center to stop moving the homeless in our community from neighborhood to neighborhood.
We've seen this happening for years and it's not a solution. We need to do something different and together
we have so many ways to help.
Please work with us and stop fighting us so that we can do what's best for all of us.
--
Gracias,
Marlha Sanchez
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Christina Valenzuela <christina.valenzuela@live.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:42 PM
To:eComment
Subject:May 4 meeting - el centro cultural encampment
City council, enough is enough. This encampment needs to go. There are homeless shelters and this
encampment is not needed. I am disgusted by the filth left behind. Children and parents walking to school do
not need this. We citizens need peace and not to be afraid that a homeless person with mental issues may
randomly hurt someone. Let’s be proactive and stop a harmful situation before it escalates even more. Please act
on behalf of your tax paying citizens that are getting tired of the inaction.
Thank you
Christina Valenzuela
Get Outlook for iOS
1
Orozco, Norma
From:Sergio Corona <sergio.bfrm@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:40 PM
To:eComment
Subject:STOP criminalizing El Centro Cultural de Mexico
Dear council members of the City of Santa Ana:
I have been a resident of the City of Santa Ana for many years, currently a resident in Ward 5. I would like for
you to stop criminalizing the efforts of El Centro Cultural de Mexico to support a dignified and safe space for
the homeless population in Santa Ana. The homeless population need more help and support from the City not
less by criminalizing the only organization that has the humane purpose to help the in issue. Apparently lots of
millions of dollars in funds have been provided to the city and the county for the purpose of helping the
homeless (clearly money is not the problem) but the lack of proper administration of the money to solve the
issue is the major problem. I say this because homelessness in Santa Ana is a problem that is increasing, as a
resident I am a witness of this problem every single day when I drive through the streets. As Council members
you should put more efforts in being part of the solution instead of criminalizing the few organizations that are
trying to do their best to solve the issue with the little resources they have. As a concerned resident of the City
of Santa Ana I would like for council members to STOP CRIMINALIZING El Centro Cultural de Mexico.
2
Orozco, Norma
From:Violet Delgadillo <violet.delgadillo@icloud.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:30 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Re: Homeless Sheltering and Centro Cultural de Mexico
Dear City Council,
As a member of the Santa Ana social community, I am asking that you please:
Use public lands, Roomkey and/or other public resources to house our shelterless neighbors and NOT take legal action
against the Centro Cultural de Mexico.
Sincerely,
Violet Delgadillo
3
Orozco, Norma
From:Esperanza Corona De Rosas <esperanzadr72@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:25 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Apoyo
Por favor quiero entrar a la junta y quiero expresar lo.que esta pasando sobre los indigentes por favor...
4
Orozco, Norma
From:Victor Payan <victor@masamedia.org>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 3:59 PM
To:eComment
Cc:Sarmiento, Vicente; Penaloza, David; Phan, Thai; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil;
Hernandez, Johnathan; Mendoza, Nelida; Ridge, Kristine; Gomez, Daisy; !City Clerk
Subject:Public comment Save Cypress Fire Station
Dear Mayor, Councilmembers and city Manager,
I am writing to join in the chorus of residents, community leaders and neighborhood association leaders
who are opposed to the sale of the Cypress Fire Station, located at 625 S Cypress (Closed Session Item
3).
As a resident of the Pacific Park neighborhood, where the Cypress Fire Station is located, and Director of
Media Arts Santa Ana (MASA), I would love to strongly advocate turning the building into a community
technology center. The pandemic made plain Santa Ana’s need to address the tremendous digital divide in
our city, and currently there is a scarcity of locations where residents can access reliable internet to
complete assistance forms, apply for jobs, learn new job skills, pay bills, and other actions necessary for
functioning in today’s world.
Turning the Cypress Fire Station into a community technology center is in alignment with the South Main
Plan, as the building is also located in the footprint of that project.
My organization, Media Arts Santa Ana (MASA) would be interested in holding bilingual media arts
production and digital literacy classes in the building if it is turned into a community technology center. I
am sure there are other organizations that could also fill the space with state-of-the-art programming that
serves both the local youth and local adult population.
A few years ago, we tried to court the coding organization SABIO to Santa Ana, to provide free coding
classes to our underserved community. They searched and were unable find a technically suitable or
affordable space in all of Santa Ana, and we lost the opportunity to Irvine. Let’s act today to make sure we
st
don’t lose more opportunities to provide 21 Century amenities and job training to our residents.
We are all too familiar with the doleful regret in which the sale of the Santa Ana Fire Department
discussed to this day. Please do not make the same mistake of losing a valuable resource forever, when
there is such demand from the community to repurpose the building for modern community use.
I’m sure you are profoundly aware of the historical significance of the building, as it has been the center of
much of the discussion online, and that is reason enough to save the building. Developers can always find
other properties to develop and flip for a profit. But, in all honesty, how many historic buildings can you
find in Santa Ana that can be repurposed to community use? How many city-owned properties will be
saved for community use?
I encourage you to consider the cost of losing a historic building and community resource vs the amount
of money the developer stands to make flipping the property.
We must save public buildings for public benefit and public use. And we must save and safeguard Santa
Ana’s history and historic buildings for future generations.
5
I thank you and hope you will do the right thing by Santa Ana’s history and legacy, and save the Cypress
Fire Station for public benefit and public use.
Sincerely,
Victor Payan
--
Victor Payan
Director
Media Arts Santa Ana (MASA)
c: 619-701-0073
e: victor@masamedia.org
Media Arts Santa Ana (MASA) is a project of Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
6
Orozco, Norma
From:David Jirik <david@heliotrope-studios.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:20 PM
To:eComment
Subject:"Shelterless" Neighbors
I want to express my and my wife's feelings about the homeless encampment at Ross & Civic Center. It's a
violation of the City's zoning ordinance, doesn't help the homeless get the help they need and contributes to the
crime and cleanliness of the surrounding community. Please strongly consider action against allowing the
encampment to continue.
Thank you,
David Jirik
Washington Square
--
David Jirik
Heliotrope Studios
1406 N. Towner Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
714.337.0732
7
Orozco, Norma
From:Noe C <wishes_03@hotmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 4:18 PM
To:eComment
Subject:encampment on Civic Center & Ross comment
To whom it may concern
Absolutely against this encampment in the middle of our beautiful city. We need to have a clean city and have
everyone live in peace. We need to do something to relocate this people and have our downtown area look
nice. No point on making big investments with building in the area if there is no control with what happens in
the surroundings.
it's time for all of us to work together and get this people to a place where they don't interfere with other's
lives. Our city charges plenty of taxes for us to have a nice living space.
Thanks in advance.
Noe
8
Orozco, Norma
From:tamerou@aol.com
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:19 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Homeless encampment on Ross St.
Dear Councilmembers,
I am having difficulty putting into words the extent of my dismay, anger, dissatisfaction with the City of Santa Ana and its
lack of addressing this growing homeless problem near the heart of our City. A neighbor and I drove by there today. It
was even worse than the original encampment, now covering both sides of El Centro. There are large piles of refuse and
other "items" near the sidewalk on Ross St. I suspect that this trash also would include used needles and other drug
items. This comprises a public health risk for all the residents of the City. The ongoing pandemic poses another threat to
the City which does not have the highest rate of inoculations. This puts all of us at risk.
Please be assured, I am not insensitive to the issues of homelessness. I worked with the SAPD Family Violence
Emergency Response Team or several years. I worked with individuals who chose living in the park rather than continue
in an abusive relationship. Those victims were largely women and many resorted to the streets because shelters at that
time, did not take pets. We only had a shelter in the Carlsbad area that took pets. On one night, the officer and I spent 6
hrs...from 11 pm to 5 am until a woman was able to have all her pets safely housed. Then we took her and her children to
a shelter.
I did not notice individuals with pets on Ross St. today, but if this is a factor the City could and should address. IF many of
these homeless are domestic violence survivors, the City must develop a plan to combat this aspect of the problem as
well.
Today, I noticed a number of younger (20's-40's) age males. It was difficult to assess in just a few minutes if this
homelessness was a result of mental disorders or drug use. Another aspect the City should focus on in dealing with the
homeless is to ascertain how many/if any of these men are veterans who may be eligible for services through the VA
System.
I have worked with individuals with mental disorders and chemical dependency for most of my career as an Associate
Professor in the School of Medicine at UCI. I recognize that many people may not be amenable to services. However, I
also know that the City cannot absolve itself of this problem. It is not just El Centro's issue--IT IS A CITY ISSUE THAT
AFFECTS ALL OF US.
I would suggest that the City--at the very least--form a committee to address the ongoing problem of homelessness. I
would love to be part of such a committee. However, I suspect the City will continue to shift the blame solely to El Centro
and do nothing.
Respectfully,
Patricia Lenahan
Washington Square
9
Orozco, Norma
From:Susan <susansallyfisher@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:21 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Homeless Encampment
We need to get rid of the homeless encampments in our neighborhoods. They should be prohibited and move the
homeless to actual shelters. We have lots of problems with homeless. Civic Center and Ross, under the 22 fwy, 2525
Main and the list goes on. Lots of crime activities. They are stealing bikes and breaking into cars. There are a bunch of
homeless with headlamps and bikes in Park Santiago.
Please get them off the streets and move them along to a shelter.
No more encampments!!
Sent from my iPhone
10
Orozco, Norma
From:Socorro Sarmiento <socorritomex@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:40 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Centro Cultural
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SOCORRO T. SARMIENTO
GOOD EVENING, I AM SOCORRO SARMIENTO, RESIDENT OF SANTA ANA AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF CENTRO
CULTURAL DE MEXICO
I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH THE NEW CITY COUNCIL KNOWS ABOUT EL CENTRO CULTURAL DE MEXICO SANTA ANA,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR SUCCESS AND STRENGTH IT IS BASED IN THE CENTRO’S VALUES. MR.
BACERRA FOR YOUR INFORMATION, CULTURE IS NOT GIVEN IN A VACCUM, THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
EXPERIENCES OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE INTERRELATED WITH OUR CULTURAL OUTCOMES. THE SUCCESS OF DIA DE
LOS MUERTOS, DIA DEL NINO, OUR WONDERFUL CLASSES, PERFORMANCES ARE SUCCESSES PRECISELY BECAUSE OF
OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THE CENTRO IN NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
THE CENTRO WILL NOT CRIMINALIZE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
IT IS HARMFUL TO CRITICIZE EL CENTRO WHEN YOU DO NOT HELP.
THE CITY NOR CITYNET HAS HELPED EL CENTRO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
THE CENTRO DID NOT INVITE THE HOMELESS ONTO ITS PROPERTY, THE HOMELESS HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. IF
YOU THE CITY HAS AN INSTANT SOLUTION, AS MR. BECERRA ALLEGES , THAT DOES NOT CRIMINALIZE THEM , PLEASE
INFORM EL CENTRO
THE CITY HAS A GREATER RESPONSIBILTY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, THAN THE CENTRO
THE CITY HAS NUMEROUS EMPTY LOTS AND GREATER RESOURCES THAN DOES THE CENTRO.
THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITHOUT POLICE ACTION..
THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITHOUT LEGAL ACTION..
WE ARE EAGER ALSO TO COME BACK TO EL CENTRO AND WE DEMAND A STRONGER AND MORE COMMITTED ACTION
FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
11
Orozco, Norma
From:dorian romero <doriandivision@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:43 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Public Comment, Santa Ana City Council
Two urgent requests
1) use public lands, roomkey and or other public resources to house our shelterless neighbors
2) no legal action towards el centro cultural de Mexico
Work with community organizations on this issue, not against them. Be there for the community, not to terrorize.
12
Orozco, Norma
From:Rebecca Kovacs-Stein <rkovacsstein@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:48 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Public Comment El Centro
Honorable Mayor
City Council Members
With reference to the El Centro encampment - my fifth encampment as an outreach and engagement volunteer
advocate
I encourage you to help El Centro with more time to come up with a reasonable plan for assisting the folks in their
parking lot
There have been some successes in getting folks up and out of the parking lot and hope to see the City of Santa Ana
allow opportunity for others
Thank you
Rebecca Kovacs-Stein
OCPAC
Sent from my iPhone
13
Orozco, Norma
From:Amy Becker <amymeyers.becker@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:50 PM
To:eComment
Subject:El Centro Homeless encampment
I am unable to attend the city council meeting this evening but wanted to express my opinion to the council. I chose to
move to Santa Ana from south Orange County several years ago because I loved many things about the city of Santa
Ana. But the encampment at the El Centro site and the actions of El Centro should not be allowed or tolerated. As a
Washington Square homeowner I am concerned about the safety and impact it is having on the neighboring
communities. It needs to be removed as soon as possible. In addition El Centro should be held accountable for not
honoring their original agreement to remove it by May 1.
Thank you for considering my input and doing what is right for our city.
Amy Becker
Sent from my iPad
14
Orozco, Norma
From:Kiyoko Stella <kristy.stella@icloud.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 5:57 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Homeless encampement
Hello,
Please PLEASE do something to help eliminate or properly manage the homeless encampment.
I am a resident of Washington Square and there is a rising issue with safety and concern about the “traffic” of homeless
coming through our area.
Thank you
Kristy Stella
Sent from my iPhone
15
Orozco, Norma
From:LC ENV <lc_env@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 04, 2021 6:25 PM
To:eComment
Subject:5/4/21 city council meeting - el Centro Cultural de Mexico
Hello.
I am an advocate for the unhoused community and in support of el Centro Cultural de Mexico.
Please do your best to find solutions for the most vulnerable people in our community but do
not place such terrible burdens by taking legal actions or criminalizing those like el Centro
Cultural de Mexico, who are trying to help those who have been most neglected by society and
government. Please do not pursue legal actions but work on solutions for helping the
vulnerable community.
It is not like el Centro Cultural de Mexico wants to take on such a heavy responsibility with
much limitations, but if the government agencies can come along with organizations that are
willing to assist, we may be able to see some more results.
I understand Santa Ana has done much compared to other places. And it would be good for it
to continue to lead in example and get even more creative on finding solutions.
These legal matters and contracts are not realistic when it comes to dealing with the unhoused
community. Therefore, to make it black and white, saying El Centrol should follow the terms of
the contract even if the people are not ready, puts them in a bad place.
I believe that when there is a much better solution rather than shuffling people here and there
as unwanted and unwelcomed criminals, then we can really push an agenda forward. But
seriously, please do not shut down or make it hard for those willing to help but work it out
together. Even if it means, you continue to talk and even extend deadlines to such
organizations regularly until you come up with a solution that really works.
We all want a good solution but we must remember as many of the organizations who
advocate for the unhoused community will remind you, that they need to be seen as people,
not a problem to be solved.
Thank you for your time and I appreciate your hard work. The work for this is hard but you have
been entrusted with the responsibility and I hope you will do it with the right heart posture.
Sincerely,
Lillian
16