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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - Non-Agenda Orozco, Norma From: Victor D Mendez <vicdmendez@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 27, 2023 2:25 PM To: eComment Subject: Citizen Observations on Homeless/Transient Population on First St Santa Ana (3/25-3/27 2023) Mayor Amezcua Mayor Pro Term Lopez Members of the City Council The homeless/transient population on First Street, between Grand and Lyon experienced a noticeable increase, starting at 3 pm on Saturday and continuing on until today. I live on the east end of First and have not seen such a large contingent of transients/homeless individuals in the 2 years since I moved to this area. Saturday 3/25 - 3:20 pm -9 pm Beginning with Saturday, on my way home from lunch, I noticed a large group of 10 individuals congregating on First and Lyon I also noticed four individuals smoking what seemed to be an illegal substance. There was also a large contingent that assembled in the DMV parking lot. Some individuals toward the evening had decided to camp for the night, both on the sidewalk and on DMV property. I did call City Net (3:37 pm) and the Santa Police Department (3:29 pm). City Net later followed up and told me that the problem was outside their capabilities and they escalated to the Santa Ana PD. Santa Ana PD was also called regarding the suspected drug use, but the group left before the Police could arrive at the location. The police were called later in the evening (8:47 pm) about the remaining individuals who had not dispersed from the area. By my last call, City Net was closing for the night. Sunday 3/26 - 5pm - 7:45 pm The population had decreased significantly from Saturday. I did call City Net (5: 13 pm) since I observed some individuals who clearly looked despondent and there may be others in the areas who could use their help. 1 My last call (7:44 pm) was to Santa Ana Police to report that there appeared to be the start of the encampment on Lyon and First by the Motel 6 from those remaining from Saturday, as well as around the DMV Building on the McClay St. side. Monday 3/27 - 9 am-12 pm I was returning home from a medical appointment and turned into First St. I called City Net (9: 10 am) to report that the encampment from last night was still present with about 3 individuals. I circled back later and observed two cars parked and running by the sidewalk. I also called the Santa Ana Police Department (9:04 am) to report an individual was either dead or sleeping on the sidewalk by the area around the El Cortez Hotel. Both City Net and Santa Ana PD did call me back. Officer Rosales of SAPD told me that they could not identify such a person. I told him about the situation on First St. and he stated he would stay in the area and keep a presence until he was otherwise called. He seemed very helpful and professional, as well as concerned. Amanda from City Net called. She is a Case Manager. She told me that they could not do anything to address the encampment and the Police Department cannot move them from the Sidewalk because being homeless is not a Crime. She also informed that they could do nothing to the persons at the location as they did not have ties to the City and would not be able to use Luminati. She told me that is a police decision and out of the hands of City Net. She also told me that the County Shelter currently has a minimum 2 month waiting list. Therefore, City Net can provide no assistance on a short term placement. I requested to her that the City Net should be proactive on First Street at this time due to a higher number of transients than what is normal vs waiting for calls. They might not have an impact but it is better than waiting for a call or report to come in. My caregiver also reported that early this morning she called Santa Ana PD to report an individual drinking and then exposing himself to 2222 East First St senior residents, at the bus Stop, located on the West end of First and Tustin. Comments There is a mixed message on access to Lumanati. It was reported at the last Council meeting by staff, following a question by Mayor Pro tem Lopez, that no one to his knowledge has been denied access to Lumanati. This is in conflict with City Net's statement to me that unless someone has a 90 day relationship within the city, they cannot use Lumanati. 2 Since a dedicated deployment on First Street may not be feasible under current police staffing, the Council should consider directing the City Manager to either deploy Reserve forces of the PD or contract with the County Sheriff to back up SAPID Operations to assist with deterring drug use/crime and attraction from transients and others along First St and other Santa Ana streets. The City can use the unused salaries budgeted for the new, additional officers for FY 22- 23. I am not clear what if any role the Quality-of-Life Team should play in this situation. The feedback I got from City Net in this regard was hazy and lacked clear specifics. Of course, they were not available over the weekend as they only work Monday-Friday. It is also not clear what value City Net provides since the County Shelters are at capacity and they can only work with the Police Department for a placement at Lumanati when an individual has a 90-day relationship within the City. Amanda of City Net told me that a possible reason for the unusual bulge in the First Street transient population may have been due to the dry(vs wet) weather. Yet, it has been more than a few days since the last rain and this does not seem feasible. One possibility is that it was rumored that a large distribution of crack cocaine hit First St early in the day. I do not have evidence of this, but, as I stated in the above, did observe what seemed to be drug use along First St. This is a very serious condition and I hope it is just an aberration. Children will or have moved into the affordable apartments next to 2222. Children and families visit our Zoo. Also, as most of you know, senior citizens, most of them women and many disabled, live at 2222 East First St. Children, families, the elderly and the disabled should not fall victim to circumstances outside their control. It is obvious that with the County shelter at capacity for the short term, the limitations on a placement at Lumanati, and the limits of Police resources, there is a critical need to reconsider how current resources can be more effectively used. There is no fast sustainable answer, but we should agree not to let that limit us in the short term. VICTOR D MENDEZ 3 Middleton, Samuel From: Victor D Mendez <vicdmendez@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, April 1, 2023 2:43 PM Subject: City of Tustin Police Department re: Use of smart phone technology to drive Police Accountability Attachments: Tustin1 jpg; Tustin2jpg; Tustin3jpg I called in an incident to the City of Tustin this past Thursday. An individual was passed out on the bus bench just outside where I live at 2222 East First St. The bench is in the City of Tustin. Upon calling in the incident to Tustin PD, I received a series of 3 texts (attached) which provided updates on my call. The texts had both English and Spanish language capabilities. The last text provided a link for a survey to give feedback on how Tustin PD Performed. A feedback process such as this is a good method to assist with building trust within the community. In Santa Ana, when a citizen calls the Dispatcher, there is rarely feedback as to the disposition of the call. It does happen but not with consistency and this tool provides consistency. There is no doubt this tool can provide digital reports that indicate how well the SAPD is performing with respect to the Citizen interaction. There are other ways to measure Police Accountability, but this seems to be an easy first step. The survey tools should be able to provide immediate feedback to all who touch a customer call. Supervisors can use the survey feedback to counsel individual officers and dispatchers on citizen interaction and also recognize high performers. The tool is also proactive. It comes to the citizen versus the citizen having to reach out after the fact. I hope you give this some serious thought and the fact it is being used in a neighboring Police Department makes it all the more viable. VICTOR D MENDEZ r. i Middleton, Samuel From: Rigo Garcia <Rigo-Garcia@outlook.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 9:04 AM To: eComment Subject: River View Golf Course Lease Comment Council Members, I'm a resident in West Floral Park and urge you to keep the lease with River View Golf Course for the following reasons: 1. Access for Santa Ana youth to learn and play a game that is beneficial for personal growth and business networking the in the future. Golf opens the door to be activate participants in networking events that help in the advancement of careers. Having a golf course is unique to a City, I learned to play in High School at Valley High School because I had access to go somewhere local. I know I benefitted from it, and other youth should be able to as well. 2. The lease generates revenue instead of creating a liability by being the operator of another park. 3. River View operators can enforce the removal of transients that use the river bed for unwanted behavior but that is limited when it's a public park. 4. River View employs staff and allows for independent workers to come in teaching people how to play golf, creating an economic benefit. When people come to River Riew, they eat and shop locally as well. 5. There will be impacts to neighborhood property values as living next to a golf course is more desirable than living next to a park. 6. Parks have a higher crime rate, especially in the night-time, considering it backs up to the river bed. 7. The conversion to a multi-facility park will create enviornmental impacts that would require additional mitigation efforts and proper CEQA requirements. Rigo Garcia Olive St. Santa Ana CA 92706 714-724-2645 i Orozco, Norma From: Michelle Kerns <mkerns1230@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2023 5:02 PM To: !City Clerk Subject: River View Golf Course- comment Dear Santa Ana City Council, Regarding Riverview Golf Course: I am writing today to plead with you to keep Riverview golf course and not turn it into a park. I am a personal witness to the diverse population group this golf course serves! Young and old visit this course on a regular basis. From youth golf programs, school programs, individual lessons and Senior putting groups, including Veteran putting groups, all of whom benefit from this neighborhood gem! This golf course also serves The Boy Scouts of America, who meet regularly and do so much to help the community. We have a park right next door, which could be beautified to have updated playground equipment and park features. While I enjoy parks and recreation, I strongly urge you to save Riverview Golf Course for now and generations to come. This course means so much to the local community of golfers and to golfers who fly in and visit. I have personally met a few very famous people at this course, who are now bringing their children to learn the love of golf. Thank you for your commitment to service and listening to all public comments. In God we trust and Happy Easter! Michelle Kerns 562.569.1772 i