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Item # 54
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
June 21, 2022
TOPIC: Repeal Resolution No. 416 of the former Santa Ana Board of Trustees
Authorizing the Destruction by Fire of Santa Ana’s Chinatown in 1906
AGENDA TITLE:
Resolution Repealing Resolution No. 416 of the former Santa Ana Board of Trustees
Instructing the Fire Department of Santa Ana to Burn with Fire Each and Every One of
Said Buildings known as Chinatown
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt a resolution repealing Resolution No. 416 by the former Santa Ana Board of
Trustees, which authorized the destruction by fire of Chinatown and led to the destruction
of homes and businesses and displacement of Santa Ana’s Chinese community.
DISCUSSION
At the May 17, 2022 City Council meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution No. XXX
apologizing to Chinese immigrants and their descendants for acts of fundamental injustice
and discrimination, seeking forgiveness, and committing to the rectification of past
policies and misdeeds, including the dismantling and destruction by fire of the City’s
Chinatown in 1906. At that meeting, the City Council expressed its desire to also repeal
the earlier resolution authorizing the destruction of Chinatown. Resolution No. XXX was
approved, but because the agendized item did not include the action of repeal of the
earlier resolution, any repeal had to be separately agendized and considered by the City
Council.
This resolution accomplished the stated purpose of repealing Resolution No. 416 by the
former Santa Ana City Board of Trustees. Repealing Resolution No. 416 unequivocally
rebukes the heinous acts enshrined in the former resolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Repeal Resolution No. 416 of the former Santa Ana Board of Trustees Authorizing the
Destruction by Fire of Santa Ana’s Chinatown in 1906
June 21, 2022
Page 2
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Resolution
Submitted By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager
Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager
Resolution No. 2022-XXX
Page 1 of 2
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 416 OF THE
FORMER SANTA ANA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
INSTRUCTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF SANTA ANA
TO BURN WITH FIRE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF SAID
BUILDINGS KNOWN AS “CHINATOWN”
WHEREAS, on May 24, 1906, the Board of Health of the City of Santa Ana adopted
a resolution declaring a case of leprosy “in the old buildings occupied by Chinese on the
corner of Third and Bush streets” and recommending that such buildings be destroyed by
fire; and
WHEREAS, on May 25, 1906, based on the above resolution, the Board of
Trustees of the City of Santa Ana adopted Resolution No. 416 instructing the fire
department of the City of Santa Ana “to burn with fire each and every one of said buildings
known as ‘Chintatown’ and such contents as said Board deem proper” and “every other
thing on said premises”; and
WHEREAS, this heinous action led to the destruction of homes, businesses,
possessions and the displacement of Santa Ana’s Chinese community; and
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2022, the Santa Ana adopted Resolution No. XXX
apologizing to Chinese immigrants and their descendants for acts of fundamental injustice
and discrimination, seeking forgiveness, and committing to the rectification of past
policies and misdeeds, including the dismantling and destruction of the City’s Chinatown
in 1906; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to also expressly repeal Resolution No. 416
in order to completely condemn and reject the destruction of the City’s Chinatown in 1906.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa
Ana that it:
Section 1.The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby unequivocally
repeals Resolution No. 416 approved by the former Board of Trustees on May 25, 1906
that led to the destruction of homes, businesses, possessions and the displacement of
Santa Ana’s Chinese community.
Section 2.The City Council calls upon the residents of the City of Santa Ana to
affirm this promise—that we have learned from the tragedy of that long-ago experience
forever to treasure and promote liberty, justice, and equality for every individual.
Section 3.The City Council resolves that this kind of action shall never again
be repeated.
Resolution No. 2022-XXX
Page 2 of 2
ADOPTED this ____ day of ___________________, 2022.
Vicente Sarmiento
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:
Brandon R. Salvatierra
Deputy City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, Daisy Gomez, Clerk of the Council, do hereby certify the attached Resolution No.
2022 -_____ to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Ana on _____________________, 2022.
Date:
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana