HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 07 - Receive and File the 2025 1st Street Quality of Life Initiative Police Department
www.santa-ana.org/pd
Item # 7
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
February 3, 2026
TOPIC: East First Street Quality of Life Initiative
AGENDA TITLE
2025 Update on the East First Street Quality of Life Initiative
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and file.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
In 2025, the East First Street corridor was a concentrated source of public safety and
quality-of-life concerns, marked by open drug use, widespread homeless encampments,
chronic disorder, and motel-based criminal activity involving narcotics trafficking and
prostitution. These conditions generated frequent calls for service and negatively
affected nearby schools, residents, and businesses. In response, the Police Department
initiated focused, corridor-specific enforcement to implement a sustained strategy to
address criminal activity, nuisance locations, and restore public order.
Enforcement Activity
In 2025, the Police Department's Operations Division enforcement efforts along the
East First Street corridor resulted in the following:
Enforcement Activity
Misdemeanor Arrests 1,010
Felony Arrests 313
Total Arrests 1,323
Proposition 36 Arrests 252
Infraction Citations 239
Total Calls for Service 7,600
East First Street Quality of Life Initiative
February 3, 2026
Page 2
Cleanup Operations
Alongside enforcement activity, cleanup operations were conducted along the East First
Street corridor. Landscape West completed 1,190 total cleanups, focused on removing
debris, addressing encampment-related complaints, and improving conditions affecting
public health and safety. Additionally, the Clean City Enhancement program conducted
48 power wash operations and 84 bus bench cleanups along the East First Street
corridor.
Abatement Efforts and Interdepartmental Coordination
Abatement activities remain a central component of the East First Street Quality of Life
Initiative. The Police Department, Code Enforcement, and the City Attorney's Office
continue to work collaboratively to address chronic nuisance properties and locations
generating repeated calls for service. This coordinated approach integrates
enforcement actions, administrative remedies, and legal strategies to promote long-term
compliance and sustainable improvements.
Currently, coordinated abatement efforts are underway at Sunshine Village, Royal
Roman, Royal Grand Inn, Sunland Motel, and the El Tapatio Restaurant, with ongoing
compliance monitoring and enforcement activity. This interdepartmental partnership
ensures that public safety concerns are addressed holistically while maintaining due
process and consistency with applicable laws and regulations.
A significant highlight of 2025 was the coordinated enforcement and abatement action
at 1427 East First Street (Sunshine Village). Through sustained collaboration between
the Police Department, Code Enforcement, and the City Attorney's Office, the property
was ultimately red-tagged, eliminating a long-standing source of criminal activity and
quality-of-life concerns along the East First Street corridor. This outcome reflects the
effectiveness of joint investigations, coordinated enforcement efforts, and legal action.
Outreach and Service Engagement
In addition to enforcement and abatement efforts, the initiative emphasizes outreach
and service engagement for individuals experiencing homelessness and related
vulnerabilities along the East First Street corridor. In 2025, City Net connected 342
individuals to services, including shelter placement, case management, substance use
treatment referrals, and other supportive resources.
Future Actions (2026)
During calendar year 2026, the Police Department will continue to advance the East
First Street Quality of Life Initiative through enhanced interagency coordination, targeted
enforcement strategies, and expanded use of available statutory tools. The Police
Department will continue to collaborate with the California Highway Patrol and other
state officials to address quality-of-life issues associated with the California Department
of Motor Vehicles (DMV) facility on East First Street.
East First Street Quality of Life Initiative
February 3, 2026
Page 3
In addition, officers will utilize the expanded authorities provided under California
Senate Bill (SB) 43, which modernizes mental health conservatorship laws by
broadening the definition of"grave disability" to include individuals with severe
substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health conditions who are unable to
provide for their essential safety, food, shelter, or necessary medical care.
Implementation of SB 43 will occur in coordination with O.C. Public Health and local
hospitals to support appropriate treatment interventions, accountability measures, and
continued collaboration to reduce chronic public safety impacts along the East First
Street corridor.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Submitted By: Robert Rodriguez, Police Chief
Approved By: Alvaro Nunez, City Manager