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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - WS-A 1April 75 2015 City Council Meeting Cortespondence for Work Study Item WS -A (Wellness, D19t6A) DISCUSSION AND STAFF DIRECTION ON COMMUNITY PROPOSAL FROM BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOR A WELLNESS DISTRICT Serider/Representative Letters in Support = 145 (All correspondence, 145, received as of April 2, 2015 were letters in support. 144 were signed form letters thus, one signed form letter was included in the agenda packet. In addition, an email was received from Professor Luis Ortiz Franco, Ph.D.) Letters in Opposition = 11 1 Jun Welch 2 Sandra Welch 3 Mike Weisman 4 Robin Hv dston 5 Mille Tardif _ Betty Robinson 7 Cathy Morehead 8 Ronald Leon 'A 9 Lucy Bateson 1Q Ginelle Hardy 11 Joe Duffy AgandasM15 AgendWCurrent Folder- WIP1_Exhibits_Correspand enca_WS A.doc Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Monday, April 06, 2015 9:05 AM Cc: Cavazos, David; Garcia, Jorge (CMO); Lawrence, Mark; Flores, Alma; Cortez, Robert Subject: Santa Ana Wellness Corridor - Workstudy Session Importance: High Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, The following has been received for the record and is distributed for your review and consideration. From: Jim Welch[ Sent: Monday, April 06, 2015 8:45 AM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: Santa Ana Wellness Corridor Importance: High Mayor and the Council Members, Portions of this program have merit and some do not. I'm all for people to have a safe place to walk, run and ride their bikes. Santa Ana has a whole lot of people but not enough parks. I get that! Santa Ana is turning the corner. 4th Street, the Artiest Village, etc. may once again be Downtown Orange County. I've lived in Santa Ana since 1977 and just recently I have become proud to show my friends, my city and the changes that are taking place. I'm not for anything that discriminates, is racist and holds back progress. Voting for rent controls, changing street names, allowing one group to have more power than another has nothing to do with this city's citizens health. Delete the nonsense and save the good parts ..... do your job! Sincerely, Jim Jim Welch H) 714-667-7829 C) 714-803-5940 O) 714-796-9166 F) 714-796-9188 1 Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Monday, April 06, 2015 9:06 AM Cc: Cavazos, David; Lawrence, Mark; Flores, Alma; Garcia, Jorge (CMO); Cortez, Robert Subject: Wellness Corridor racist - Workstudy Session Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Correspondence for your review and consideration. From: sandy welch [mailto:welch_sandy@yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2015 3:24 PM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: Wellness Corridor racist I would like to go on record to oppose the renaming of 4th street and the promotion of preferential treatment to Latino/Hispanic events and business. (There are many Hispanic/Latino Downtown Santa Ana events already promote County wide and attended by numerous people of all nationalities) The downtown was deteriorating, even for the Hispanic businesses. I know business owners that were/are having a hard time, but keeping Santa Ana property values down helps no one. I thought the City was promoting a prosperous downtown. But trying to stop progress and making an unwelcoming place for all races and nationalities is counter productive. The Wellness Corridor is just another way of saying all are not welcome and is just reverse discrimination. We need people to invest in Santa Ana and catering to only one group defeats the purpose. I am opposed to this proposal. Sandra Welch Santa Ana resident and conscientious voter Mitre-Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Monday, April 06, 2015 9:12 AM Cc: Cavazos, David; Cortez, Robert; Lawrence, Mark; Flores, Alma; Garcia, Jorge (CMO) Subject: Santa Ana Wellness Corridor - Workstudy Session Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Correspondence received on the Workstudy Session. -----Original Message ----- From: Michael Weisman [mailto:mike.weisman@me.com] Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2015 12:47 PM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: Santa Ana Wellness Corridor Mr. Mayor, City Manager and City Council Members: In 2000, along side my business partners, I made an investment in the Clty of Santa Ana. For years, our thriving advertising agency had been located only 10 minutes away on the corner of Main and MacArthur in Irvine. We came to Santa Ana because of the promise of a resurgence of a city that had been stagnating economically but beginning to show signs of progress. We brought with us a diverse group of people representing multiple ethnicities, cultures, and creeds. We committed ourselves to live, work and play and give back to the community through an investment of our financial resources, and our time --as members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Arts community, volunteering to help organizations like Taller San Jose, supporting local ALL local businesses. In fact, my family moved into Santa Ana over 5 years ago from south OC and are now proud to call Santa Ana our home. During the past 15 years, I've seen tremendous growth --financially and socially. Of course there has been constant noise about gentrification and ethnic cleansing-- both insidious remnants of a small but vocal group who simply remain opposed to progress of any kind. This group would rather push their dangerous social agendas rather than embrace progress. When they feel threatened they ramp up the rhetoric and rally outsiders who have no stake in our city to raise the level of noise. The current initiative being propagated by Latino Health Access represents a dangerous and enormous step backward. On the surface it seems innocent but scratch just below the surface and find the real agenda. We did not move our business and invest our futures to see the honest efforts for social and economic growth be threatened by a group who seek to highjack the political process. Their view is narrow. It does not support diversity. It does not represent the multiple cultures that make up our great city. Ironically, as they shout ethnic cleansing their actions show them as hypocrites. I recently found myself in the new and vibrant 4th Street Market one afternoon last week and as I stood in the middle of that crowded courtyard I was taken back. What I was witnessing was REAL, AUTHENTIC progress. I saw young merchants --black, white, latino, asian, male and female, young and old serving customers --black, white, latino, asian, male and female, young and old. A true melting pot. A melting pot that has been at the very core of this great experiment called The United States of America. My company is currently in a growth mode. In fact, we're looking to make more investments in the downtown. I refuse to see the progress we've made placed in jeopardy by a group who would see us take a step back vs. a step forward. We will not invest in the future they see. I strongly urge the Council to vote NO. You serve the ENTIRE community. Not one group. Please vote to continue to fuel the incredible momentum now being felt by so many who call Santa Ana home. Respectfully, Mike Weisman CEO DGWB/AMUSEMENT PARK Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 9:29 AM Cc: Cavazos, David; Sandoval, Jose; Lawrence, Mark; Garcia, Jorge (CMO); Flores, Alma Subject: FW: The Latiino Health Access is wrong and should be voted down. Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Below is an email for your review and consideration. From: Robin Hvidston [mailto:rhvidstonl@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 9:13 AM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: The Latiino Health Access is wrong and should be voted down. The Latiino Health Access is wrong and should be voted down. This Wellness Corridor seeks s to control values of real estate and change the name of Fourth Street. That is not historic - it is wrong. This resolution resolution needs to be called what it is - downright racist. . . We don't need or want this resolution for economic nightmare! Robin Hvidston Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 9:31 AM Cc: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma; Trujillo, Rose Ann; Cavazos, David; Sandoval, Jose Subject: FW: So-called Wellness District Categories: Correspondence Enter into record as correspondence. Council has already received copy of email. From: Mike Tardif [mailto:mike@tardifsheetmetal.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2015 8:07 AM To: !City Council Cc: Santa Ana Citizens Subject: So-called Wellness District Honorable Council Members, I have read the "market study" presented by Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities. In my opinion it has little to do with "wellness" and much to do with re-engineering an existing successful economic model. This study is not a fair representation of economic activity (the market) of downtown Santa Ana. It is not a scientific study at all. It is opinion and conjecture designed to produce a predetermined outcome. It is an attempt to urge government to force an economic model in opposition to an established marketplace trend. This will not succeed. The study proposes to support a "Latino Revival." The last time I looked the "Latino spirit" was, thankfully, alive and well in Downtown Santa Ana. An existing thriving marketplace like Santa Ana's downtown would be better served by an unbiased study that would look at what is working - and what can be enhanced to work better for residents, commuters and visitors to Downtown Santa Ana. Mike Tardif Santa Ana Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 1:48 PM Cc: Cavazos, David; Lawrence, Mark; Flores, Alma; Garcia, Jorge (CMO) Subject: FW: Santa Ana Wellness Corridor Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Correspondence received for your review and consideration. From: Betty Robinson [ Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 12:55 PM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: Santa Ana Wellness Corridor Concerning the proposals of the Santa Ana Wellness Corridor: This is unimaginable to me: actually limiting merchants to a chosen few!?! Please remember what country we live in-- there should still be equal opportunity for all and the market place will determine the winners. Also, the current trend of trying to change history is appallingAth Street is 4th Street, NOT Calle de Cuatro! ! Wouldn't that look rather absurd: First, 2nd, 3rd, Calle de Cuatro, 5th and so -on Streets? Sincerely, Betty Robinson Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 1:53 PM Cc: Cavazos, David; Flores, Alma; Lawrence, Mark; Garcia, Jorge (CMO) Subject: Branding - Wellness Corridor Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Communication received on the Workstudy Session scheduled for tonight. From: Cathy Morehead[ Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 1:50 PM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: Branding Dear Maria and Council members, I feel the need comment on the proposed branding of the downtown, I have been a resident of Orange County for over fifty years I grew up shopping on 4th Street when it was just a downtown, not labeled as anything other than Downtown... where anyone who wanted to was welcome to shop and enjoy meal or a movie. I think the area should as it always has been allowed to do.. evolve with the needs of the times to be relevant for all who choose to enjoy the variety of businesses that have chosen to make Santa Ana home. A specific branding does not seem necessary nor welcoming, labels are limiting, a positive all inclusive approach to progressive community growth in Santa Ana is what is needed. Sincerely, Cathy Morehead Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 1:55 PM Cc: Cavazos, David; Flores, Alma; Lawrence, Mark; Garcia, Jorge (CMO) Subject: FW: Wellness Resolution Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Email received on Wellness Corridor discussion tonight. From: Ronald Leon [ Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 9:28 AM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: Wellness Resolution Dear Clerk Huizar, I believe the Council should table this issue and create a Task Force of Wellness, Community and Business leaders to study the issues identified, as well as others, and report back to the Council in six months. Santa Ana needs to come together ------not be torn apart. Thank you, Ronald Leon Business owner and Resident Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 1:58 PM Cc: Cavazos, David; Lawrence, Mark; Garcia, Jorge (CMO); Flores, Alma Subject: The Wellness Corridor Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Communication received on Wellness Corridor. From: Lucy Bateson[mailto:lj.bateson@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Monday, April 06, 2015 2:18 PM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: The Wellness Corridor Dear Mayor Pulido and City Council Members: Maybe we should count our blessings... I remember downtown Santa Ana in early 70's where I purchased my dinnerware at Buffums, a department store on Main Street. There were other stores as well, a Sears, a dimestore, a drug store, clothing stores. It was a thriving downtown, and lots of people did their shopping there. And I remember when South Coast Plaza was built and our downtown took a big hit. I remember the Latinos coming in and opening up stores and breathing new life into the area. But after a while, slowly and inevitably, the face of our downtown began to change again. The presence of the cultural shops wasn't enough to revitalize our downtown, and soon there was litter on the streets and peddlers and bums stood on corners and in front of small bars blocking the sidewalks and watching people who passed by. Small shops struggled next to abandoned buildings, and it all began to look dirty and dingy. In the 80's I went to night school at a private college on north Main. Driving home alone after class got out at 9:00 p.m. coming south through downtown I worried that all my car doors weren't locked, and I felt uncomfortable sitting at each of a string of seemingly incredibly long red lights. Our friends who lived in other cities made jokes about us living in Santa Ana. We wondered if it would get even worse, and we worried about the investment we had in our home. But we made the choice, and we stayed, and we're really glad that we did. We saw the development of the COP program and then the creation of the neighborhood associations, and we began to get more involved in our own neighborhood. Then came the artist village downtown. To be honest, we wondered if that was going to fly. But then the restaurants and other shops followed, and that was the beginning of the rebirth of our city. Today when we go downtown I remember the negative comments we heard back then, and we just laugh. Our downtown is clean, it's vital, and it's something we are extremely proud of. I direct you to Sunday's (04/05/2015) Register. The Local Section (page 2) has an article titled 'What's happening? Filling a nightlife void'. The sub heading is 'South County's younger cities are struggling to appeal to a younger crowd.' It is interesting and very relevant to this issue. In it is a quote from Albert Armijo, Aliso Viejo Planning Director, who says: "I'd like to bring people here, of all ages, all persuasions, and make it more of an interesting place to be. This will inevitably help attract dollars to the city." Well, that's what Santa Ana did! That's what's happening in our downtown, and it is working. It's WONDERFUL! The idea behind the WELLNESS CORRIDOR seems ok, but its goals appear to be extremely divisive to our community increasing cultural tensions rather than providing relief. I don't think Santa Ana, or any city in that case, needs to create increased cultural tensions. We don't need a WELLNESS CORRIDOR —we have a thriving city without it! Eat your heart out, Aliso Viejo! Lucy and John Bateson o ctvastf This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. wtmd www.avast.com Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 2:44 PM Cc: Cavazos, David; Garcia, Jorge (CMO); Flores, Alma; Lawrence, Mark Subject: Wellness District Proposal - creates an overlay well into Historical Heninger Park Neighborhood Categories: Correspondence Mayor and City Council, Comments received on Wellness District. Dear Mayor and Council, Please take notice that the Latino Downtown Revival Scenario aspect of the Wellness District Proposal creates an overlay well into Historical Heninger Park Neighborhood. Neighborhoods south of First Street, including Heninger Park Neighborhood, have their own individual identities that are likely to conflict with the type of redistricting, funding or implications of a Latino Downtown Revival Scenario. Also revival efforts for Historical Heninger Park Neighborhood are not likely to benefit from the overlay of a Latino Downtown Revival Scenario. The creation of any downtown revival scenario should not overflow into the neighborhoods regardless of independent studies or a need for supporting numbers. Should it be implemented please do what you can to limit The Latino Downtown Revival Scenario area to NORTH OF FIRST STREET. If you have any questions about Heninger Park Neighborhood please feel free to contact me at ginelleann@email.com Please include these comments as part of the meeting record. Thank you, Ginelle Hardy Historical Heninger Park Neighborhood Act, POFitt Orooftxy, Rnb floor� `A Pie 714,'a422778 7104zz 7 tak Ct_ �w�uvrtn�t9rKndai#uert(sing,c.�m. 7 April 2015, To, City Council ant# QiGy Dcecutive Team of Santa Ana Subloat Woline:as Reso[06h; My name is Joe huffy, Ivty wifet7onna and I have been -a resident of Santa Aha for�7 years, and have raised our children Alex and Joseph here, We own 3 properties in the city; eine being the: "Starbucks+' building on 4th 0 Broadway where our company Truth and Advertising also has itsoPifces, We moved spur office herefrom Irvlha,over 20 years ago, and in that time we'have worked together with the community; properly owners_andyou, the'i",ityt�.ouncili to help: make our downtown welcoming,. vibrant and successful; It has not been easy but we have. made great progresatogether. We are'Wl iproud of, what we.have,accomplished • nd we still have a lotto do. The health and wellbeing is a vltakcomponentto any thriving environment and we must-support.Irrit eOves that contribute tea healthy lifosfyle But wa.cannot support the agendas of a few that impede or reverse the'accomplishmerits of mgny. We cannot allow negative voices andtoutslders to control the late of our city.. We mustz keep moving forward in a positive way, and mane this oity'the sinning example of corpmunt'ty, culture and progress that it deserves, to be. Uonna and I':are asking you, our leaders, to ref oot any propDadi that Is hot inclusive end fails to> address the needs of all residents, businessras:and visitors 1n ourplty,