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CITY ATTORNEY <br />Sonia R. Carvalho <br />CITY MANAGER <br />Alvaro Nuñez <br />CITY CLERK <br />Jennifer L. Hall <br />20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 <br />TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org <br />Councilmember-Requested Item Report <br />DATE <br />June 17, 2025 <br />TOPIC <br />City Council Resolution in Support of the MENA Inclusion Act (AB 91) <br /> <br />COUNCILMEMBER-REQUESTED ITEM TITLE <br />Discuss and Consider Providing Direction to the City Manager to Draft a Resolution in <br />Support of the MENA Inclusion Act (AB 91) <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br />The MENA Inclusion Act will require that starting January 1, 2026, state agencies, boards, <br />and commissions in California that collect demographic data on ancestry or ethnic origin <br />must include separate categories for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) groups. <br />This ensures that the state can more accurately meet the needs of the MENA community. <br />According to 2020 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, California is home to <br />approximately 740,219 individuals who identify as Middle Eastern or North African (MENA). <br />However, people from the MENA region are currently categorized under the broader "white" <br />category in both federal and state data collection. When disaggregated, MENA individuals <br />account for just 12% of the broader white population in California, resulting in their <br />underrepresentation within the larger white category. <br />Additionally, Orange County, which includes Santa Ana, is home to a large population of <br />approximately 100,000 MENA community members, with the majority being of Arab or <br />Iranian descent. <br />Broadly classifying individuals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) community as <br />"white" in both the U.S. Census and California State data collection fails to capture the <br />unique demographic characteristics, cultural diversity, and specific needs of the MENA <br />population. <br />Recognizing this population separately would enable both public and private sectors to <br />more effectively meet the needs of MENA residents, ensuring better representation, <br />equitable distribution of resources, and more inclusive planning for community services and <br />infrastructure. <br />SUBMITTED BY <br />Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vazquez <br />Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez