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°r°(AM Jb,{�- EL C E N T RO <br />"I ... <br />®v CULTURAL <br />'� DE MEXICO <br />Santa Ana City Council and Mayor <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />August 30`h, 2019 <br />RE: In support of approving THRIVE Santa Ana's request for an extension of their Exclusive <br />Negotiation Agreement with the City for the Walnut and Daisy project <br />Dear Santa Ana City Council and Mayor: <br />We are writing this on behalf of el Centro Cultural de Mexico in support of approving THRIVE <br />Santa Ana's request for an extension of their Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with the City for <br />the Walnut and Daisy project at 1901 W Walnut St. We wholeheartedly support THRIVE's <br />vision of economic development led by local residents, and we pledge to support future projects <br />on land acquired by this community land trust (CLT). THRIVE Santa Ana, the first CLT in Santa <br />Ana, is promoting development based on local needs, local vision and participation. Furthermore, <br />we ask that City Council give direction to City staff, that THRIVE receive credit for cost savings <br />brought to the City over time, and that the Walnut and Daisy parcel is transferred to THRIVE in a <br />lease -to -own arrangement. <br />Founded in 1994, "El Centro" serves as a synergistic, cultural organization and space that <br />emphasizes the empowering effect of identity and collective work, particularly for youth and <br />families in Santa Ana, California. We know that CLTs can contribute positive solutions including <br />supporting efforts to reduce income inequality, end patterns of segregation, and to expand <br />economic opportunities for low-income residents of Santa Ana. We've seen how CLTs have <br />been innovative ways to foster neighborhoods that are healthy, vibrant, and diverse through <br />community centered development. <br />THRIVE has done extensive community based planning and engagement with residents to hear <br />about local needs and to collaboratively design a community Micro -farm that serves as a public <br />benefit project at this site. Community engagement at el Centro means community driven process <br />that are led by community members and their interests. This includes recognizing the cultural in <br />addition to their educational experience, skills and knowledge in finding solutions to community <br />issues. THRIVE's community -driven responds to residents needs and identifies the communities' <br />"Cuando la cultura muere, la gente muere.- <br />www.elcentrocultu raldemexico.orq <br />a <br />