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Orozco, Norma <br />From:Hairo Cortes <Hairo.Cortes.420313836@p2a.co> <br />Sent:Tuesday, June 08, 2021 10:26 PM <br />To:eComment <br />Subject:Defund the Police to Invest in Youth and Housing NOW! <br />Categories:Correspondence <br />Dear Santa Ana City Representatives, <br /> <br />The residents of Santa Ana need long-term solutions to address the compound effects of the pandemic. <br /> <br />I am calling on Santa Ana City representatives to break from the historical prioritization of policing in city <br />budgets and invest in robust social services for Santa Ana youth and residents, not more policing and <br />suppression. Unfortunately, Santa Ana Police Department receives the largest portion of city revenues. The city <br />budget must prioritize the rights of residents to live, remain, and thrive in their neighborhoods. <br /> <br />You should start by shifting resources to demonstrate to residents where their values truly lie and begin with the <br />following: <br /> <br />1. Invest in housing: The city must increase the tenant legal defense fund to protect their residents from <br />eviction. The city must establish and sustain a safety net for families to work towards a full recovery financially <br />and improving food and housing security including rental assistance, universal income regardless of <br />immigration status, free child care. <br /> <br />2. Invest in youth: City council must redirect youth suppression spending into healthy youth development <br />services, programs and resources, such as mental health counselors, youth reentry programs, expungement <br />clinics, teen mom programs, and food cards for young people who don't have access to food. <br /> <br />We are watching your next decision and hope that you make the right choice. <br /> <br />Kind Regards, <br />Hairo Cortes <br />600 W 3rd St <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />13 <br /> <br />