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UCI Schod of Sod'N Scien <br /> 3151 Social Science Plaza <br /> Irvine,CA 92697-5100 <br /> (949)824-1207 <br /> htt]2s://www.anthro]2ology.uci.edu <br /> December 7, 2021 <br /> Re: Environmental justice in Santa Ana's General Plan Update <br /> To Whom It May Concern, <br /> Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the City of Santa Ana's Draft General Plan <br /> Update. I am Mike Fortun, a historian and anthropologist of science and professor at <br /> University of California Irvine (UCI). I specialize in the study of how science is used in <br /> governance, helping highlight best practices. I write to encourage the City of Ana to adopt <br /> best practices for using science in governance in updating the city's General Plan. <br /> The timing of the city's work to update its General Plan is especially ripe given rising <br /> expectations across the country and California that environmental injustice be proactively <br /> addressed at the local level. The time is also ripe because of the expanse of scientific <br /> research now underway in Santa Ana, many through partnerships with UCI. I am part of a <br /> large, interdisciplinary science team from UCI recently awarded a California Department of <br /> justice Grant to study air pollution in Santa Ana, for example. Results from UCI research in <br /> Santa Ana will continue to be available in coming years. The General Plan needs to include <br /> explicit plans to use these research findings in their continuing planning and programing. <br /> Developing capacity for best-practice use of science in governance in Santa Ana will require <br /> focused planning, new levels of organizations and new communication strategies. For this <br /> reason, I recommend slowing down passage of a new General Plan for Santa Ana so that <br /> plans for developing this capacity are detailed and foregrounded. <br /> The next General Plan for Santa Ana should include concrete plans to establish a new Santa <br /> Ana Office of Environmental justice.This office would be responsible for assisting and <br /> monitoring new scientific research on Santa Ana, helping translate it into planning and <br /> policy. A new Santa Ana Office of Environmental justice could also be responsible for <br /> hosting regular public meetings where new scientific findings can be shared and discussed. <br /> These meetings should be accessible in person, by phone and teleconference (Zoom). <br /> 1 <br />