Correspondence- #32 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Middleton, Samuel From: Linda Espinoza <Iindaespinoza1519@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2023 2:45 PM To: eComment Subject: ITEM 32- UNPERMITTED AND UNSAFE SIDEWALK FOOD VENDORS Good afternoon, I am writing to you today in regard to the unpermitted and unsafe sidewalk food vendors that have recently been engulfing the beautiful streets of Santa Ana. I would like to start off by saying that I am in no way, shape, or form against street vendors in our community of Santa Ana. However, I am against those who come from another county and profit from our community while making our streets look unpleasant. It is clear that the taco stands that have been visiting our streets are part of a bigger business that only desires to profit for their own benefit and NOT our community. I have recently traveled through the streets of Los Angeles county and the setup, material, menu, and advertising is identical to the taco stands that are now in Santa Ana. While driving through LA, I have also seen the clutter that these taco stands have caused the streets such as oil stains, napkins and plastic paper trash, and rodent issues that leave that community and street of Los Angeles looking filthy and foul. I am concerned that Santa Ana will soon become just another place that these big taco-stand vendors destroy. Having a safe sidewalk is something I wish to advocate about. The reason being is that this has become a safety issue for my grandmother and many elderly people who need some sort of instrument to walk such as a wheelchair, stroller, or walker to assist them. My grandmother, who has been here in Santa Ana for more than 60 years, still likes to feel independent and sometimes takes a solo walk to the grocery store or retail store. However, because she is old, she usually takes a stroller to help her balance and get around and it worked for her up until we started having people sell food right by the sidewalk. As the taco stands were set up, they were blocking my grandmother's path and not one of them took the time to help her get across. She asked out loud if they can move the stuff but she mentioned that they did not listen to her and they were in their van prepping for the profit they plan to make later that night. This was very upsetting to hear as people in our community that have been here a long time are not able to safely walk their community. She was blocked from walking on the sidewalk because these taco stands take up the entire sidewalk which leaves minimal to no space to walk by with her stroller. I was born and raised here in Santa Ana, and I take pride in my community so I worry about these issues as I would not like our community to look like those I have seen while traveling outside our county. I have also driven through the city of Fountain Valey, Westminster, Costa Mesa, and Huntington Beach and they have done a wonderful job in keeping these taco stands off their streets. By keeping them off the street,the community looks vibrant and calm, and somewhere you might want to take a relaxing stroll. In these cities, I see young kids riding their bikes or even the elderly taking a stroll in the afternoon with no worry or despair that they will be blocked by a taco stand or stepping over trash or leftover meat on the floor. These unpermitted and unsafe street vendors do not care about our Santa Ana community. I urge all the members of the Santa Ana city council to take an afternoon/night trip through the cities of Los Angels county to grasp and visualize the community and street conditions that these taco stands have degenerated and made unpleasant. We must strive to become a community that is clean, vibrant, and that sticks together to work towards these issues. Our Santa Ana community deserves beautiful streets and community conditions just as much as these other cities that surround us. Not only do these taco stands make our community streets look unpleasant, but they also drive away customers from the long-time Santa Ana families that have worked hard to create a business the correct and proper way. We have many food businesses that cater to everyone in our community. We have many taco trucks and dine-in taco places here in Santa Ana. Many people argue that these "taco stands are not stealing business because people will go where the food is good", but in reality, many of these businesses with proper permits 1