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www1en ned y c o m m is s i o n. org <br />17701 c owan .Ave., Suite -ce <br />Irvine, CA 92614 <br />949 250 W9 <br />August 28, 2023 <br />Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />ecomment(a, Santa-ana. ors <br />RE: SUPPORT ITEM 21 - Requirement of Supermajority Approval for Certain Future <br />Amendments to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause Evictions <br />Ordinance <br />Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, <br />I write on behalf of The Kennedy Commission to express our support for Item 21, the <br />requirement of supermajority approval of total council members for certain future amendments <br />to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and Just Cause Evictions Ordinance (JCEO). The City <br />of Santa Ana (City) must commit to safeguarding housing stability and the tenant protections that <br />provide it. <br />The Kennedy Commission is a broad -based coalition of residents and community organizations <br />that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than $27,000 <br />annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001, the Commission has been successful in partnering <br />and working with Orange County jurisdictions to create effective housing and land -use policies <br />that have led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower -income working families. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment on Agenda Item 21 for the City of Santa <br />Ana's upcoming City Council Meeting. We have reviewed the item and are submitting this initial <br />letter to provide public comments. <br />The Kennedy Commission urges you to provide direction to amend the City's RSO and JCEO to <br />require a supermajority approval for certain future amendments. It is necessary that these <br />ordinances are protected as the crucial tools they are to maintain and increase housing stability; <br />and that certain amendments are only made with a supermajority vote. The City's RSO and <br />JCEO policies are the result of decades of community advocacy that has included support from <br />community members impacted by housing instability, charitable organizations, faith -based <br />organizations, and more. These efforts must be respected and providing this direction will do <br />just that. The City must do everything in its power to safeguard these policies and follow the <br />requirement of supermajority approval that is required for other City items such as certain budget <br />actions. <br />1 <br />