Correspondence #44 - Sanitation - Laserfiche WebLink

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01 /29/2024 City of Santa Ana Sanitation Services User Charge Name: Mihi Chen Property: Santa Ana, CA. 92703 Vote: NO to increase Sanitation Services User Charge Signature: Dear City Council Members of Santa Ana, This letter is regarding the potential increase for the City of Santa Ana Sanitation Services User Charge. As a housing provider, I understand the importance of street sweeping, abandoned item collection, sidewalk cleaning, power washing, addressing illegal dumping, and cleaning alleys in our community. Maintaining our neighborhoods provides a quality of life that we all deserve, especially as tax- paying citizens. Unfortunately, the current rent control has interrupted many of the necessities our neighborhoods require. As a small business owner, rent control has limited my ability to maintain my property and to get a fair return due to inflation and economic pressures mentioned in the letter issued by the City of Santa Ana and the reason for this potential increase. The allowable rent increase for September 1, 2023, through August 31, 2024, is 2.54%. This amount does not allow me to recover the increase in my water, gas, and trash bills due to inflation. Property tax, insurance, and maintenance cost are also higher, and now housing providers must pay a Rental Registry Fee. My rents are far below market rent, which was not an issue until rent control prevented me from recovering the cost of inflation. The City of Santa Ana is now asking property owners to foot the bill for another expense that will make them fall further behind. I do not believe this increase should be placed on the shoulders of property owners who have been limited from recovering costs by reasonably increasing rent. It is unfair to housing providers to enforce rent control and increase fees simultaneously. I do not agree with charging property owners for this potential increase. Sincerely, Mihi Chen