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1 SANTA ANA ACTIVE STREETS February 4th,2025 Agenda Item 21: Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Councilmembers, My name is Dorian Romero, Project Director of Santa Ana Active Streets, a community based organization that focuses on bicyclist and pedestrian safety and advocacy efforts in Santa Ana. In our work we understand that getting around safely does not just mean on bike or foot. One's personal identity is a factor that influences how our community members stay alive and get to their destinations safely. The majority of our program participants come from immigrant backgrounds or households, and do not own a vehicle. Our work is intersectional and believes that a liveable environment includes many factors such as clean air, safe roads, affordable housing, access to open space and healthy food, and most importantly an environment that protects and welcomes our immigrant communities. That is why we are committed to stand with our immigrant community members in OC and Sanctuary in Santa Ana. I am writing to express my strong support for moving forward with Agenda Item 21 and bringing back the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group, a community oversight mechanism written within the ordinance to facilitate trust and transparency between the City of Santa Ana and its immigrant residents. In January 2017, the Council passed a robust Ordinance with language stating that they would establish a task force made up of community members to advise the City Council on policies related to the ordinance, including helping craft policies to protect immigrants as well as recommend ways to use and oversee a city fund to help immigrants fight deportation in court. This advisory group has not met for some time and with so much uncertainty, now is the time for the City of Santa Ana to reaffirm its support for the immigrant community and revive the Sanctuary Policy Advisory Group to help facilitate trust and transparency between the City of Santa Ana and its immigrant residents. Santa Ana's status as a sanctuary city builds on years of community-based struggles fighting for the political, economic, and human rights of our vibrant immigrant communities. I stand firm with Councilwoman Lopez's request for the advisory group to reconvene within 30 days to provide updates to the city and recommendations on ways they can better protect residents. I look forward to seeing the re-implementation of the Sanctuary Ordinance &Advisory Board and the role it will take to protect immigrant's rights in Santa Ana. Sincerely, Dorian Romero Santa Ana Active Streets, Project Director Santa Ana, Ca