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SANTA A At <br />COALITION FOR BETTER Gov r=kNMEN'T <br />PO BOX 4086, SANTA ANA, CA, 92702. FPPC ID # 1311410 <br />January 12, 2012 <br />Mr. Paul Walters <br />Interim Santa Ana Manager <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor <br />P O. Box 1988, M31 <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Dear Mr. Walters: <br />The Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government (SACBG) is a community organization <br />comprised of local residents and stakeholders encouraging civic participation while <br />promoting and advocating for efficient, transparent, accountable and ethical governance by <br />the elected and administrative officials of the City of Santa Ana. <br />We are writing this letter on behalf of the Board of Directors regarding concerning in <br />response to the City Council's Ward redistricting process. It is apparent that the current <br />process involving the public in this important decision is simply the bare minimum required <br />by the City's Charter. While this satisfies existing legal precedent, we believe that a <br />decision as important as defining new council ward boundaries, which will impact future <br />decisions in the city for the next decade, requires public input from all sectors of the city. <br />As such, we urge the city to involve the public in this important process before making its <br />final decision. <br />We are making this request because the new ward boundaries now under consideration <br />were conceived behind closed doors by three council members. The product of these <br />secret meetings was based solely on the population, and without regard to other <br />critical factors that define a "community of interest." As we mentioned to City Clerk Maria <br />Huizar in our recent meeting with her, the proposed redistricting further divides <br />neighborhoods, particularly ones plagued by crime, poverty and lack of public participation <br />while leaving the more affluent neighborhoods in tact. <br />The proposed re- districting plan splits Willard, Madison Park, Memorial Park, Santa Anita <br />Park, Riverview West, Central City, Pico Lowell, and Downtown neighborhoods. By giving <br />these poorer neighborhoods more than one city council member, the new ward system <br />dilutes the power of neighbors to organize to lobby for common interests. The Santa Anita <br />neighborhood, which has long been represented by three council members, is an example <br />1 <br />11A -11 <br />