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Huizar, Maria From: Bob stewart <bob @stewartsound.com> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 12:38 PM To: Huizar, Maria Cc: Vicky Baxter Subject: Fwd: Letter Dear Maria, Several years ago I decided to move my business to downtown Santa Ana. I was seeing the beginning of an immerging downtown. For several years after the advent of the Artist Village, I saw stagnancy in the downtown and began to feel I had made a mistake. Nothing was moving forward. Several other property owners came together and decided to look into the possibility of a Community Management District. DSABA (Downtown Santa Ana Business Association) was not working due to infighting and lack of vision with a complete unwillingness to change. It was not easy to run our businesses, formally begin a 501 @6 nonprofit and be at the leadership of a changing dow-Aown. However, we were committed to the prospect of revitalization in downtown Santa Ana. We have given our time, money and donated our expertise at "no charge" when needed, to move this new nonprofit into the successful organization it has become. Downtown Inc is not only a vibrant force to the businesses downtown but has made inroads into the community and social issues facing this city. Vicky has convinced us that PBIDs cannot ignore social issues such as the homeless and is at the helm of forming a coalition of civic leaders, the faith community, government and others to begin an effort that could make us a model to all counties in California. She is basing this on the Navigator Program used in Sacramento and San Diego that has received Presidential Awards. The Community Policing Project formed with Santa Ana Police Department along with radios funded by Downtown Inc given to our businesses, has been described by the Justice Department as a model to large cities our size. I am on the Executive Committee with Downtown Inc and cannot understand this continued smear of the organization. We have strived to be transparent, we invite the public to all our meetings and we have done everything possible to recruit new diverse directors and members. We are focused on success and assisting all the businesses in downtown. The naysayers and people who continue to storm City Hall hurt Santa Ana. Their agenda is beyond our understanding because they refuse to come to the table. What is most amazing to me personally is that these same people held contempt for each other before Downtown Inc and now they have formed a "social club ". Perhaps we should be commended for uniting them for the first time. If they would put the effort and time into what they so fervently oppose, they may find common ground and realize we are all here to prosper our businesses, raise our families and live the American dream in unity. My sincere desire would be to see all businesses in the district part of the equation, actively involved with Downtown Inc and making a difference in revitalizing Downtown Santa Ana. Last week we held a Tri Mixer with over 250 businesses represented. The positive comments and pleasure at what is taking place in downtown Santa Ana was refreshing to hear from business people in Santa Ana and throughout Orange County. Keeping this issue at the forefront at City Council hurts bringing consumers and new businesses downtown. If PBIDs did not work, then there would not be 1500 across the United States and now internationally accepted and embraced. Several Cities have called us for details in beginning a PBID (Orange, Brea, Pasadena, San Pedro, and Newport Beach). Our success shows! Sincerely, Bob Stewart Past President Downtown Inc �� : •,