HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - 85ASalas, Diana
From: Nathaniel Greensides <mynci90@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2020 7:51 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public Comment for Agenda Item No. 85A - May 19 City Council meeting
I am Nathaniel Greensides and I am in support of the item. I do appreciate all that the City Clerk's office and
City Manager's office has done all throughout the COVID-19 crisis and hope that we may be able to find a
workable solution to keep residents engaged.
Many residents of Santa Ana waited to be able to speak via telephone on May 5th to request that city council
not only maintain the Rent Freeze, but EXTEND it as well so as to align with the eviction moratorium. They
were not able/allowed to do so. There are a lot of community members who don't have access to email - many
of which are older and/or Spanish speaking - and they should be able to thus call in and make public comments
especially on matters which directly regard the community. Those who were unsuccessful in malting their voice
heard at the last meeting (on May 5th) were severely discouraged especially since the matter was regarding the
ability to remain in Santa Ana.
Before COVID-19, it was much easier for residents to show up to City council chambers and make public
comments on both specific agenda items as well as non -agenda items. Accessibility of making comments in
City Council Meetings has decreased with each and every city council meeting held since the shelter in place
emergency orders were put into effect. Residents who wish to remain civically engaged during this pandemic
should still be able to make public comments by calling in and waiting their turns. Furthermore, the changed
procedure of allowing public comments on agenda items ONLY via ecommentsna,santa-ana.org was not
previously the procedure. (Previous avenues included YouTube Live comments as well as " [PROVIDING] A
COMMENT AT THE TIME THE ITEM IS BEING DISCUSSED") As such, people were blindsided by the
change.
Thank you again for continuing to find ways to allow for community engagement and input on city matters.
Sincerely,
Nathaniel Greensides
Salas, Diana
From:
Maria Ceja <ceja.maria95@gmail.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 11:48 AM
To:
eComment
Subject:
Item 85A
Dear Mayor and City Council,
The community's voices SHOULD BE heard through the phone on items that have an effect on our livelihoods
and the future of our city. We have the right to voice our opinions, comments, and concerns before the
council we elected to represent us. The pandemic is not excuse to silence us.
Thank you,
Maria
2.
Salas, Diana
From:
Valeria Esqueda <valeria.esqueda97@gmail.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 12:53 PM
To:
eComment
Subject:
AGENDA ITEM 85A
Hi,
My naives is Valeria Esqueda. I am a resident of ward 3 in Santa Ana. I am emailing to express my support for
agenda item 85A, that allows for residents to call in for public comment after each agenda item. This presents
the opportunity for direct communication between elected officials and constituents.
Thanks,
Valeria Esqueda
Salas, Diana
From: Jo Jo <angelamarietulio1@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 12:56 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Agenda Item 85A
°Hi
My names is Angela Tulio. I am emailing to express my support for agenda item 85A, that allows for residents
to call in for public comment after each agenda item. This presents the opportunity for direct communication
between elected officials and constituents.
Thanks,
Angela Tulio
Salas, Diana
From: Sarai Arpero <saraiarpero@icloud,com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 2:34 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Comentarios publicos 85A
Soy residente de Santa Ana y apoyo el punto 85A de la agenda de hoy es fundamental que se nos permita como
residentes de Santa Ana expresar nuestra opinion en los puntos. De la agenda el concilio de la ciudad esta sentado en
esa silla por nosotros los elegimos y tienen la obligacion y deber moral de escuchar a quienes quieren expresarse
Sent from my Whone
5
Salas, Diana
From: David Carbajal <davidcarbajaltorres@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 2:40 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public Comment for Agenda Item 85A 5/19/20 - City Council Meeting
Good Afternoon,
My naive is David Carbajal, I am a resident of Santa Ana and I am in support of agenda item 85A. Residents of
Santa Ana should be able to make public comment especially in a time in which they cannot engage with city
government in person.
Regards,
David Carbajal
(Ward 2)
Salas, Diana
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Mayor and City Council,
Yoselinda Mendoza <yoselinda.mendoza@gmail.com>
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 2:55 PM
eComment
Regarding Agenda Item 85A
Transparency, accessibility, and increasing opportunities for public comments are important priorities for every
public city council meeting, especially to ensure that every voice is heard. Because of this, I am writing that you
consider in opening up the live phone-in comments to every item on the agenda, not just public hearings, our
community should have the opportunity to make direct comments on specific items on the agenda that have
major implications to their experiences and livelihood here in Santa Ana.
Thank you for reading.
Best,
Yosi Mendoza
P/
Salas, Diana
From: Mextli Lopez <mextli9239@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 2:59 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public Comment for agenda item No. 85A
My name is Mextli Lopez and I am a constituent of Ward 5.
I am writing in support of agenda number 85A. The council should be seeking to increase their engagement with the
people they were elected to represent— not limit it— especially now when COVID19 has relegated us to remote civic
engagement and limited our face to face contact. If our elected officials don't hear from us, how will they be able to
make decisions on "our behalf'? Many residents of Santa Ana do not have access to internet, a computer or a
smartphone and there are those with such tools who may be older and not knowledgeable on how to write an email. It
is imperative that the city allow residents to call in to voice their opinions and concerns after each agenda item
especially during a pandemic, when the decisions made in city council could mean life or death for Santa Ana residents.
Please vote to re -allow public comments after each agenda item.
Sincerely,
Mextli
Orozco, Norma
From: Kayleigh Levitt <kayleighlevitt@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 3:27 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public Comment Supporting Item 85A
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers of Santa Ana,
My name is Kayleigh Levitt and I am a resident of ward 5. I am in support of item 85A because the ability to
provide comments will allow for the necessary accessibility to participate that constituents of city council
should be given under the Brown Act. I understand that participation is limited under the pandemic but I think
that means more than ever it is important to consider how to make participation accessible through phone
comments on each agenda item.
All the best,
Kayleigh Levitt
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Salas, Diana
From: Cynthia <cyngue848@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 6:10 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Comment re: Item 85A on City Council Agenda
Hi,
My name is Cynthia Guerra and I am a lifelong resident of Santa Ana. I am reaching out today to state my
support for Item 85A and ask the City Council to direct "the Clerk of the Council to increase transparency and
accessibility to the public during virtual City Council meetings by opening up the live phone-in comments to
EVERY ITEM on the agenda NOT just Public Hearings."
Due to the current Covid-19 crisis that makes it risky for folks to leave their homes, it is important that the City
do everything in its power to ensure residents are able to communicate with their elected officials and City staff.
Residents no longer have the ability to physically attend City Council meetings. The City used to offer a
variety of options to communicate during City Council meetings, like YouTube comments that made it easier
for some folks, and should continue to do so. Diversifying communication methods would allow more residents
to be engaged since some might not have access to one one of the methods, like for example, sending emails
like this one. This is particularly important at this time, as this City Council makes decisions that have an
amplified effect on residents given that Santa Ana has been one of the areas hardest hit by the Covid-19
pandemic in Orange County. The City Council should also consider instating these good practices beyond the
crisis to ensure accessibility for residents who might not have the capacity to be physically present at meetings,
but that still want and have a right to have their voices heard.
Please support Item 85A and continue working to make City proceedings more transparent and
accessible.
Thank you,
Cynthia Guerra
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