HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - Non-AgendaG.R.E.E.N.
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STAND O The Climate
Reality Project
.earth ORANGE COUNTY, CA CHAPTER Citizens' Climate Lobby
August 10, 2021
The City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana,CA92701
Via email
SUBJECT: Governor Newsom's accelerated climate goals for California
Dear Hon. Mayor Sarmiento, Mayor Pro Tern Penaloza, Councilmember Bacerra, Councilmember
Hernandez, Councilmember Lopez, Councilmember Mendoza and Councilmember Phan,
As a coalition of organizations and advocates dedicated to climate and social justice in Santa
Ana, we want to make you aware of some exciting news with important relevance to the climate
resolution currently under consideration by the council.
On July 9, Governor Newsom announced that he requested the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) to accelerate California's
progress toward its nation -leading climate goals. At the Governor's request, CARB will evaluate
pathways for the state to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 — in advance of the 2045 target —
including strategies to reduce fossil fuel demand and supply. The CPUC will work to establish a
more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions target for electricity procurement by 2030,
stepping up the state's pace in achieving zero carbon electricity. Earlier this year, the Governor
1
requested that CARB analyze pathways to phase out all oil extraction, focusing on benefits in
disadvantaged communities and opportunities for job creation and economic growth.
California's climate policies and programs have cut carbon emissions, created jobs and catalyzed
innovation. California has exceeded its 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target — four
years ahead of schedule — while growing its economy 26 percent. These accomplishments
demonstrate what is possible with sustained focus on climate action while creating substantial
health and economic benefits, including jobs along the way.
Santa Ana is the most at -risk city in the U.S. to climate impacts and has the second lowest
degree of climate readiness. Santa Ana must take action to advance measures that will put the
City on the path to climate safety.
The key to addressing the climate crisis at the local level is to begin rapidly reducing emissions
using affordable technologies that are available now. The fastest and easiest way for cities to
do that is with clean electrification through Community Choice Energy (CCE). CCE programs
currently serve more than 11 million residents in over 200 California cities and counties,
providing cleaner electricity, choice, competitive pricing, and funding for local community
programs that advance equity and protect residents from climate impacts.
Orange County's first CCE, called the OC Power Authority (OCPA), launched last year. OCPA and
other CCE programs in the region present Santa Ana with an opportunity to achieve 100%
clean energy in line with Governor Newsom's new climate goals while creating new and good
green jobs and providing funding for local climate readiness programs. Over time, CCEs will
save customers and cities millions, prevent rolling blackouts, make our grid more resilient, bring
revenue and relief to our community by keeping our rate payer dollars in our city, bring
programs to green our city and allow us to convert to renewable energy faster. 80% of OC
residents want more funding for these projects and CCE is our path forward.
Yesterday, the IPCC released a landmark study that warns of increasingly extreme heatwaves,
droughts, and a key temperature limit being broken in just over a decade. According to the head
of the UN, the report "is a code red for humanity". But scientists say a catastrophe can be
avoided if we act fast and make deep cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases.
We urge the City to adopt the resolution and emissions targets in line with the Governor's
new 2030 goals that were outlined in the previously agendized draft version. We also
encourage you to have proactive conversations with CCE programs in the region to explore
joining a CCE joint powers authority and California's movement to 100%clean energy.
2
For example, the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) in Los Angeles is the fifth largest electricity
provider in California and the single largest provider of 100% renewable energy to customers in
the nation. CPA is helping businesses save money and improve their bottom line with the CPA
Power Response Program. CPA is also creating energy resiliency opportunities through the
purchase of large-scale battery storage. Resilience measures help to prevent black -outs and
brown -outs and protect customers from heat crises.
We would like to thank the council for its past support of Citizen Climate Lobby's carbon pricing
bill (city resolution 2019-037), which illustrates the council's ability to work together on climate
action for the health and prosperity of our community.
We look forward to having further discussions with your offices. At your February council
meeting, the Mayor offered an opportunity for a rebuttal to the CCE presentation. Or "Let us
know when you are available to meet." Please let us know your earliest availability.
Sincerely,
Ayn Craciun Nathan Taft
Climate Action Campaign Stand.earth
Jose Trinidad Castaneda Linda Kramer, Margo Finalyson and Tristan Miller
Climate Advocate Leadership team
Climate Reality Orange County
Adolfo Sierra Leonel Flores
MPNA-GREEN Community Organizer
MPNA-GREEN
OC North Central Chapter
Citizens' Climate Lobby
3
Orozco, Norma
From: Jesus Santana <jesus.santana@charitableventuresoc.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2021 4:00 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public comment on non -agenda item in support of rent stabilization and tenant
rights
Good afternoon,
My name is Jesus Santana and I am a Community Organizer in the City of Santa Ana, working
closely with residents who have been severely impacted by the COVID 19 Pandemic.
As COVID 19 infection numbers are on the rise again and our community is still attempting to recover
from the heavy impacts of the ongoing pandemic, we ask that the Santa Ana City Council prioritize
community based solutions to address the housing crisis. A coalition of community organizations
under the guidance of Tenants United Santa Ana have proposed to this city council the "City of Santa
Ana Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization and Tenants' Rights Act" which would limit rent
increases to a maximum of 3% once a year to residents who lease the land below their mobile homes
and residents who rent inside of multi -family building built prior to 1995. Likewise, this ordinance
would extend just cause eviction protections to all renters in the city. Under the state of California's
emergency housing policies we currently have similar just cause protections, but these are set to
expire at the end of September. With this in mind and with the knowledge that our community has
been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, we respectfully request that the city council act
boldly and swiftly to enact rent control and just cause as soon as possible. Arriving to a vote on the
ordinance by no later than the end of September. This is an urgent matter that must not be put -off any
longer. Although we applaud your efforts to amend the H.O.O (Housing Opportunity Ordinance) and
to bring to Santa Ana more affordable housing these moves are insufficient to ensure housing stability
for our most vulnerable residents and to help our community weather the aftermath of COVID 19. It's
unconscionable that given our demographics Santa Ana doesn't already have rent control like other
cities across the state. 18 cities/counties across the state already have their own version of rent
control. Renters with rent debt and renters who have exhausted their savings to prevent rent debt
cannot shoulder excessive rent increases any longer or they will be permanently displaced from our
city.
Data to draw from:
In the last year SAUSD had 5,717 students participate in the McKinney-Vento program. 87.8% of
students district wide are categorized as "socioeconomically disadvantaged".
According to the Out of Reach report recently published by the National Low Income Housing
Coalition, people working on minimum wage ($14) would need to work 89 hrs per week to afford a
1 bdrm apartment. However, in Santa Ana, minimum wage workers at $14/hr would have to work 104
hrs per week to afford a modest 1 bdrm apartment (based on local rent prices). Additionally in Santa
Ana, many people are making below minimum wage so that number is even higher.
Concrete ask:
Hundreds of applicants are still waiting for the distribution of rental relief funds and landlords are
already filling eviction cases in court. We all need to come together and respond to the current and
t
impending housing/eviction crisis. Please agendize the first reading of our proposed ordinance no
later than the first city council meeting in September and arrive at a decision before emergency
protections expire at the state level. This ordinance will be one mechanism by which we can give
renters a fighting chance to stay housed and prevent further displacement and destabilization of our
community.
The time to support our loved ones and community members is now! We hope that you all, Mayor
and City Council Members, follow through in doing the right thing for our loved ones and family
members in our Santa Ana community.
Best regards,
Jesus Santana I Community Organizer
Charitable Ventures of Orange County
1505 E. 17th Street, Suite 1011 Santa Ana, CA 92705
e: jesus.santana@charitableventuresoc.org
w:charitableventuresoc.or�
p: (714) 597-6630 1 ext. 143
Orozco, Norma
From:
Teresa Rivas <tmrivasl23@gmail.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 5:00 PM
To:
eComment
Subject:
10th St. and Flower vacant lot
I respectfully request you establish a park at the 10th and Flower location for the Willard neighborhood.
We are in a densely populated area with many apartment dwellers.
Many many children live here.
It is a win -win situation for both.the people and the city for a multitude of reasons.
Maybe even consider a skatepark and fitness course if possible.
It should probably be very well lit and camera equipped.
Thank you for your consideration.
Teresa Rivas
HOA board member
Willard Neighborhood Assoc. Member
Orozco, Norma
From:
marciasteel@yahoo.com
Sent:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 4:03 PM
To:
eComment
Subject:
Public Comment Exhibits re Saddleback View
Attachments:
Public Comment Exhibits re Saddleback View.pdf
Dear City Clerk,
Attached are photographs illustrating the issues faced by Saddleback View Neighborhood. These photos
accompany the live and written public comments that will be made tonight by residents of Saddleback View.
Please provide them to the City Council so that they can reference them during the public comment period.
Thank you,
Saddleback View Neighborhood Association
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Orozco, Norma
From: Jesus Santana <santanajesus18@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 3:46 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public comment on non -agenda item in support of rent stabilization and tenant
rights
Good afternoon,
My name is Jesus Santana and I am a resident of Ward 2. 1 am emailing you today to make a public
comment on a non -agenda item.
As COVID19 infection numbers are on the rise again and our community is still attempting to recover
from the heavy impacts of the ongoing pandemic, we ask that the Santa Ana City Council prioritize
community based solutions to address the housing crisis. A coalition of community organizations
under the guidance of Tenants United Santa Ana have proposed to this city council the "City of Santa
Ana Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization and Tenants' Rights Act" which would limit rent
increases to a maximum of 3% once a year to residents who lease the land below their mobile homes
and residents who rent inside of multi -family building built prior to 1995. Likewise, this ordinance
would extend just cause eviction protections to all renters in the city. Under the state of California's
emergency housing policies we currently have similar just cause protections, but these are set to
expire at the end of September. With this in mind and with the knowledge that our community has
been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, we respectfully request that the city council act
boldly and swiftly to enact rent control and just cause as soon as possible. Arriving to a vote on the
ordinance by no later than the end of September. This is an urgent matter that must not be put -off any
longer. Although we applaud your efforts to amend the H.O.O (Housing Opportunity Ordinance) and
to bring to Santa Ana more affordable housing these moves are insufficient to ensure housing stability
for our most vulnerable residents and to help our community weather the aftermath of COVID19. It's
unconscionable that given our demographics Santa Ana doesn't already have rent control like other
cities across the state. 18 cities/counties across the state already have their own version of rent
control. Renters with rent debt and renters who have exhausted their savings to prevent rent debt
cannot shoulder excessive rent increases any longer or they will be permanently displaced from our
city.
Data to draw from:
In the last year SAUSD had 5,717 students participate in the McKinney-Vento program. 87.8% of
students district wide are categorized as "socioeconomically disadvantaged".
According to the Out of Reach report recently published by the National Low Income Housing
Coalition, people working on minimum wage ($14) would need to work 89 hrs per week to afford a
1 bdrm apartment. However, in Santa Ana, minimum wage workers at $14/hr would have to work 104
hrs per week to afford a modest 1 bdrm apartment (based on local rent prices). Additionally in Santa
Ana, many people are making below minimum wage so that number is even higher.
Concrete ask:
Hundreds of applicants are still waiting for the distribution of rental relief funds and landlords are
already filling eviction cases in court. We all need to come together and respond to the current and
impending housing/eviction crisis. Please agendize the first reading of our proposed ordinance no
t
later than the first city council meeting in September and arrive at a decision before emergency
protections expire at the state level. This ordinance will be one mechanism by which we can give
renters a fighting chance to stay housed and prevent further displacement and destabilization of our
community.
The time to support our loved ones and community members is now! We hope that you all, Mayor
and City Council Members, follow through in doing the right thing for our loved ones and family
members in our Santa Ana community.
Best regards,
z
Orozco, Norma
From: ALONDRA YESENIA SALAZAR <salazar16@ucla.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 3:36 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public Comment on non -agenda items
Good afternoon city council members,
My name is Alondra Salazar, I am a lifelong community member of Santa Ana and I am writing to you
to make a comment on a non -agenda item.
As COVID19 infection numbers are on the rise again and our community is still attempting to recover
from the heavy impacts of the ongoing pandemic, we ask that the Santa Ana City Council prioritize
community based solutions to address the housing crisis. A coalition of community organizations
under the guidance of Tenants United Santa Ana have proposed to this city council the "City of Santa
Ana Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization and Tenants' Rights Act" which would limit rent
increases to a maximum of 3% once a year to residents who lease the land below their mobile homes
and residents who rent inside of multi -family building built prior to 1995. Likewise, this ordinance
would extend just cause eviction protections to all renters in the city. Under the state of California's
emergency housing policies we currently have similar just cause protections, but these are set to
expire at the end of September. With this in mind and with the knowledge that our community has
been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, we respectfully request that the city council act
boldly and swiftly to enact rent control and just cause as soon as possible. Arriving to a vote on the
ordinance by no later than the end of September. This is an urgent matter that must not be put -off any
longer. Although we applaud your efforts to amend the H.O.O (Housing Opportunity Ordinance) and
to bring to Santa Ana more affordable housing these moves are insufficient to ensure housing stability
for our most vulnerable residents and to help our community weather the aftermath of COVID19. It's
unconscionable that given our demographics Santa Ana doesn't already have rent control like other
cities across the state. 18 cities/counties across the state already have their own version of rent
control. Renters with rent debt and renters who have exhausted their savings to prevent rent debt
cannot shoulder excessive rent increases any longer or they will be permanently displaced from our
city.
In the last year SAUSD had 5,717 students participate in the McKinney-Vento program. 87.8% of
students district wide are categorized as "socioeconomically disadvantaged".
According to the Out of Reach report recently published by the National Low Income Housing
Coalition, people working on minimum wage ($14) would need to work 89 hrs per week to afford a
1 bdrm apartment. However, in Santa Ana, minimum wage workers at $14/hr would have to work 104
hrs per week to afford a modest 1 bdrm apartment (based on local rent prices). Additionally in Santa
Ana, many people are making below minimum wage so that number is even higher.
Hundreds of applicants are still waiting for the distribution of rental relief funds and landlords are
already filling eviction cases in court. We all need to come together and respond to the current and
impending housing/eviction crisis. Please agendize the first reading of our proposed ordinance no
later than the first city council meeting in September and arrive at a decision before emergency
protections expire at the state level. This ordinance will be one mechanism by which we can give
t
renters a fighting chance to stay housed and prevent further displacement and destabilization of our
community.
Thank you for your time.
Best,
Alondra Salazar
Orozco, Norma
From:
Elizabeth Ruiz <liza.blue3l@yahoo.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 3:15 PM
To:
eComment
Subject:
Saddleback View Transient Issues
Hello
My name is Elizabeth Martinez and I reside on McClay St.
I've lived here for 17 years and love my neighborhood however, things are changing and not for the better. I have major
distress in knowing there is a needle distribution center around the block from my home. I ask, If a marijuana dispensary
business is not allowed to operate in a residential area why is this!
Micah's way also presents this neighborhood with continuous influx of transients. Transients which wander through our
streets littering. On various occasions we've seen them undressing, urinating on our front lawns, smoking meth, and
trying to defecate on the sidewalk in front of the school. This mostly happens on Mondays. My understanding is that is
the day that business on fourth street distributes needles and Methadone. I have small children I do not allow to play in
the front of our home because of this situation.
I was forced to add a higher fence to my back yard because transients would wander to my back yard and steal my
recycling, a couple times my neighbors called me letting me know that someone was showering with my hose in my back
yard.
It is obvious Santa Ana has a major homeless problem and you have not found a way to correct this but placing a
transient resource center and allowing a needle distribution in a residential neighborhood within walking distance of a
school, is the worst approach.
I am considering moving elsewhere where my children are not exposed to this and can safely play out on their own front
lawn.
I don't want to move and I seriously recommend you take action into resolving this matter lest you will continue to lose
good outstanding citizens.
Thank you
Sent from my Phone
Orozco, Norma
From: David Carbajal <davidcarbajaltorres@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 2:58 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Non -Agenda Item
Good Afternoon City Council,
My name is David Carbajal and I am a lifetime resident of Ward 2. I am writing to you all today to urge you to
agendize the City of Santa Ana Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization, Tenants' Rights Act.
As the number of COVID infection transmissions continue to rise globally, Santa Ana tenants also continue to
face housing instability due to the rising costs of rents and their inability to pay it.
State and federal tenant protections are scheduled to expire in the next few months and the city of Santa Ana
must look at long term solutions for its majority tenant constituency.
We ask you to act quickly and boldly and agendize rent stabilization.
In Community,
David Carbajal
Ward 2
Orozco, Norma
From: Yoselinda Mendoza <yoselinda.mendoza@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 2:54 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public comment on non -agenda item in support of rent stabilization and tenant
rights
Dear Members of the Santa Ana city council and Mayor Sarmiento,
I am e-mailing you all today to urge you to enact the "City of Santa Ana Community Preservation, Rent
Stabilization, and Tenants' Rights Act". This ordinance would provide immediate and permanent relief for
residents in Santa Ana. It would limit rent increases to a maximum of 3% once a year to residents who lease the
land below their mobile homes and residents who rent inside of multi -family buildings built prior to 1995. And
it would also extend just cause eviction protections for ALL renters in the city.
The statewide COVID-19 protections are temporary and insufficient. They are set to expire on September 30th,
2021, and have failed in protecting the most vulnerable. In my capacity as a tenant rights' counselor for Tenants
United Santa Ana Tenant Rights' Counselor, I have learned that many renters have lost their jobs (or have
experienced a significant reduction of work hours) which has impacted their ability to pay rent. Although there
are emergency housing protections during the pandemic, many renters are still being evicted for reasons not
protected under the law. Further, emergency rental assistance has been extremely slow in
disseminating monetary support for renters. Moreover, all of these protections put the onus on renters to stay
protected, making them do all of the paperwork (e.g., sending the declaration of financial distress forms, etc.).
This is an incredibly stressful and heavy time to take time to do.
At the same time as residents are trying to catch up on rent and taking on a lot of rent debt, they are also
experiencing predatory rent increases. How can we expect folks to catch up on rent, pay their debt, and
withstand rent increases? How do we position people in this situation when they have lost their jobs and/or
experienced a reduction of hours? Many residents do not have enough money to meet their basic needs nor pay
rent. Enacting rent control would provide immediate relief by limiting rent increases and providing necessary
tenant protections.
I ask the following:
• Agendize the first reading of the proposed ordinance no later than the first city council meeting in
September.
• Enact the "City of Santa Ana Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization, and Tenants' Rights Act"
before emergency housing protections expire on September 30th, 2021.
Enacting this ordinance will give renters a fighting chance to stay housed and prevent further displacement and
destabilization of our community.
Best,
Yoselinda
Orozco, Norma
From: Maria Ceja <ceja.maria95@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 1:22 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Non -agenda Item Public Comment: Support for Rent Stabilization and Just Cause
Protections in Santa Ana
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and cases are on the rise again, Santa Ana's City Council must
act now to protect our Santa Ana community in the present and post-Covid-19 anticipated effects through
community -based solutions. Our community has just begun the recovery if that has even an option, after the
past almost year and a half of health hazards, financial hardships, and increased housing instability that have
been worsened by the pandemic.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that housing is an important foundation that has power over the
vitality to one's quality of life. In the last year, SAUSD had 5,717 students participate in the McKinney-Vento
program, a program dedicated to supporting means children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence. Approximately 87.8% of students district -wide are categorized as "socioeconomically
disadvantaged". According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach report (2021), people
working on minimum wage ($14) would need to work 89 hrs per week to afford a Ibdrm apartment. However,
in Santa Ana, minimum wage workers at $14/hr would have to work 104 hrs per week to afford a modest
1 bdrm apartment (based on local rent prices). A high percentage of Santa Ana undocumented residents are
making below minimum wage increases the number of hours needed to afford the median rent in the city.
The city's priority should be to respond to the current and impending local housing/eviction crisis. Under the
state of California's emergency housing policies, we currently have similar just cause protections, but these are
set to expire at the end of September. With this in mind and with the knowledge that our community has been
disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, we respectfully request that the city council act boldly and swiftly
to enact rent control and just cause as soon as possible, arriving at a vote on the ordinance by no later than the
end of September. This is an urgent matter that must not be put off any longer. Although we applaud your
efforts to amend the H.O.O (Housing Opportunity Ordinance) and to bring to Santa Ana more affordable
housing these moves are insufficient to ensure housing stability for our most vulnerable residents and to help
our community weather the aftermath of COVID19. It's unconscionable that given our demographics Santa Ana
doesn't already have rent control like other cities across the state. 18 cities/counties across the state already have
their own version of rent control. Renters with rent debt and renters who have exhausted their savings to prevent
rent debt cannot shoulder excessive rent increases any longer or they will be permanently displaced from our
city.
Under the guidance of Tenants United Santa Ana, A coalition of community organizations have proposed to
this city council the "City ofSanta Ana Community Preservation, Rent Stabilization and Tenants' Rights
Act" which would limit rent increases to a maximum of 3% once a year to residents who lease the land below
their mobile homes and residents who rent inside of multi -family building built before 1995. Likewise, this
ordinance would extend just cause eviction protections to all renters in the city.
Please place the first reading of our proposed ordinance on the agenda in the upcoming September 7th and make
an official before emergency protections expire at the state level. This ordinance will be one mechanism by
which we can give renters a fighting chance to stay housed and prevent further displacement and destabilization
of our community.
Thank you,
Maria Ceja
Orozco, Norma
From: Nathaniel Greensides <mynci90@gmaii.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 1:05 PM
To: eComment
Subject: non -agenda item
Dear City Council,
Right now, landlords have no incentive to ensure an open and competitive market once a new tenant takes
possession of a unit. In other words, landlords hold a monopoly on rental prices in the city. This is because there
are no mechanisms to ensure fair market practices for rental units in our city. We have the opportunity to ensure
that those who have made Santa Ana such a desirable place to live can remain for generations to come. Rent
and Community Stabilization is hardly a controversial point to argue. Yet, the California Apartment Association
and its pundits/supporters believe that Landlords should be allowed to maintain a monopoly on rents and
continue unfair business practices instead of actually having to innovate upon how housing "providers" might
actually do just that - provide and increase the supply of quality housing. In every business sector that I have
ever been witness to, successful businesses find ways to produce better quality products at lower prices to the
individual consumer. Yet, Landlords and the CAA believe that landlords should be allowed to practice the
competition reducing practice of extracting ever more money from their consumers without an equal increase in
the quality or number of units supplied to the market as financed by rent being collected.
Tenants in our city have been seeing their rents increase with all sorts of fake reasons provided by landlords:
supposed substantial repairs to the property thus warranting 60 day evictions instead of the landlord finding
those tenants a temporary place to live while supposed substantial repairs take place; landlords allege taxes
increasing despite enjoying a statewide cap of two percent on property tax increases (aka Prop 13 from 1978);
while tenants aren't experiencing a similar increase of income from their jobs, landlords allege that the cost of
goods and services is increasing (i.e. inflation); but the real reason that rents are increasing is because landlords
are choosing to increase rent. Landlords could keep rents the same and thus earn less in profit, but Landlords
instead choose to increase the rents thus prioritizing profit over people. Some say that prices increase because
of some sort of "invisible hand". But actually, it is the hand of landlords' greed coupled with the other hand of
systematic power granted to those who "own" land against those who don't. (I hold the belief that one can't
actually "own" the land if there are liens from a mortgage or lender existing on the property. But even then,
"owning" land is a western European colonizing construct that only came into existence because of the mass
genocide committed against the indigenous people of the "Americas" who existed on the land for tens of
thousands of years without any papers - monetary or otherwise - outlining "ownership" of land)
Here's a thought that is probably considered heresy to landlords and the CAA: keep rents the same and you will
have continued sustainable long term growth, happy tenants, and stable communities. But instead, those with
access to community -destabilizing debt products and financing agreements for supposed "community
development" are enabled and offered even more access to harmful and community destabilizing debt products
and financing agreements via "opportunity zone" tax incentives and tax breaks in already vulnerable
neighborhoods of our cities. This also ensures continued equity gains for those who live in neighborhoods
zoned only for single family homes (which in OC and Santa Ana were created in the 1950s for white people
only in case anyone forgot). Furthermore, the system allows LLCs and business entities to easily declare losses
or declare bankruptcy only to create a new LLC or business entity and do it all again from scratch. There's
literally no risk for these self entitled "investors" to rob and destabilize our community under one name only to
do it again under some other name.
The ability of landlords to easily displace and destabilize our city, communities, and households is unjust to say
the least. This city council has not only the opportunity to ensure that this destabilization is prohibited, but to
also ensure the success of future generations of SantaNeros who have been here, want to remain here, and
hopefully allow for the return of those who were displaced.
Sincerely,
Nathaniel Greensides
Ward 3
Orozco, Norma
From: Kayleigh Levitt <kayleighlevitt@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 12:23 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Public comment on non -agenda item in support of rent stabilization and tenant
rights
Dear Members of the Council,
As COVID19 infection numbers are on the rise again and our community is still attempting to recover from the
heavy impacts of the ongoing pandemic, we ask that the Santa Ana City Council prioritize community based
solutions to address the housing crisis. A coalition of community organizations under the guidance of Tenants
United Santa Ana have proposed to this city council the "City of Santa Ana Community Preservation, Rent
Stabilization and Tenants' Rights Act" which would limit rent increases to a maximum of 3% once a year to
residents who lease the land below their mobile homes and residents who rent inside of multi -family buildings
built prior to 1995. Likewise, this ordinance would extend just cause eviction protections to all renters in the
city. Under the state of California's emergency housing policies we currently have similar just cause
protections, but these are set to expire at the end of September. With this in mind and with the knowledge that
our community has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, we respectfully request that the city
council act boldly and swiftly to enact rent control and just cause as soon as possible. Arriving to a vote on the
ordinance by no later than the end of September. This is an urgent matter that must not be put -off any longer.
Although we applaud your efforts to amend the H.O.O (Housing Opportunity Ordinance) and to bring to Santa
Ana more affordable housing these moves are insufficient to ensure housing stability for our most vulnerable
residents and to help our community weather the aftermath of COVID19. It's unconscionable that given our
demographics Santa Ana doesn't already have rent control like other cities across the state. 18 cities/counties
across the state already have their own version of rent control. Renters with rent debt and renters who have
exhausted their savings to prevent rent debt cannot shoulder excessive rent increases any longer or they will be
permanently displaced from our city.
In the last year SAUSD had 5,717 students participate in the McKinney-Vento program. 87.8% of students
district wide are categorized as "socioeconomically disadvantaged".
According to the Out of Reach report recently published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition,
people working on minimum wage ($14) would need to work 89 hrs per week to afford a Ibdrm apartment.
However, in Santa Ana, minimum wage workers at $14/hr would have to work 104 hrs per week to afford a
modest 1 bdrm apartment (based on local rent prices). Additionally in Santa Ana, many people are making
below minimum wage so that number is even higher.
Warm regards,
Kayleigh Levitt
Tenants United Santa Ana Volunteer
Orozco, Norma
From:
Craig Preston <craigp4444@gmail.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, August 11, 2021 6:00 PM
To:
eComment
Subject:
Santa Ana: Pass a climate and public health emergency resolution
Categories: Correspondence
Dear Santa Ana City Council and Mayor Sarmiento,
The Benjamin Franklin said "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". Climate change costs are going up
exponentially. Prevention is in our hands and I say Let's Lower Emissions ASAP.
We need to treat this like the emergency it is and put in place protections for all Santa Ana residents. The resolution
brought forward by Councilmember Lopez is a good first step and roadmap for actions our community can take to
resolve these pressing issues.
Fossil fuels don't just exacerbate climate change, but also poison people. Study after study has shown that extracting,
transporting, refining, and burning fossil fuels harms environmental and human health —and new evidence shows that
toxic air pollution from fossil fuels also makes people more vulnerable to poor outcomes from COVID.
We must phase out fossil fuels from our daily lives —whether it's gas stoves causing asthma, tailpipes blanketing our
streets with smog, or gas stations poisoning water supplies and spreading cancerous chemicals like benzene. It's clear
we must start moving to clean energy systems —and soon. Our community should be running on clean, renewable
energy no later than 2030.
But it's not just fossil fuels that are harming our community. Many neighborhoods in Santa Ana suffer from
disproportionately high levels of lead in their soil, which can lead to serious developmental and health issues. The city
must do more and protect our residents.
Addressing these issues won't just improve our health, it will also improve our local economy. The Biden administration
is investing money in green infrastructure buildout, and we need to make sure we have shovel ready jobs prepared.
What's more, cleaning up environmental pollution and converting our energy systems are massive job opportunities that
could bring family -wage jobs to thousands of people in Santa Ana.
I'm writing to you today to ask you to please pass the climate and public health emergency resolution that calls for an
end to fossil fuel expansion, clean renewable energy choices that save money, actions that will reduce lead and other
environmental toxins in our neighborhoods, family -wage jobs, and an endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Non -Proliferation
Treaty initiative. We can reduce pollution that is cooking the planet and poisoning our communities while improving the
quality of life for every Santa Ana resident.
I ASK YOU TO PASS this resolution and commit to taking local action to explore policies that stop fossil fuel expansion,
speed up the clean energy transition, reduce local pollution, and empower our local community and economy.
Thank you,
Craig Preston, 92626