HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence- Non-Agenda March 21", 2023
To: Mayor Amezcua and Council Members
As a longtime resident I am writing this letter to express my concerns on what I have witnessed in the
downtown area. I have noticed through the past couple of years gentrification they have marginalized
our Latino community and discriminated by moving fiestas patrias out of 4th Street, Noche de Altares,
and 5 de Mayo fair. I bring my children and grandchildren to these events and it is sad to see gone the
very essence of Calle 4. 1 want to see more Latino owned merchants, I want our events back! I want to
see the Latino culture back to downtown.That's what it is know for culture.Thank you for allowing me
to express my concerns.
Sincerely,
Santa Ana resident
Middleton, Samuel
From: Jessica Vergara <jvergara55@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 9:25 AM
To: vamezcua@santa-and.org; eComment; Phan, Thai;jpenaloza@santa-ana.org;
Hernandez, Johnathan
Subject: Concern Santa Ana Resident
March 16,2023
Jessica Vergara-Sandoval
1205 Fairlawn Ave.
Santa Ana,CA 92703
Dear Council Members of Santa Ana,
I am writing to you as a concern Latino citizen of Santa Ana.I am first generation American. Born,raised and now a homeowner in
the city Santa Ana.
My concern is the Latino cultural loss over the last few years in Downtown Santa Ana,it almost feels like our Latino Heritage has
been thrown out of Calle 4.As a citizen,I'd love to see all more Latino owned business back in Calle 4,along with the tradition of Las
Fiestas Patrias.I'd love to be able to share and create memories with my children in Calle 4.
Lets bring back the Latino culture to Calle 4,we as neighbors would appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Jessica Vergara-Sandoval
1
Orozco, Norma
From: Ginette Sanchez <ginettesanchez@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 3:25 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Downtown merchants
Good afternoon mayor Amezcua and city council members. My name is Ginette Sanchez, I am a proud Latina Merchant
in the downtown I have two businesses centro naturista (natural supplements, and gigis dance studio . I am here
tonight to talk about a few of many problems that we have here in the downtown.
We all know the ongoing OCTA construction impacted our businesses and some unfortunately went out of business. But
I truly feel that these changes began a few years back and let me explain to you why. I started to notice less and less
people were filling the streets of downtown, my longtime customers not coming back. When some of them did return I
would ask why don't they come as often as before ?The response and feedback is always everything is different,
everything has changed, I didn't think you were still in business, and we don't feel welcomed anymore . That breaks my
heart to hear my customers say that, they feel as if they're not good enough anymore to come back and that's not ok
with me and it shouldn't be with you either.
The big question is why do people feel that way right?And mainly our Latino community our events have been pushed
back to flower street . Fiestas patrias, noche de altares, 5 de mayo fair is completely gone . And I wanna know why our
Latino community has been marginalized?Some people even say they feel discriminated by these changes.Just these
two events were a huge success and would bring the majority of the community and outside people to the downtown .
Mr jonathan Hernandez your a culture guy I hear you all the time talk about Chicano events and black history month but
what about our Latino community?Why are we not reaching out to them our neighbors they are literally two three
streets away our local residents . Why are we not interested in them anymore !
We are hardworking merchants that came to open business to provide for our families we do not want free money. We
just want to work, but you have taken our tools away.The downtown is a ghostown. How are we suppose to stay afloat
when you have destroyed that ?We didn't do it?You guys did . YOU DID IT, NOW YOU HELP US FIX IT !
Solutions I bring a few maybe you guys have more, bring back our Latino community, reach out to them .They are the
very essence of the downtown that's what is was known for. Bring back fiestas patrias, noche de altares, 5 de mayo fair
to downtown . Start promoting our businesses I get this all the time I thought you were gone or out of business. People
think we are closed . And just stop the sabotages and just let us work. We have gone thru enough already. We are here
to stay ! We aren't going anywhere ! We are gonna fight to be here we deserve to be here ! We worked hard to be here
i
In conclusion we need the city to take action now ! Our lives depend on it ! I invite you all to come to the downtown
walk and see for yourselves . Our businesses were thriving before . We would produce revenue for the city. But how the
hell are we gonna provide revenue after all that we have been thru ! You guys allowed the changes, the damage has
been done now help us fix it ! Thank you
i