HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - #14, #18 and #21 Orozco, Norma
From: Tracy La <tracy@vietrise.org>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2023 5:33 PM
To: eComment
Cc: general@vietrise.org
Subject: VietRISE Public Comment for Agenda Items 14, 18, and 21
Attachments: 2023.08.28 VietRISE Public Comment on Agenda Items 14, 18, 21.pdf
To whom it may concern,
Please see attached VietRISE's public comment for agenda items 14, 18, and 21 .
Sincerely,
Tracy La
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Advancing social justice and building power with working-class Vietnamese and immigrant
communities in Orange County since 2018.
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14351 Euclid St.#1M,Garden Grove,CA 92843
(714)-589-5496 1 www.vietrise.org I general@vietrise.org I @vietriseoc
August 28, 2023
Dear Mayor Amezcua and City Council Members,
My name is Tracy La and 1 am the Executive Director of VietRISE. On behalf of VietRISE, I am
writing to express our support for Agenda item#18, the resolution Declaring Support of the
HOME Act (AB1306). The HOME Act ensures that immigrant and refugee communities who
have earned release through past criminal justice reforms are protected from the brutal and unjust
double punishment they face when they are transferred from prison to ICE immigration
detention. This bill specifically provides relief for those who have received their convictions as
youth, elderly, and medical parole releases. This is one critical step toward making California a
true sanctuary state for immigrants and refugees, and as the first city in Orange County to declare
itself a sanctuary city, Santa Ana must take this stand to call for the end of ICE transfers.
In addition, we are in strong support of Agenda item#21, the proposal to create an ordinance
requiring supermajority approval for future amendments to Santa Ana's Rent Stabilization
and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. As a city where renters constitute the majority, these
ordinances have provided a brief respite from drastic rent increases for eligible units since their
enactment. Given that wages have failed to keep pace with rising rent costs, allowing landlords to
increase rents by more than 3% annually creates unnecessarily unstable living conditions for the
majority of the city's residents. For tenants who have struggled to make ends meet, these
ordinances have provided much-needed financial relief, allowing them to allocate resources to
other essential needs such as healthcare, education, and savings. It is imperative that the current
city council takes the necessary steps to safeguard a tremendously popular city policy that has
brought significant relief to a substantial portion of the city.
Lastly, we are in strong opposition to Agenda item#14, the Master Service Agreement with
Lexipol. Alarming reports from both the ACLU of Washington and the Northwest Immigrant
Rights Project illuminate a deeply troubling pattern surrounding Lexipol—an unsettling history
marred by the formulation of policies that scarcely scrape by the bare legal minimum. By using
broad and vague language, their policies are written in such a way that serve to protect police
officers and limit police departments' liability rather than establish best practices that protect the
public. Lexipol policies have historically included provisions that authorize the use of force in
situations that are unnecessary, which have led to excessive force incidents and harm toward
people by police officers. Alongside the heightened risk of lawsuits, the harm that Lexipol's
Advancing social justice and building power with working-class Vietnamese and immigrant
communities in Orange County since 2018.
�®
14351 Euclid St.#1M,Garden Grove,CA 92843
(714)-589-5496 1 www.vietrise.org I general@vietrise.org I @vietriseoc
policies have caused and will continue to cause to the broader public should stand as sufficient
reason why contracting Lexipol to draft policies for the city of Santa Ana should be avoided.
To conclude, VietRISE supports Agenda items#18 & 21 and opposes Agenda item#14.
Thank you.
66a
Tracy La
Executive Director of Viet121SE
Hall, Jennifer
From:Gema Suarez <gema@elcentroculturaldemexico.org>
Sent:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 3:59 PM
To:eComment
Cc:general@vietrise.org
Subject:Public Comment for Agenda Item #14, 18, and 21
Attachments:OPPOSE#14, SUPPORT #18, and #21.docx
Dear Santa Ana City Council members and Mayor,
I write to you to express my support for Item 21 to approve a supermajority for future amendments to the Santa
Ana Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Ordinance.
This movement for development without displacement policies has been loud and clear for many years. Long
time Santa Ana residents, working families and elders, and young people from different cultural backgrounds
advocated for a policy that could lessen the stress of not being able to afford rent. It was a struggle against
uncertainty.
After so many philosophical battles, today this ordinance is one of the best rent stabilization and just cause
ordinance in the whole state. It is a good example of a policy that not only helps with rent control, but also it
helps with reduction of unfair evictions. The ordinance also represents participatory democracy where
everyone's voice was taken into account. It is historical.
Please consider adopting the amendment so that Santa Ana keeps protecting our vulnerable population.
Sincerely,
Thank you.
--
Gema Suárez (She/They)
Organizing & Campaign Coordinator
elcentroculturaldemexico.org
1
Dear City Councilmembers,
My name is Gema Suarez and I’m have worked in Santa Ana in Ward 2 with El Centro Cultural
de Mexico. I would like to express my support for Agenda item #18, the resolution Declaring
Support of the HOME Act AB1306. I know community members who would benefit from this
policy. The HOME Act ensures that immigrant and refugee communities who have earned
release through past criminal justice reforms are protected from the brutal and unjust double
punishment applied when they are transferred from prison to ICE immigration detention. This
bill specifically provides relief for those who have received their convictions as youth, elderly,
and medical parole releases. This is one critical step toward making California a true sanctuary
state for immigrants and refugees, and as the first city in Orange County to declare itself a
sanctuary city, Santa Ana must take this stand to end ICE transfers.
In addition, I would like to express my strong support for Agenda item #21, the proposal to
create an ordinance requiring supermajority approval for future amendments to Santa
Ana’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. I am a renter myself and I
believe in participatory democracy and development without displacement. As a city where
renters constitute the majority, these ordinances have provided a brief respite from drastic rent
increases eligible units since their enactment. Given that wages have failed to keep pace with
rising rent costs, allowing providers to increase rents by more than 3% annually creates an
unnecessarily unstable living condition for the majority of the city’s residents. It is imperative that
the current city council takes the necessary steps to safeguard a tremendously popular city
policy that has brought significant relief to a substantial portion of our city.
Lastly, I would like to express my strong opposition to Agenda item #14, the Master Service
Agreement with Lexipol. I believe in safety but do not support unnecessary state violence.
Alarming reports from both the ACLU of Washington and the Northwest Immigrant Rights
Project illuminate a deeply troubling pattern surrounding Lexipol – an unsettling history marred
by the formulation of policies that scarcely scrape by the bare legal minimum. By using broad
and vague language, their policies are written in such a way that serve to protect police officers
and limit a police department’s liability rather than establish best practices to protect the public.
Lexipol policies have historically included provisions that authorize the use of force in situations
that are unnecessary, which have led to excessive force incidents and harm toward people by
police officers. Alongside the heightened risk of lawsuits, the harm that Lexipol’s policies have
caused and will continue to cause to the broader public should stand as sufficient reason why
contracting Lexipol to draft policies for the city of Santa Ana should be avoided.
Again, I support Agenda items #18 & 21 and oppose Agenda item #14. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gema Suarez