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October 2020
A Word to Ward 6


Hello Santa Ana Friends and Neighbors:

This year has had many challenges and tribulations. Early in the year for our own safety we were restricted to our home to protect our family’s health and our own. Humans are social beings. We are not meant to be secluded. It was difficult not visiting friends or other family. Together we learned how to Zoom our family gatherings and our work conferences. Now, it is common to Zoom for just about every event. I even attended a Mariachi Divas concert from the comfort of my own car. 

I believe our way of life has changed dramatically and wearing masks will be a permanent part of our wardrobe. One thing that I do miss and cannot be replaced by a Zoom conference is having that personal interaction with you Santa Ana residents. However, since being elected I continue to work on the issues that are important. The City of Santa Ana applied for and was granted funds to protect you. The CARES Act money has been utilized to bring free COVID-19 testing, subsidize rent, and purchase essential materials to combat the virus. 

Public safety is also one of my priorities and I continue to work with our police force to make Santa Ana streets safer for our youth and our families. I am also cognizant of the homelessness problem in Santa Ana, and as a Council, we are working together to find alternative and beneficial options for those affected. I am hoping to have a Zoom community meeting soon. Please send your neighborhood information to Angie Morris (amorris@santa-ana.org) so that I can at least meet you virtually. 

I ask that you continue to take extreme precaution to stay healthy and not fall victim to COVID. Wear your mask at all times in public places and ensure your family (especially your children) are masked properly, wash your hands often and disinfect your home regularly. Stay home as much as possible and limit going to public places, unless absolutely necessary.  I don’t recommend going out trick-or-treating or attending any Halloween parties. The number of positive results is still high. Celebrate the fall season at home by creating your own special memories. Be safe.  

If I can be of service to you, please do not hesitate to call me at (714) 647-6900 or e-mail me at nmendoza@santa-ana.org.

Sincerely,

Nelida Mendoza
Councilmember, Ward 6

NEWS YOU CAN USE
COVID Assistance Initiative
The City of Santa Ana launched the Santa Ana CARES initiative this summer to provide a broad range of health and financial assistance to residents, businesses and non-profits affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
A key component of the program is a Mobile Resource Center that has visited nearly 100 Santa Ana neighborhoods, with an emphasis on the City’s most densely populated neighborhoods whose residents are at high risk of coronavirus transmission. The Mobile Resource Center will continue visiting City parks to provide information on assistance programs, free COVID-19 testing and free masks.
 
Santa Ana CARES is funded by $28.6 million in federal CARES Act money that was allocated through the State budget. The Santa Ana City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 4, 2020, to allocate the funds for the various programs.
 
Qualified members of the Santa Ana community can still apply for many of the support programs. Santa Ana CARES includes $8 million in direct monetary assistance and other measures, among them:
 
  • Free COVID-19 testing for Santa Ana residents
  • Isolation assistance to provide hotel rooms for families who have a member of the household diagnosed with COVID-19
  • $1,500 rental assistance grants for tenants
  • A landlord assistance program that helps pay back rent that is owed
  • Grants of up to $10,000 for businesses and non-profits, including grants specifically designated for restaurants and bars
  • Utility bill payment assistance of up to $500 for those with delinquent bills
  • Child care assistance for workers
  • Additional sanitization of public facilities including bus shelters, playgrounds and park fitness equipment.

The City has a COVID-19 hotline to help the community access these assistance programs, which you can call at (714) 667-2273. The City is also providing a Nurse Hotline that Santa Ana residents can call with health questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 589-8776. Both hotlines offer assistance in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
 
Information on all of the assistance programs and other pandemic resources and updates is at www.santa-ana.org/CARES.
La Ciudad de Santa Ana lanzó la iniciativa CARES de Santa Ana este verano para brindar una amplia gama de asistencia financiera y de salud a los residentes, negocios y organizaciones sin fines de lucro afectados por la pandemia COVID-19.

Un componente clave del programa es un Centro Móvil de Recursos que ha visitado casi 100 vecindarios, con un enfoque en las áreas más densamente poblados de la ciudad cuyos residentes tienen un alto riesgo de transmisión del coronavirus. El Centro Móvil de Recursos sigue visitando los parques de la Ciudad para brindar información sobre programas de asistencia, pruebas gratuitas de COVID-19 y mascarillas gratis.

Santa Ana CARES está financiado por $28.6 millones en dinero federal de la Ley CARES que se asignó a través del presupuesto estatal. El Ayuntamiento de Santa Ana votó por unanimidad el 4 de agosto de 2020 para asignar los fondos para los diversos programas.

Los miembros calificados de la comunidad de Santa Ana todavía pueden solicitar muchos de los programas de apoyo. Santa Ana CARES incluye $8 millones en asistencia monetaria directa y otras medidas, entre ellas:
 
  • Pruebas gratuitas de COVID-19 para residentes de Santa Ana
  • Asistencia de aislamiento para proporcionar habitaciones de hotel a familias que tienen un miembro del hogar diagnosticado con COVID-19
  • Subvenciones de ayuda de alquiler de $1,500 para inquilinos
  • Un programa de asistencia al propietario que ayuda a pagar el alquiler adeudado
  • Subvenciones de hasta $10,000 para empresas y organizaciones sin fines de lucro, incluidas subvenciones específicamente designadas para restaurantes y bares
  • Asistencia para el pago de facturas de servicios públicos de hasta $ 500 para aquellos con facturas atrasadas
  • Asistencia de cuidado infantil para trabajadores
  • Higienización adicional de instalaciones públicas, incluidas marquesinas de autobuses, áreas de juego y equipos de acondicionamiento físico para parques
 
La Ciudad está proporcionando una línea directa COVID-19 para ayudar a la comunidad a acceder a estos programas de asistencia, que se puede llamar al (714) 667-2273. La Ciudad tambien tiene una línea directa de enfermería a la que los residentes de Santa Ana pueden llamar con preguntas de salud las 24 horas del día, los siete días de la semana al (800) 589-8776. Ambas líneas directas ofrecen asistencia en inglés, español y vietnamita.
 
La información sobre todos los programas de asistencia y otros recursos y actualizaciones pandémicas se encuentra en www.santa-ana.org/CARES.
MASK UP SANTA ANA!!
If you thought masks weren’t cool in Orange County, think again.
All of Orange County’s 34 mayors have teamed up to send a message to residents, businesses and visitors: “Mask up to open up OC!”

Be a Part of Shaping Santa Ana's Future
The September 2020 Public Review Draft General Plan is now available. The proposed General Plan will serve as the vision and blueprint for future growth and development of the City. The Draft includes implementation actions for the various components of the Plan as well as refinements resulting from community input on the August 2020 Public Review Draft. View the Draft General Plan at www.santa-ana.org/general-plan/draft-documents

On Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. the Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing to consider action on the proposed General Plan and related Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR).

The Draft General Plan and associated PEIR are found at www.santa-ana.org/general-plan. All are welcome to provide comments by email at newgeneralplan@santa-ana.org. For more information you may also call (714) 667-2781.

To participate in the Planning Commission meeting, call (669) 900-9128 and enter Meeting ID: 315 965 149#. For more information, including to see the Planning Commission Agenda (available 72 hours prior to public hearing), please visit www.santa-ana.org/cc/city-meetings.
City Council Ward Re-Boundary
The City of Santa Ana has changed the way that councilmembers are elected. Previously, all seven councilmembers (including the mayor) were elected at-large, meaning that all registered voters who reside in Santa Ana used to vote for all seven City Council positions. Under the new by-ward (also known as "by-district") election system that will begin with the Nov. 3, 2020, election, each of the six councilmembers will be elected by the voters of their respective ward. Under by-ward elections, councilmembers will be required to live in the ward they represent and will be directly elected by the registered voters who reside in that ward. The mayor will continue to be elected at-large. It's important to note that the by-ward elections will be phased in; elections for wards 1, 3, and 5 will take place this election year--with the Nov. 3, 2020, elections. Elections for wards 2, 4 and 6 will take place in November 2022. 

Also in 2020, the City's new ward boundaries take effect. This means that the existing ward boundaries will change. But why? Ordinarily, City Council wards are redrawn every 10 years to correspond to demographic changes that are collected by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Census (#SantaAnaCounts). However, in March 2018, the City's at-large election system was legally challenged. To make sure we're complying with the California Voting Rights Act, we went through a thorough process to redraw our existing six boundaries. The new boundaries will help us ensure equity in our elections. 

What does this mean for you? Well, if you reside in the new Ward 1, 3 or 5, you will be eligible to vote in the Nov. 8, 2020, general election. Registered voters in new wards 2, 4, and 6 will vote for their councilmember in November 2022. If you haven't already, please register to vote. For more information on elections, visit the County of Orange Registrar of Voters website.
STAY CONNECTED!!
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  • Report Encampments
  • Code Violations
  • Illegal fireworks
  • Park Issues
  • Illegal Dumping
  • Trees
  • Illegal Advertising Sign
  • Shopping Cart Enforcement
  • Potholes
  • Sidewalk Defects
  • Street Light Issues
  • Parking Enforcement
  • Street Sweeping
  • Animal Control
  • Trash & Recycling Pickups
  • ...and More
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