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April 27, 2020 - Volume 4 / Issue 2
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I trust that you are doing well and staying safe. Since the last edition was sent, the world has experienced a serious pandemic that has affected our entire country. In addition to the Governor's Executive Stay-at-Home Order, the City of Santa Ana has implemented procedures to help keep the community and employees safe. More information on this in the article below.
I would like to take the opportunity to remind you to be cognizant if you have to go outside and wear a protective covering (gloves and mask). Feel free to contact me at jvillegas@santa-ana.org or at (714) 647-6900 with any questions, comments or suggestions for future newsletters.
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COVID-19 UPDATE
On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Santa Ana City Council unanimously proclaimed a local emergency to fight the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and to protect the public. All City of Santa Ana municipal government buildings are temporarily closed to the public, including City Hall.
Our dedicated employees are continuing to provide essential services to the community.
The City Manager, who was appointed by City Council on March 17th as Director of Emergency Services, signed three executive orders. The first is a moratorium on all residential and commercial foreclosures and evictions for non-payment of rent for anyone who is unable to pay due to financial impacts related to COVID-19. The second order freezes rent increases, adding another tool to help and protect the community. The order also granted an extension of certain City deadlines related to land use and other matters, streamlines processing for essential businesses, and postpones administrative hearings and deadlines. Finally, the third executive order requires employers with four or more employees to make their workers wear face coverings if they come in contact with the public. It also encourages those businesses to require customers to wear face coverings. For more information on these executive orders, visit our website.
To help protect the community, the City has officially closed all park amenities, including playgrounds, soccer fields, restrooms and parking lots. Only the unenclosed park areas remain open, but gatherings and group sports are prohibited. In addition, all libraries, community centers, and the zoo have been closed.
On the economic front, we are promoting an existing small business incentive grant program and have made it easier for local businesses to qualify.
For your safety, and the safety of others, stay indoors. If you must go outside, protective gloves and a face mask will help to keep you from contracting the virus. Stay safe.
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WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT
Earlier this year, I was appointed to serve on the Juvenile Justice and Youth Crime working group, a subcommittee of the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.
The Commission was established by Executive Order No. 13896 to study issues related to law enforcement and the administration of justice. The Commission will make recommendations to the U.S. Attorney General, who will submit a report to the President on actions to prevent, reduce and control crime, increase respect for the law and assist victims.
I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve and use my experience as a law enforcement professional and as a Councilmember to work collaboratively with stakeholders in advancing best practices for juvenile justice.
The Juvenile Justice and Youth Crime working group will focus on the principles of an effective, efficient and balanced juvenile justice system that prevents juvenile crime and delinquency, examines the causes of youth crime and violence, and supports law enforcement's role in both the apprehension of serious juvenile offenders and the appropriate utilization of diversion and community based resources.
The Commission will focus on crime-reduction strategies and how to restore public confidence in law enforcement. In studying these issues, the Commission will be assisted by 15 working groups, all of which consist of subject matter experts from federal, state, and local governments. The working groups cover topics including social problems impacting public safety, law enforcement recruitment and training, victim services, and more.
This working group also will examine the continued development of qualified juvenile justice professionals that enhances awareness, knowledge and collaboration
among
stakeholders vital to crime prevention and community safety.
The Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, along with its 15 working groups, is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.
For more information regarding the Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, visit
www.justice.gov/ag/presidential-commission-law-enforcement-and-administration-justice
.
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COVID-19 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
The
Orange County Health Agency is posting information, on a daily basis, on COVID-19 total cases by city, including other statistical data. You can obtain information by clicking
here or by calling the County's COVID-19 Hotline at
(833) 426-6411. There is also a COVID-19 Scam Hotline -
(714) 834-3482.
COVID-19 testing in Santa Ana:
AltaMed has been conducting testing for individuals who think they have contracted the COVID-19 virus. Their location is at 1400 Main St., Santa Ana. Services they are providing include the following:
- Outdoor Evaluation Centers where people can get a FREE preliminary exam without leaving their car
- Providing essentials kits that have been distributed to seniors, pregnant women and those who are quarantined or self-quarantined
Price Gouging, p
ursuant to California Penal Code section 396, is unlawful for any person or business in the City of Santa Ana to charge more than 10% higher than the price charged by that person or business 30 days after the proclamation of this local emergency. You can report suspected price gouging attempts to profit from the threat posed by COVID-19 to the District Attorney's Office by calling the Coronavirus Scam Hotline at (714) 834-3482. Here is a copy of the District Attorney's Press Release on this matter.
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FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER
The City of Santa Ana had a grand opening of its Family Justice Center on Jan. 28 at the Police Department Community Room, which was well attended. Staff and Advocates have helped many families. However, d
ue to the COVID-19 crisis, advocates at the Santa Ana Family Justice Center are working remotely to continue to provide services to victims of Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse and Human Trafficking. To request services, please send an e-mail or call / text one of the phone numbers below:
Santa Ana Family Justice Center main line: (714) 245-8278
SAFJC Advocate phone numbers: (657) 210-1401 or (
714) 222-3207
Our hours of operations continue to be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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OPEN RESTAURANTS IN DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA
Downtown businesses are doing their part to help flatten the COVID-19 curve by taking extra precautions as outlined by City, County and State authorities. Sanitizing, wearing gloves and face masks, and adhering to social distancing are becoming the norm in Downtown Santa Ana. Restaurants and cafes in Downtown Santa Ana continue to serve you and essential businesses, and are open daily.
Enjoy a variety of fresh food, prepared meals, vegan options, quick bites, fresh salads, smoothies, coffee and more in Downtown Santa Ana. Over 30 restaurants and cafés in Downtown Santa Ana are open to serve you via online orders or convenient food pick-up. For a full list of "open-for-business" restaurants and cafés please visit:
www.downtown-santaana.com
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Designated Parking Meters have been reserved throughout the Downtown for 15-minute pick-up and delivery. On Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Downtown Farmers Market is open to the public and offers a wide variety of fresh produce and food, all while maintaining social distancing. For details please visit:
www.nativeharvestevents.com/markets-events
or visit the Farmers Market located at the corner of 3rd and Bush streets in Downtown Santa Ana. Visitors may park for free in City parking structures for up to 2 hours.
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FREE PARKING IN DOWNTOWN
The City of Santa Ana is now providing free parking for the first two hours in all City-owned parking structures located throughout the Downtown area, a change that began Dec. 1, 2019.
Parking structures are located at:
- 5th & Spurgeon, 300 E. 5th St.
- 5th & Main, 420 N. Main St.
- 3rd & Birch, 310 N. Birch St.
- 3rd & Broadway, 201 W. 3rd St.
Note: The first two hours of free parking applies only to parking structures listed above and does not apply to parking meters.
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Dia de los Reyes
I attended the Dia de los Reyes (Day of the Kings) in early January at the Salgado Community Center. This free event included toy giveaways, free food, live music and dancers.
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Family Justice Center Grand Opening
The Santa Ana Family Justice Center had its grand opening on Jan. 28. This is something I advocated for over two years. This center, located in the Santa Ana Police Department, offers one-stop resources to individuals who are experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking and elder abuse.
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Little Saigon Tet Parade
I attended two Tet parades on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 in Westminster and Garden Grove. These parades were to celebrate the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
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Welcome Block Party
On Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, the City of Santa Ana staff welcomed the newly annexed residents from the 17th Street and Tustin Avenue area with a Block Party & Resource Fair. The event took place on the corner of Deodar Street and Medford Avenue with representatives from each City department, including
Santa Ana Police Department and the
OC Fire Authority. Staff shared valuable City service information to our new residents.
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Best and Bravest Awards Dinner
I attended the Orange County Fire Authority's Best and Bravest Awards Ceremony in February. This annual awards ceremony is to recognize outstanding accomplishments of fire personnel in different categories.
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Orange County Fire Authority Girls Empowerment Camp
For the second year, the Orange County Fire Authority held a Girls Empowerment Camp. This year's event, held in March, hosted 100 campers ages 14-18 where participants learned about all aspects of fire services.
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Santiago Little League Opening Ceremony
Here I am with Cesar Plascencia, Board Member of the Santiago Little League, at the League's
opening ceremonies held in March.
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Boca de Oro Festival of Literary Arts & Culture
The Boca de Oro (Mouth of Gold) Festival of Literary Arts & Culture was attended by thousands.
Bringing families and the community together, Boca de Oro showcased Santa Ana's cultural richness, with a diverse group of artists.
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If you are interested in viewing a detailed list of all City-related events, appointments and meetings that I've attended over the past month, please feel free to view my
calendar
, which is posted online and updated monthly.
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CENSUS 2020
Have you completed your 2020 Census questionnaire? Every household recently received information from the U.S. Census Bureau in the mail to participate in the 2020 Census.
This Census count will determine how much funding and resources are allocated to the City of Santa Ana for vital community services, including public safety, housing, education, transportation and health services.
For each person not counted, their community will lose more than $20,000 over the next 10 years. That is why we
ask every Santa Ana resident to fill out the Census. It's an easy way to help your community.
Federal law protects the confidentiality of all people who respond to the Census. Law enforcement, social services and other government agencies won't have access to the information you provide.
In 2020, every human being counts. Santa Ana counts.
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Click on the Community View - Maps & Information button for a visual display of general information data such as parcel details including neighborhood names, council wards and trash days.
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Is your non-profit organization or neighborhood association planning a special event in the City?
Learn more about the City Council Special Event Sponsorship Policy
on our website and click above to access our Donation Request Form for sponsorship.
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The City provides citywide graffiti removal on public property and on private property immediately adjacent to sidewalks or alleys at no cost to the property owner.
Graffiti removal staff patrol major streets seven days a week to identify and remove graffiti visible from the public right-of-way and provide color matching of the existing wall and perform upper-level graffiti removal that is adjacent to the right-of-way. Click on the Graffiti Program button above to learn more.
Graffiti may be reported
online
, via the
MySantaAna
app or by calling the Graffiti Hotline at
(877) STOP TAG /
(877) 786-7824.
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Click on the News & Press Releases button to sign up to receive alerts from the City of Santa Ana.
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Contact Parking Enforcement to request the removal of abandoned vehicles on public streets, with questions about parking violations, expired meters, parking permit districts and street sweeping citations. Click on the button above for more information.
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The citizen police report system allows you to submit a report immediately and print a copy of the report for free; it is for NON-emergency situations.
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This link provides a list of contacts to help address a wide range of general inquiries, such as animal license, couch removal, trash pick-up and water bill. It is available in
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CSP Victim Assistance Programs provide comprehensive services for individuals who are victims of crime. CSP also offers
Youth Shelter Services
to runaway, homeless and at-risk youth.
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The OC Social Services Agency website contains many valuable resources such as the
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