Wins for our Community
Investing in our Youth
Investing in our youth remains one of my highest priorities. With your help, this has translated into projects like protected bike lanes, Safe Routes to Schools improvements, and additional funding for recreation, early childhood education, and gang intervention and prevention services. I also advocated for increased funding for the library, including the expansion of the Main Library, the Play and Learn Children’s Patio, extended services like the TeenSpace program at El Salvador Park, the introduction of our mobile library, and the Jerome outdoor library, which will be opening very soon!
Outdoor Library Coming to Jerome Park!
I’m extremely proud to have supported the effort to expand our libraries beyond the two existing locations we currently have. Residents will be able to enjoy an outdoor library with a 24-hour kiosk in Jerome Park in the near future. I advocated to set aside millions of dollars for this project, and I cannot wait to see it come to life!
Play and Learn Children’s Patio at the Santa Ana Public Library
The installation of the library’s Play and Learn Children’s Patio in 2022 includes a Luckey Climber play structure, seating areas, reading and learning areas, lighting, hardscape, and drought tolerant landscape and irrigation. The project was funded entirely by the City’s Cannabis Public Benefit Fund.
Increased Special Events budget in 2022
Continued Support for Arts and Culture
I cannot speak enough about the importance of art in our community. Giving artists the platform to express themselves by partnering with the City was an aspiration of mine, and I’m glad we were able to set aside grant money for local artists. The Arts & Culture Special Event Sponsorship program was created to disburse funds to sponsor special events produced by nonprofit organizations, businesses, City recognized neighborhood associations, individuals, and community organizations. The first sponsorship program was a huge success, awarding $100,000 to 31 recipients across the city. The equitable and inclusive process allowed for more artists and organizations to submit applications with a total of 70 applications submitted that ranged from muralists to events in our city. In 2023, I championed the effort to increase the Arts and Culture sponsorship grants from $100,000 to $200,000 annually. Public art remains a staple in Santa Ana’s culture and below are some of the murals I supported for our community.
- Santa Anita Mural – 3502 W. 5th St.
- El Salvador Park Mural – made by Marina Aguilera and her daughter Andrea Pinedo, mentoring Evoni Hernandez (pictured)
- La Raza Mural Restoration – 2081 W. Civic Center Drive
- Victoria Barrios Mural – Blue Lot, 119 N. Bush St.
- Brandon Lopez Mural – 1243 W. Santa Ana Blvd.
- Santa Ana Active Streets (SAAS) Sidewalk Mural – Crosswalk at 15th and Ross streets (pictured)
Increasing Police Accountability and Transparency
The creation of a Police Oversight Commission is a big step in the right direction for Santa Ana, and I am grateful my City Council colleagues and I were able to pass this historic legislation. I will continue to advocate for more accountability and transparency from law enforcement. In addition to advocating for a Police Oversight Commission, I also fought to ban the spotlighting of moving vehicles and to repeal the anti-cruising ordinance in our city. Our conversation regarding cruising was not in vain, as Governor Gavin Newsom officially lifted the state ban on cruising through a bill last year that took effect on January 1, 2024.
Adopting Renters’ Protections and Fighting for Affordable Housing
- Affordable Housing Opportunity and Creation Ordinance – 2022
- Down Payment Assistance Program
- ADU Loan Program
- Habitat for Humanity Homes
- La Placita Cinco
- Archways Santa Ana (pictured)
- Habitat for Humanity OC – 6 Affordable homes – West Washington Ave Project
Honoring Pioneers from our Community
Pride Flag Raising Ceremonies at City Hall
- Community Workforce Agreement – 2023
- Fought to keep waste management worker jobs through stability in the new trash contract, including community benefit agreements and a neighborhood trash request clause.
- 3rd and Bush Parking Lot Renovation
- Angels Community Park Renovation – Restrooms, New Playground Equipment
Reimagining Green Space in our City
Ed Caruthers Park
King Street Urban Greening Project
Our Public Works Agency was awarded a nearly $1.5 million grant from Caltrans for the King Street Urban Greening Project, which features the transformation of approximately 9,000 square feet of unused public space at the intersection of King and 10th streets. This project created much-needed green space in the Artesia Pilar neighborhood and includes bicycle and pedestrian pathways, drought-tolerant landscaping, lighting, waste receptacles, seating, interpretive signage, art installations, and a stormwater infiltration system that will capture stormwater runoff from the surrounding neighborhood.
New park on 10th and Flower for Willard neighborhood
The City has officially added more acreage to the City-owned property on the southwest corner of 10th and Flower streets. I have been advocating to build a new park on this location that the Willard neighborhood will enjoy. I will provide more updates about this property as soon as the design of this new park is finalized!
Gerardo Mouet Park
We broke ground on Gerardo Mouet Park earlier this year, honoring Santa Ana’s former Parks and Recreation director who passed away in 2023. The park at Standard Street and McFadden Avenue will have a skate area, basketball court, playground, green space and more. The park will provide a much-needed recreational and outdoor space in the Minnie Street area.
River’s Edge at Santa Ana Zoo
The Santa Ana Zoo’s River’s Edge exhibit is currently undergoing a complete renovation of its water filtration system, moat, and visitor observation area. The project is an extensive transformation that is a redesign and reconstruction of existing facilities, installation of an underwater viewing area, and incorporation of an elevated primate trail system that opens up to large mesh habitats. Once complete, the exhibit will be a multi-species habitat that is home to giant river otters and large primates.
Bike Trail by Friendship Park from 1st Street to Monte Vista
I am extremely proud to bring this new bike path connection to Jerome Park and Monroe Elementary. Working together with Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, we were able to use this as an opportunity to update Friendship Park for a new generation of kids. This couldn’t have been done without the robust partnership between City staff and County staff. Thanks to their efforts, Santa Ana families have a new safe path to ride their bikes or walk to Monte Vista Elementary.
Lay’s Pitch at Cesar Chavez Campesino Park
Some of you might remember, last year we joined Lay’s snack brand and soccer stars Mia Hamm and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández to celebrate the opening of the first mini soccer field made from disposed Lay’s Potato Chip bags to open in the United States at our very own Cesar Chavez Campesino Park.
El Salvador Park Renovation
I was honored to be able to be a part of El Salvador Park’s renovation grand opening last year. The project included beautiful new basketball courts and a fitness court.
New Park Restrooms
In addition to providing more green space, I supported the investment in new restrooms for parks in dire need of them. With the help of federal funds through our Revive Santa Ana initiative, seven parks are getting new, prefabricated restrooms by the end of July 2024: Cesar Chavez Campesino, Madison, Angels, Heritage, Windsor, Riverview, and Memorial. These new restrooms provide residents with new facilities that enhance the park experience and create better opportunities for recreational activities.
Helping our Local Businesses
Grants for Impacted Businesses
To help the businesses affected by the construction of the OC Streetcar, the City Council approved a $1.5 million Business Interruption Fund in 2022 and we added an additional $1.5 million for a total of $3 million. The City also administered $1.2 million that the County of Orange provided to help 4th Street businesses. Through these programs, eligible businesses received grants to support their operations. In addition to these funds, I also supported lowering parking garage rates and subsidies during high foot traffic days/hours in Downtown Santa Ana, and I supported the removal of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) that was requiring businesses to pay dues.
Keeping Cannabis Competitive
I joined the Santa Ana City Council in amending our cannabis ordinance to make our legal cannabis businesses more competitive with lower tax rates, the ability to open consumption lounges, and hold off-site cannabis events that will ultimately bring more revenue to our City. I also fought for social equity incentives in the cannabis ordinance to help hire local workers and unionization in order to lower the distribution of cannabis tax from 8% to 1%.
Opening an Additional Parking Garage in DTSA
I was excited to announce the opening of the County’s P8 parking structure to the public in May of 2024. My office partnered with the office of Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento. This effort will benefit everyone from our local businesses in the downtown area to people visiting our wonderful shops, eateries, bars, coffee shops and community events. Exploring downtown Santa Ana and the Civic Center area just got a lot easier!
Monthly Santa Ana Flea Market
It’s important to shop local and bring more business to our downtown area. Supporting the Santa Ana Flea Market was a no brainer. Their inaugural event brought thousands of locals out to support local businesses and vendors. Make sure to catch them every third Saturday of the month on 4th Street!
Fighting for the Underserved
Annual Toy Drives
- Turkey Drive and Giveaways in November
- Annual Gary Templeton Senior Christmas Lunch at Southwest Senior Center
Support for the Little Saigon Monument Sign
I was proud to support the replacement of our City’s Little Saigon monument sign that was damaged by a car crash in 2008. The sign, located on a median on 1st Street just west of Harbor Boulevard, honors the important contributions of the Vietnamese community to Santa Ana and provides an entry point into the Little Saigon area of Santa Ana and neighboring cities.
Immigration Defense Fund Increase by $100K to $300K
Keeping families together and the community strong by protecting due process and providing legal representation remains at the core of my beliefs. I championed the effort to increase the City’s Immigration Defense Fund by an additional $100k to $300k. The lack of a right to government-funded counsel in the immigration justice system violates due process and I am proud of our City for maintaining this fund.
Don’t Forget to Check Out These Upcoming Events!
Summer Night Lights 2024 – Friday July 26 and August 2
- El Salvador Park, 1825 W. Civic Center Drive
- 7-10 p.m.
Chicano Heritage Festival – August 11
- Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave.
- 2-7 p.m.
Learn more about Chicano Heritage Festival