Read the June 17 meeting.

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Jennifer L. Hall

One moment, Mayor Prokof. Thank you.

Recording in progress.

Valerie Amezcua

I hereby call the Santa Ana City Council meeting to order. This meeting is taking place in in-person attendance and by teleconference via Zoom. The public may access the meeting via the Santa Ana YouTube channel or the city's website. Please bear with us as technology may disrupt the flow of the meeting. Madam Clerk, please conduct the roll call.

Jennifer L. Hall

Council Member Becerra? Council Member Hernandez? Council Member Lopez? Here. Council Member Penalosa? Present. Council Member Vance? Here. Council Member Sanchez? Present. Council Member Maslow? Four members present. That is a forum.

Valerie Amezcua

Madam Clerk, are there any additions or deletions to the closed session agenda?

Jennifer L. Hall

There are none.

Valerie Amezcua

Do any of the council members need to announce their applications on the closed session items?

Valerie Amezcua

Do we have any speakers for closed session items?

Jennifer L. Hall

There are no speakers for closed session in person, on Zoom, or via e-comment.

Valerie Amezcua

We will now recess this portion of the meeting to consider the items listed on the closed session agenda.

Recording stopped.

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I HEREBY CALL THE SAN ANA CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. THIS MEETING IS TAKING PLACE WITH IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE AND BY TELECONFERENCE VIA ZOOM. THE PUBLIC MAY ACCESS THE MEETING VIA THE SAN ANA YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR THE CITY'S WEBSITE. PLEASE BEAR WITH US AS THE TECHNOLOGY MAY DISRUPT THE FLOW OF THE MEETING. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CONDUCT THE ROLL CALL.

Jennifer L. Hall

COUNCIL MEMBER Becerra? HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ? HERE. present we could pause one moment while we address the audio issues please

Jennifer L. Hall

councilmember Lopez councilmember Penaleza present councilmember fan here mayor mayor pro tem vasquez present mayor mesquite present

Jennifer L. Hall

a few announcements before we proceed to the pledge of allegiance

maryam kirk we can't hear you very well thank you a few announcements before we proceed to the pledge

Jennifer L. Hall

of allegiance this is a meeting to conduct the business of the city there's an opportunity to call for a recess or break or even to clear the meeting room if the meeting becomes too disruptive to properly conduct business warnings will be provided prior to any action being taken and we appreciate your cooperation. Pergo and safety per the fire marshal, please do not stand or place objects in the aisles in front of the dais, along the back wall of the council chamber, or in front of entrances and exits. During city council presentations, guests of individuals being recognized are invited to come to the front to take photos.

Jennifer L. Hall

For members of the public who are on Zoom or teleconference, in order to request to speak during public comments, you must dial star nine from your phone or click the button labeled raise hand from Zoom now in order to be in the speaker queue once we begin public comments. Thank you.

Thank you very much. At this time, let's proceed with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Let me see. Lori, can you come up, please, and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Ready, begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All!

Thank you. At this time, we're going to have words of inspiration by Bishop Gail Oliver, please. Bishop? All right. Greetings in the name of Jesus. We want to press upon everyone that God is a good God, one and only true God, and we're going to ask God for peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding that will guard our hearts and guard our minds and so we pray this prayer of unity for found in Psalms 133 how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come that will be

done here on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the the glory forever and ever in the mighty name of jesus amen and i want to ask pastor de leon can come on up here and share and close out in prairie man amen let us continue in prayer father we come before you in this time tumultuous times we know what is going on around us and as people of faith we know that we can should can and should come to you so right now we pray for the meeting that's

going to be happening in these chambers that your presence would be felt in a powerful way that your guidance would come into this place and a peace that can only come to you rule the day we pray this in your matchless name amen and amen amen thank you so much thank you madam clerk are there

Jennifer L. Hall

any additions or deletions to the city council agenda yes mayor and city council there are presentation items number one and two have been postponed to a future date items number seven eight and nine appointments to boards and commissions are continued to July 1st 2025 as well as item number 22 at the request of the city manager also to July 1st 2025 thank you very much at this time we're going

to do ceremonial presentations first one is by councilmember Lopez please

Jessie LopezItem 3

Oh, hi, come on up.

Jessie LopezItem 3

Okay, so you might have seen that article by Don News about the Nobodies. They like to play on the corner of 17th and Bristol. And so tonight it really truly is a pleasure to be here on behalf of the Santa Ana City City Council to recognize a group of young santaneros that embodies the heart, creativity, and resiliency of our city. What started as a small local effort quickly blossomed into something much bigger, creating a community around music, forming lasting friendships, and connecting with artists and fans across Southern California. This group has performed just about everywhere, at legendary venues like the Whiskey A Go-Go,

Jessie LopezItem 3

local bars, backyard shows, college campuses like UCI and UCSB, and even right here on our sidewalks, bringing people together through sound and spirit. Their journey hasn't been easy. Like many artists, they've had to balance the pressure of work, life, and creative passion. Yet through every challenge, they've stayed committed, investing countless hours and keeping the dream alive. They've also built a strong presence off stage appearing on KUCI 88.9 FM being highlighted in the El Don newsletter and consistently shining a light on the vibrant culture growing right here in Santa Ana.

Jessie LopezItem 3

Most importantly, they've reminded all of us what is possible when a community believes and invests in their artists. Their upcoming debut album set to release this July is a testament to that belief. So today, with deep appreciation, we honor not just our music, but our impact, their dedication, and the energy that folks are pouring into making Santa Ana a city where art and culture continue to thrive. On behalf of the city of Santa Ana, congratulations and thank you for making our city proud.

Hello, Santa Ana. I prepared a little speech for today.

Thank you to the city of Santa Ana for this award of recognition, and I want to thank Brandon Rowley, Caitlin Hahn, Gio Esparza, and their amazing team at Santa Ana College newspaper for writing the article that helped us get recognized today.

Our music and art is something we enjoy creating and playing for our community and all around. We wouldn't be where we are now without the people of Santa Ana. I'm talking about my friends, my familia, and everyone who supported me along this whole way. The reason why we enjoy performing is to see everyone come together, have fun, dance, and forget any negativity in the world that's happening around us. This past week has been hard to stay silent and forget what's been going on in our own home city when we've seen our own community members being kidnapped from our own streets, from their own jobs, and even from the comfort

of their own homes by ICE. All these protests this past week have been very empowering and emotional, seeing my people come and peacefully protest to prove and express that we will not stay on the down low as our own mayor informed us to do so. We will keep fighting for our city and we will not stop till we are seen, till we have been heard, until the correct action is taken to protect our people. Stop the hate, spread your love. Thank you very much.

I would like to first and foremost give all my thanks to my mom for forcing me into music at a very young age. Without that, I don't know where I'd be anywhere. Thank you, I know, very much. Thank you so much, thank you. I would also like to give thanks to my community and my mentors as well for not only making me the musician that I am today, but also the type of person that I am today as well. For them, I am very grateful for everything as well, all the lessons they have shown me along the way. Another thing as well, it's been an amazing journey seeing how we started from such a minuscule band,

barely able to play simple songs like Angel Baby or other songs from the Strokes. It is such an accomplishment to see the difference between where we were first starting out to where we are today. And I think that is where it really does count. Whether barely playing backyard shows at Santa Ana and then going out to Santa Barbara, San Diego, and all over SoCal. I do believe that is also another great thing. But one thing that I will say and that I will not turn a blind eye to, it's everything that is happening around our communities and around our golden nation as well. That being said, I do not agree with what the federal

government is doing with our communities and our streets and our people as well. And it is just a very hard thing to even be afraid to just go and do such a simple task as in going to a grocery store to get groceries. I do believe that should end as soon as possible. With that being said, thank you so much and stay safe and have a good rest of your night. Thank you.

Hello, everyone. I'm Ad Slon. We're the nobodies.

Power to the people, you know. We love all you guys, everyone in the city who fight for their rights. It's amazing. It's beautiful. We were all on the street with everyone else last week, and it was harsh to see. So I wrote this little poem right here for everyone to hear, and I hope you guys enjoy it.

All right. Love is all you need is what I heard growing up. Though the world is crumbling, hold on another before the end. Because we'll never know when to be. Hate is a heavy feeling. Don't be the form regret the last seconds. Wishing now we said hello to the person we once broke. Love is all you need. Why hate with separation? Souls already suffering through day by day. Sometimes it's the closest people who envy most. But even then, you just need someone to tell them, love is all you need.

Then you'll grow up.

I want to thank my family. I want to thank everyone that has been supporting us and all the music inspirations. But thank you very much, everyone. Love is beautiful and don't ever let that go, because that's all we have is people.

Hate will go away eventually someday, but thank you very much. We love all you guys.

Thank you. We'll move to your next presentation, Councilmember Fenn.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Hi.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Now I'm getting emotional.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

As you all know, many of you may know, my name is Tyviad Phan and I represent ward one. Every year since I've been elected, either as an individual or along with this council, I've issued or I've requested an item on the agenda to issue a proclamation recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month. Okay, I was not expecting to. And it's a privilege to stand here in front of all of you and everyone watching at home as a first-generation refugee.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

I was born three weeks after my parents landed in Thailand and came to, stayed in Thailand, went to the Philippines and came to Santa Ana when I was about one and a half. My sister was born about six months later. We made Santa Ana our home and when my family left Vietnam that was it. There was no going back. My mom left everyone she knew so that her baby could have a chance in a country where she can get an education and a job and a life that was worth living.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

And so, it's deeply personal to me. All the things we've seen this past week and what this administration has done in its first term and its second term. When they started the child separation at the border, I asked myself, that could have been me. I was that baby. They could have separated me from my mom. And when I look at the cruel ice raids that have been happening in Orange County, in Santa Ana, and across this country, that's my family. That's my neighbor. And that's my community.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

And so for Immigrant Heritage Month, I see so much conversation out there about how immigrants grants contribute to the economy, how we pay taxes, how we work hard and we invent things and we're teachers and police officers, we're our police chief and our assistant city manager and council members. But you know what? That doesn't matter because our value is not in what we contribute monetarily. Our value as human beings is not what we produce. Our value Our value as human beings is not we create or invent. Our value as human beings is inherent in our existence

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

in this world and as a part of this community.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

No one decides where they're born.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

No one decides to be born in a country so war-torn that you can't walk down the street. No one decides to be born in a country where you can't drink the water, where you can't feel safe walking out of your front door and no one chooses to be born in a country where they take everything from you and force you to leave everything you know hoping that the place that you go to that didn't want you it's better than where you're from and as Americans as a proud American it is my job and it is the job of every staff member every community member everyone in this room and in this community to say that as

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

As Americans, as santaneros, we want better. We demand better because the American dream and the promise of America is better.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

I remember, I'm long-winded today, I remember the day, you know, growing up as a Vietnamese American, I think there was a lot of resentment from the Vietnamese American community when when you look at immigration.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Because, you know, my family, I remember letters that my mom would send to her sister that she thought she was never gonna see again.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

And my cousins couldn't come here. They couldn't, quote, just cross a border. There's a Pacific Ocean. And I remember telling my mom, you know, these people, they want all these rights, they want all these things, but they're not doing it the right way. They're not. And you know what my mom said to me? This Vietnamese refugee with a third grade education who was a single mom, she said, honey, as a parent, I would do anything for you. As a parent, I would cross jungles and oceans and deserts and landmines for you because that's what I did. And all these parents want is a better life for their family.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

and how can we possibly say that it's wrong? How can we say that a piece of paper is the thing that determines whether you have a right to a brighter future or not? So this year for Immigrant Heritage Month I hope that we all can stand together and say that we believe in the humanity of every person that is born because you are made of thousands of generations of stardust and survival survival and love and all of us have value because we're incredibly special and there's no one no

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

coincidence in this world could have made you and I hope that we support each other and love each other and when we have disagreements we can say I see you as a person and not just as a policy I see you as a person and not just as a political debate and I see you as a person and not just as a fight. And with that, I really want to present this proclamation. And I'm so proud to present this proclamation to the Harvard Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

Thank you, Justice. They were founded in 2020, which was a really great time to found anything, right? Not much going on then.

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

And since day one, they've been working so hard. And I would have to say they've been hard asses, sorry, on me, because they do so much of the research to back up immigration policy and what local governments and what policymakers policymakers can do to support our immigrant community. And not just immigration. When we talk about economic policies, that affects everyone. Whether or not it's going to directly affect you, it's going to improve your community and make sure that your neighbors and your family members are doing okay. And I think for me personally,

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

both Carlos and Mai, we've had spirited debates. States. Lots of discussions, if you will. And every time I ask them a challenging question and really try to put on my lawyer hat, they always come back with an answer, with citations, with conversations. And so much of that has really pushed me into supporting policy ideas that maybe I was too afraid to, or wasn't sure about, or ambivalent about. But what I know is that the Harvard Institute, with Carlos and Mai and everyone involved,

Thai Viet PhanItem 4

is always interested in dialogue, honest dialogue about what we can do to make our community better. So I couldn't be prouder to present this proclamation declaring June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month to the Harbor Justice Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice. Thank you.

How can I follow that?

But truly, from the bottom of my heart, and also I can say from the Harvard Institute, we really appreciate you, Councilmember Phan, for being a tireless advocate for not just your community, but all of our communities. I have a speech, because I can't speak as well as Councilmember Phan.

Thank you, Councilmember Phan, for presenting the Harvard Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice with this proclamation today. Our organization is based in the beautiful city of Santa Ana, and we're proud to have our roots here. Immigrants and refugees are the economic backbone and cultural heart of this city. city. And there's a long history of struggle and advocacy by the beautiful people of this city to ensure that all of our residents, including those of us that are undocumented, are treated with dignity and respect. We're glad to be here and thankful for this recognition

because that is at the core of what we do, building power alongside our immigrant and and refugee communities to ensure we all have human, civic, and political rights, regardless of immigration status. I came to the United States at the age of 14 in 2006, and just like many, undocumented. And I have called Santa Ana my home since then. My mom, who had been here long before me, will tell me stories that probably are relatable to many of your parents, and I see many of you that probably remember as well. Of indiscriminate immigration raids in the

late 1990s and early 2000s where La Migra will chase down in the streets and raid factories to arrest migrant workers and anyone that looked brown to be deported. My mom herself was lucky to escape some of these raids in the the factories that she was working and she will tell me to be careful whenever I will go out to walk to get to the taco stand to walk to the grocery store and even to school then in 2007 we all saw on live national television how the Los

Angeles Police Department violently suppressed the protests the peaceful protests and marches where you had grandmothers, mothers, and children for simply exercising their First Amendment rights and for calling for the legalization of our people. Does any of that sound familiar? I was young back then and I didn't fully understand why we were being treated that way, but I sure was angry and I pledge I will refuse to live in fear and that I will fight back.

As council member Phan just mentioned, our city is in distress and on high alert. The current administration has targeted our people with racist militarized immigration rates. We're being racially profiled and taken away from our families and our communities. We cannot keep our heads down. when this is happening.

That is why I'm proud and it fills me with hope to see the thousands of residents and young people out in the streets with their heads held high sending a clear message that we will not be intimidated and we will fight back.

We must be the exception to the hate that has been unleashed across the nation by those that do not see us as human beings. At the Harvard Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice, we will continue to advocate alongside our residents for human dignity, respect, and rights, the right to safety in our own neighborhoods, the right to vote regardless of immigration status, and make our voices her in their own communities and the right to prosper and thrive without fear. So thank you councilmember Phan, appreciate this a lot.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, good.

Yeah. Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!

Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!

Okay, at this time, we're going to go to the

Jennifer L. HallItem 5

consent calendar items 5 through 21 you do have the report out of closed session first i apologize

i i missed that one madam city attorney do you have anything to report out of closed session

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 5

thank you mayor members of the council and members of our community and the public um tonight is one of those rare nights where we do have reportable action on four separate items um

can you can you do your mic please put it closer so we can hear you thank you we're here today

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 5

Is that better? I'm going to have to lean in. I don't want to be stuck on something.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 5

That's it. Okay. Well, I'm just going to speak loudly. I'm going to speak loudly. So, Mayor, members of the council, and members of our community, we have four closed session reports to make this evening. I'm going to start with those at the top under our conference with legal counsel and existing litigation for item a the City Council settled the case by a vote of 6 1 with councilmember Hernandez voting no and the amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and item number B or item B and the Wendy Barajas case the City Council voted 6 to 1 with councilmember Hernandez voting no to

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 5

settle that case for one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars if respect to item 3 which is the liability claim the City Council voted unanimously to settle that matter for $56,500 and with respect to item number two which was a conference with legal counsel concerning anticipated litigation one case the city council held this closed session this evening to discuss a matter of anticipated litigation related to a letter that the city received on June 6, 2025 from the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. After reviewing the legal analysis and potential criminal liability and consequences

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 3

to staff and elected officials, our council members and mayor, the council voted to discontinue further work on the council member generated policy proposal that was discussed at the May 20th 2025 City Council meeting. This action was taken by a vote of five to two with Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez and Council Member Hernandez voting no. And that's all the reportable action

that i have thank you madam city attorney we're going to go to the consent calendar now we're going to move some things around so we can hear from everybody who's here to speak because we have so many speakers we want to make sure we get to hear all of them so consent calendar items one five through twenty one i don't know what's making noise five through twenty one are before us council members please announce any items

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

Mayor and City Council, we are trying to address the feedback issue, so I do apologize for the audio concerns that we are having right now.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

If everyone could ensure when you're not speaking that your mics are turned off, please, that would also assist us.

Thank you, Mayor. we'll try it again okay 5 through 21 and before us council members please announce any items that you will be abstaining from due to conflict and if there are any requests to pull an item from the consent calendar for further discussion this time councilmember becerra none but i'll go ahead and make a motion to approve the calendar thank you i'll second your motion councilmember fan

Thai Viet PhanItem 3

uh i just want to state my recusal for item number 20 which is the second reading zoning ordinance AMENDMENT NUMBER 20-24-02 AS A CLIENT OF MY VOLUME RATAN AND TUCKER MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE ORDINANCE

THANK YOU THANK YOU IF EVERYONE CAN SPEAK LOUDER THAN THE MIC IT'S A LITTLE CHALLENGING COUNCILMAN

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 3

HERNANDEZ I'LL BE VOTING NO ON ITEM 18 WHICH IS A RESOLUTION AGREEMENT REGARDING THE SAN ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SO I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THAT ITEM THANK YOU COUNCILMAN

panelosa no items to pull mayor councilmember lopez no items mayor pro tan no items to pull and i have no items and there is a motion and second madam clerk you have speakers yes mayor

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

and prior to hearing the consent calendar agenda items we do have three speakers specific to agenda items that we will hear from them before you take your final action on this on these items so when you hear your name if you could please approach the podium to make your comments on these particular agenda items only again pursuant to resolution number 2025-004 speakers are requested to address the city council directly and to refrain from profane language racial epitaphs and libelous or slanderous statements that disturb the decorum of the meeting pursuant to the brown

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

act city council may not enter into discussion at this time the speakers will have one and a half minutes for their comments we did receive e-comments as of 2 p.m today a total of 31 comments one on item number 23 on item 22 and 27 on non agenda topics those were distributed to the City Council and posted online so the three speakers on the edge on the consent calendar agenda items please Selena Gallegos Owen West and Kelly crossley

And then mine was for agenda and non-agenda.

Jennifer L. HallItem 3

So you get one opportunity at the microphone. You'd have to make all your comments at this time. Okay. Sounds good.

Well, good evening. My name is Selena Gallegos. I'm a born and raised resident here in Santa Ana. And first thing on item number 10. Can you please put your mic down? There you go. Thank you. Sure. Item number 10 is the destruction of obsolete city records specifically for the Attorney's Office and Police Department. I did notice that you guys are going to be destructing the in custody death records, in custody injury, use of force, and the officer involved shootings, internal affairs. I wanted to know if those will be made public prior to being destroyed.

destroyed and second is regarding the all of what's been happening currently and some of the members of the council as well as the mayor handling our Santa Ana communities that we grew up in being gutted and ripped apart with no empathy or compassion there hasn't been much comment specifically you Phil Becerra you are award for council member and I have been looking day after day to see if you would comment about it the only thing I found was from June 9th when you told a resident you are giving me the somebody who failed to reading comprehension vibes when asked okay so that is not

professional I did read the whole thread and you are able to go back and read it I did screenshot it in case you want to delete those your community is hurting your ward is hurting and we deserve somebody who's gonna represent us we We don't need someone who's only gonna show up for photo ops at the corn hole tournaments, okay? We need you. As well as the mayor, we need you to be there. And I will give you this one thing. You at least went back and tried to redeem yourself some way, somehow. It was very disgenuous and you just had bought the whole time. And to that, I encourage all of you to walk the community

and see how empty and lonely our parks are feeling, our grocery stores, how scared our kids in our district are, and you let us know if that is something that is okay. I invite you to stand with us shoulder to shoulder, being smart and giving your Chicano fist pump.

Madam City Clerk, just so we know, we're gonna do items right now, and then the next section, I mean, these people did specifically speak to say that.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Agenda items.

Good evening. My name is Kelly Crossley. I live in Ward 6. So I did put in for both other and items 20. So quickly, I'm happy to say that, happy to see that item 20 will pass so that we'll finally have an end to the environmental injustices faced by the residents of Lacey and Logan. And thank you to the staff for going on that journey with us for over a year. And then since this is my one opportunity, I'll just say that in the midst of everything thing that's happening I'm really disappointed with the finger pointing and politicking I'm seeing from multiple members of the council when we all need

to be united in our message to the federal government to stop terrorizing our streets I shouldn't have to walk when I'm walking my dog why am I looking at National Guardsmen with guns in Sasser Park why when I'm sitting at brunch at Crave am i staring at tanks and why are my community members scared to go downtown or go to the store do daily life so we need to be united and and use our platform in every single manner to tell the federal government to get out of our streets. Thank you.

Owen West.

My name is Owen. I live here in Santa Ana, and I came here to say this clearly. You can't cancel council meetings while your city is under siege. Item 24 is a summer break for council meetings. meetings. People are being ripped from their homes and you're planning summer break. Deportations are increasing and you're voting on vacation. These aren't thoughtful legal removals. These are chaotic quota driven raids. These are mass deportations designed to terrorize our community. Families aren't relocated, they're abducted. Kids aren't separated, they're taken.

workers aren't processed they're vanished in the face of that what does Santa Ana do the council explored being transparent about ice rains congressman Korea Korea commented on that plan and said that the city should avoid warning people about ice rates because quote the last thing you want is legal trouble or losing federal dollars. That's the last thing we want. Not people gone without notice, not families destroyed, not trauma spreading through our streets like wildfire. The right thing is rarely the safe thing

and being a sanctuary city doesn't mean branding, it means resistance. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Mayor and City Council, that concludes the speakers specifically on agenda, agendized item topics. So we do have a motion by Councilmember Becerra, seconded by Mayor Homesqua, to approve consent calendar items five through 21, with the exception of items seven, eight, and nine, which were continued to July 1st.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

And just want to register a no on item 10 for me.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Item 10 and 20?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Yes, correct. Correct.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Or I'm sorry, 10 and 18.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

Let's prepare to vote.

Jennifer L. HallItem 6

The vote is seven ayes, no nays, with a noted recusal on item number 20 by Council Member Phan, and item 10 and 18 noted no vote by Council Member Hernandez. Motion carries. That concludes the consent calendar, Mayor and City Council.

Thank you. We're not going to take the business calendar tonight as we had indicated in the beginning of the meeting. Council members, if you'd like, we can take item 23 and 24 now before we hear public comments. Do you have a preference? Majority?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Item 23 would be fine.

I'm sorry?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Item 23.

You want to continue with this? All right. Go ahead. item 23 please councilmember mayor president Vasquez councilman Hernandez

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

go ahead I'm bringing forward this item tonight to ask we provide direction to our city manager to draft a resolution in support of MENA Inclusion Act Assembly Bill 91 this is not just about data it's about visibility equity and dignity currently individuals from Middle Eastern and North African backgrounds are grouped under the white category and federal and state demographic data this broad classification erases their identities and hides the very real needs disparities and challenges they face it means that when state agencies public health programs allocate resources or

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

track educational outcomes many communities are invisible left out of of the data and left behind in the policy. California is home to over 740,000 people who identify as MENA and 100,000 of them are here in Orange County, including right here in Santana. Many of our neighbors are Arab or Iranian descent, yet their culture, struggles, and contributions go unrecognized in official data. AB 91 will change that. It will require state agencies to include a separate MENA category starting January 1st, 2026. This will not only ensure that the state and local governments can more effectively serve

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

these communities, but also allow them to be seen, heard, and counted. Not as an afterthought, but as a vibrant and essential part of California that they are. We as a city that prides itself on inclusion and equity should be on the record in support of this bill. This is consistent with the values we've expressed for historically undercounted and underserved groups in our city. City. Tonight, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting direction to draft a resolution that reflects our commitment to racial and ethnic equity and to ensure that all our communities,

Valerie AmezcuaItem 6

including the Minda community, are recognized and respected in state policy. Thank you.

Council Member Hernandez.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

Thank you, Mayor Potem Vasquez. It was an honor to work alongside you and Care LA to to make sure that this was brought to the council. According to 2020 estimates from the US Census Bureau, California is home to approximately 740,219 individuals who identify as Middle Eastern or North African. Abbreviation, we're calling it MENA. However, people from MENA region are currently categorized under the broader white category in both federal and state data collection as mentioned by my colleague. Part of why this is important to us is because the large population of a part of approximately 100 000 men of community members are in our city

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

in our community in orange county recognizing this population separately would enable both public and private sectors to be able to more effectively meet the needs of these mena residents ensuring better representation equitable distribution of resources and more inclusive planning for community services and infrastructure part of fighting the occupation is making sure that our people are recognized as human and that we are not just checking off a box and so I'm looking forward to this item and I hope that my colleagues implore us in supporting inclusion diversity and equity thank you

Jessie LopezItem 6

thank you to my colleagues for bringing them this forth this is really important I actually supported this back in April I sent a letter to the legislative body and I know that it is now with the Senate so I really encourage all of our constituents to get a hold of your state representatives and also support this

David PenalozaItem 6

bill thank you councilman Paloza Thank You mayor Mesquite I want to first off thank my two colleagues councilmember Hernandez the mayor Pro Tem Vasquez for bringing this item forward it's something that's very important and I especially want to thank the author of the bill Assemblymember John Harabedian who has I know is this is something that's very important to him and it should be right it should be important to all of us because it's important that we're all um counted for appropriately and with that said i would i would voice my full support uh mr city manager

David PenalozaItem 6

bringing this resolution forward um i'm not sure if my colleagues asked for any timing but whenever

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 6

i hope soon if we could yes i i concur with uh councilman opinion we can bring this back in a timely manner given that it was already approved at the assembly i think that these efforts are

Thai Viet PhanItem 6

aligned with the state thank you councilmember fan thank you mayor i would definitely be in support of this and yeah i guess i don't think the city council needs to get a letter again right we just direct staff to prepare the letter send it off thank you yeah i think we're all in support did

Jessie LopezItem 6

you councilman yeah city clerk i'm just getting reports that the spanish translation has gotten and worse so we need to make sure that whoever is translating is able to do it and if they're not able to do it then we need to find someone that can do it

Phil BacerraItem 6

council member sarah please thank you madam mayor and i would too like to uh echo the sentiment of supporting my colleagues uh item and as soon as we can bring the item forward that'd be great thank Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. City Manager, we're good?

Phil BacerraItem 6

Okay, next.

David PenalozaItem 6

Madam Mayor, point of clarification. I know Council Member Phan mentioned the letter, but this is for a resolution, correct?

Alvaro NuñezItem 6

So I think we can do both. Yeah, the letter to do it.

David PenalozaItem 6

That would be my preference. Okay, awesome, thank you. All righty.

Mr. City Manager, did you wanna finish?

Alvaro NuñezItem 23

I think that since they were gonna put the Assemblywoman to the Senate, we'll send the letter of support, So it's recognized and there will also bring a resolution acknowledging the support and the fact that we mail the letter.

Thank you, okay, moving forward. Item 24, Council Member Lopez, please.

Jessie LopezItem 23

Yes, and just for the public, for clarification purposes, this was submitted to the city manager's office prior to everything that has happened in our community. And so I understand the sensitivity of not, of my colleagues saying no, that they don't in fact wanna cancel any meetings. And I would be supportive of whatever this body decides

Thank you anybody comments comes from sir, thank you madam mayor

Phil BacerraItem 24

I think that the business of the city is very important and in light of everything that we are encountering today I would absolutely not support counseling any of the meetings going forward. Thank you

Thank you

David PenalozaItem 24

I just wanted to say that I I'm not supportive of this item of counseling any meetings I know that when we approve the calendar we discussed it in length of what the calendar looks like so I'm with that I'm not supportive of it councilmember fan Thank You mayor

Thai Viet PhanItem 24

I would be supportive of this obviously in light of everything that's going on there probably isn't going to be time for something like that I do understand and thank you so much councilman the Lopez for bringing up the ability to to have a recess to address kind of long-term policy items that have been requested by the public as well as this council. However, I think in light of everything that's been going on, that might not be possible this year. However, when we bring back the calendar for next year, I think that would be something that we can discuss in more detail. Thank you.

Mr. City Manager, you good?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

Just wanted to share the same sentiments with my colleagues.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

perfect i think we're all in agreement council mayor proton i'm an agreement but can we have one light meeting so we could do police oversight just pull or maybe just police oversight on one of those meetings and uh have a long meeting i fully support that and that's what we had to discuss so

one meeting would be live with the police oversight and then uh regularly we do have a lot of business to conduct in this city so i think mr city manager you're clear yes perfect thank you Okay, that's the items let's move on now Mr. City manager, is there any comments you want to make before the pub before public comments? Are you good? Or would you like to do you want to wait to the van? Yes, I'll wait to the end perfect. Okay, madam city clerk will now go a minute and a half for each speaker, please

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

I'd like to make a motion to allow for the public speakers to have their full time to have

Is there a second? I second. Very good. Is there a second? Councilor Lopez, did you second? Yeah. Let's take a vote. Let's take a vote, please. Can we vote on this, please?

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Yes, so I heard a motion from Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Lopez, to allow the full three minutes for the public speakers. Yes. Councilmember Becerra.

Phil BacerraItem 24

Yes.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

councilmember hernandez si councilmember lopez yes councilmember penalosa we

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

yes councilmember fan yeah mayor pro tempasquez yes mayor mesqua yes motion carries seven eyes no nays as a matter of um

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

in in all fairness to the speakers that spoke earlier and only spoke for a minute and 30 30 seconds, I recommend you bring them back up to have their additional minute and 30 seconds each.

Sure, if they'd like to, if it's regarding the item, if not, they don't need to, it's up to them. I'll let them come up to share that with you. In the meantime, you can go ahead and start, please, and we'll give three minutes each, so we will be here for about four hours. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

And then just also for mayor, council, and the public's awareness, we do have members of the public that have submitted cards who are outside due to the capacity issues of the chamber. So when we hit that timeframe, there may be slight delays in them coming through and making their comments. So please bear with us. If the first three speakers, if they wish to have their additional time, Selena Gallegos, Kelly Kraus Lee, and Owen West.

Okay, so I did wanna address also an issue that I see, being that I work for the Santa Ana Unified School District. I have multiple students, mind you, I am TK through five, and I have these students who are not even returning turning next year because they're so afraid. I have students who cannot be picked up by their parent during summer school because their parent is so afraid. And they're asking us, well, what can we do? What's being done to help us? And us at the district are providing as much support as we can, but they don't feel the same coming from, I'm sorry, Ms. Mayor, but from you and some of the council members here.

I would like to say that you don't only represent the South Coast area. There is more to Ward 4 than just that area. So if you can please address that issue with your constituents, it would be greatly appreciated. Just today, I had witnessed a teacher walk a student out from Chavez to their car because there was alerts that ICE was around. There was never any notification from the city letting local neighborhoods know. It was the school themselves. The principal came out, the teacher came out, walked that student. Now I don't know if it was their parents or if it was them themselves that is possibly DACA

or was undocumented, but that is a very, very fearful sight to see and the fact that there is no support coming from you says everything we need to know when this recall comes.

Hello again. I'll just say regarding Bill Asseili's letter, I've met him multiple times because he used to represent an area where I work. He's a joke and we should continue to move forward with the policy to allow us to be transparent with our residents around when ICE is going to be in the neighborhood. I saw that Kathleen Tresdor in Irvine had done that earlier in the week, so I don't understand so my Santa Ana can't do it. And then in regards to everyone here, I'm gonna step outside, perhaps we could be organized when you've already made your comment, go outside to make room for someone else to come in

and hopefully the police will allow them to come in. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Next three speakers,

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Juliana Mushaev, Rin, and Bumaro Vicente.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Juliana?

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Ren Bumaro Vicente?

You can hold on to me and come up next after him if it works for you.

Hello, Mayor and Council. My name is Bulmado Vicente, but everyone calls me Boomer. I'm the political and policy director of Chispa and a resident of the city. And today I'm feeling angry, I'm feeling heartbroken, and I'm feeling disgusted. Santana promised a sanctuary, but what we're living in right now, this isn't sanctuary. Sanctuary isn't Iceman circling our neighborhoods. Sanctuary ends at the National Guard's invading our streets. Sanctuary sure as hell is and families being ripped apart while the mayor stays silent and complicit.

At this time I want to give a shout out to Councilmember Hernandez, Jesse Lopez, and Benjamin Vasquez for being out there on the front lines with protesters. protesters.

Now I want to take this time to publicly shame SAPD. SAPD says they won't enforce ICE raids, but they'll shoot rubber bullets and tear gas at people protesting ICE.

SAPD says they won't enforce ICE raids, but they'll escort ICE fans to and from the courthouse like nothing. That's not neutrality, that's collaboration. And let's not forget, SAPD still hasn't been held accountable for murdering Norah Rodriguez. These cowards don't deserve our trust, let alone over half of our city budget. Get these tanks out of our city. Defund SAPD. And to my queer and trans siblings, happy pride. There is no pride for some of us without liberation of all of us. Thank you.

Can you speak into the mic please? Thank you. Hello, Mayor and Council. My name is Rin and I'm speaking today on behalf of Pride at the Pier. It is no secret that the last few weeks have seen unprecedented upheaval for the community you are sworn to serve, between ICE raids and community solidarity against them. Ordinarily, I would speak only as a member of the LGBTQ plus community, but this is by far bigger than that scope. Today I speak as a person of marginalized identity who has friends, colleagues, and loved ones who are now facing the potential threat

of deportation simply because they don't have the right skin color. You see the people in the audience behind me. You hear the chants outside on the streets, the literal millions who turned out Saturday to stand up against tyranny and oppression. Why has there been no pushback against federal agents kidnapping your taxpaying constituents on your watch? The vast majority of people detained have no criminal record and yet are being subjected to horrific conditions. Protesters exercising their constitutional rights are being shot

with rubber bullets and tear gas and you sit here and do nothing. An attack on any of us is an attack on all of us. Queer people exist in every demographic and we will fight for our immigrant siblings. Thank you for your time.

Hello. My name is Juliana. I am a Santa Ana resident and I am the chair of the Orange County Peace and Freedom Party. I was at the peaceful protest in Santa Ana which started last Monday in response to the illegal ICE Detentions and raids in our community. I got tear gassed along with many others and Some being shot with rubber bullets being sent to the hospital Where were you mayor Meskwa during this historical turning point in our country?

As your constituents were being kidnapped abused and terrorized not condemning the criminal ICE agents and the trigger-happy SAPD but instead condemning your own constituents. We are disappointed but we are far from surprised. You say you need to represent all your constituents but you represent the police, the business owners, the developers, and the landlords. When we When we asked you to support a ceasefire resolution in response to the genocide in Gaza because most of your constituents supported it, you refused.

When we asked you to support non-citizen voting because 23% of your residents are non-citizens but still need a say in what happens in their city, you refused.

When we asked you to support rent stabilization because most of your constituents are tenants and can barely afford to live in this city, you refused. You were never on the side of the people, the working class and the immigrants, or the most vulnerable. Somewhere in your political career, you have lost your humanity.

We are now demanding, not asking, that any collaboration with the SAPD and ICE be stopped immediately. and all protesters and undocumented residents be protected and furthermore that the police get demilitarized so they're not meeting our communities with AKs and tanks and

If you're unwilling to meet these basic demands then you should resign because you're unfit to represent us. Thank you

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Jana, Jay Taj, Elizabeth Orozco, Nathan Tran.

My name is Jana and I'm an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. And I just want to speak on the fact that these protesters, peaceful protesters, right, who are protesting the violence of ICE, kidnapping families, ripping families apart, right, deporting them, detaining them. How is that comparable? How is that something that we cannot condemn compared to the violence of SAPD against protesters? What is real violence? Is it not violent to rip a father from his daughter? Is it not violent to send someone to a country they haven't been to their whole life? Is that not real violence?

How can we condemn protesters who are trying to defend their immigrant communities, their neighbors, their loved ones, their friends, their family? How can we condemn any of that? How can we meet that resistance with police violence? when the fact that any of us, everyone in this room is in this room because people before us fought back because they resisted against police repression, against state repression, against politicians who said that they were in the wrong. MLK was the most hated man in the country in the 60s and 70s. So how can we not remember that, look back at that,

and think to ourselves, oh, we should condemn these protesters. We should condemn these protesters and instead protect business interests. interests. We should protect the police. We should let them shoot our constituents, shoot people and tear gas them. And not even to mention, our tax dollars are funding our own repression. How insane is that? The fact that our tax dollars are funding the tear gas that's being thrown at people, the fact that people are being severely injured funded by our tax dollars, that's That's reprehensible. That should not be the case. It is our First Amendment right to protest.

It is, again, the reason why any of us are here is because the people before us exercised that right and demanded justice and demanded true liberation from repression. And we know who the real criminals are. The real criminals are not in the streets protesting for immigrant communities. The real criminals are in the White House. The real criminals are ICE, kidnapping families. It is our First Amendment right to protest. We are not the violent criminals.

Thank you.

Wake up, Mayor. We're just getting started.

Good evening.

Specifically to Mayor Pro Tem, Jesse Lopez, Jonathan Ryan Hernandez. My name is Jay Taj. I'm a proud third generation Santanero. My family migrated here decades ago from the Jim Crow South and from the Western Pacific to give future generations, including myself, a better shot at life. Because of their sacrifice, I've been fortunate enough to go out and do a couple cool things with my life. And for that, and for being a member of this community, I stood in this very room just two weeks ago to receive an honor that I truly held close to my heart.

A recognition from the very institution that swore to uphold the integrity of the city and its people. But in the short time since that, the pride that I was feeling has been overtaken by something else and that's this feeling of responsibility. There's a conflict in my heart over what this recognition is supposed to represent now. You see, I don't need to recount the atrocities that are committed by ICE and the things that have happened in this city for the last 12 days. What I do need to do is address the response or lack thereof from this city's leadership, specifically you, Mayor.

You see, you were elected by the very people that you have now labeled as reckless and destructive. Your recent public statements made to justify your absence, defend your indifference, or what I call opposition. These things aren't just disappointing to hear, they're hurtful. You see, it shows a clear disconnect between you and the lived experiences of the people that you're supposed to serve in a city that you call a sanctuary. You've dismissed the idea that standing with your people is some sort of pointless Chicano fist pump. You see to me that says everything about your capacity to

recognize the moment and the people that your community are suffering in. See while I deeply remain grateful to the council members, to Hyviat Phan, Jonathan Ryan Hernandez, Jesse Lopez, and Mayor Pro Tem for this recognition and not only recognizing me but showing what it means to recognize what compassion and and leadership in its physical form looks like. You see, I can't hold this recognition with your signature on it. So I came here to return this to the city of Santa Ana.

You may not understand why it's important for you to stand with us, and I'm sure that doesn't mean anything to you for me to return this. You said going out there, you're not for a photo op, but you were totally cool with taking a photo with me two weeks ago, and you don't know a single song that I've ever read.

So I say that to end with this. Valerie, maybe one day when there's better leadership here, we'll revisit this conversation. But for now, I want you to remember that you standing with us means that you're present, and right now you're absent, and that's the opposite of leadership. I'm gonna give him a hug.

Hi everybody, my name is Elizabeth and first of all I want to say that the brutality that we saw from SADDAPD has become normalized and this is what happens every single day in our city to our citizens. I'm here to hold Valerie and Mezcoa accountable. You knew ICE was in our city and you did nothing to alert your citizens or defend them. You allowed ICE into our city and allowed SADDAPD to militarize and brutalize our citizens even at protests. I'm born and raised in Santa Ana and I'm only here because of luck. My family, my parents immigrated here in hopes of giving me a better life.

Because of their sacrifices, I'm here today and I'm a social worker and giving back to the same communities that you are actively tearing apart and I'm a part of as well. It's disheartening to see our community and our families being torn apart right before our eyes while those in power sit and watch in compliance. I remember being at Carl Harvey and reading about Anne Frank and wondering how entire families could be forced to stay hidden in their homes, terrified of being taken. And here we are again. Entire households in Santa Ana are afraid to step out. The raids happening in Santa Ana are nothing short of racial profiling.

The acts are not isolated and they're not random. They're part of a large pattern of neglect and betrayal from those in power. Santa Ana was targeted and those in power let it happen. Santa Ana has long been considered a sanctuary city with a population nearly 80% Latino. And we must make one thing clear, ICE is not welcome here. We will not stand by while our community is terrorized. Mayor Amescua, your community will remember this moment, the moment you chose to stand with the oppressive systems rather than the people who trusted you.

You chose compliance over resistance and fear over courage. Standing with ICE is turning your back on your very own city and its citizens. You say going out to protest does nothing, right? But what would you suggest to a community that has been torn apart and terrorized by state-facilitated kidnappings? Santa Neros will not accept fascism, racial profiling, or violence in our city. To my Santa Neros that have lost a family member in this past week, I'm sorry that your city failed you.

We're not afraid to speak, we're not afraid to fight for our neighbors, and we'll not be silenced. We demand justice and due process for everybody and no human is illegal.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next four speakers, Nathan Tran, Isaac Garza, Gazette Delgado, and Natalie Mejia. Madam Clerk, can you try that again please? please. Nathan Tran, Isaac Garza, Gazeth Delgado, and Natalie Mejia. Go ahead.

Good evening. My name is Nathan Tran. I'm an activist here in Orange County and an educator. I'm not sure if you remember my face Mayor, but I'm sure you remember the feeling at that breakfast on Wednesday morning. On Monday, June 9th, I I participated in a protest in front of the federal building in which ICE was detaining our community members. Santa Ana showed up in full force to protect its most vulnerable individuals as SAPD had shown up not to protect and serve, rather to brutalize and arrest the individuals standing up for our people. I returned to Sassler Park after demonstrating with the community for at least five hours.

I observed the community unrest as SAPD pushed slowly the crowd east on Santa Ana Boulevard towards Ross Street. I was peacefully observing from about 20 to 30 feet away from the police line. I then began to turn around as I see SAP de-escalate the situation. Halfway through turning around to leave the area, I'm hit in the jaw by a 40-millimeter rubber bullet. I was left with a deep wound under my chin where tendons connecting my jaw muscles were visible.

community members assisted in cleaning the wound and applying pressure as I was escorted out of the area and received medical treatment first from Kaiser urgent care in Garner Grove, who would then direct me to UCI Medical Center emergency department for the severity of the injury. So my question is, why is the SAPD with your go ahead Mayor Mezcua brutalizing the community as federal agents for the part families and OC. Why do you allow ICE to operate as you receive courtesy calls? Is Santa Ana not a sanctuary city? Mayor, you're beholden to protect everyone in the city, especially its most vulnerable.

If you cannot hold yourself and your officers accountable, you do not represent the community. Santa Ana deserves a leader who will stand up for the community and all working class across Orange County. Santa Ana deserves a leader who will stand up to the current administration and stop Stop ICE and all the other federal goons ripping apart our community.

Hello, my name is Isaac Garza. I've lived in Santa Ana since 2021, but I have deep roots here. My parents were both raised here. My mom came here when she was two. too, very similar to your story, council member fan. And my father was born and raised in Santa Ana and fought in the Vietnam War and has a purple heart. Like many in Santa Ana, I am a worker for one of the largest employers in the county, Disneyland Resort. I'm also a shop steward for Workers United Local 50 and a delegate for the OC Labor Fed.

My fellow co-workers who are residents of Santa Ana, some undocumented, are scared. They're scared for themselves, their parents, and their neighbors due to the invasion of ICE and the National Guard into our community. People are being snatched up off the street and shipped off to countries they do not remember by masked strangers who often refuse to identify themselves. They deserve to feel safe when they come home from work. Instead, many of us feel betrayed by our mayor and some on our city council.

It's very disappointing that the loudest response to this crisis is more police and a doubling down on criticism of the mostly peaceful protests against these ICE invaders.

If more can't be done by our city officials to protect us, the people will organize to depose you for leaders that can.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Gizeth Delgado, Natalie Mejiaz, Wendy Romero, Christopher Tezuka. Okay.

Hello, my name is Josette Delgado. I'm a small business owner and a resident of downtown Santa Ana. Right now, ISIS presence is hurting our city. It's scaring people and slowing down businesses. Even citizens like me are afraid to step outside. It feels like we're being hunted just for existing, just for being Hispanic. Hispanic. People are afraid to take the bus to work. I've never seen that in my life. It's so unfair. It's a nightmare. I can't sleep at night watching my community live

in fear. I want to be clear. My family is law abiding. We have college degrees. One of us is an active duty Marine serving this country as we speak right now. We're Americans. Americans, we work hard, we follow the law. Yes, ISIS always had an office here, but this feels different. It feels like targeting. I've been told to go back to my country right here in Santa Ana. Ever since the race started, I've never experienced that in my life. I was born here.

Sorry. Sorry. Last week during the protest, peaceful people like myself were blocked from going home to the parking structure in downtown Santa Ana. Families were tear gassed because kids were throwing water. Water is a liquid substance, it's not a weapon. You drink water, okay? Doesn't hurt people. A man was arrested just for buying a burrito and trying to walk home. A burrito is not a weapon either. It's food, okay?

A local business had its windows shattered by law enforcement and no one said a word until it went viral on social media.

Yes, there were fireworks, but they were brought by kids. You would think by now law enforcement would know how to navigate that kind of situation. but shooting rubber bullets at everyone is reckless and it's dangerous. Why does social media, why do we have to put things on social media to get attention? Why isn't the city stepping up to protect us? We have rights under the Constitution, the First Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, and the Fourteenth Amendment. Police took a note to protect those rights. Crowd control is part of your job, but if someone is peacefully trying to walk home and gets arrested,

that's not control, that's abuse of power. I don't mean any disrespect. I'm telling you what I'm seeing here happen. We deserve better.

Good afternoon, council members. I'm a resident of Santa Ana and I'm here to demand ice out of Orange County and Santa Ana and for you to defend what is supposed to be our sanctuary city. Mayor Valeria Mescua, your silence has been loud and your lack of support to your community has been appalling. Your choice to remain silent in times where your community is being attacked, mistreated, and abducted is a choice and a privilege. It has clearly marked your place on the side of the oppressor as opposed to the oppressed. I remind you that protesting

is not unlawful. It is my first amendment right and as someone who attended just about every every single protest in Santa Ana, I want to be very clear and vocal about how peaceful the protesters were. We were the ones that were met with violence and attacked by law enforcement with tear gas, mace, and rubber bullets. And had you been present, you would have been aware of that. You said, and I quote, "'I don't just represent one group of the community.' Well, this is the group of people that are being targeted, abducted, and being ripped apart from their families." Nearly 80% of the Santa Ana population

identify as Hispanic or Latino. Latino. People are scared to buy groceries, go to work, and overall just step out of their homes. It's become very clear that your political career is your only priority. Your job is to serve people, the people. The people are not here to serve you. May I remind you that no one is illegal on stolen land. I want to thank the council members, especially council member Hernandez and Lopez, who I personally witnessed at the front lines, who have been incredibly supportive and present at the peaceful protests. I would also like to

demand for Ms. Lopez to be released and for the police officers to have their badges properly placed with their names and badge numbers visible at all times as they're supposed to. Thank you.

My name is Wendy Romero and I stand for you, stand in front of you as a proud Mexican-American born and raised in the heart of Santa Ana. This city raised me. It's culture, it's people, it's streets. They're a part of my soul. But today, the Santa Ana that I know and love feels like it's slipping away. Our homes are starting to feel like ghost towns. Not because of emptiness, but because of fear. Because our people are being watched, silenced, and pushed into the shadows. My heart is heavy. I'm angry. I'm heartbroken. And above all, I'm tired. Tired of being treated like we don't belong.

long. Since when did it become a crime to be brown, to speak Spanish, to come from immigrant roots? Why are our families being targeted in the neighborhoods we built with our own hands? Mayor Valerie, why are you allowing this to happen on your watch? We are not criminals. criminals. We are not threats. We are the heart of this city. We are small business owners, the working parents, the students, the teachers, the people. We are the ones who open up shop before the sun rises and close down before after it sets. We

are the ones who keep this city alive. We are the ones being watched by National guards like enemies in our own homes. Why are children growing up afraid of the uniforms that are supposed to protect them? Santa Ana PD. Santa Ana PD, do your jobs. Serve, protect, not terrorize. I carry both flags, Mexican and American, with pride. The Mexican flag is my bloodline. It's where my strength, my my resilience and my work ethic come from. My parents came here with nothing but dreams and determination. They've earned their legal status through amnesty.

They taught me that anything is possible working hard. The American flag is my birthplace. It's a land of opportunity. The promise that if you work hard, you can build something real. And I did. I'm a proud Latina business owner. I represent both and I will never apologize for that. Carrying both flag is not about division, it's about unity. It's about embracing all of who we are. I'm not either or I'm both. I'm Mexican, I am American, and I am Santa Ana.

Thank you.

David PenalozaItem 24

Mayor, Mayor, I missed one point of question just really quick if I can. Sure, Councilman. Thank you, Mayor. Apologies for the interruption. I just, Madam Clerk, if we can, I see about a dozen empty seats in here. Is there a way that we could bring in, I know there's people waiting outside. I wanted to make sure that if they're wanting to come inside, they can.

Yes, we are. So DC Andrade is actually bringing people in with staff. You can see them coming in. He's bringing them in. Oh, okay. That's what they're doing. Okay. They're bringing seats in. So thank you, Councilman Pinoza. Thank you, Mayor. Yeah, he's bringing them in. Thank you. Yeah, okay.

David PenalozaItem 24

There's about a dozen here, so if we could, I mean, we could bring them in. Yeah, that's what they're doing. Okay, thank you.

Thank you so much.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Go ahead, sir. Three minutes. The next four speakers, Christopher Tezuka, Tanya Navarro, Itzel Espinoza, and Kevin Trujillo.

Good evening. I'm here to call on the council to free Ms. Lopez. I'm also here to call on the assembled to end all cooperation with ICE immediately. ICE isn't here to make us safer. They're here to tear apart families to achieve arbitrary quotas. They don't care about our community or the lives they upend. Their actions go in the face of why Santa Ana even is a sanctuary city. That that ordinance passed because we all know where you were born is irrelevant. That's what makes us safer, that's what makes us better. And in that way, I'm calling on you to uphold the law that's already on the books.

The protests will continue until policy improves. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Kevin Trujillo. I was raised in Santa Ana. All of my public education came from Santa Ana and I went on to graduate from California State University, Long Beach. I'm extremely proud of where I came from and I think all the teachers that helped me along the way gave me more pride of where I came from and my community raised me. They raised me to have values, to have morals, and to stand up when I see something wrong happening. And apparently, like, our leadership in this city can't do that. It's an extreme shame to the people that I look up to that I would want to be next to

one day can't do the bare minimum and defend our marginalized communities. I'm ashamed right now. Like, I want to have pride as an American, and then when people behave this way, it makes it disappointing. You said we need to keep it on the down low if you're smart. That's not what we need to do with authoritarian figures.

You have failed this city and it is so embarrassing, shameful, disappointing. I could keep going for a very long time. I wanna say thank you to Jonathan Hernandez. Thank you for being out there.

And to the other council members that were out there representing us, taking care of us, and keeping the protest peaceful, thank you so much. It does feel better when there's organization. And to all the organizations that we've been hearing from today, I want everyone to listen to what they're called and try to join them if you can. This is how we get a movement started. We need to make a voting block where we can start changing the people in these positions. If they fail us, we need to replace them.

I graduated at Cal State University Long Beach with a history major and one of the things I chose to study was the zoot suit riots where they were chasing Latinos in public spaces where they were coming into our neighborhoods and they were hunting us down and I don't want to go back to 1943 I'm happy where I live and I'm proud of where I live so please everyone thank you for showing up. Thank you. You are not alone. Listen to the people outside. Look at this room. We are not alone, but we still have to keep going and keep trying.

Hello, City Council. My name is Tanya Navarro, a lifelong resident and community organizer here in Santana. Mayor Mezcua, you call yourself the people's mayor. But while you were laying low and playing it smart, our families were being hunted because of their race. Our communities were facing kidnappings from courtrooms, bus stops, their jobs, while getting a donut, pumping gas, picking up their kids, walking into graduations. And even just now, we saw a community member taken from this council meeting, and I joined the demand to release her.

I bared witness I bared witness to horrific family separations I saw terror in community members eyes and I saw the trauma burned into their faces and their children's faces the kind that doesn't stop with one moment the kind that echoes and tears across generations across a city across the community. But this won't keep us down. Dave, Phil, and Mayor Muescoa, you talk about violence. You talked about violence. What do you mean? Water bottles and cardboard signs? Where is your outrage at masked federal agents

tackling our neighbors like animals? At SAPD rolling in like it's war, unloading tear gas and rubber bullets on our youth? Youth who resisted because, not Not because it was easy, but because they had to, because you didn't.

The once vibrant city, the city that I love, that raised me, that I have so much pride in, is quiet. But it won't stay quiet forever, because even in this chaos, our people are dancing, they're marching, they're cooking for each other, they're getting each other groceries, they're showing up for each other, and that joy, you can't take it from us no matter what. Santa Ana se ama, se defiende siempre, despite your failures. You allowed the National Guard to occupy Ford Street, you allowed the ICE to terrorize our neighborhoods, and then you had the audacity to turn around and scapegoat the youth, the ones who stood on the

front lines to make their pain known, their betrayal heard, their love for this city visible, and their resistance to the violence of taking place in the city of state-sanctioned violence approved by you all. You weren't there, but thank you Thank you Jonathan Hernandez. Thank you Jesse Lopez. Thank you Vicente Sarmiento. Thank you Ben Vasquez. And thank you OC Rep and Response Network because they were there. Mayor, you mocked us and you said you wouldn't put your Chicano fist up. Well, it doesn't look like you've done anything at all actually. Nobody's illegal on stolen land. You want the protest to stop?

It's simple, get ICE out of OC. Remove the National Guard from downtown Santa Ana and SAPD's abuses demand a moratorium on less lethals, flash bans, and tear gas now. Free all of our people. We won't forget this and we won't stay quiet. Thank you.

Good evening, City Council and Mayor. My name is Itzel Espinosa, and I'm a dedicated employee for the city of Santa Ana. Over the past week of protests, the visible support from multiple city officials has been invaluable, providing a crucial leadership presence that regrettably has been absent from the mayor's office. We demand protection from ICE. Your residents are being illegally detained, abused, and thrown to the floor by ICE. You have residents who are too afraid to go to work, to go to school, and to the store for essential needs, in fear of getting kidnapped by ICE. I implore you to recognize that the passion

of those speaking today stems from deep commitment and not disrespect. As leaders it is imperative to approach constructive criticism with an open mind and receptive heart using it as an opportunity for reflection and growth. The ability of the people of Santa Ana to mobilize a week-long series of protests in solidarity with the entire nation underscores the profound passion we share for protecting our community. While I understand that the mayor represents all constituents, I beseech you to prioritize the protection of those who are currently most vulnerable. Your statement that you are not afraid

but smart while refraining from pounding your chest stands in stark contrast to the fear experienced by our community which has been vigorously advocating for justice. Our anger is justified and our protests have been peaceful. However, the violence you've heard about is being perpetrated by your own police department that you the mayor claimed that the police are there to protect SAPD was deploying rubber bullets using militarized weapons throwing tear gas at residents in addition to the destruction of Santa Ana businesses as caught on video I urge you to hold the police department accountable for their actions

furthermore furthermore it is imperative that you refrain from speaking to the media about these protests unless you have been present alongside your community. We urgently seek protection from ICE as it upholds our status as a sanctuary city. It is time to do better and fulfill your obligations to our community. Ameska, why are you so against us? Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next four speakers, Azenet Villalobos, Jose Hernandez, Maria Estrada, and Jewel C.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

You can come up in any order, please. Azenet, Jose, Maria, and Jewel.

Good evening, council. My name is Jose Hernandez, and I'm a longtime activist in Orange County, Santana, and a current resident here of this beautiful city. I want to be clear that my comments are mine and mine alone today. So first of all, I want to demand that the woman that was detained at the beginning of of this meeting, Taina, daughter of Nativa Lopez, be immediately released and no charges pressed since all she was doing was advocating for the right for people to sit in this meeting.

It's been a long time coming for me to come into these chambers and lift up my voice. I used to do this for many years, but these recent actions in our city has compelled me to lift up my voice. And I've just been really hardened by all the young people that have been coming to these meetings and lifting up their voices and are doing so still today. But those that know, know that we've been fighting for this community for a long time, for immigrant rights, for voter rights, for housing justice, for rent control, and against police brutality and in favor of police accountability. Because as many of us know, this is not a new issue.

This department time and time again has fallen devastatingly short of the duty to serve and protect. That is why we need to demand that our police oversight committee be allowed to do their job, because as has been shown the issues of police brutality and the killing of residents like Noe Rodriguez is still an issue and we cannot allow this to happen. I want to say that I was appalled when I saw the social media posts from our mayor, the city of the city, falsely stating that her council colleagues and the county supervisor that represents our city were condoning violence. Really?

In a moment when our community was being terrorized by ICE raids and local local electeds were standing with our governor and demanding the end of ice raids and the removal of tanks and military from our street. Our mayor chose to attack the press conference participants and falsely claim that there was pure violence and destruction in our city and businesses. From the looks of the video that just came out, the only person that were destroying businesses like the boutique was the law enforcement that shot a rubber bullet and busted that window. They need to be paid for that.

that. I was there the first day and the protest broke out as were a lot of council colleagues including council member Phan. We can attest that that's not what happened. We saw that the community was furious and it was engaged because the ICE was engaging in Gestapo like tactics and legally kidnapping our jornaleros, our parents and random community members. It's racial profiling, it is unconstitutional and it is morally reprehensible. I'm running out of time but I gotta say is the SAPD's response was expected because that's what police departments across this country have

been doing and that's why many people protested during the Black Lives Matter protests including this city. So you know I know folks are mad that didn't get a council majority and you know that the recall failed against our councilwoman Jesse Lopez but aquí estamos y no nos vamos and the bully has been been exposed.

Hello, council. My name is Maria Estrada. I'm a Santa Ana resident, and I'm also Chicana. So today, I come out here to speak for the people who can, for my family members who are afraid to come out here. So I honestly just have one question for you, Mayor Valerie. This is what you really call a sanctuary city? This is what it is? It's really disappointing. And that's all I gotta say today. Thank you.

Okay, good afternoon. My name is Jewel.

So I'm here today to make a public comment as a lifelong resident of Santa Ana, as a member of the Mexican community, as someone who works closely with students in Santa Ana, and I've come here to make a comment today to our mayor. My life as a Mexican-American matters. The lives of my Mexican-American students matter. My family's lives matter. The lives of our immigrant community members' lives matter. My grandmother did not come here in a garbage can on the back of a truck just for her grandchild to still be fighting for people who look like her her 50 years later. I marched down the streets.

I marched down the streets that I drive down every day while having guns aimed at me, tear gas thrown at me, having to watch everyone around me brutalized for simply peacefully exercising their First Amendment right. The First Amendment right that their mayor refuses to defend. Not only does she refuse to defend the First Amendment rights of Santa Nerros, she refuses to condemn the police department that incited violence towards these innocent people at these peaceful protests.

Our city council is supposed to represent the constituents, yet I only saw Tyvia Phan, Jonathan Hernandez, Jesse Lopez, and OC Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento alongside those constituents. If representing your constituents is too much for you, then I'll raise my Chicano fist and ask you to resign, Valerie.

Good evening, everybody. My name is Maria Estrada. Wow, what are the chances of another Maria Estrada in Santa Ana, right? I've been a resident of Santa Ana since I was 11 years old when I first crossed the border. I am one of six children. I attended Washington Elementary, MacArthur, Saddleback. I went to OCC. I got a bachelor's degree at UCLA, a master's degree at San Diego State, and am a proud faculty member for my community serving students in Santa Ana. I share with you my credentials because I know how important credentials or titles are to some of you, and may be tempted to tune me out unless I have some kind of title.

And even then, in spite of that, I know some of you may still choose to tune me out. But I'm here as an immigrant. I'm here as a human being. I'm here today to express my sincere disappointment in some of the council members and the mayor. I elected you specifically the for the best interest of our community not only For special interest groups. I particularly had a place. I had placed a lot of faith in you Valerie I had placed faith in you because you are a woman and I thought you would know better and do better But boy have I been disappointed

I'm sure it is, if it was the police department that was in trouble and needed you, you wouldn't waste any time or energy or show your support physically, mentally, or otherwise. But you decided to play it safe and not attract attention. We are a sanctuary city, for God's sakes. The attention is already on us. So what is it going to take for you to show up for the most vulnerable? or is it that our immigrants are merely not the right kind of interest group? Are you a sanct... we are a sanctuary city which means you should know we thrive because of our immigrant community,

which you have clearly turned your back on with your inaction during these historic times of need. I am not only disappointed, but I'm very angry and will be sure that my disappointment is not only expressed directly to you tonight, but will be reflected alongside many community members at the ballot box. So those of you who have stood back and just watched from the sidelines and consider yourself Latino leaders, you should be ashamed and you are here and we are here to remind you that you work for us and we deserve better.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next speakers, Azenet Villalobos, Mia Verdine, Ana Cecilia Fierro, Vanessa Cerda.

Good evening, Marin City Council. My name is Mia Verdine and I'm a Ward 3 resident. I'm here to speak alongside my community in my utter disappointment with some of my elected local leadership at the City Council, specifically with the rhetoric being spewed by Mayor Mezcua and Council Members Benalosa and Becerra. As I'm sure you're aware, your constituents are being ripped off the streets and having their constitutional rights violated. So when Santa Nero's rightfully angry at the fact that their neighbors, loved ones, and and their families are being ripped off the streets and kidnapped by federal agents,

express their First Amendment right, I'm sorry,

and are rightfully angry at the fact that their neighbors, loved ones, and families are being kidnapped, rightfully angry that their cities, under an active military occupation, use their First Amendment right to express this anger, they're shot and tear gassed by their own police department simply for refusing to be complacent and state sanctioned violence. And the only thing you can express your distaste for is a couple fireworks at a protest? Are you serious? Even though the protests have been largely peaceful, of course, until SAPD pulled up in riot gear,

the only thing you can find yourself to be upset about is over a couple unruly protesters? More angry at that than the fact that your own constituents are being ripped off the streets? This is not normal and we refuse to let this be normalized. At every sense of the word, that's shameful. But here's the thing, I say I'm disappointed in the rhetoric from specifically Mayor Mezcua, Council Members Peñalosa and Becerra, but I know it doesn't end with you, Mayor Mezcua. You say that you don't just represent one part of the community, but we all know you're just representing whoever puts the most in your pockets.

I see you, SAPOA, and I see you, California Apartments Association. We know that even long after these local officials are off the council, they will continue to prop up candidates that use talking points suspiciously similar to what you all are saying. And we hear from you three. You can tell how smart you are, all you want, but we the people can see past your rhetoric and call out the strings that pull you and that determine every word that comes out of your mouth or in Mayor Mezco's case, the lack thereof. So with that, I want to remind you that Santaneros, we're not going to wait until you're termed

out to see you out of the council chambers. Santana will remember your complacency when we needed you the most, when we needed bold leadership the most. We will remember when you refused to say something as simple as, ice out of Santana, my community doesn't deserve this. I was first 16 years old when I first stood in this very spot and said what I was about to say. I'm 20 years old now and let me remind you we voted you in and we will certainly vote you out.

Good evening council members and Mayor Emescuwa. My name is Ana Cecilia Fierro. I'm a public policy student at Cornell University who was raised in Santa Ana Ward 3. I went to school in Santa Ana and my passion for policy started with the a product of the passion in this city. I want to start my comment off with advice as a concerned resident. As I've organized from afar and watched city council meetings, I have noticed the eye rolls, snarky comments, and instant disdain for anyone who criticizes your viewpoints or actions, or at this point, lack of actions for Becerra, Peñalosa, and Amazcua.

You've expressed your desire for the community to come together, and I'm completely with you there, but you're not putting in the work to hear Santa Ana out. There is a reason that it is packed out there right now. There is a reason that there are people calling for your recall. There is a reason that when you are interviewed by major media outlets, you receive the backlash that you receive. Because as a mayor, you are supposed to represent your constituency. Right now your constituency is asking for your transparency on what you were doing when immigrant families were being torn from their homes and off our streets.

Your constituency is asking you to humble yourself, to stop rolling your eyes and taking our criticism like personal attacks. You are not the victim. You are a perpetrator.

And let me make this clear. Your strategy did not work because Santa Ana is unique. We are a community of predominantly immigrant and Latino residents. We cannot put our heads down, simply not wave a Mexican flag at a protest, because the reality is that our community is a target. Regardless of what we do, we will stand out. And I'm asking you to reconsider your so-called smart strategies that you proudly boasted about that did nothing for us Because our race will never slide under the radar and this is a direct attack on our community based off our skin color and status

You chose this job. This is in the description. You are a public servant Publicize what you were doing behind the scenes a mesla Let's see call logs tangible solutions for immigrant families and let's see you condemn the violent actions of SAPD and finally humble yourself

Good afternoon to everybody here. I just want to thank Vicente Sarmiento for being present in the protest. All the staff right here that were present, we all know exactly who they were. My name is Vanessa Serda and I am a Santa Ana resident. I actually work in LA in Lincoln Heights. I commute every single day. And do you know how sad and distraught it is that it first started over there in my job, learning how everything has been impacting and then coming home to where I call to rest, to lay my head and then see everything that is going on and not having our representatives

that are supposed to be representing in those areas speak up. They rather speak up when one of the Senate gets arrested over there with ICE. they'd rather come out in the social media and express how they shouldn't be getting treated that way. I represent the community that has been under attack for a very long time including myself. I haven't been a perfect, perfect angel here in the city of Santa Ana, but I know I have redeemed and I have paid my dues as a constituent and I have learned to accept those failures because I believe myself as and also as a Christian person,

I'm gonna go ahead and boldly say that because God comes first in my life but you know what as that as having God in my heart I I could express that I could feel his pain and if you can't feel his pain The way that we all feel it out there. I mean, I don't know I mean God could like spare some love to everybody But I know that when when I see that I see that man holding that cross and guess what? I'm holding that cross right with him. And that's why I'm here for my hinted and Santana I grew up in the 927-01 over there in the neighborhoods. Cause let me tell you, ICE talked about how they wanna go

against these gang members, criminals of the Mar La Salvatrucha and the 18th Street. Guess what, Santa Ana has a whole history of independent gang members out here. But you know what, we're all coming together in unity and we ain't fighting each other. We ain't doing none of that. We actually protesting and you wanna know what SAPD went ahead and released a couple four hours ago they went ahead and released a video for all of you constituents to go ahead and watch of how we were all reckless out there and doing that like on a city council meeting like come on now come on now like you know what i attend templo calvario

you know thank you pastor for being here and i also want to thank you guys for posting up that social media with valeria mezcua and from generally from my heart you know i'm gonna go ahead and say is like, you know, can we put some caption in Spanish for our people that don't understand that language? Cambodian, Santa Ana has a big, large Cambodian community out there, they also need it translated, and our Vietnamese people also need to hear that because the word needs to be spread out of love and it needs to involve everybody in this, in this audacious right here, so I'm gonna go ahead and just walk out, and thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next four speakers, Jennifer Perez, Carla Ramirez, Alex Cervantes, and Setlaly Espinosa.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

After that will be Sandy Ariza and J.C.

Can you go ahead with your comments please? Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Jenny Perez Resendiz. I was born and raised in Santa Ana. I am the daughter of two amazing humans who came to this city from Mexico in search of a better life. Growing up, I had the most incredible, hardworking, loving parents who raised my sister and me. I could go on for weeks talking about the beautiful life they gave us. They did everything right. Yet in 2011, my dad, a man with no criminal record, was deported in this very city and my life was turned upside down. My sister and I still went on to do everything right.

We were both valedictorians of an SAUSD high school and captains of the varsity soccer team. We both went to top colleges on full rights. We both went on to establish incredible careers. We even bought a home together at the ages of 25 and 27, all while supporting our parents who now live in Mexico. I don't say this because I believe that doing things right is what makes people deserving of basic dignity, but because you, Valeria, like to stand on stages with your righteousness, acting like doing things right, will keep our communities and families safe. What is right to you?

My family is proof that doing things right gets you nothing. Rather than standing up for the immigrant families who are the fabric of this city, you are criminalizing the people who do. You are participating and upholding a system that destroys people. Time does not heal all wounds. I can still picture my dad's lifeless looking face when 14 year old me saw him come out of a shelter in Tijuana after experiencing deportation. I can still hear my mom's cries as she wept to sleep during the eight years she was separated from the love of her life. I can still feel the pain that I felt at every important life event

that my parents weren't able to attend. I can still hear my dad tell me that he struggles not to take his life, and I can still remember the night I tried taking my own life. You are compliant in causing irreparable damage and helping to inflict indescribable trauma of people at a mass scale. Valerie, I've heard your condescending comments and can't help but feel embarrassed for you. If you were truly the people's mayor, you wouldn't be criminalizing the people of this city and supporting a police department that causes chaos, hurts our people, and damages our businesses. Oh, and how funny that you say you don't like photo ops,

yet I was there when Keep Running Santa Ana was taking our pre-race run club picture and you came hurrying over screaming, can I join your picture, even though you failed to support the club? So it's not about photo ops, how...

So if it's not about photo ops, how about you advocate for the removal of the National Guard, the return of our detained community members, and the end of kidnapping so we can continue to run and experience the joy we deserve to feel in this city?

Hi, Council. My name is Carla Ramirez. I speak to you today not just as a concerned citizen of Santa Ana, but as a daughter of immigrants, an immigrant myself from Mexico whose status has changed, yet whose fight for justice remains unwavering. I stand here for those who cannot, out of fear of being taken by agents, people posing as agents, bounty hunters, and even compliant law enforcement. While this issue has affected so many of us, it is important to acknowledge that despite the gravity of the situation, Mayor Mezcua has not taken significant action to address this crisis. Instead, the leadership shown by our ward members

has been far more commendable and genuine. Maybe you should take tips from them as they're not afraid to, your quote, represent you, represent just one group of your community. I'm sorry, are you listening? Okay, thank you.

Santa Ana has been my home since I was two years old. Raised here, all of my education has been here. Taught under the guidance of predominantly Hispanic faculty. I've engaged in numerous extracurricular activities founded by those who shape and uplift Santa Neros. I witnessed firsthand the dedication of our migrant community to pushing us forward. Now as an adult, I'm part of the Keep Running Santa Ana local club, engage in our local business with our local business owners and support in however I can. This paints a beautiful picture of the recent reality up until last week, but now those who were uplifted

and did the uplifting are being hunted down and attacked in the city that has been their home by the very same people that swear oaths to protect us. People in our community are traumatized, their lives have been disproportionately distorted because they fear leaving their homes for groceries, taking their children to summer school, or even going to the doctor to name a few. Do you think it's okay for people to fear their loved one or themselves would be disappeared because they looked the part in the wrong place at the wrong time? Do you think it's normal to be walking my dogs amongst soldiers that aren't doing

doing anything but be a propped up decoration of military power? Do you like that SAPD is assaulting your constituents for using their First Amendment right when they're peacefully demonstrating their understandable anger? Ms. Omezco, while you've met with those religious leaders and created videos for your social media, where frankly you looked obligated and uncomfortable, just know the city sees beyond these cheap optics. Your PR team might be working overtime, time but what sanana truly needs now is for you to step back and let those who have shown real leadership from the start take it from here thank you

good evening council members first and foremost i want to express that my family is built from hard-working people and I stand with my birth given right to be here in this moment with all my privileges and being the first in my bloodline to earn a master's degree. You're smart, well so are we. Thank you to the city officials who support us in every possible way. Your efforts never go unnoticed. Unfortunately it's with great sadness that I am here to discuss the the traumatizing tragedy and pain occurring throughout our city of Santa Ana. We have come to see officials, police, and agents

in riot gear and militarized vehicles in our city when we walk these same streets with nothing but our signs, voices, and everyday lives. I was appalled to hear the mayor of our own city generalizing our peaceful protests and efforts as violent. For some reason, we have heard you address this more than the separation of families, violence, and kidnappings against the people of Santa Ana. It's amazing that with all the evidence and videos circulating, you still are not believing your people about demanding change and protecting peacefully. Mayor, do you believe us now?

The mayor has been too busy to speak for the people, but was not too busy to show up for interviews, post on social media and constantly mention her sponsors. You mentioned collaborating for resources and prayers, but it's hard to provide that for the people as they're being dragged out of their homes, beaten and kidnapped off the street. I wanted to read a little something. As mayor, I've worked with the first responders to make neighborhoods safer and build stronger partnerships with our schools and youth programs. This is from valeriamescua.com. This is from an excerpt right under where you asked for contributions, Mayor.

In regards to our SAUSD schools, why are we as educators doing more to protect our communities, children, and families without tactical gear or any protection? For the majority of those against us in our own city, behind your titles and badges, a lot of you look just like us. your children look like us, your families look like us. No matter how much you try not to address the ICE raids at large, you are just as much a target as we are. Protesting is not a crime, and neither should the color of our skin. We demand ICE out of OC.

Thank you for your time. Thank you guys for your time.

Good evening, I'm Sandy Araiza, a resident of Santa Ana. On December 5th, 2023, the council meeting addressed the genocide Israel's committing against Palestine. During that meeting, Mayor Amasco responded with, my job as a mayor is to make sure that we are fiscally sound as a city. We're addressing city issues and addressing our residents and constituents. She continued with, I am concerned with issues that are local. This is local. In the past week,

and that not only does the mayor care about international issues, she also doesn't care that her residents are being targeted by ICE. We are here to remind you that we have human and civil rights that are being violated. And yes, you represent more than one group in this community, but when rights are being violated, you cannot hide. We want an end to the kidnapping of U.S. immigrants and citizens, and we want the return of all U.S. immigrants deported without due process. I'd like to end by acknowledging that historical protests have helped pave the way for you to be up there today.

Council, we invite you to stand with us because we are not going anywhere.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next speaker is Alex Cervantes. Alex Cervantes, JC, Gil Sanchez, and Rain Mendoza.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Alex Cervantes, JC, Gil Sanchez, and Rain Mendoza.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Any of these four are present, please come forward. Alex, JC, Gil, and Rain.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Please approach the podium.

Greetings, Council. Greetings, Mayor. 1492. I don't know if you know what that means.

Over 500 years ago, Columbus landed in the Americas. What happened there? Displacement, erasure of religion, children being disappeared, women being disappeared. Can you see the parallels? else. Nothing's changed other than what you wear, other than what we wear. Nothing has changed. They've just guised it differently. Maybe the speech has gotten a little more eloquent, but nothing has changed. There are people being arrested and detained right now, Mayor.

And I imagine what it's like for you to hear the people that you serve bring your receipts, bring their receipts of what you said.

I imagine, I can't imagine what that feels like. Because what you're hearing is, you're hearing a lot of people who are let down by you. A lot of people who are angry. And underneath that anger, you see I'm a therapist, and I'm an educator. So I educate people on exactly what's going on in their body. Exactly how does the history that our people, our indigenous people, have gone through, and how that impacts us today. And what you see is anger, sure. Sure, but beneath that anger is sadness, disappointment, grief, frustration, irritation. That's what you're seeing.

So, and it's understandable for you to meet that anger with anger, because I imagine you're feeling different things underneath that anger as well. There's a lot of things that people are asking of you, that you can make vocal, that you can stand up for us, stand with us. next time there's a protest next time there's a rally come out people people will be confused right people may not meet you with the most welcome that's okay because that's where trust begins mayor what happened what happened was you made all these promises and people are like I said bringing those receipts

and you broke that trust. For people that voted for you, you broke that trust. That's just what it is. And now it's up to you to build that trust again. Be on our side. Stand with us. Don't stand with the people with guns. Like I said, nothing's changed. Before, when it was indigenous people against the colonizers, what did we have? We didn't have gunpowder. We didn't have bombs. Who carries the gunpowder to this day? Who? the National Guard denounce them. And there's things that we want to hear from you is that you give us ICE notifications. We demand that you are transparent about your communications.

We demand so much more. We demand a report on how much bullets, pepper bullets were fired by the SAPD against peaceful protesters. That's what we demand.

1492.

1492.

Good evening, Mayor, council members, staff, and the good public of Santa Ana. My name is Gilbert Sanchez. I'm 72 years old, lived most of those, all of those years here in Santa Ana. I've had a family in every war, civil war, all the way down to Afghanistan. uh i'm a business owner and i've also a member of ask me union local 3299.

solidarity anyway i'd like to ask you if you could accomplish a few things for the public here i know maybe your hands are tied with the ice issue but at least don't cooperate with them we should have our police department have no involvement with them at all In fact, they should be kicking them out, in my opinion.

The other thing is, there are people in Santa Ana that are posing as ICE agents. They have no badges. They wear masks. How do I know who's coming to get me? Even though I'm a citizen, I have to fear that, just like an immigrant that's recently arrived. To add a personal touch to this story, me and my wife were riding bicycles near modern day when a person in a truck stuck his body and started yelling racial slurs at my wife and actually

tried to run her over. And when I reported it, I was told, well, did anything happen? I said, no, but he could have killed us. And I was told, well, we can't do anything until they actually touch you. Well you know what? Excuse my language but bullshit.

Next time that happens I'm going to be prepared. Since the city and my officials don't want to help me I'm going to have to defend myself and the public too.

Anyway, I'd like for everybody here to stand up for civil rights and our First Amendment rights and I'd like to be able to protest without having to be shot with tear gas or rubber bullets. I think we've all here earned that right to protest. Thank you very much.

.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

We'll call the next speaker.

.

David PenalozaItem 24

Mr. Mayor, point of order. Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, can I suggest a five minute recess so that we could all stretch? Anybody? That's a cool five minute recess. Yeah?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

There's no recess during a time where people are being beaten and we're in crisis.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

We're going to engage in transparency.

David PenalozaItem 24

Council Member, this isn't a debate. I'm pretty sure the mayor stepped into the restroom.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

restroom. Let's call our next speakers and we'll wait for this one to okay for the mayor to come back.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Okay. David.

David PenalozaItem 24

That's why I said five minute recess. There's people up here that need to use the restroom.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

We'll stay here. We'll wait. We'll wait for the mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Everybody that got the tape, did they get fucking five minutes? We're gonna, thank you. No recess, we'll wait for the mayor.

David PenalozaItem 24

That's fine, I was trying to help everybody here, but okay.

We got the fucking, she can't take it.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Can you call the next three?

She can't take it. She can't take it. She can't take it.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Just for efficiency sake, the next four speakers will be Rain Mendoza, David Pulido, Christopher Diaz, and Fernando Devaros.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 24

We have a quorum of the council, so we should continue to do. We don't need the mayor to be in session at the second. So.

The people want her here, the people want her here. Bring her in.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

We just. Bring her in.

Our mayor is paying her.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

The mayor will be here shortly.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

Just for clarification, under our city's charter, we have a mayor pro tem. The meeting is allowed to continue. you we understand the public would like the mayor here but if if anyone would like to continue to speak if anyone would not like to talk into the mayor's here you have that right to do so but if anyone would like to speak and while mayor pro tem is running this meeting you do have the right to do so we just want to inform you of that we can wait we can wait we can wait we can wait

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

you guys have a right to do so we just ask that you you all you all have very important things you want to share we just ask that you you guys um patiently wait to be able to speak but we we respect your guys's first amendment right

She can't even be here for her people.

Instructive criticism isn't something she can take.

Okay. You can make it five hours. Four hours.

They run through the night and out of the night. That's okay.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Listen up, we're going to continue the meeting. If you want to speak, you can speak, but the mayor will not be back for a few minutes. So I ask you to line up and speak. She can't hear you. She can't hear you from the back, so we're going to move forward and we'll hear your words.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

We need to move forward. We have a hundred speakers and we want to hear everybody. I don't mind being here till midnight and pass one, but we need to move with our speakers because we have over 130 speakers.

You said just a few minutes. I can wait a few minutes.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

It's indefinite. We don't know.

I can wait a few minutes. I know we want to make it a real relationship. I know that you can walk me to home as well. I know I do that when we have to stay. I know you want to have it in secret, secret, so that when you come to me, you can do it. I'll have it. I'll have it. I'll have it.

It's important. The family's never ripped apart. It's important. They didn't get five minutes. They didn't get ten. They didn't even get one. They didn't even come out of the unit. People get divided into families. And I think they get divided into families

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

I'm not defending, but we are going to wait. If you guys want to wait, or we can move on and have the next speaker. You want to go home? Is that it? I want to go home at 1 o'clock, because we're going home at 1.

That's our problem. There's no problem here.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

We're here to support your First Amendment right. We don't want anyone infringing on that right. but I just want to be clear we cannot control any of my colleagues I don't have that control to be able to tell my colleague to be out and I share the same I share the same sentiment with you which is why I'm gonna patiently sit here but I want to empower you all we are in the same place we want to hear you we want to listen to you all and part of why we're sitting here is because your comments are that important to us we too need to use the restroom but we're gonna hold it as long as we need to because what you have to say is

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

important and I just want to stress how important each of you are which is why we're not gonna walk away but please stand with us we're not gonna abandon you we're gonna we're gonna make sure that y'all can share what you have to share I'm trying to be as patient as I can with all my colleagues so that everyone can have a chance to speak just know that we're standing there with you otherwise there would be a recess and there's none we want to hear from you so just please be patient with us we're all in this waiting together

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

I stand with with seeing you know the community come together share what they have to share

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

listen the give me a minute the last thing the man is for them to end the meeting which then

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Jonathan way of all your First Amendment right thank you the mayor does not want to return and And this is not, I cannot force you to return, neither can any of us. So we can wait, we can wait, we can wait or we can speak.

Valerie AmezcuaItem 24

Listen, thank you everybody. We hear your voice and we know you wanna be heard.

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

If we can have quorum everyone, we all want to hear what you have to say. Let's thank you.

There's our motivation. Just to be clear, Mayor Pro Tem, I'm allowed to use the bathroom just like everybody else up here. So don't say I don't want to come back, but thank you. So go ahead. You got three minutes. Go ahead. Thank you.

Thank you.

I don't see myself on there. Okay, thank you.

I'm Rain from the CSO OC Immigration Committee, a proud Chicana and daughter of immigrants. Let me start by saying that members in my family, like many families in Santa Ana, spent Father's Day inside for fear of going outside and being rounded up like animals by ICE. Since February of this year, ICE has been active in Santa Ana, kidnapping people at the immigration court and conducting brutal raids all around our city. Mayor Amezcua has been completely silent about this and only addressed it publicly to say that she does not support unlawful assembly. Mayor Amezcua, did you forget you represent all

all of Santa Ana and not just SAPD.

Santa Ana, a city made up of hundreds of thousands of immigrants are under racist oppression and attacked by ICE and the National Guard with the aid of SAPD. Santa Ana is supposed to be a sanctuary city, yet there are tanks and masked federal agents running rampant all throughout our city and you all have failed to act. We have seen leadership from people all across the country, including just regular people and politicians. Just today, Brad Lander, a candidate for mayor in New York, was arrested for trying to protect someone from ICE arrest. All you have done is shame your own constituents

for trying to show that same level of bravery. On top of that, you've made it as hard as possible to come to this meeting by blocking streets and entrances. That's cowardice.

We, CSO, are here to demand ICE out of Santa Ana. We demand SAPD stop repressing people and stop its aid to ICE operation and the National Guard. We demand justice for Noya Rodriguez. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next four speakers are David Pulido, Christopher Diaz, Fernando Devaros, and Brianna Olalo.

My name is David Pulido. I'm a resident of Ward 5 and member of Community Service Organization, the Police Accountability Committee. We're here to demand that City Council, City Manager Alvaro Nunez, immediately remove Santa Ana killer cops Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra. That's right, without pay, without pay. We demand that the city manager and the police oversight commission use their power to investigate this police killing. Noe's family demands that both officers be imprisoned so they do not harm or kill anyone again.

Noe was killed. Noe was killed by officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra on December 1st, 2024. He was suffering a mental health crisis and holding a toy gun in downtown Santana. But officers Luis Casillas, he did not try to assess the situation. He did not try to deescalate the situation. Within 30 seconds of seeing Noe, he drew his handgun and fired every single bullet at Noe, killing him. He fired 18 bullets. Isaac fired 11 bullets. Three of them as he fell to the ground. Shame! Shame! Shame!

Callers and dispatch officers identified Noe as Hispanic. Officer Isaac Ibarra identified Noe's race as Hispanic. According to the census, the majority of the population of Santa Ana is Hispanic, and the most commonly spoken language other than English is Spanish. Yet those officers did not give commands in Spanish, they gave three commands only in English. And then they fired 29 bullets at an unarmed man in Santa Ana. Shame!

The police killing of Noe Rodriguez is part of a years-long pattern of police killings of Chicanos and Latinos in this city. On April 1st, just to name a few, I can't list them all, but officers killed Luis Amescu at La Quinta Inn. He was unarmed. They tortured him on the terrace there. Later that year, they killed 73-year-old Salvadoran immigrant Miguel Chavez in a CVS parking lot where they chased him and mauled him to death with a police dog. Shame! Shame. Shame. In 2021, you may know Santa Ana police allowed Anaheim police to chase and gun down unarmed 34 year old Brandon Lopez who was shot over 22 times. Shame. Shame.

But I am not surprised that Mayor Valerie and council members Phil and ignore police violence against their constituents, against Chicanos. It is not in their financial interest to care. In 2022 alone, they received over 400, almost $400,000 in campaign support from the Police Officers Association. And meanwhile, they ran challenger candidates like Mario Alvarado and Jeffrey Katz to challenge progressive candidates right here in this chamber. This is not acceptable. We will not let cops run this city. This is why we're dedicated to building community control of the police. So we can rein them in when they kill us.

So we can rein them in when they oppress us. and they allow ICE agents to run freely in our city, we demand community control and justice for Noe Rodriguez.

Ray Diaz, Ward 6, Executive Director for the Francisco Torres Center for Racial Justice. I grew up on Durant Street in the Willard community where my Tio Gabi was ripped from our family by ICE. taken as collateral while simply trying to work. My entire family, my entire life, I've watched my grandmother, a mother, hug her son goodbye at the U.S.-Mexico border, forced to endure the cruelty of family separation. I know this pain because I live it. It is my life. I know the pain of militarized policing because when my friends and I were protesting protesting against the genocide in Gaza, we were used with that militarized equipment.

It's personal.

When Anaheim police executed Brandon Lopez, we sounded the alarm. When Santa Ana police killed Noe Rodriguez, we sounded the alarm. Now ICE and the National Guard occupy our streets, terrorizing our communities, and how many more families must be destroyed? How many more lives must be stolen before this city council stops enabling state violence? We demand an end to these raids, an end to the police terror, and justice to our people. And Mayor Mezcua, I brought this rubber bullet back for you.

Good evening Council.

I want everybody here, I'm not here to speak to the council, you all have heard me plenty of times. I want everybody who is present here today to recognize the power that you have when you show up and speak this way, when you know their names, when you know their faces, when you know that election time is coming around.

And don't let this be the last time that you show up. That's what they're counting on. They're counting on the fact that you all show up, you get very excited, you get very energized, you mobilize, you chant, you march, and then you go home. Make sure that they see your faces again, too. To people who are watching at home, I want to also bring attention to the media campaign that Santa Ana Police Officers Association endorsed candidates like to weaponize whenever criticisms are waged against them. Neighbors of Santa Ana on Facebook is a very popular page online. It is run by Danny Vega, who is a police commissioner

appointed by Mayor Valeria Mezcua.

When criticisms were waged against her after the city had to pay out a $600,000 settlement against our former city manager, and people shared that news, Danny Vega was quick to remove this post and block people who were sharing it. There's a page on Instagram right now that is gaining some traction and seems to be solely dedicated to doing publicity for our police department and for Mayor Mezcua. It's called Me Santana.

And PT Force.

Be wary of these campaigns. Be wary of the narratives that are being spun in these spaces. To the preachers and the pastors that are quick to move to the side of Mayor Valeria Mezcua as she ignores our vulnerable community members, be careful who you stand by. Jesus would not have stood quiet.

Jesus would not have stood quiet when vulnerable people were in danger. He would have put himself in front of them.

So thank you everybody for being here. Thank you to everybody who's watching at home. There are more council meetings this year and there is an election coming up. I hope to see you all there.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next four speakers are Brianna Aluyo, Aaron Garcia, Carla Valencia, and Joe S. Brianna,

Aaron, Carla, and Joe. Hello everybody. Mayor Mezcua, you have failed, not only yourself, but us. You stayed silent while our people are targeted. You've been absent while we lived in fear and we're done pretending your silence is anything but a betrayal. Too many of our neighbors are praying for safety when they should simply be living in peace. While they hide, while they cry, while they wonder if their family will make it home, we the community have stepped up. We walked each other to work. We've made emergency plans. We've raised money. We've opened our doors. We've called lawyers and built support systems.

We have done what this city's leadership refused to do, protect its people. And you, Mayor Amesquad, you have done nothing. You have watched our pain from your position of power and stayed quiet, knowing we are essential to the community. You didn't speak when ICE took workers from their jobs. You didn't speak when families were torn apart. You didn't speak when we begged for protection. And when we exercised our First Amendment right to protest, when we stood up in the defense of our community, the National Guard was brought in. You tried to silence us. You told us to go home. You treated our field like it was noise.

That wasn't leadership, that was cowardice.

Then you have the nerve to say, stay humble on your Facebook bio. Please babes, let me be clear. That is not humility, that is hypocrisy. You care more about curated captions than your own community, more about your image than integrity, but no social media post can fix what you've done. No hair appointment can cover the roots of the leader who's out of touch with their own. Because the truth is...

I'm looking straight at you, bitch. We can do this all day. But the truth is, you've abandoned us and you've looked even more out of place pretending you haven't. We deserve leadership grounded in justice, not just a polished look and fake humility. We are not fools and we're not afraid. And we will not forget. We are protecting each other with or without you. We are the future. We come from families who left everything behind, not out of comfort, but out of love and courage. We've seen their struggle. We've carried their hope. And now we are their legacy. Change begins with us. We speak out. We rise. La lucha sigue.

But so does our power.

And in November, we'll make sure the next leader of this city actually shows up. Mayor Mezcua, will you finally speak right here, right now? Not for the photo ops, as you say, or from a piece of paper you hold behind the screen since you've ignored us. We're all watching. What do you have to say to us? The floor is yours, babes.

And exactly, she's not going to say anything.

And my name's Fatima Calderon, by the way.

Good evening, everyone. My name is Chelsea Alvarez, the owner of Chelsea's Bridal and the Perfect Day, located in downtown Santa Ana. My family and I have been a part of the Santa Ana small Latina owned community for over 20 years. Our streets are lonely. Our neighbors are nowhere to be seen. Our clientele is afraid of stepping foot on our street because of the intimidation that is down the street. I receive daily calls asking to cancel or to reschedule clients' appointments because they are afraid. I'd like to emphasize that they're not afraid of the peaceful protests that have been going on,

but more so the aggressive enforcement that is seen at every corner. As a business owner, I worry. There are bills that need to get paid like rent, electricity, utilities, and employees. Our small businesses depend on our immigrant people. As a long-standing member of the community, I worry about the violence that is being committed against our people and the terror that is being instilled in us all. Please, Mayor Emescuwa, I ask that you listen with with intent and please come up with a solution to protect our city and our people. Chelsea's Bridal stands proudly with our community members that are out fighting for our rights.

I shared time with my cousin today, not only as being part of these businesses, and I always like to tell my community, if you open me up, there is glitter on there because of those dresses. So I also want to stand as a professor at Cal State universities and as professor in a local community college because what I heard from you today mayor and in previous instances is that protests accomplished nothing right? What you asked our community is what did this accomplish? This is what it fucking accomplished.

There has been no point in history where we did not have to fight for our civil rights with tooth and nail. There has been no point in our history where we didn't have to stand up here and demand that our council members represent us. And we will continue with that history. We will continue to stand up despite not having your support. I do want to clarify. Thank you so much, Jonathan. and Hernandez, Jesse Lopez, the individuals who are out there in solidarity with us. Our struggles are connected from here, Palestine, Sudan, and all these different spaces. We are fighting for our rights with or without you.

We will continue in these spaces of resistance because these spaces of resistance have brought us joy. These spaces of resistance has brought us health care. These spaces of resistance has brought us community. That is more than any piece of paper, any type of legislation will ever bring us. These spaces of resistance are important to our community and we will continue to build these spaces of resistance with or without you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next speakers are Brianna Olullo, Aaron Garcia, Carla Valencia, and Joe S. Yes.

Hello, my name is Brianna Olayo and I'm a proud lifelong resident of Santana from Ward 3. First, I wanna thank everyone who is here today, those watching from home, que estan mirando en casa, and the city council for your time. I'm the proud daughter of immigrants attending the University of California, Irvine, and I'm here today because I'm sick of the response from some of our representatives and call on Mayor Emescuad to take accountability for her lack of leadership and respect toward our immigrant community. Especially our undocumented residents and families who are an essential part of

Santa Ana. How many more families need to be oppressed and ripped apart from their homes, jobs, and their city of Santa Ana for you to care enough? But this is not about you. Our community deserves dignity, protection, and respect just like every human being. Right now our neighbors are hurting. People are scared to go about about their days and live comfortably. And yet our community continues to show up, whether it's organizing, checking in on one another, helping with groceries or going on errands or verifying any potential law enforcement activities such as the increased activity that we have seen

in our community because we support each other. But we shouldn't have to do this alone because we need leaders who know, love, and stand with every part of our community because we are not violent, we're not a threat, We are people fighting for the future of our families who have sacrificed everything for a future full of opportunities, safety, and justice. We need to invest in our schools, parks, small businesses, and youth, not law enforcement. When our city leaders make dismissive comments or issue statements that ignore the fear and pain our people are experiencing, it only deepens the harm.

This isn't about personal politics, so I encourage you to stay involved and register to vote and show up in 2026 next year and every election after because we will remember those who have stood up with us and who have been there with us. We are calling for transparency, initiatives that uplift Santana and bring justice and the opportunity for people to actually be there who claim to to serve us. Santana merece mejor. We deserve better. Thank you.

I'd like to ask Valerie to stop rolling your eyes and get off your phone and pay attention to those with the public comment.

The fear I see in my neighbor's eyes and the empty streets I've been seeing these past few weeks shouldn't be something normalized. You claim you're here for your city but yet you're letting your community drown in agony. While you're doing nothing for us in times of disparity our communities are coming together and peacefully protesting to keep families together. If you see wrong with that you are not with the people. In February I stood here talking about this same situation happening in Santa Ana. It's now June and yet you have managed to let things get

get worse. We want more, we want change, and we will vote you out of our city. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Joe Saladino and I'm a resident of Santa Ana Ward 5. I'm here to express my outrage and deep concern over the recent raids and militarization that is happening here here in our city. What's currently transpiring in Santa Ana is horrifying. To a degree, we expected this from a presidential administration who has made it their mission to target, vilify, and erase the most vulnerable among us, including black, brown, and immigrant communities. What is truly horrifying is the lack of protection and accountability by the officials elected to represent us here in Santa Ana, more specifically you, Mayor Omezcua.

How can you call yourself a mayor of the people if the people you were elected to serve are being violently taken with no due process? If men and women in masks wearing tactical gear you can freely buy online refuse to identify themselves and go off and kidnap fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. If people who attend their immigration hearings or check-ins are still abducted despite following the legal process, this country makes them jump through hoops for.

If concerned citizens and community members who go to the streets to express their First Amendment rights are met with militarized officers in riot gear who don't see them as human, but instead objects that can harm and discard with tear gas, batons, and rubber bullets. What happened to Santa Ana being a sanctuary city? It's disgusting, inhumane, and we as a community are here to say no more. These are your people, your constituents, Mayor Mezcua. You represent us, the people, and we're here to remind you of that. We will not allow it. Why do you? Power to the people. Ice out of OC. Ice out of Santa Ana.

Thank you. And thank you council members Lopez, Hernandez, and Vasquez for standing with the people.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next speakers are Aaron Garcia, Matt Kay, Gilbert, and L'Arenge Bustos.

Good evening, council. I want to start by thanking council member Hernandez, council member Lopez, council member Vasquez, and Vicente Sarmiento for being out there in the streets with the people. My name is Aaron Garcia, and I live in Ward 2. I am the founder and leader of Keep Running Santa Ana, a free community run club for the people. I'm standing here today in front of you for those members of my community who cannot be here. We have been a safe space for the community for the last four and a half years with meetings three times a week.

And the last eight days, I want you to know that you have taken that safe space from so many of our city's residents. We are each other's familia, each other's support system, and each other's voices. Due to the fear you've allowed in our community, people fear coming out of their homes with the National Guard roaming our streets. We will not normalize this. Mayor, your delay in response and lack of actions is shameful. I'm here today to tell you what we already know. You cannot be the mayor of Santa Ana if you don't stand in solidarity with the people.

You are not the people's mayor. Thank you.

Hi there. My name is Michael Eller. I'm new to Santa Ana. I've only lived here about a year so far, but from what I've seen these past couple weeks, these past couple months, it is truly atrocious from this administration. You claim to be a sanctuary city, yet ICE is allowed to further your roam, National Guard is allowed to do whatever they want, and there seems to be Santa Ana PD is only furthering the violence. What can we, what What can Santa Ana PD, who we have clearly seen is well weaponized, well militarized, what can they do to help protect our constituents? Can we deploy them in places that are common for ICE raids?

Can we send them out on the streets to stand along with the National Guard to police the police? What can we do as a sanctuary city that's aside from just the simple glam of saying hashtag sanctuary city on all of our Instagram posts? Thank you very much.

Hi everyone. My name is Laurangel Bustos and I come here not to speak only to you here in the council, but to everyone who's in here, everyone who's tuning in online, and everyone who's outside. We can hear you and we appreciate your support. So I come here with a plea. A plea for us to think here critically as to who wants us fighting out here on these streets. Who is the one who is arming the military and coming to terrorize our streets? Like many of you, I've been out protesting, standing up for those being kidnapped.

As I was out there, I took a good look at those standing opposite of us and realized that they look a lot like us. Remove the uniform, the guns, and the badge, and they could be the ones being tackled and abducted right on these same streets. So why are they there? Why does Mayor Amuescua refuse to straight up denounce ISIS presence and order Santa Ana Police Department to stand with our community and not shoot them with rubber bullets and tear gas, but to protect them? Well, I'll tell you what I think. I think they were bribed. They were bribed by an invisible yet ever-present force such as the billionaires and the oligarchs.

Mayor Amescua refuses to denounce the militarization of her city. Why? Well, let's take a look at who donates to her campaign and who stands alongside her.

Even more so, why is ICE here? They too were bribed. If you look at the federal agents, they look a lot like us, but they were proposed with with benefits and a $40,000 sign-on bonus for new ICE agents. They were bribed. Why is the National Guard here? The US military bribes our fellow citizens with those with undocumented parents and they offer them status to their parents upon enlisting in the military. I also ask you to question your media and who you consume. Disney releases movies like Coco and Encanto and they also own Fox News, which actively spreads lies about our people and labels us as dangerous.

They manipulate our fellow working class neighbors to hate and shame one another, to divide ourselves between race, sexual orientation, gender, wealth status, and education status, as we've seen from our fellow leaders. So I leave my time with this. Today, our people are under attack, and we need to continue to show up for them. But I hope after all this is done, and it will be done because we are a resilient people, I ask that we keep showing up for our black and Native American neighbors who are incarcerated, punished, and killed at a disgusting rate. Our queer and trans

neighbors. Our queer and trans neighbors who are constantly labeled as pedophiles when the real ones are the billionaires vacationing on Epstein Island, our president included. So I ask you all if you will not be our local leader, if you don't see the need to raise your fist to please step down so somebody else can thank you

good evening city council and disgraced mayor in my opinion

i want to give mad mad props to i almost forgot his name mr vasquez Ms. Lopez and Councilman Jonathan Hernandez, how much respect when somebody's down there in the trenches in the battle with me? Thank you.

I was not hit by one of these. A DHS agent shot a small pep around twice. I got hit in the back and the knee. I don't need any witnesses. Councilman, move us there. I did not survive enough to get hit with one of these. I'd like to see what one of these feels like. I got hit with, like I said, by a DHS agent. I was walking up to the federal building and there they were. Just like belly in a mess or trying to mad dog me and look at me, it's like I'm being intimidated. I've been beat down by the Senate and the police department since the early 80s. I was always looked at as a gang member.

I was one of those persons that if I few Mexicans hang around a park It was Windsor Park in the 70s and we were considered a gang We were checked we were ID'd we were white card. We were pulled over. We didn't know anything about our rights and What we what we could do No, I don't have a college education, but I have been to your jails I've seen I've been impressed. I've been to the state prison. I don't say it proudly but I'm here and I know what it's like to be caged, to be treated like an animal. So when I see your DHS agents come here and look at me and try to intimidate me,

you don't fool me, you don't scare me. I know there's a lot of people that are scared and as long as I'm breathing and I have to use a cane, I will be out there.

And you, Valerie, you deserve everything that's coming to you. Everything. Because you weren't out there with the people, you were out there with the developers. We know who butters your tortilla.

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Next speakers. The next speakers. Matt K. Gilbert, Ubaida Qureshi and Caroline Romero.

Ubaida Qureshi.

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Miguel Carretero. Carol Graciela Castaneda.

Hello, council. My name is Miguel Carretero, and I am currently pursuing two degrees in UCLA in mechanical engineering and mathematics. I am a...

I am a born and raised Santa Nero and plan to be until I am laid to rest. Last week I was prepared for days of sleepless nights and stress from my final exams. What I was not prepared for was for these feelings to occur because of my hometown being turned upside down due to the invasion of the DHS and the National Guard in my community. When I came back, the first thing that I saw was quietness and empty streets, something something that I do not associate with the lively and cultural city that I live in. This alongside the military tanks just down the street are not a sign of a healthy community.

Santa Ana is hurting right now and this council is a bystander. The response or lack of response by half the council was disheartening but not surprising. Time and time again the relationship to the police has been put above the safety and health of our people. But that ends now. It saddens me that this mayor, who I refuse to call my mayor, is more concerned about a couple of broken windows, full thanks to SAPD rubber bullets, by the way, than the dozens of our community members who have been arrested and kidnapped through predatory methods in our sanctuary city.

city. When my mother told me the story of her deportation from this country years ago, she told me that the worst part was the feeling of dehumanization that she felt from the chains on her hands and feet. Today, that feeling of dehumanization is felt by thousands of residents here who don't feel like humans, but rather ghosts. Ghosts to Valeria Amiskwa since they are part of the small demographic of people that she does not represent and and she will not stand up for. And so I'm Esquire, I ask you this, if these people are such a small demographic, then why is this the largest city council meeting that you have had in years?

And on that note, I do wanna also add that these chambers are not full, and there's a room, there's rooms full of people outside waiting to be let in. So why are they not being let in?

And so I want to remind everyone who is sitting in front of me to look up to me right now because your actions will be remembered next election, not just for for this council, but for assembly positions and anything else that you may run for. Thank you.

Good evening, my name is Graciela Castaneda. I'm a resident of Santa Ana and I'm a small business owner. You were silent, Alcaldesa. Madam Mayor, a big title for you. When our people cried out, ¿Dónde estaba usted? Where were you? Not in the streets, not by our side, not standing with the families you swore to protect. You weren't asking, we weren't asking for speeches, we weren't asking for fame, just courage, presence, just your voice in our name.

El pueblo habló con dolor, con dignidad, y usted nos dio la espalda en nuestra necesidad. You scolded us for gathering, you called us disorder, but we're speaking for those who can't speak. For the immigrants who make our community stronger, who build, who serve, who love this city, you chose silence. El silencio no es liderazgo. Leadership is standing in the fire, not watching it burn from a safe, silent distance, which is what you did.

We're not just voters, we're not just noise. We are the heartbeat of Santa Ana. Somos el alma del pueblo, todos nosotros, everyone.

All of those people standing out there all of us fighting for this cause and we remember we remember who showed up we remember who hid una leader nos esconde una leader doesn't run a leader doesn't shame the people for speaking the truth she stands with them or steps down so hear us clearly Santa Ana merece lo mejor Santa Ana deserves better and you're not it. And if you won't stand with us, we will rise with you, without you.

We don't need you, because you're just warming up that seat. Because the people have a voice. El pueblo tiene poder. And this time we will not be silenced. Now I ask you, as you're covering your face pretending that you're listening, How can you sleep at night when your city is falling apart and families are being torn apart? Have the decency to step down and I really hope you find it in that heart of yours that it might be very hidden, to find it in your heart to do the right thing for all of us.

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The next speakers.

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The next speakers. Ubaida Qureshi, Caroline Romero, Aliyah N., Maria Jose Jimenez,

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Chelsea Alvarez, Bianca Stoppani.

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When you hear your name, if you could please line up in the center aisle, and when you approach the podium, if you could please state your name for the record.

Good evening, city council members. My name is Maria Jose. I'm a resident of Santa Ana, Ward 5 to be specific. and I would not be here had my parents not left their home in Mexico. I'm proud to say I am a daughter of immigrants. I am also so proud to say that I'm from Santa Ana when anyone asks, which is why I'm so outraged and so disappointed in the way the city has failed its immigrant community, Mayor Amezcua, you in particular. Thank you for not looking at me. Instead of notifying your city of ICE presence, you chose to remain silent and you scolded your reps that told you to to apply pressure.

Instead of showing support to peaceful protesters, you chose to paint them as rioters and chose to defend police using excessive force on unarmed citizens. I was there June 9th. I was tear gassed twice as I yelled, "'We have no weapons. "'We are peacefully protesting.'" I was also there June 14th, not as a protester, but as an organizer for a fundraiser. Resistance through dance is what it was supposed to be, and even that ended with police and National Guard pointing their weapons in our direction. Not to mention that that night Santa Ana Police Department shot and shattered a window of a local business next door,

next to where we were, which I know that was one of your concerns on June 9th, damage on small businesses. Well, it did happen, but at the hands of your police department, not the protesters. Yet you label protests violent because one or two people out of the thousands peacefully protesting through a water bottle. You would think that with $160 million that the police has in their budget, they would be taught how to de-escalate a situation that involves a plastic recycled water bottle.

A few weeks ago, during another city council meeting, you, mayor, stated that you did not want to draw attention to Santana in risk of funding being taken away, saying that we needed money for housing and to help our police department. Our police department takes up most of the budget in the city, 38%. If you were so concerned about the housing and the unhoused, why not reallocate some of the $160 million that was just proposed for the police department to some other programs? I ask for the city to be transparent with the citizens and release all communications that they have had regarding these ICE raids since May.

Valerie Amezcua is not the people's mayor. Valerie Amezcua puts profit over people. Valerie Amezcua does not care about the immigrant community. Valerie Amezcua is not for Santa Ana, and I support all efforts in getting her recalled. Thank you.

Good evening, my name is Alia Nunez, and I'm coming here from the Third Ward. I'm standing here today because of a brave woman, my grandmother. mother, she chose to flee to a country that promised freedom, a country that sold a dream of safety, opportunity, and dignity. She risked everything for her future generations, including me, to have a better life. This gave me and my sisters the opportunity to achieve multiple degrees and certifications to create the life that she envisioned for us. But I ask you now, what kind of freedom is this, where ICE hunts families and our own mayor, you, Valerie Mesca,

chooses to criminalize the people who stand up to protect us instead of standing up for immigrant communities like a real leader should. Excuse me, I'm talking to you. I will wait my two minutes until you look at me. Thank you. I appreciate that. Alright, so last week SAPD showed up not to keep the peace but to intimidate. They came in riot gear, gas masks, rubber bullets were thrown at us, pepper balls and tear gas, a chemical weapon banned in warfare and yet used against its own people that they're supposed to protect. This is not safety or public safety, this is repression and they continue to show up like this even

today, just four hours ago in this very hall. They are not for our people and they need to be replaced with those that stand by their oath to defend their community, not destroy it while wearing masks and covering their badge numbers. We're not asking for much. We're demanding the bare minimum. Dignity, protection, and humanity. It shouldn't matter where someone was born. It shouldn't matter what the paper says. If they're human, they deserve to be safe. Period. If the rules were reversed, if it was your grandmother, your family being torn apart or brutalized, would you stay silent? Would you call this freedom? This

city has a long memory. We have, we remember the Zoot Suit riots. We remember We remember Japanese internment. We remember the raids and the cages. Over 100 years of our community being treated as threats instead of people. And still, we're out here. We're fighting injustice for justice that's long overdue. We have the right to be here. We have the right to protest. And we have the right to demand better. This city should not be standing with, against, I mean, this city should not be standing against us. It should be standing with us. So if you claim to believe in freedom, prove it. Because we're here asking for it,

and we're no longer gonna be waiting for it. Release B. Lopez, thank you.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the city council. My name is Bianca Stoppani. I'm an advocate, I'm a veteran who actually did serve in the National Guard for six years and I'm glad I got out in 2014. I am a proud Angelina, proud Orange County resident who lived in Santana and I stand here exhausted from protesting both in LA and Santa Ana, malnourished in solidarity with santaneros. And I gotta tell you something, I gotta call you out and tell you, shame on you. Because how can you call yourself a leader and a Latina and not stand in solidarity with your brothers and sisters out there in the streets?

and you claim that this is a sanctuary city yet you handed your people to ice the way Pontius Pilate handed Jesus to the Jews yeah and you sit there and you saying the last council meeting saying that you're being smart no what I see is cowardice a lack of IQ a lack of how can I say this but a limited vocabulary if if anything, okay? And I would like to ask you to look at yourself in the mirror, ask yourself, why did you choose this position? Because honestly, what I see is somebody that's just stuffing her face looking like Musenix

and Ash Trevino on TikTok. Yeah, I said it. And you know what, your fellow colleagues, Ryan Hernandez, Vince Sarmiento and Jesse Lopez were out there in the streets doing what you failed to do as a leader. And Santa Ana PD is attacking the people with smoke bombs, projectiles, and yeah, you can drink your water. I'm still talking to you. Yeah, thank you. And they're sitting here throwing tear gas at peaceful protesters exercising their First Amendment right to freedom of speech and using the only weapon that we have, which is our voice.

And so you have two choices, baby girl. Either you step out into the streets and fight with us like a real leader should, or you step down. Your choice. But either way, you're out. Y que viva la raza, cabrones! Yeah!

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The next speakers.

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The next four speakers. Ayana Garcia. vi p carla t and ariadna ayana garcia vi p carla t and ariadna

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maciel and claribel vega

Good evening everyone. My name is Ariadna Ortega. Thank you so much for your time. I've lived here, born and raised 23 years in Santa Ana. I recently graduated from CSUMB and I wanted to celebrate my family with my because they were there before my education. I wanted to celebrate them. Unfortunately, I came home because I came home and I'm witnessing...

Sorry.

Thank you.

You know, and through these years we lived through injustices and my family has persevered through all of them. But we haven't seen anything like this. The current events are carrying us in Anna. the mobilization of ICE and militarizing the Santa Ana police departments. And I want to invite you to listen to one of the realities we face. Someone dear to me, her son, a U.S. citizen, was assaulted last September. The kind of, like, a U.S. citizen. Thank you. Thank you.

And they were just coming around the corner, coming from groceries, and an unhoused woman hit the baby. He hadn't even turned one. He hadn't even turned one. And the cops had said if the dad had defended the baby, he would have been in prison because the dad wasn't hit. And he ended up hitting, like, if he were to hit someone else. And so I think that's just an injustice. And they struggle not wanting to go out and living in fear. They have paperwork, but they're discouraged to speak up.

And this is a poem written by the abuelito of the boy that I invite you to listen. ¿Qué estoy haciendo lejos de la tierra que me vio nacer? I feel like I'm dying, far from the love of my love. What's going on? I'm not with my family that much. For life, I'm being suffocated by the thirst for love in vigilance. What am I doing? Winning a green ticket. If the love of my family is being lost, what happens to me now? If happiness is the greatest wealth, I feel like my heart is crying without my family that is full of sadness. What am I doing? in a country of gold,

the one without wings is suffering. And my wings are my people that I adore. Valerie, I'm sorry, but the last week all I've heard from you saying, like, I don't do photo ops, but all I've ever seen you is through a photo op. You know, I, until now, you say you don't represent a community. Then I hear you don't represent any. You say, please stay home. Santa Ana is my home.

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Ariadna, your time is up.

Hello, my name is Maciel Diaz. I grew up in Santa Ana and recently graduated from high school. I will be attending UCR in the fall. I've seen both the beauty and the struggle that defines our lives here and within the community. Santa Ana is built by thousands of hardworking families who give their all every single day to keep the city moving forward.

de salir a las calles por el medio el miedo a la inseguridad existen muchos corazones desagrados ya que están del país ya que están dejando de ir de sus trabajos y por lo tanto la economía del país está en desgracia invitamos a los consagres y evitar que de santa ana a unirse a este grupo de familiar para to prevent them from contributing to the round-the-clock migration and to make a front that strengthens our families and not live with fear. This is not just about immigration or public safety,

this is about our education, our opportunities, our lives. The collapse of these services are impacting the ability for us to succeed. It's hurting small businesses, harming the local economy, and tearing apart the support systems that hold our community together. We are calling on the city leadership to take a stand, not with silence, but with action and allyship. Nonprofits and grassroots organizations have stepped up while the city has remained quiet. This is not acceptable. We need bold leadership. What has happened today is a, what has happened throughout the past week is a part of a long history.

from the Bracero program where our people were brought in as cheap labor and then discarded to Operation Wetback when over a million were racially profiled and deported without rights. Our communities have always been exploited, then blamed. Now we're still being targeted just for how we look or from where we're from. We are not disposable. We are not criminals. we are human beings and we deserve dignity and safety. As a community, we call to action for partnership with grassroot organizations that are already working on the ground to support affected families.

Real advocacy that prioritizes people over politics and a public statement of support from the mayor and the city council affirming safety and the rights of all Santa Ana residents. We need leaders who care about our education, education, our safety, and our future. Those who truly care about this community... Can you turn this up? Sorry. Well, stand with us.

Hello. My name is Carla, and I'm a proud Senate and a resident and immigrant. I was in the fifth grade when I dealt with problems of insomnia due to not being able to sleep at night, fearing that I would never see my parents again, of going home and finding an open door with an empty mattress. When this happened, my fifth grade teacher did not stay silent. She shared resources with us and created safe spaces to talk. Her words and resources inspired me to do the same. Now, my sister who is in the second grade cries so hard that I can hear

her choking on her desperate gasps for air. Do you know how hard it is to tell an eight-year-old child who still believes in unicorns and rainbows that the mayor who stands for her is busy funding the very people who shoot us down? Que pena. Without community, Santa Ana is nothing. Seeing so many people show up today makes me wonder one thing. That being how one can look at this community and demonize its people in the same way that you have done, maya me excusa. From the paleteros to the humble business owner, we are being made out as rioters and lunatics for

simply wanting a better life for ourselves. My parents, fellow immigrants, and friends in Santa and Santa Ana are the very definition of American values. So many have sacrificed everything to be able to be here and ICE is threatening to take that away. My father works several jobs, my mother takes care of several children, and my parents even missed their mother's funeral just to see their mayor continue to support the very troops that kidnap and attack with no mercy. This is a plea, not just to you, Mayor Amescuha, not just to the people in this supposedly full council chamber, but to the people.

If you understand me now, this problem is also your problem. And even if you don't understand my words, I'm sure you understand our tears, our tears.

Good evening, council members, mayor. My name is Adriana. I wanted to ask you a question. Do you play cards? I would advise against it because your poker face sucks. The contempt and arrogance written across your face while your constituents speak is infuriating. And I know I'm not the only one that feels that way. I think you also vastly underestimated the bravery and intelligence that your constituents have shown tonight despite the fear they feel. Your appalling lack of response to ICE brutally invading our community speaks volumes on where your priorities are, and they are sold to the highest bidder.

As activists always say, follow the money. S.A.P.D. has a long and violent history and the mayor knows this, yet she enables them to continue to brutalize the people of Santa Ana. Where is your humanity? What will you do at the end when you look back at your misspent life? I don't know if you're a woman of faith, but search your soul. What I've seen here tonight is why I'm an activist for years. The people here tonight give me and everyone else here hope. We are one community, and you are not part of it.

The people united will never be defeated.

Thank you.

My name is Claribel Vega, and I want to begin with recognizing the passion and commitment that people in here, people up there watching, and especially those that are outside that have still not had the ability to sit in this chamber. member. I am a resident of Ward 6 and I am part of Keep Running Santana. Thank you, Councilmember Jesse Lopez for continuously supporting us. Many of our runners are not safe to run and I myself don't feel safe to run and that's tragic. But I do want to share one thing. I didn't vote for you the

first time. I didn't vote for you the second time and it sure looks like there won't be a third.

So like many here, I'm disappointed with the actions or lack thereof that has been shown by you, Mayor Emescuá. In democracy, protest is not a threat. It is a vital expression of community voice and accountability, which there is none. But when leadership attempts to silence dissent, it betrays the very heart of democracy. To be against the right of protest, we deserve leaders who will protect our freedoms and not one who will suppress them. I want to remind you of something, Mayor, if you remember. This is a vision that is actually stated in the city's website in case you want to review it.

I quote, every decision I make is guided by one question. How does this help our families thrive? I believe in a Santa Ana that honors hard-working roots while creating new opportunities where our historic neighborhoods flourish, our students dream bigger, and every resident sees themselves in our city's bright future. Do you really think the residents see themselves now? No, they do not. Because we are not building the Santa Ana that our children deserve while allowing policies policies that endangered those very children. We cannot talk about opportunity, safety, legacy,

while defending the use of excessive force by Santa Ana PD. By allowing ICE to kidnap people from our neighborhoods without proper identification, being masked.

And when you allow ICE to terrorize in our free city, When you excuse excessive force, we aren't protecting families. We are traumatizing them. We can and must choose a different path. A different path, one where safety does not mean surveillance, and one where justice does not mean violence. Let's truly build a Santa Ana our children deserve, one rooted in dignity, equity, and real safety for all families. And let me end with this. You did get something right, Mayor Emescuau. The greatest people is the Santa Ana people.

My name is Vee. I'm here to say that all of OC from Garden Grove to Westminster to Anaheim to Costa Mesa and Beyond the whole OC community is watching We are paying attention to how this council treats our families our neighbors our community members and our loved ones You allow ICE to come in and attack the very people who built this city and you allow SAPD to brutalize those protesting these ICE kidnappings The media wants to talk about violence at protests. What is more violent than tearing a child from her mother?

What is more violent than tackling a man at his place of work? What is more violent than pointing a loaded weapon at unarmed civilians? The ones escalating violence, the ones instigating violence, have been ICE and SAPD. It is our right

It is our right to protest this violence and it is our right to stand up for justice. It's become clear that some of you have no intention of listening to us or taking any of us seriously. So I'm here to speak to the workers of Santa Ana, to those of us standing outside these chambers for hours, to the ones who make this city run. It's time we the people start calling the shots. It's time we have a say on how our money is spent. Our tax dollars should not be paying for the very bullets you allow cops to lodge in our backs.

We make society run, and we should get to decide what kind of society we live in. one where no human is illegal and instead of investing in weapons and bombs we invest in our children's futures.

We are many. We are united in our fight and we know that the people united will never be defeated. Ice out of OC.

I am Kate Guadalupe Bustamante, born and raised in Santa Ana, proud alumni of Santa Ana College and the L.Dot newspaper. I have seen this beautiful, culturally rich city change under leadership just like yours, and for the worse. We are standing outside, many of us after work, after other responsibilities. We are only now being let in. I got here at 7. Two hours later, when there were plenty of empty seats, is it the noise you were scared of? To beg a mayor and a council as a whole, because I hear a lot of one names, but there's responsibility all across the board, begging you to do the bare minimum of your job

to protect our rights and speak up. To protect undocumented people who pay your rent through our hard labor, my message is to the people here tonight, do your research and vote for those who protect us, genuinely because we know they exist and thank you to those who do

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the next speaker Ayanna Garcia Karina Munoz Kat Quinn Leticia Castro

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Again, Ayanna Garcia, Karina Munoz, Kat Quinn, and Leticia Castro. Please come forward.

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Please come to the podium.

Hello, good evening. My name is Karina Munoz. I'm here to demand justice for Noel Rodriguez. We demand that the city council and our city manager, Alvaro Nunez, immediately remove Senate and police officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra from the force without pay.

The family demands that both officers be investigated and imprisoned so that they do not kill or harm anyone again. Officer Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra failed to give Noe the medical attention he deserved. They called for additional police officers and did not give Noe medical attention for many minutes. They only approached Novet after he was on the floor and shot him again with a 40mm launcher. Only then did several officers approach to handcuff him before bringing him medical personnel. More than 13 minutes after the officers shot him, 29 times.

I would also like to say that during the current protest against ICE, S.A.P.D. has repeatedly used excessive force. They have escalated peaceful protests with tear gas and extremely dangerous rubber bullets. They have been assisted by federal agents and formed a line of defense in front of federal agents. While ISIS out on the streets cannot be members of our community, SAPD does nothing to protect us and say they shoot us, gas us, and arrest us. At every protest downtown and excessive arou- of SAPD, other OCPDs like Costa Mesa and other

officers from the OC Sheriff Department to stand on our streets doing everything in their power to intimidate us and to minimize our visibility but we're not afraid of SAPD and shame on SAPD for choosing to protect Border Patrol instead of our community. That is all.

Hi Council Members and everyone here that's come to advocate for our community and our wonderful Santa Ana. My name is Leticia Castro. I'm a constituent of Ward 4. I stand before you to address the matter of utmost importance. While I recognize the complexity of the situation, I must express my disappointment with Mayor Emescu's response. Her remarks came across as a politically correct gloss over, lacking the depth and honesty our community deserves. It is vital to remember that our city's vision, as stated in the agenda, is to maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all residents.

The recent actions taken by immigration officials starkly contradict that vision. Rather than using SAPD to protect our community and foster an atmosphere of collaboration and trust, these raids and law enforcement have incited fear among our community members, particularly those who are already vulnerable. The motto, serve and protect, well, that's just a cruel irony now. The city code of ethics emphasizes the responsibility of our leaders to prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents. However, the mayor's ambiguous response alienates those in need of our protection and support.

Instead of addressing these concerns head on, it seems she has chosen to avoid engaging engaging in difficult yet necessary conversations. Additionally, I want to highlight my disappointment in Councilmember Becerra. As a white presenting cisgender individual sitting at the table, you have a unique opportunity to be a catalyst for change. Yet your responses have often mirrored the mayor's and lacked urgency needed during these challenging times. We must assert with clarity that ICE should not operate in our community community whatsoever. Redirecting individuals in adverse conditions to a website as stated in your

response is highly is not the response. We have to have more concrete actions in order to safeguard our residents. As we move forward I urge the Mayor Mezcua to embrace her role as a leader who facilitates dialogue and fosters inclusiveness. If you're unable to make those changes please do the honorable thing and step down so the needs of your constituents can be met because we need a leader who will cultivate Santa Ana that reflects our shared values and one that is safe for everyone thank you

my name is Kat Quinn and I live in Santa Ana in Ward three I first want to thank Councilwoman Jesse Lopez, Congress members Ben Vasquez and Jonathan Hernandez for all you have done for our city and especially for your presence this past week at numerous events and spaces speaking out against what has been occurring in our city with mass illegal raids and the presence of ICE, police and the National Guard. I saw you all there. Mayor Homesqua, I have not seen seen you at any of the events when the public needed you to be there. I only saw you three days later later on an Instagram video.

One of the last times I spoke at a city council meeting was when we were discussing being a sanctuary city, which was overwhelmingly supported by the community. How are we here now? As a community health nurse for over 30 years, I've seen the devastation that is caused by ice raids and the trauma it causes for families as they are inhumanely ripped apart. As a community health nurse in the early 90s, I was part of a group of nurses who did home visits to follow up on families after ice raids when they didn't come to pick up their children from

the local head start. Witness people running away from immigration. I am devastated that that this is happening again and it needs to stop.

I witnessed this past Monday, the militarized force by ICE and Santa Ana police when human beings were being driven into Santa Ana to be detained while peaceful protesters were pepper gassed. These actions and presence of militarized forces and the threat of daily raids is causing terror and trauma to the families here and it needs to stop we need ice out of Orange County and honor being the sanctuary city that we agreed on thank you

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the next speakers Jocelyn Pacheco Amalia Mejia Maria Burman Wade Garcia

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Jocelyn Pacheco, Amalia Mejia, Maria Berriman, Wade Garcia.

My name is Jocelyn Pacheco. I'm here with CSOOC Police Accountability Committee. I was born and raised here in Santa Ana. I am a proud first-generation daughter of immigrants who came to this country for a better life for my siblings and I. It is because of them that I am who I am today and have the opportunities I have to be an educator here in Orange County. My parents, like the majority of immigrants who come to this country, are the hardest-working people I know. know. Mayor Emescua, at a recent breakfast with business owners, you praised SAPD for

doing a wonderful job protecting businesses during the protests against ICE. But let's be clear, no amount of property or profit is more valuable than the lives of the people who actually live in the city, especially when those lives are under threat from the very institutions meant to protect them. You said you won't raise your Chicano fist because because you represent more than one group in Santa Ana. And you're right. Can you look at me? I can wait.

But when the majority of the city is Chicano, isn't it a little twist to distance yourself from the community that puts you in office? That is a neutrality. It's a betrayal. You've shown yourself to be just another politician who invokes our culture for votes, but refuses to show up when it truly matters. I've been at the protests, I've seen our community come together peacefully to demand an end to the city's collaboration with ICE and to call out the police department that continues to harm instead of protect. We are not the violent ones, we are reclaiming our dignity, our voices and our right to feel safe in what's

supposed to be a sanctuary city. And how does SAPD respond? With rubber bullets, bullets, tear gas, intimidation, and mockery. I was personally taunted by an officer who laughed and asked if I was scared of him. That is not public safety. That is psychological warfare. SAPD officers act like they want us afraid, but we're not. You should be. Not of violence, but of the truth, of the people you claim to represent holding you accountable. You see, judging a demonstration by its most violent participants, but not judging a police force by its most violent cops, is the language of the oppressor.

Like my comrades have said, SAPD continues to protect officers like Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra who shot Noel Rodriguez 29 times rather than de-escalating the situation and providing him with the help he needed as he was in the middle of a mental health crisis, killing him and leaving his family, his young daughters, to advocate for him because you refused to and you expect us to trust this department? I'm not gonna waste my time asking for for empathy, your body language already tells us you're not listening. So let me speak the only language politicians seem to understand. We voted you in and we will vote you out.

We demand full transparency about any collaboration with ICE, we demand accountability from SAPD, and we demand justice for Noel Rodriguez. Until then, no justice, no peace.

Good evening, Mayor and Councilmembers. My name is Amalia Mejia. I serve on the Sonana Police Oversight Commission, and I also am a resident of Ward 4. And although I live in Ward 4, I grew up in Ward 2. And so I know and experience the excessive use of force and surveillance that the Sonana PD and probation have caused in my community. And it is because of that that I decided to pursue a career and a PhD in public policy to address these very issues. So, and I say this not to validate that people who are educated deserve more rights, because I truly do not believe this, but I say this to address you, Amescua, Phil, and David,

when you've called me biased, for someone who has the knowledge as well as the lived experience. So let me clarify and give you some knowledge today. I want to start off thanking council members Lopez, Fan, Hernandez, and Vasquez, who are the only ones that I've seen at these demonstrations in Santa Ana. Sure, you all have been in Anaheim, but not in Santa Ana. I'm here tonight to express my deep disappointment in the lack of leadership from Mayor Mezcua, Council Members Becerra and Peñalosa. While I cannot say that I am surprised by your inaction, I continue to be profoundly

disappointed by how often you choose to prioritize property over people. When you took your oath, it was to protect people first. Both the California and US Constitution named life before property, but your actions repeatedly suggest otherwise. So I ask you, does throwing a rock at a building justify tear gas and rubber bullets? Does graffiti on a wall, which can be power washed or painted over, which I actually saw the next day being power washed, so not that costly, merit the use of force against our residents. The federal building was not looted. There was no looting in Santa Ana,

and yet Santa Ana PD's caused significant damage, damage that in fact one of the business owners experienced. And in fact, Council Member Peñalosa, you went to go see the business owner the following day. And so what is happening, it's heartbreaking. The fact that legal status doesn't protect anyone in our community thinks everyone's being violated from their constitutional rights. and just simply existing in brown skin is criminalized at this moment. And yet time and time again you use your platform to distort reality framing people as criminals and fueling fear through your preferred word of

manufacture and violence. Shame on you Amescua. This is a result of years of your deception and leadership still rooted in hateful rhetoric, not injustice. I'm so happy that I never voted for you and I hope that people who did do not vote for you again as you mentioned in your video you represent multiple groups so does that mean you represent the racist groups because at this point i don't know who you're really representing and so my ass is simple this council needs to hold the sonana police department accountable for escalating and using the force on peaceful protests i also need you all i spoke with the

the city manager to ensure we have our meeting for the police oversight, thank you.

Excuse me, my name is Wade Gracia. First I'd like to thank you all for being here and giving us the opportunity to speak on behalf of those that cannot. And thank you to those staff members who have been protesting with us, you know who you are. As a Japanese Mexican American, like my ancestors who have been subject to illegal incarceration in the internment cramps during World War II, I would just like to ask what efforts have been taken part in order to show that the local authority of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Police Department are with us and on the ongoing issue of the violation of human rights within the community. Local

authority and police are a crucial part of a community right, yet not once has any leader at least tried to bridge a gap between civilians and local vocally during these times of tension and protest. They are constantly seen as unapproachable beings standing next to the National Guard soldiers ready to quell protesters the second they deem us to be out of line. We all know underneath those uniforms, most are just reasonable human beings just like us and just doing what they are told. But if they are part of our community, why aren't they walking with us during the protest? I truly believe it would be beneficial if they did.

It would show solidarity regardless regardless of their occupational identity, while their presence can deter those who supposedly just want to wreak havoc and taint the messes that we are trying to convey. We are here due to federal authorities crossing the line, and the fight should not be with local authority and PD. It is against the billionaire class and the individuals such as Damon Henninger, the CEO of CoreCivic, a publicly traded company that owns the ICE detention facilities that cage immigrants at the price of $120,000 dollars per immigrant paid for by you and I taxpayers. Immigrants are not for

sale. Stop ICE the collaboration. You should be with us. Please show that you're with us. Please give us your support. Thank you.

Good afternoon my name is Maria and I'm a proud daughter of immigrants. As you As you know, the majority of our community here in Santa Ana is Hispanic. And right now, many of our neighbors are living in fear. ISIS terrorizing our streets. Families are afraid to go to work, to go buy groceries, or even to take their children to the park. People are being taken, ripped apart from their lives and loved ones without warning. This isn't wrong, it's inhumane. Santa Ana has declared itself a sanctuary city, but promise that must mean more than a label. It should carry real protections.

It should show up in the form of bold, compassionate leadership. And right now our community needs that leadership more than ever. We're asking you as public servants to speak out, to defend those who are too afraid to speak for themselves. You were elected to serve all residents, especially the most vulnerable among us. No human is illegal.

Next speakers.

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Next speakers are John Straw, Angelica L, Jasmine O, and Jose Sanchez.

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John Straw, Angelica, Jasmine O, Jose Sanchez.

Good evening, Mayor, Councilmembers. My name is Salvador Abreca. I'm not on the list. I just drove from San Diego to make sure you hear me. First of all, I'm a former United States Marine Corps member, Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, and I fought for the very rights that these individuals back here are standing up and exercising that right, number one. Number one. Number two, the hostility received this evening, earlier this evening by my girlfriend, by your police department is not acceptable for one bit. Now she's being charged with assaulting an officer. Come on. It was seven officers around her to get assaulted.

She was the one assaulting? I think you got this picture wrong. I was out here in Santa Ana protesting right along with everyone else out here. Why? Why? Two reasons. One, because I'll stand by my oath and I'll defend that oath, foreign and domestic. Second, I do not have a hood on. I will never have a hood on. Guess what? Not the way this works. So you either stand up and fight with us and get on the right side of this or face the consequences and find your ass out. It's that simple.

The following statements are addressed for Valerie Amiscua, for our mayor of Santana. On June 10th, you commented that what you were seeing in Santana was, quote, pure violence and destruction of our city and businesses. This was your response as mayor to those protesting and resisting masked men coming into your city in unmarked vans with weapons and storming the streets, snatching men, women, children, the elderly in plain daylight, some of which have yet to be heard from again.

Your people are afraid to walk the streets, to go to work, to open their doors because because they know what awaits them outside. We've all heard the stories of those who are taken by these armed thugs. They are kept in prisons without a trial, denied due process, unable to access lawyers or anyone who might be able to defend them. They are harassed, kept in solitary confinement, in cold concrete rooms for years. And you, as mayor, urge for peace and civility as people are kidnapped and sent to be tortured and assaulted in these internment camps. I asked myself, why do you praise these efforts

for putting down the only people who are defending the rights when people are being terrorized in your city, specifically by the federal government? Well, the answer is money. Because you, as mayor, when you got elected, the police spent $97,728 to get you elected.

And in exchange for $97,728 that the police spent on you, you are turning in thousands and thousands into misery, assault, torture, confinement, and imprisonment. When you should be fighting for your city with all your might to defend it from the the terrorists of this government, you instead bravely speak out against the only people who are willing to defend them against this terror. When the terror incarnate that is ICE came to my community, to my neighborhood, when they came for the baker, for my neighbor, for my friend, I know the people behind me have their backs.

They will defend my community, but all you will ever defend is money, specifically the cops' money.

Before I start, I just wanted to say I wrote this three different times because I was afraid of your prejudgment and biases because of the way I look. I was also told by my job that I should tread lightly on what I say because they were afraid of getting their fun taken.

Hello Mayor, Amezcua, and Councilmembers. My name is Jasmine. I'm a proud resident of Santa Ana, a direct community worker, a proud daughter of migrants, and a mother. I'll be honest, I came here today angry. Angry about what's happening in our neighborhoods, angry that families are being torn apart, but I refuse to let the anger disrupt my message because this moment calls for clarity, not chaos. us. Our people are scared. Ice rays are happening at job sites, parks, car washes, schools, places that used to be safe. Families are staying indoors. People are afraid to simply

exist in public. Businesses are suffering. Workers, many of them sole providers for their families, have lost their income overnight. Lives are being disrupted in every corner of this city. The fear is real and it is spreading. Santa Ana calls itself a sanctuary but how can we stand by that title when the very people who built this city are being hunted down like criminals? And when the vast majority of our community took to the streets peacefully to stand up for one another, what we saw from our city was heartbreaking. Instead of being protected, we were met with tactical gear and police information.

That wasn't about safety, that was about sending a message. Say enough, but don't do too much. As if the deployment of military forces wasn't already too much. Mayor, I heard your statement that you don't represent just one community, but let me be clear. This city is over 78% Latino. Many of us are immigrant and children of immigrants. When one of us is targeted, we all feel it. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for compassion, for humanity, and for a response that reflects the values Santa Ana claims to hold. So today I'm asking for one thing.

challenge the presence of federal agents in our city make it clear that Santana will not be a place where our residents are hunted harassed or silenced stand with us we are not criminals we are caretakers youth workers and students people who love the city and call it home the idea that anyone doesn't belong here is a product of collective imagination used to divide us dehumanize us and justify harm. I came here angry but I'm speaking out of love for my community, for my child and for the future of Santa Ana. I'm asking you

to leave with love too and if standing with your people makes us agitators then let it be known we'll never stop showing up not in fear but in truth in dignity and in power.

Good evening, Council Members and Mayor Emescua. My name is John Straw, and I'm a proud resident of Santa Ana. As so many here before me this evening have movingly shared, our immigrant sisters and brothers are under attack, and your job as elected officials is to support and defend them. With all of the devastation in our city and country at this time, it is rare that we can say we are proud of our elected representatives. However, I am thankful for you who are standing with our community, not for photo ops, but for our people.

Council members Hernandez, Vazquez, and my representative Lopez from Ward 3, and former Mayor Sarmiento, I wish I could say current mayor, former member Sarmiento, I commend you and thank you. I have seen you on the streets when we walked this week.

For our mayor and other council members, it's not too late. This nightmare is not over. I call on you to be on our streets tomorrow with your people and every day after until safety is returned to our community. And if you keep ignoring your community, you will be voted out. But don't wait to lose your seat on this council. Step up now. The people who have been on our streets over the past week are brave and inspiring. I hope your hearts are open and listening tonight. And tomorrow you act.

Good evening, council and the beautiful community behind me and outside waiting to come in and online. Today, I'm here to speak up against the inhumane, disgusting actions that are happening in this community and to voice for the people who don't have a voice. As a mixed race woman, it disgusts me seeing the human beings treated so horribly. Your community is built on the Latino community. Why rip these few families apart that have built your city from the ground up? Come on, it's literally called Santa Ana. That is not English, that is literally Latino. We have done all of your dirty work that nobody else wants

to do. No one else will take these jobs, only the hard-working Latino immigrants have come to this country looking to start a new family and community of their own. These are your people, your family, your children, and your citizens. As you may roll your eyes, look bored and exhausted from listening to your community. Me and many other people are out here standing up and protesting against the disgusting policies you have backed up. Shame. It's not okay. You are failing the community. Take care of your people.

We shouldn't have to be begging you and have over a hundred people asking you to take care of your community you signed up to take care of. We are people.

We are all people. We are all souls. It doesn't matter what color of hair we are, eyes, or skin color, sexuality, or race. We all are. We are all people. You should take care of your community. The people in this courtroom who are here at the protest could maybe do, or honestly, I think a lot of people would agree with me, a better job than you by showing how they would come out and fight for their people. Instagram accounts are alerting the people about ice raids more than the city has. I've never seen the city account post about ice raids.

Do more. This isn't a sanctuary city. How sad is that to think that some place that people come to live in and have grown up their whole life isn't safe for them to live in or their families to live in. As a community, we must continue to fight and continue to stand up for what is right. Thank you.

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The next speakers.

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The next speakers. Clara Duran. Jasmine Palmerin. Laura C. Priscilla Sanchez.

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Clara, Jasmine, Laura, Priscilla.

City Council, disappointing elected officials, and Santa Ana Police Department, hear me now. My name is Clara Duran Delgado. I am a member of CSOOC and their Police Accountability Committee. I am also a proud born and raised Santa Nero, raised at the Via del Sol apartments where ICE raids have taken place. Shame. I'm here to deliver a message that you can no longer ignore. To speak up for my familia, my friends, my community who are living in fear. I demand justice for them and I demand it now. Santa Ana is a sanctuary city.

That is not a suggestion. that is a declaration. We will not stand idly by while ICE agents terrorize our neighborhoods, racially profile our community, tearing apart our families, men, women, children of all ages. The presence of ICE in our city is a disgrace to everything we stand for and we will not tolerate it any longer. I am here to to demand an immediate end to all collaboration between the Santa Ana Police Department and ICE. It is your job to defend our sanctuary city status and to protect our rights of every single person within our borders.

Shame on you, Mayor Mezcua, for allowing this to happen under your watch. You have betrayed the trust of the people you swore to protect. Santa Ana is known to be a majority Hispanic community and has had this reputation for a very long time. That you know very well the people that live here in your city are the same ones that are being racially profiled by ICE. Shame on the Santa Ana Police Department for instigating violence against our community and the peaceful protestors. We are here to remind you that you work for us.

We the people demand that you uphold your duty and your oath to protect the community and uphold the Constitution. Your collaboration with these ICE raids are tearing families apart, instilling fear in our community. These actions, detentions without due process, families being separated, and basic human rights disregarded are a violation of our constitutional rights. Get ICE out of Santa Ana, get ICE out of Orange County, and get them out now. We are not your subjects. We are the community you serve. As elected officials, you are accountable to us.

As the Santa Ana Police Department, with your bloated $160 million budget, we the people pay for you. You must be held responsible for the violence you unleashed on peaceful protesters. Your actions are a disgrace and we the people and history will not forget them. History will cast its gaze upon you and will not be kind to those who stood idly by. The names of those who you incited violence and failed to defend the people, knowing the wrongfulness of your ice raids and kidnappings will forever be linked to these human rights violations. Clara, your time is up.

One last thing, I'm a hairdresser and whoever's doing your hair mare is doing you wrong.

My name is Priscilla Sanchez, and Valerie, you stand here disgenuous. You can't even say excuse me when you go and use the restroom as we're here to speak to you for our people. I had written out everything. I rewrote it a couple of times, and honestly, you don't care. I will speak about the events that happened on Monday of last week. I go out in a peaceful protest and I had a sign that said you don't look for missing children this hard and For whatever reason your officers of the SAPD found that funny and I went to the other side of the street

You guys had pointed me out. I am NOT a threat. I was just exercising my rights of protest and for whatever reason There was a barricade and there was this family. It was a husband and a wife who were crying I believe that they had already taken someone from their little group and One of the officers from the site I was protesting on prior had walked over pointed me out Tell me why the SAPD broke their barricade and let ten men come and chase me down with a sign I am NOT violent. I am here to stand up for those who can't speak for us or speak for themselves. I'm sorry I

I live in terror and I am a citizen. I walk down these streets and we see these armed men that you allow to take and rip apart our families. Where do you come from and where do you stand? Because you don't stand with us. You look at your phone as we speak, you walk away and don't say, excuse me, where's your compassion? I look at you in the eyes because I'm disappointed in you as a woman, because you should represent love and motherhood but I don't see you like that. I can't even see you as a tia. I don't know where your side is on this but you're not with us because you're not outside there. You're not

witnessing all of these things. We are not here for violence. We are here to peacefully exercise our right to protest but you want to make the you want to let the public see what you want them to see through the PD department. I have sent you messages personally on Instagram and you have have not responded. I can't even tag you. You're not for the people if we can't tag you. You don't respond. And you have nothing to say. You just sit here and look tired. We're tired too. I'm hungry. I can't sleep at night because I live in fear. And I'm a citizen. And for those that don't have their paperwork, I can just imagine how they feel.

You're ripping apart families. And I hope you're happy with yourself. I don't know how you sleep and bear with yourself at night. Look in the mirror because you look more indigenous than I do. as I stand here.

Good evening, council members. I am here as a peaceful protester and a concerned member of this community, Mayor Emescuwa. With decades of experience with the probation department and working with the youth and gang prevention, you of all people should understand the trauma caused by over policing and excessive force.

You built your career protecting people, now is the time to prove you still stand for that. I met you when I was a teenager sometime around 2003, and I loved your story back then. I remember your speech, I don't know if you remember it, but it was about a car accident and some pills. Do you remember that speech? And I actually believed you back then. You made me want to turn my life around. And now I'm disappointed in you. You have let down this city and this community. I went out there last Monday with a poster, peacefully protesting, using my voice, my First Amendment right,

and I was shot at five times. I'm 4'11". What threat can I freaking be? Five times.

I was gassed, but little do they forget that my grandma used to cook those chiles de arbol in the fucking comal. That gas didn't do shit to me.

I was holding a sign and even just with that I was shot at five times a block away from my home. I live in Ward 5. That night you guys didn't allow us to drive our car into to our parking community.

At 11 o'clock at night, my daughter came home from work, she couldn't park her fucking car where we live.

700 West Third Street, that's where I live.

Do I need to see this every day? I'm here to speak for the people, my neighbors and friends that can't.

I highly doubt that they don't know how to shoot. And if your officers don't know how to shoot, then you guys need to send them to training. Because shooting me five times was uncalled for.

I'm here to demand change, transparency, and accountability. I want to know who will answer for this, who will ensure this never happens again, who here will stand up for the rights of peaceful citizens, not just with words but in action. I deserve to be heard, we all do, not hunted. Your time is up. You're a sellout, amezcua. You're a brown noser and you're for the police.

Good evening, my name is Jasmine Pomeran, First and foremost, I demand the release and drop charges of Ms. Lopez, who was aggressively detained by SAPD prior to the City Council meeting. I stand before you today as a deeply concerned community member who has witnessed firsthand the escalating dehumanization inflicted upon our Santa Ana community by both ICE agents and SAPD. Speeches and two-minute video clips are not enough to keep our city and its residents safe. It is time for you, our elected officials, to defend us. Vote to demilitarize the SAPD.

Take immediate action and raise your voices to get ICE out of our neighborhoods. The presence of police officers calling in the National Guard is a blatant fear tactic. You cannot credibly chat ICE out if you are not also demanding the demilitarization of SAPD. This is about intersectionality. These issues are deeply intertwined. Your constituents, the community you represent, are not just asking, we are now demanding the following. Demilitarize SAPD. Transparency on rubber bullets and pepper bullets. We demand full disclosure on how many rounds of rubber bullets have been deployed at protesters since June 9th.

Our community deserves to know the extent of force being used upon them. ICE and National Guard out of Santa Ana, you must unequivocally denounce their presence and actions within our city. Active disclosure. I urge you all to actively push for disclosure and transparency in regards to National Guard's activity in Santa Ana. Justice for Noe Rodriguez. Funding for grassroots organizations who are doing the work and protecting our communities. You must advocate for your constituents' interests. You must promote transparency. Our entire community is living in fear. Fearful to go to grocery shopping. Fearful to walk the streets.

fearful to go to work. While SAPD may claim they are not working with ICE, the reality on the ground is that SAPD and other local police departments are undeniably using the National Guard as an intimidation tactic against our residents. Now is the time to act, defend us with your votes, demilitarize SAPD and get ICE and the National Guard out of Santa Ana. I would also like to thank council members who have continued to advocate and be present at demonstrations such as Jesse Lopez and Jonathan Hernandez and to the community of Santa Ana we need to continue to continue creating demands and hold all of our

officials accountable to meet the demands of human rights and demand legalization for all thank you for your resilience and perseverance and I'll see you all at the next protest.

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The next speakers.

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The next the next speakers Matthew Compton, Emma Gottfried, Diana Castro, Davis Garcia.

There's a lot of empty seats.

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Matthew Compton, Emma Gottfried, Diana Castro, Davis Garcia.

All right. My name is Matt. I'm here as a member of CSO OC. I'm sorry, Matt. Can I enter really quick? I apologize. City Manager, are there people still waiting outside? Can you... There's seats to let them in, please.

Why do we stand out? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. Go ahead, Matt. Long came after work.

It's shameful that you waited this long to say that. Anyway, I'll continue.

I'm here to demand justice for Noe Rodriguez. Rodriguez, I am also here to demand that the City Council and our City Manager, Alvaro Nunez, immediately remove Santa Ana Police Officers, Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra from the force without pay.

Additionally, I demand that the Police Oversight Commission alongside the City Manager investigate both officers for the violation of the Police Department's Code of Ethics for failing to to uphold the department's procedure in treating people with mental illness. And for the violation of Noe's civil rights. As the city council has failed in his job to appoint an independent oversight director, the city manager also has the power to conduct investigations, subpoena witnesses, and compel the production of evidence. The family demands that both officers be in prison so they do not kill or harm anyone again.

I would like to point out that you, Mayor Valerie Amescuah, received $217,850 in support from the Santa Ana Police Officers Association. You, Councilmember David Penaloza, received $92,121 in support from the SAPOA. Shame!

Councilmember Phil Becerra, you received $81,849 in support from the SAPOA. Shame on you. Shame on you. And so I ask you, how can the three of you accurately do your jobs as city councilmembers when the SAPOA bought all three of you? Here's your answer. You cannot. not you three are spineless fucking cowards justice for no way Rodriguez and I started OC

Hello. I'm Emma and I'm a member of CSO OC's Police Accountability Commission.

And we're here to demand justice for Noe Rodriguez.

I'm going to emphasize this demand again because the family of Noe has been fighting for justice since December 1st, since this killing has occurred, and this demand cannot be emphasized enough because there's still not justice for him. So we're going to keep fighting for this. We demand that the City Council and City Manager immediately remove Santa Ana police officers Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra from the position without pay. We demand that the City Manager and the Police Oversight Commission use their authority established in the Santa Ana Municipal Code to conduct a rigorous investigation of the killing of Noe Rodriguez.

Rodriguez and there's significant evidence that the officers violated the police department's code of ethics and failed to follow the department's procedures and the treatments of people with mental illnesses and violated NOAA's civil rights. The family demands that both officers be in prison so they do not kill or harm anyone again.

And what did these officers say about the murder of NOAA? They lied about it. They lied about it in their critical incident report. They lied about how many bullets they shot and they lied about Noe's behavior. We have body cam footage of this. There's literal video footage of this. It's public and they lied. Castillo said it looked like Noe was loading a gun, but that's not what we see in the footage. Instead, we only see him standing motionless against the wall of a furniture store holding a toy. These are killer cops and they're on our streets. They're on our streets right now.

We're not gonna stop until these officers are held accountable. We're not gonna stop until SAPD has enforced a de-escalation policy and a policy of bilingual instructions and we're not gonna stop there.

The way these officers took a situation that could have helped members of our community and instead escalated that situation clearly shows how SAPD operates. Also, by the way, you guys have always been afraid to see these pictures of these two officers, so I want to make sure that's very clear.

Look, once again, you cut it away. Why? Put me back on the screen. What are you doing? What are you doing? Freeze the timer. You're cutting me off. Put me back on the screen. What's happening?

Shame. Shame, shame. Thank you, thank you. I'm cutting it again? What is happening? Unbelievable.

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Put the camera back on him. I would like to see the camera to reflect the speakers, please. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, council members.

The way SAPD operates, the way, oh, sorry. The way the officers took a situation where they could have helped our community and said escalate the situation is clearly how SAPD operates. You stole 30 seconds from me.

They've done this time and time again, and the way they've been at the protests clearly show that. SAPD keeps attacking protesters with tear gas and deadly rubber bullets, attacking people literally defending our community, and that's unforgivable. SAPD should be protecting us, should not be protecting the National Guard. Why are they guarding them? Our community is under attack, and they're protecting federal agents. We have no transparency over our police. We have no accountability for what our police brutalize our community. Your time is up. Thank you. Your time is up. We need community control over the police.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next speakers.

raised, live, and I'm a psychologist here in Santa Ana. And I'm a proud product of first generation Mexican-American, the daughter of immigrants. I'm here because enough is enough. ICE is violating human rights in our streets. They're disappearing our neighbors, tearing apart families, and instilling fear across our communities. This is not public safety. This is institutional violence. And it's a betrayal by you, Mayor of Miscua, who was elected to serve and protect us in our sanctuary city. As a psychologist, I see the damage firsthand.

Children who can't sleep at night because they're afraid their parents won't be home when they get back from school. Families living under constant fear and anxiety. Even in our Santa Ana school district, the summer programs have started cancelling summer field trips because students are scared of deportation. And there's no guarantee from staff to be able to keep them safe. Is this the reality that we want for Santa Ana? This city was built by immigrants, by hard-working families who deserve dignity, protection, due process and basic human rights. We demand respect. I'm speaking tonight for my students and

their families who are afraid to speak out. Remove ICE from our city. Remove the National Guard from our neighborhoods. Listen to your people. Protect the the families who trusted you with their vote. Protecting our community means protecting everyone, including our undocumented neighbors, our families, and every Santanero who calls this city home. Mi nombre es Diana Lopez. Nací, crecí, vivo, trabajo aquí en Santana. Soy psicóloga y soy una orgullosa mexicana-americana de primera generación, hija de inmigrantes. Estoy aquí porque ya basta. AIS is violating human rights in our streets.

It is disappearing our neighbors, separating families, and instilling fear in our communities. This is not security. This is institutional violence. And it is a betrayal by each one of you who was chosen to protect and serve us. As a psychologist, I see the damage every day. Diaz Nino's que no pueden dormir por miedo a que sus padres no estan en casa cuando regresen de la escuela familias viviendo con miedo y ansiedad constante incluso nuestros programas de verano del distrito ya suspendieron a excursiones

por miedo a la deportation de algunos estudiantes y por miedo de poder asistir y no poder a proteger los esta es la realidad que queremos para nuestra of our city, Santana. This city was built by immigrants and workers who deserve dignity, protection, and basic human rights. Thank you.

Council Member Fan, I'm sorry, can you hold on one second, I apologize.

Thai Viet PhanItem 24

I'm so sorry, but may I please request a bio break? I really needed the restroom. I really want to respect everyone and I want to hear everyone.

We'll do a five minute break. Thank you. Thank you all for understanding.

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guitar solo

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 24

We have a quorum.

You can go ahead and start. Thank you.

Council members and comrades, my name is Amy and I'm the secretary of Orange County DSA. I'm not from Santa Ana, but I have eyes and I can see the horrors that ICE and the SAPD have racked on our streets. I was there on Monday as DHS pointed guns at us and instead of coming to protect us from the feds, the SAPD and the National Guard came to tear gas and shoot at the community. As the people demand change and the protection from the city for you to do your jobs, Mayor Emezcua not only stood by, she actively deployed SAPD further and collaborated with ICE against the people.

Having been supported by the mayor, the SAPD shot medics with rubber bullets in the head and tear gassed peaceful protesters as young as 15 years old. When the feds told the city to stop giving the people information to protect themselves, the mayor bent the knee, putting the feds over the people. And when people came out to speak today, you arrested them. Free Lopez!

Mayor, you have lied time and time again and have directly sold out the people you are supposed to serve for money from the cops. Mayor, in the coming days, unless you do the right thing and resign, the people of Santa Ana will be taking the action to recall you as you have failed to do your jobs. And now for my speakers and Mayor Mezcua. To all people of Santa Ana, your Mayor is a friend of the migrant. Mayor Mezcua collaborates with the police and the migrant against the people and wants to deport you. She is a friend of the people. Mayor Mezcua is a traitor to the people of Santa Ana.

El pueblo demanda determinar colaborar con la migra y la policia. Chinga la policia de Santa Ana y chinga la migra. Que viva Santa Ana. Shame on you, Mayor of Esquadra. Shame, shame, shame.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next four speakers. The next speakers Michael Willis, Mia Luna B, Marina S, and And Daniel Riley.

Sorry, I'm short. Sorry for my voice, I've been, I was Santana. Lost my voice last week, but it's starting to come back, so I might as well use it.

Hello, my name is Michael Willis, and I want to begin with Ms. Mezco, you have failed the city. Not only in your inaction, but by aiding and abetting in the oppression of the people you were supposed to protect. Your lack of transparency is reprehensible. reprehensible. Your cooperation with ICE and instruction of SAPD to do the same is unforgivable. You have allowed invaders into the community to harass, detain, and remove the people that make the city great. If you will not fight for the people, then the people deserve someone who will. People like Jonathan

Hernandez, Jesse Lopez, Ben Vasquez, and Vicente Sarmiento. Those who work for and and can be seen with the people of Santa Ana. You deserve someone who will work with you in times of peace and fight for you when your rights and families are being threatened. Someone who will stand for you and against ICE or anyone else who comes for the community. Santa Ana needs someone that will use the police to enforce the law, not illegal orders from a dictator. Police should enforce that ICE is only detaining

those with valid warrants, not those at workplaces, nor hospitals, nor grocery stores or markets, and definitely not at courthouses when they're trying to do the right way. And that's if ISIS should be here at all. I personally should believe I should be abolished.

We need someone who will keep them out of the courthouses and from running the streets looking for a brown face to snatch up. You deserve better, Santana, because a politician's power is derived for the people, not over them. I think a lot of you forgot that somewhere along the way. I want everybody to remember these are not just a series of protests happening. This is a start of a movement seen across America, seen across the world. They are not a war against America, but for America and what it should be, and what we can make it.

This country was founded on protests. Every one of our civil liberties was gained not through complacency but by revolution and through the protests in which you are trying to stop. We will not go quietly into that night. We will rage against the dying of the light. And that dying light is our democracy. We will do whatever we can to keep that going. Thank you.

I'm waiting for the camera. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Milene Rodriguez-Marbon, and I'm here because what is happening in our city is unacceptable. This past week, our community was raided. Families were torn apart. Children left without parents. And while all of this was happening, Mayor Emeskwa stayed silent. Not in the streets. not standing with us. Just another post, another statement, another excuse. Then I saw the mayor's post labeling the protest violent, telling us to go home as

if we were the ones destroying this city. But what you don't seem to understand is this isn't destruction, it's grief, it's fear, it's heartbreak. It's the only way that we're being heard. Santa Ana feels empty now. Parks where kids used to play are silent. People are afraid to come outside. I don't hear music anymore. I don't hear kids laughing. I hear nothing. That silence, that is what fear sounds like. Mayor Emescuua, what are you scared of?

what is keeping you from standing with us because I will tell you what I'm scared of I'm scared that one day my dad won't come home that the people who have always protected me might be taken away without warning I'm scared of waking up to an empty house I'm scared that the people were supposed to trust will keep failing us but even with that fear I still went out there I still protested I still yelled until my voice gave out because fear won't stop me from fighting for our families. You recently said you don't represent just one part of the community.

But Mayor, what community are you representing? Because it is certainly not any of us who are in this room right now. Now.

This is not some reality drama TV show. We don't want petty shade thrown at the council members who are actually showing up. We don't want carefully crafted social media statements. We want action. We want protection. We want a leader who shows up when it matters. We demand SAPD stop attacking peaceful protesters. We demand ICE leave Orange County. We demand the National Guard leave our neighborhoods alone. I also want to hold this woman accountable for calling a speaker who spoke here. Her name is Emma. You referred to her as sir.

This is 2025 and we should respect people for who they are.

So I wanna hear a sorry from you. Maybe not right now, but eventually I do. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Marina. I live in Santa Ana. I live in whatever ward Mr. Penulosa supposedly leads. So, Mayor Meswa, you say you don't just represent one group. What other groups are you referring to? Because we have our immigrant community and their allies, community who are being terrorized and brutalized by ICE and murdered by SAPD. We have our community of brown, indigenous, and people of color and their allies who are also being terrorized and brutalized by ICE and murdered by SAPD. We have people who believe in justice, people of all creeds and colors here today.

We have people who remember their history, the history of the labor and civil rights movements which shaped our nation. History full of people waving their arms around and yelling and participating in civil disobedience. So who has left, Mayor? Because it sounds like we only left out racists and police. Same thing.

So why do their wishes get placed above ours? Is it because you don't know history? Is it because Santa Ana Police Department owns you? Is it because... Thank you.

Is it because you're racist too? And maybe that's racist of me to say, but when you're acting just like a racist federal administration, when you're doing their work for them by having your violent gang of thugs with badges fire into peaceful crowds and exciting violence i don't know what else to think you're not on the side of immigrants and you're not on the side of santa ana your actions speak for themselves where is your compassion your empathy your courage we need justice not laying low like genocide complicit congressman correa told you to do

Mayor Emesqua, Mayor Emesqua, it is not too late to be a human being. No more tear gas, no more lethal rubber bullets, no more violence against those of us brave enough to actually do something about ICE destroying our community and our city. Justice for Noe Rodriguez and Jail Luis Casillas and Isaac Ibarra. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Next four speakers, Daniel Riley, Nubia Hernandez, Steffi Duarte, Aliza Gutierrez.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

You can come forward.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

You can go ahead.

Hello. This is my first council meeting. Woo! I'm here.

By the way, the sign behind you, e pluribus unum, do you guys know what that means? You? It means out of many, one. One, that means you mess with one of us, you mess with us all. We're all coming here for you. Just so you know, I'm a teacher in Santa Ana, and I can go eight hours without using the restroom, just so you know, and I cannot leave my classroom because who's gonna take care of the kids? That's right.

And I have here some actual letters from my students who wrote to Donald Trump. They are not afraid to say his name. Dear Mr. President, I wish that you can stop deportation. I want you to stop deportation because, she used the transition word, I love that for her, a lot of people are not going outside because of this. Also, if people stop going places, and you will not get as much money as before. I think our businesses are suffering, don't you?

By the way, she wrote this two months ago. She didn't even know this was going to happen. I also do not believe that people should live in fear. Sincerely, and I really want to say her name, but out of respect to her and her safety, I will not.

There's more, by the way. I have 29 students, so don't worry. I got plenty coming. Dear Donald Trump, please don't separate families. They deserve to be together. She's not afraid to say his name either. Even if they don't have papers, they should stay because, another translation word, I love this word. They didn't do anything. Yeah, they're not going over people who are criminals. They're going after our grandmas, our abuelos, abuelas, tias, tios, people that we love in our community. Our elotero man, okay? Our gardeners who are just doing their job. Please stop this.

Dear Mr. President, I wish that you stop ICE from taking people to the border because they have no papers. Mr. President, ICE is causing families to become separate. By the way, this student really wanted to use bad words, but I convinced them not to. And this just shows you that even children are capable of having compassion and having .

Dear President, I wish that you would open the borders because people should have the right to live here. That's a great idea, actually. I think everyone could be living here, so please open the borders. Oh, and this is my newcomer who just got here a few months ago, who doesn't really speak English, but he tried his best to write this letter for the president. Dear Mr. President, I wish that you do not separate families. And you know what? I fear for him every day. I fear for all of my newcomers who are scared to go to school now because of what you have done.

Oh my goodness, okay. As an educator, that was so hard to hear. Listening to students, young children write these words. But let me get into it. Hello everyone, my name is Steffi and I am here today as a community member and an educator in SAUSD to speak out against the ICE raids happening in our neighborhoods and the violence inflicted on peaceful protesters like myself. I work with students with disabilities. These students are already navigating complex challenges and now they're terrified. They're afraid to come to school. They're afraid that when they go home, the parents that take care of them

day in and day out are not going to be there because they've been detained by ICE. That fear is real. I fear for them. Who's gonna take care of my students? The The fear lives in our classrooms, in our homes, and in the hearts of our youth. This is not okay. We must keep families together. We want our children and our communities to thrive. I demand for ICE to be removed from our communities.

As for the protests, I have always been peaceful. I bring water, snacks, and support. I help people who are in distress, like on last Monday, when many people had been tear gassed and hit with rubber bullets. I've shown up to protect, to support, and to stand up for what's right. But on Saturday night, after making sure my friend got safely to her car, I was boxed in and trapped by SAPD and federal agents in full riot gear. Was I rioting? No, but they were ready. For what? I don't know, because we were peaceful the whole time. Exactly. I was trying to leave to get to safety

because I was afraid. I was afraid for my safety. But then I was shot with a rubber bullet. A rubber bullet that's not even supposed to be aimed at people, especially with the little distance that was between me and them. This is what happened to me. Is this okay? No. That's what I get for peacefully protesting? I have been in pain every day since Saturday. I'm struggling with my basic routines and I know I'm not the only one. I know there's more people that have injuries just like mine or worse. This violence against peaceful people is unacceptable. We deserve to feel safe in our homes, in our schools, in our streets

and when we exercise our right to protest. I demand for the police to be held accountable and I also demand a recall for our mezcua for continuously lying to us and not protecting the community she's supposed to serve. Lastly, trans rights are human rights. Immigrant rights are human rights as well. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

The next speakers.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Eliza Gutierrez. Samantha Fajardo Soriano. Victor Hugo Estrada Ochoa. Samantha M.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Eliza.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Samantha Fajardo Soriano

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Victor Hugo Estrada Ochoa

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Samantha M

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

sydney doe

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

terry sada

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

followed by lorenzo gonzalez and helena e

Buenas noches. My name is Terri and I'm here because I stand with our community, no matter where they're from, no matter how they got here. I won't stand by and watch as ICE and National Guard and Santa Ana PD terrorize our community. community. Several years ago, the community worked hard to make Santa Ana a sanctuary city, the first in OC. We are here again to make sure it stays a sanctuary city. We have had enough authoritarianism already in this country. And in this moment, we really need leaders who will stand up to bullying, to stand up for what is right. Thank you, Council

members Ben, Jonathan, Jesse for standing steadfast, for speaking out, and for showing up for the community when we need you the most. Where were the rest of you? There are hundreds here in this room and outside. Thousands who marched in Santa Ana this week and millions of people across the country and world who stand together for the dignity of human beings, who stand for the unjust killing of Noe Rodriguez, who are fighting for a free Palestine, Congo, and Sudan, who say, abolish ICE. These struggles are united, and so are we. And we are not going anywhere.

Aquí estamos y no nos vamos. Join us. I want to add, let Tainas Lopez go. She came here to share her experience, her support, and instead she was unjustly arrested and removed. We demand that she be released and be allowed to speak. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Elena. I hate public speaking, so the fact that I'm here means that I'm very unhappy.

I was born and raised here in Santa Ana. My statement is short and simple. Shame on you, Mayor Amezcua. Shame on SAPD. Your responses to our community in a time of crisis have been extremely disappointed, if not fully outrageous. We have the right to peacefully protest without being criminalized by our own mayor. Shame on you. Shame. Shame. Our community is scared to go to work, to get groceries, to go out to eat. This is not okay. Keep ICE out of Santa Ana, out of OC. get these tanks out of here. They do not belong here.

And to all the people who have spoken here, I really hope that your word, their words have hit your heart.

And I don't know if you understand that or not, but that's not for me. Thank you.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Next speaker, Lorenzo Gonzalez, Vincent M., Andrea R., Erica Armentha.

Thank you, everyone. The next speaker is actually my husband, so we have a lot to say.

I come here with an experience that isn't commonly spoken about, but I am a first-generation daughter born and raised in the heart of racist South Orange County. I grew up with immigrant parents who sacrificed everything in hopes that my sister and I remain strong and loud, something that you are trying to suppress. We grew up with racism and suppression, grew up with slurs, the profiling, being followed in a grocery store, being given detention for speaking Spanish. We grew up being told lies about our very people, even as far as being told that we will one day become extinct as a people.

All of which is single-handedly fueling the kidnapping and abuse of our people here in Santa Ana. The people you are responsible for representing, yet you have failed to do so. I may have been born in South County, but Santa Ana has always been my home. It was where we spent every single weekend, grocery shopping, seeing family, and being being able to breathe as a proud Mexican and no longer a slur.

It was the escape from the hate we have seen and experienced firsthand when racism runs rampant and the harm that that causes in our communities.

Not only our Mayor Emescuar on behalf of all of us, we hold you responsible for the terror and assault on our people every single day. I have seen ice trucks every single morning more than I have seen you speak out about our people. Not only is there the physical risk of harm, but also the emotional and psychological impact of being persecuted based on strictly prejudice and discrimination.

I now work as a proud Santa Ana resident in the child care sector. I run a program for children with special needs. Can you genuinely look at me and tell me what you feel inside when I tell you that we have had to tell our kids in child care programs here in Santa Ana that the only plan in place for an ice raid is to stay quiet and hide? What do you suggest I tell those kids, some of them who are as young as four years old, who instead of having a fun summer, they are now worried of never seeing their parents again past the gates that they have to cross to try to pick them up.

Mayor Emeswa, our community deserves to feel safe going out and about their normal day without being persecuted. And that's what it is. We are being persecuted.

We keep, we keep the city, state, and country going. And since you won't step up and help the community, we ask that that you resign and step aside so real representation can take place. Valerie, that is what I'm calling you. You are no longer our mayor. You are a disgrace to the Chicana name.

I'm gonna take off my mask because I want you guys to see my face. I just wanna let you guys know that I'm a Santa Ana, been born and raised in Santa Ana.

Grandmas, grandpas have been here. I just want to let you guys know, border crossed me, I never crossed the border.

And I've been part of peaceful protests all my life. I'm 34 years old, I've been there, been all the protests, and never has it ever felt like this, ever. And I just want to let you guys know that, actually I want to thank all my brothers and sisters out here that I see risking everything, going hungry, going thirsty. We have to use the restroom too, right? We weren't, we were just sitting down just you know and I just want to let you guys know that we're moving, the city's moving. You guys can see it and you guys are gonna get left behind. I just want to let you guys

know like they said I never voted for you. I'm proud to say that. I voted for Mr. Ben Vasquez over there and I just want to let you guys know you guys can voted out too right and so people vote with your dollar you know just proud of you guys everyone out here proud of all my people out here

good evening what a no just mayor Musco and council members thank you for taking the time to listen to us today mayor Musco what an honor it is to to witness your leadership, especially how you prioritize your donors over our community. There are a lot of people outside these walls who feel betrayed and hurt because of the actions and inactions.

But I don't understand why. So let's recap. First ICE raids in our city. They're raiding our homes. They're taking apart working families. And like a true leader mayor, you didn't criticize ICE, you didn't criticize their cruelty. Instead, you attacked protesters and a few of your colleagues here. As you should. They were monsters. These protesters were loud. They walked on the street. They played music and they danced on the street. How dare they?

Days later after backlash, you mumbled something about respecting your constituents. It was heartfelt.

It almost felt like it didn't sound like GPT wrote it for you.

So I don't understand why people want you out of office. Like a true leader, you put your donors before your community. community. Like a true leader, when landlords funded your campaign, you voted against renters. Like a true leader, when the police union says jump, you say, sure, you can collab with ICE. Okay, okay, that was, that sounded bad, but I believe in the mayor. Corrupt leader, I mean, sorry, consistent leadership. Time and time again, she sides with donors, not not with the community.

So here's my sincere thank you to the mayor, Peñalosa. I'm not sure which ones you are, all of you are corrupt here. Not all of you, I'm sorry. Peñalosa and Becerra. Thank you for showing us who you are and where you stand in history.

Hi, my name is Miranda and I'm up here to call out Mayor Mezcua for praising SAPD for their efforts of protecting businesses and keeping the city peaceful when you should have been reprimanding SAPD and the National Guard for not protecting us while we're exercising our First Amendment. That's what you should have been doing, protecting your people and not the buildings. There is a reason we are yelling out peaceful protest. It's not because we're out there to fight anybody. We're yelling peaceful protest to let you know that we're there peacefully. But you don't seem to believe that. We as a community are allowed to exercise

our first amendment right, but apparently you don't agree with that and all you care about is how much money will line your pockets based on the opposition of your people. It's crazy to me how you are for the people but you don't see yourself in the people being taken by ICE. You don't see yourself, you don't see your mom, you don't see your sisters, your daughters, your theos, because that's what I see. When they're being taken, I see my family. But you apparently don't see that. Pacero, you don't see that. Penalosa, you don't see that. Are you guys blinds or do they pay you to not see?

It's absolutely shameful of you. Viva mi gente, viva mi gente migrantes. They are the backbone of this community. Get ICE and the National Guard out of our communities because we're not criminals, you are.

Sonia R. CarvalhoItem 24

Mayor, as the next speaker comes up, I just want to remind the council and the mayor that we have gotten to the 11 o'clock hour. If you desire to hear the rest of the speakers and you want to go past midnight, now would be the time to take that vote to continue.

So is there a motion to continue or to stop the meeting?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

I'll make a motion to continue to hear the speakers.

And then the second object is a motion by Councilman Hernandez, a second by Councilman Penalosa. And we'll take a vote, please.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Councilmember Becerra? Yes. Councilmember Hernandez?

Johnathan Ryan HernandezItem 24

Si se puede.

Jennifer L. HallItem 24

Councilmember Lopez? Yes. Councilmember Penalosa? Yes. Councilmember Pham? Yes. Mayor Pro Tempaskas? Yes. Mayor Mezcua? Yes. Vote of seven ayes, no nays. Motion carries. Thank you.