Alcala, Abigail
From: KellyKraus-Lee <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October
To: Amezcua, Valerie; Penaloza, David
Cc: eComment
Subject: CommentonAgendaItem3 - RecallPetition
DearMayorAmezcuaandCouncilmemberPenaloza,
I amaresidentof SantaAnaward6 andI amwritingto expressmyconcernabouttherecallelectionusingthe wrongwardmaps. I don't quiteunderstandhowthingsgotthisfaralongwithouttheRegistrarof Voters catchingthiserror, butregardless, theCitysimplycan't facetheriskof anexpensivelegalbattleontopof the expensivespecialelection. CouncilmemberLopezisupfor re-electionin ayear - let'sletthenewWard3voters decidethenwhotheywantrepresentingthem.
Thankyou,
KellyKraus-Lee
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: JonathanMehtaStein <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October30, 20239:37AM
To: eComment
Subject: SubmissionforSpecialCityCouncilMeeting, Oct30, 2023 Attachments: SantaAnaRecallLetter - CACommonCause - Oct302023.pdf DearMayorAmezcuaandSantaAnaCityCouncil,
CaliforniaCommonCauseisanonpartisannonprofitorganizationdedicatedto fair, transparent, and participatorylocalandstatedemocracy. Wesubmittheattachedletteraspubliccommentfor today'sspecial meetingof theCityCouncil.
Thankyouandbestwishes,
Jonathan
JonathanMehtaStein (he/him)
ExecutiveDirector, CaliforniaCommonCause
phone: 408-533-3643
web: commoncause.org/ca
twitter: @_jonathanstein
YoucansupportourworkbymakingataxdeductiblecontributiontoCaliforniaCommonCausehere! 1 October30, 2023
MayorAmezcuaandSantaAnaCityCouncil
20CivicCenterPlaza
SantaAna, CA92701
[email protected]
RE: LegalQuestionsaboutRecallElectionof CouncilmemberJessieLopez DearMayorAmezcuaandMembersof theCityCouncil,
CaliforniaCommonCauseisanonpartisannonprofitorganizationdedicatedto fair, transparent, andparticipatorylocalandstatedemocracy. Wewritetodayto addressthecontroversy surroundingtherecallelectionof CouncilmemberJessieLopez.
Asyouknow, CaliforniaElectionCodeonlypermitsthevoterswhoelectedanofficialto recall redistricting
boundarieshavelegaleffect. Additionally, - redistricting boundariesaredueavoteonanyrecallthatissuccessfullyandappropriatelyqualified.
AsanorganizationwearenotinvestedinSantaAnapolitics, havenoviewonCouncilmember Lopezsperformanceasacouncilmember, andtakenopositiononthemeritsof therecall. Asa result, wespeakonlyfromourunderstandingof thelaw, whichleadsusto thefollowing conclusion: WhiletherewereseriouserrorscommittedbytheRegistrarof VotersandtheCity, andcancelingtherecallelectionwouldbedeeplyunfairto theproponentsof therecallwho simplyfolloweddirectionsfromthosetwoentities, theresidentsof thepost-redistrictingWard3 donotactuallyhavethelegalrightto recallCouncilmemberLopez. Additionally, almost1,200 residentsof thepre-redistrictingWard3 havethelegalrightto decideontherecall, shouldit moveforward, anddonothavetheballotstheyneedinorderto doso.
WerecognizesignificantmoneyhasbeenspentbytheCityandtheRegistrarin preparingfor the recallelection, andproponentsof therecallhaveexpendedeffortandmoneyin pursuitof their goals. Butgiventhefactsabove, wehaveverysignificantquestionsaboutthelegalvalidity of therecallandwouldanticipatethatif it wereto moveforward, theresultwouldquicklybe challengedin courtbymembersof thecommunity, resultingin substantiallegalfeesfor theCity.
Weappreciatethedifficultyof thissituationandwishyouwellin yourattemptsto findthemost appropriateresolutionpossible.
Sincerely,
JonathanMehtaStein
ExecutiveDirector, CaliforniaCommonCause
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: KatherineFreeman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October30,
To: eComment
Subject: Voting "YES" OnRecallofJesseLopez!!
Pleasecountmyvoteto continuewithFairnessfor theRECALL! SOMUCHNEEDEDTOHELPOUR
COMMONSENSEVALUESOFSAFETYANDCOMMUNITYINSTEADOFA BOTCHED ERRORBY THEROVclerk. Horrible!
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: KellyMedina <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October
To: eComment
Subject: Nov. 14, 2023recallelection
LettheNov. 14, 2023recallelectiongoforth. Everythingwasdoneingoodfaith. Sheisseeminglyjustsearchingforan obscureloopholetoavoidtherecall.
Blessings, KellyMedina
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: IrmaJauregui <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October
To: eComment
Subject: Specialmeetingandtherecall
DearMayorAmezcuaandCouncilmembers
AsaveryconcernedcitizenandlongtimeresidentofSantaAna, Iamintotalsupportoflettingthevotershavetheir voiceandlettherecallgoforward. Therearetimesthatwehearallofyouspeak, buttherearetimesthatwespeak, and thisit IT!!
Manyofuslistenandgotomeetingsandgiveourinputandyouhavetherighttoalsohavetheviewsexpressedonhow tocareforourcity, buttherearetimessuchasnowthatyoumusthearfromus, thecitizensofthecityandnotinterfere withourvoicetospeak.
Ifyouareconcernedwiththeprocessthatsolelybelongstotheregistrarofvoterstothoroughlyreview, theyhaveto havethesignaturesvetted, sothenlettheprocessproceed, that’stheirownandsolelyresponsibility, notyours, soletit be!
Thankyou
IrmaPJauregui
SantaAnaresident
SentfrommyiPad
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: CarlosPerea <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October30, 20232:37PM
To: Amezcua, Valerie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Bacerra, Phil; Penaloza, David; Lopez, Jessie; Hernandez, Johnathan; eComment; Carvalho, SoniaR.
Cc: TracyLa; CarolinaSarmiento; FabyJacome; MaiNguyenDo Subject: AgendaItem #3 - ConcernswithElectionsIntegrityinSantaAna Attachments: 10.30.23SACityCouncilDiscussionofRecallElectionIntegrity.pdf DearMayorValerieAmezcuaand SantaAnaCityCouncilMembers,
Pleaseseeattachedletterfromourorganizationsexpressingdeep concernsabouttheissuesraisedby the OrangeCountyRegistrarof VotersBobPageregardingtherecallelectionof SantaAnaCity CouncilmemberJessieLopez.
TheSantaAnaCityCouncilhastheresponsibilityto maintainthecity'selectoralintegrityand upholdthe democraticrightsof itsresidents.
Sincerely,
HarborInstituteforImmigrant & EconomicJustice
VietRISE
ElCentroCulturalde México
OrangeCountyJusticeFund
CarlosPerea
He/Him
ExecutiveDirector,
HarborInstitute for Immigrant & Economic Justice
[email protected]
www.harborinstituteoc.org
837N Ross St, SantaAna, CA 92701
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: JulieHumphreys <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October
To: eComment
Subject: Re: 10/30/23SpecialMeetingAgendaItem3: SANTAANAMUSTCANCELUNLAWFUL WARD3RECALLELECTION
MayorAmezcuaand CityCouncilmembers,
I applaudyoufor recognizingthe seriousnessof thelegalissuesplaguingthe recallpetitionand pendingvotein Ward3 by holdingthis SpecialMeeting.
Giventhe issuessuccinctlyoutlinedin the10/26/23 letterfromthe OrangeCountyRegistrarof Voters, not onlydid the recallpetitionfail to qualifywithsufficientsignaturesfrom2020Ward3 residents, but 357ballotshavebeenmailedto ineligiblevoters (whowerenot 2020Ward3 residents), anda whopping1186residentsin 2020Ward3 havenot beengivenanyballots, thus completelydisenfranchisingthem. To do do anythingotherthanimmediatelycancelthis taintedand patentlyunlawfulrecallelectionwouldbe a travestyandwouldresultin expectedlitigationandcost the city evenmoremisspentfunds. Whilethismaybe disappointingto recallproponents, theyhave no oneto blamebut themselves (and, perhapstheir legaladvisors).
If therecallproponentswantto pursueanotherrecallattempt, theyshoulddo so usingthe correct 2020Ward3 maps.
Regards,
Julie Humphreys
The
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Messagesent via Nixle | Go to nixle.com | Unsubscribe
SundayOctober29, 2023, 5:00PM
City ofSantaAna
DowntownOrangeCounty
1 Advisory: SantaAnaCityCounciltohavespecialmeetingonMonday, October30, toaddressWard3specialrecallelection
DearJoannePayne,
SANTAANA, Calif. – MayorValerieAmezcuahascalledaspecialmeetingof theSantaAnaCity Councilto addressaletterreceivedfromOrangeCountyRegistrarof VotersBobPageregardingthe Ward3 specialrecallelectionscheduledfor Nov. 14, 2023.
Thespecialmeetingwill takeplaceat5:30p.m. onMonday, Oct. 30, 2023, intheCityCouncil Chamber, 22CivicCenterPlaza, SantaAna. Theagendafor thespecialmeetingisavailableat https://www.santa-ana.org/agendas-and-minutes/.
I amextremelyconcernedabouttheissuesraisedbytheRegistrarof Votersabouttheupcoming specialelection,” MayorAmezcuasaid. “It isvitalthattheCityCouncilmeetquicklyto determinewhat action, if any, mustbetakento protecttheintegrityof ourelectionsandto ensurethatthewill of Santa Anavotersiscarriedoutthroughafairandtransparentelectoralprocess.” Moreinformationaboutthespecialelectionisavailableathttps://www.santa-ana.org/elections/.
Forfull details, viewthismessageontheweb.
SentbyCity ofSantaAna
20CivicCenterPlaza, 8thFloor/ P.O. Box1988, SantaAna, CA92701 2 Tomanageyouremailsettings, clickhere. Toupdateyouraccountsettings, loginhere.
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3 Alcala, Abigail
From: BulmaroVicente <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October30, 20232:47PM
To: eComment
Subject: 10/30SpecialCCMeetingSignonLettertoCouncil- Item #3 Attachments: 10_30SignonLettertoSantaAnaCityCouncil - Item #3.docx.pdf Hello,
Pleaseseetheattachedletterto theSantaAnaMayorandCityCouncilonagendaItem #3 for theSpecialCity CouncilMeeting. Onbehalfof theorganizationandindividualsigners, weurgeyouto put animmediateend to thespecialrecalltargetingMayorProTemJessieLopez.
In Solidarity,
Boomer
PolicyandPoliticalDirector | Chispa
e: [email protected]: 714.747.4271
1505E 17thStreetSuite117SantaAna, CA92705
Chispais building apolitical homefor youngLatinxsin OrangeCounty! Pleaseconsidermakinga donationto helpusbuild our casita. Chispais aprojectof TidesAdvocacy, a501c4non-profit organization.
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: JuliaGomez <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October30, 20233:30PM
To: eComment
Cc: Amezcua, Valerie; Lopez, Jessie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David; Carvalho, SoniaR.
Subject: PublicCommentreOctober30CityCouncilMeeting
Attachments: 2023.10.30ACLUSoCalLettertoSantaAnaCityCouncilreNovemberRecall.pdf A?achedpleasend publiccommentontoday’sspecialmee?ng.
Best,
Julia
JuliaGomez, StaffAttorney
ACLUof SouthernCalifornia
1313W 8thStreet, Suite200
LosAngeles, CA90017
o) 213.977.5258
aclusocal.org || facebook || twitter || blog || app ACLUSoCal: STANDFORJUSTICE >> Download our mobile app at mobilejusticeca.org
THISMESSAGEISINTENDEDONLYFORTHEUSEOFTHEINDIVIDUALORENTITYTOWHICHIT ISADDRESSEDANDMAYCONTAIN INFORMATIONTHATISPRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIALANDEXEMPTFROMDISCLOSUREUNDERAPPLICABLELAW. IFTHEREADEROFTHIS
MESSAGEISNOTTHEINTENDEDRECIPIENTORTHEEMPLOYEEORAGENTRESPONSIBLEFORDELIVERINGTHEMESSAGETOTHE
INTENDEDRECIPIENT, YOUAREHEREBYNOTIFIEDTHATANYDISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTIONORCOPYINGOFTHISCOMMUNICATIONIS STRICTLYPROHIBITED.
1 Sentviaemail
October30, 2023
SantaAnaMayorandCityCouncil
22CivicCenterPlaza
SantaAna, CA92701
[email protected]
Re: October30City CouncilSpecialMeeting
ConcernsOverNovember14RecallElection
DearMayorAmezcuaandMembersof theCityCouncil:
TheACLUFoundationof SouthernCaliforniarespectfullyurgestheCityCounciltotake seriouslytheongoinglegaldeficiencieswiththescheduledWard3November14recallelection NovemberRecall”). TheCityCouncilmustalsoensurethatvotersresidingwithinWard3’spre- redistrictingboundarieshaveanopportunitytovotein anyrecallelectionconductedprior to November 2024relatedtoCouncilmemberJessieLopez. Todate, over1,000eligiblevotershavenotreceivedmail ballotsfor theNovemberRecall, raisingurgentconcernsaboutwhetherelectionsofficialswill beableto timelyadministertheelection.
ThePre-RedistrictingWard 3 LinesMustbeUsedfor Any RecallElectionInvolving CouncilmemberLopez
CouncilmemberLopezwaselectedtorepresentWard3 in 2020, beforetheCity Council redistricteditswardmapin 2022resultingin newWard3 boundarylines. CouncilmemberLopez’sterm issettoexpirefollowingtheNovember2024elections. TheElectionsCodeisclearthatpost-redistricting linescannotbeusedtoattempttorecallCouncilmemberLopez. Cal. Elec. Code § 21626 (post- redistrictinglinescannotbeusedin “aspecialelectiontofill avacancyor \[in\] arecallelection.”); seealso id. § 21626(a) (“\[t\]hetermof officeof anycouncilmember . . . whosetermof officehasnotexpiredshall 1notbeaffected” byredistricting). Forthesamereason, anypetitionto recallCouncilmemberLopezmust containsufficientverifiedsignaturesof registeredvoterswhoresidewithinthepre-redistrictingWard3 lines. Id. § 100 (onlyapersonwhoiseligibletovotein theelectionmaysignapetitionfor thatelection); id. § 11221(a) (outliningthenumberof requiredsignaturesfromregisteredvoterswhoresidein the electoraljurisdiction”foranywardrecall). Thus, thereisnodisputethatthepetitionfor theNovember 1 Californiacourtshavelikewiseconsistentlyinterpretedstatelawto requirethattheboundarylinesusedto electan officialmustbeusedto recallthatofficialor tofill avacancyfor theirunexpiredterm. See, e.g., Sloanv. Donoghue, 20 Cal. 2d607, 609 (1942) (holdingthat, followingthedeathof anelectedofficial, thespecialelectiontofill theremainderof theirtermshouldbeheldin thedistrictasconstitutedatthetimeof theoriginalelection); Legislaturev. Reinecke, 10Cal. 3d396, 404-06 (1973) (holdingthatif vacanciesin thesenateoccurredin districtsbeforethenextregularelection, they wouldbefilled usingthepre-redistrictingboundaries).
FYFDVUJWF! EJSFDUPS Ifdups!P/!Wjmmbhsb
DIBJS Tubdz!Ipsui.Ofvcfsu! WJDF! DIBJS Spc!Ifoojh
DIBJST! FNFSJUJ Njdifmf!Hppexjo!!Nbsmb!Tupof!!Tibsj!Mfjoxboe!!Tufqifo! Spief!! Ebooz!Hpmecfsh!!Bmmbo!L/!Kpobt+!!Cvsu!Mbodbtufs+!!Jswjoh! Mjdiufotufjo-!NE+!!Kbsm!Npio!!Mbvsjf!Ptuspx+!!Tubomfz!L/!Tifjocbvn+!! efdfbtfe
2424!XFTU! FJHIUI! TUSFFU!•! TVJUF! 311!•! MPT!BOHFMFT-!DB!: 1128!•! U! 324/: 88/: 611!•! G! 324/: 26/ 1331!•! BDMVTPDBM/ PSH! SantaAnaCityCouncil
October30, 2023 Page2
Recallwasimproperlyverified, thatall voterswholivein pre-redistrictingWard3 mustbeallowedto votein anyWard3 recallelectionheldbeforeNovember2024, andthatindividualswholive outsidethe boundariesof pre-redistrictingWard3 arenotentitledtovotein anyWard3 recallelectionheldbefore November2024, includingtheNovemberRecall. Importantly, preventingeligiblevotersfromcastinga ballot, allowingineligiblevoterstocastaballot, andmakingerrorssufficientto changetheoutcomeof an electionareindependentgroundsfor invalidatingelectionresults. Id. §§ 16100(d)-(f).
TheCity CouncilMustEnsurethatVotersareNotDisenfranchised OnOctober15, theRegistrarof Voterssentoutmailballotsandvoterinformationguides VIGs”) for theNovemberRecalltoall voterswhoresidewithinthepost-redistrictingWard3 lines, 2including357voterswhodonotqualifytovotein therecall. Especiallyconcerningisthefactthat1,186 3voterswhoresidewithinthepre-redistrictingWard3 lineshavenotreceivedmailballotsor VIGs,in violationof Section4005(a)(8) of theElectionsCode. It isunclearif electionsofficialshavethecapacity toprintandmailballotsassoonaspossibletothosevoterswhohavenotyetreceivedballotsandhow officialswill worktoreachthesevotersandensurethattheyareawareof theelectionandhaveaccessible votingoptions. TheCityCouncilmustthusconsidernotjustwhethertomoveforwardwith theNovember Recalldueto thelegaldeficiencieswiththeschedulingof therecall, butwhethermovingforwardwould disenfranchiseupto1,186voters.
WeurgetheCityCounciltofocustonight’sdecisiononensuringthatvotersarenot disenfranchisedandprotectingtheintegrityof elections. Shouldyouhaveanyquestions, pleasedonot [email protected].
Sincerely,
JuliaA. Gomez
SeniorStaffAttorney
Cc: ValerieAmezcua, Mayor, [email protected]
JessieLopez, MayorProTem, [email protected]
ThaiVietPhan, Councilmember, [email protected]
BenjaminVazquez, Councilmember, [email protected]
PhilBacerra, Councilmember, [email protected]
JonathanRyanHernandez, Councilmember, [email protected] DavidPenaloza, Councilmember, [email protected]
SoniaR. Carvalho, CityAttorney, [email protected] 2 SeeCity of SantaAnaSpecialRecallElectionCalendarNov. 14, 2023, at1, https://ocvote.gov/sites/default/files/elections/2023anah/SARCL2023/City%20of%20Santa%20Ana%20Recall%20Electio n%20Calendar%2011.14.23_0.pdf; Oct. 26, 2023LetterfromOrangeCountyRegistrarof VotersBobPageto SantaAna CityClerkJenniferL. Hall reNov. 14RecallElectionat1, 3 (“Oct. 26Letter”), https://santa- ana.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=21000&type=2.
3 SeeOctober26Letterat1, 3.
BNFSJDBO! DJWJM! MJCFSUJFT! VOJPO! GPVOEBUJPO! PG!TPVUIFSO! DBMJGPSOJB! Alcala, Abigail
From: FLORBarajas-Tena <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October30,
To: eComment
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Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Mon, 30Oct202315:31:51 -0700
Subject: October30thSpecialCityCouncilMeeting
My NameisFlorBarajasTenaandI liveinWard3. I amcallingontheSACityCouncilto stopandcancelthis shamrecall.
Thankyoufor yourtime
FlorBarajasTena
3