Alcala, Abigail
From: Mary Maduena <
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2023 11:15 AM
To: eComment
Subject: Non Citzens Voting
Yes, recall Jessie Lopez, then Phan, Vazquez and Hernandez! Voting is a privilege for all LEGALCITIZENSonly! Sent from my iPhone
Alcala, Abigail
From: Katherine Freeman <
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2023 2:33 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Non Citzens Voting
YES TO RECALL ON Jesse Lopez!!!
Anyone who wants to divert funds from our Santa Ana Police Dept. Is out of touch with reality and the needs of our community. We are short 30 officers. Unacceptable.
Non -Citizens needto earnthe right to vote in America. Like so many othersbefore you. Take classesto learn about America. Respectour flag and heritage and history.
Non -citizens get in line. We do not acceptthat you can go in the front of the line without paperwork and registered ID.
Alcala, Abigail
From: LOREN PERRY <
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2023 3:38 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Non Citzens Voting
NO ILLEGAL MUST BE ALLOWED TO VOTE.
Alcala, Abigail
From: LOREN PERRY <
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2023 3:41 PM
To: eComment
Subject: Non Citzens Voting
ANY NON AMERICAN, ILLEGAL, BORN HERE OR NOT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE IN ANY ELECTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Alcala, Abigail
From: HelenYajairaEstrada <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November3,
To: eComment
Subject: PublicCommentforAgendaItem #39: InSupportofNoncitizenVoting GoodeveningCityCouncilmembers,
My nameisHelenYajairaEstrada, andI’maproudSantanera, aresidentof Ward6, andsomeoneengagedwith severalcommunityorganizations. I aminsupportof AgendaItem #39.
Firstly, I wouldliketo thankcitystafffor theirworkdraftingtheresolutionandballotmeasurelanguage. These areimportantfirststepsto ensuringthatallresidentsareableto maketheirvoicesheardattheballotbox.
Nearlyoneoutof everyfourresidentslivingin thecityarenon-citizenswhohavebeenpoliticallyexcluded fromvotingdespitebeingimpactedbythedecisionsmadebythemunicipalgovernment. All residentsof voting age, regardlessof immigrationstatus, shouldbeableto participateinlocalelections.
TheCouncilshouldleadwithcourageandhope, notfear. Currently, asfaraspublicknowledgegoes, noone hasbeendeniedcitizenshipbecausetheyvotedinSanFrancisco’sschoolboardelection. TheSanFrancisco Departmentof ElectionshasneverreceivedarequestfromICEfor voterinformationsinceitsexpansionof voterrights. In SanFrancisco, electionofficials, localcommunitymembers, andadvocateshaveworked togetherto keepthecommunitysafe. Wecandefinitelyworktogetherto dothesamethinghere.
Expandingthevoteopensupakeytoolfor localresidentsto participateinlocalpolitics, fosteringcivic engagementinandoutsideof elections. Whencommunitymembershavemoreavenuesto beengaged, theyare ableto betteradvocatefor improvedandequitabledistributionof resourcesto meetcommunityneeds.
My parentsand /neighborsshouldhavetherightto vote, justasI do. Theylivein ourcommunityandcontribute to it. Theyareaffectedbytheactionsof ourlocalgovernments. It isunfairto barthemfromprovidingtheir inputthroughvotingontheseissues. I amadaughterof twoundocumentedSantaneroswhooriginatefrom Guatemala, I haveseenhowengagedmyfamilyhasbeenwithSantaAna. Whetherit istakingusto thePublic LibraryonCivicCenterinorderto enhanceoureducationandreadingskills, or seeingmydadworkatthelocal donutshopfor 14years. My parents, likemanyin mycommunity, areengagedin-person, online, andtalkto eachotheraboutthechangestheywishto see. I will bethefirstto evervotenextyearinthePresidentialand localelections. A realdemocracyinvolvesALL of us.
I urgetheCouncilto amendthecurrentdraftresolutionlanguageto furtheralignwiththespiritandprinciples of theoriginalproposalmadebyCouncilmembersHernandezandLopezandsupportedbycommunity members.
Again, I supportAgendaItem #39. Thankyou.
Thankyou,
HelenYajairaEstrada
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: ClaudioBornancini <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November
To: Penaloza, David; Bacerra, Phil; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Amezcua, Valerie; Phan, Thai; Hernandez, Johnathan; eComment
Subject: Item39- AuthorizeandImplementNoncitizenVotinginMunicipalElections - Comments
Goodday,
I'mreachingoutto cleardoubtsthatmustbeansweredaboutitem39, whichleadsto AuthorizeandImplement NoncitizenVotingin MunicipalElections.
1. Whoisqualifiedto vote?
Areundocumentedallowedto vote? Orisit meantfor legalresidentsonly?
2. Howlongshouldnoncitizenslivein theCityof SantaAnabeforebeingallowedto vote? Isaweekendlongenough? 1 year? 3 years? Howcanthisbeenforced?
3. Cananoncitizenwithoutproperidentification, or withanaddressoutsideof theCityvote? If not, howcanwefuture-proofthisissue? (AndkeeppeoplewithoutID fromvoting)
4. Whatistheconsequenceof fraudfor boththecandidateandthevoter? Cantheybebanned, for alifetime, fromtheCity'spublicjobsandfromvoting? Howaboutprison?
5. Cananaddresswith3 or morevotingnoncitizenrequeststriggeraninvestigationbytheRentalRegistry Program?
Eg, 3+ differentlastnamesinthesameaddress. CantheRentalHousingBoardwithholdthosevotesif the situationisnotclear? (eg, therentalhouseisnotregistered)
6. Haveanyof you, CouncilMembersandMayor, everdeniedrepresentinganeighbor, onlybecauseof their migratorystatus, or becausetheyarenottaxpayers?
If not, whydoweneedthemto vote?
If yes, pleaseRESIGNIMMEDIATELY.
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: JuliaGomez <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November6, 20233:52PM
To: eComment
Cc: Amezcua, Valerie; Lopez, Jessie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David; Carvalho, SoniaR.; AnnetteWong; AnnieLee; JennaNarahara (clinic); AmalAlSalek (clinic); AnnieLai
Subject: PublicCommentreNov. 7CityCouncilMeeting, Item39 Attachments: 2023.11.6CAA, UCILawIRC, + ACLULettertoSantaAnareItem39.pdf A?achedpleasend publiccommentfromChineseforArma?veAc?on, UCILawImmigrantRightsClinic, andtheACLU ofSouthernCaliforniaregardingItem39 (immigrantvo?ng) oftomorrow’sCityCouncilagenda.
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
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MESSAGEISNOTTHEINTENDEDRECIPIENTORTHEEMPLOYEEORAGENTRESPONSIBLEFORDELIVERINGTHEMESSAGETOTHE
INTENDEDRECIPIENT, YOUAREHEREBYNOTIFIEDTHATANYDISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTIONORCOPYINGOFTHISCOMMUNICATIONIS STRICTLYPROHIBITED.
1 Sentviaemail
November6, 2023
SantaAnaMayorandCityCouncil
22Civic CenterPlaza
SantaAna, CA 92701
[email protected]
Re: November7City CouncilMeeting, ItemNo. 39
BallotMeasureonNoncitizenVoting
DearMayorAmezcuaandMembersof theCityCouncil:
Chinesefor AffirmativeAction, theACLUFoundationof SouthernCalifornia, andtheUC Irvine Schoolof LawImmigrantRightsClinicrespectfullysubmitthisletterregardingtheCityCouncil’s planneddiscussiononNovember7 aboutplacingameasureontheNovember2024ballottoamendthe CityChartertoextendthevotetononcitizenresidentsin municipalelections. Noncitizenresidentsare an integralpartof theCityof SantaAna: theycomprise23.6% oftheCity’stotalpopulationand30% of the votingagepopulation, paytaxes, andaresubjecttolocallaws. Althoughnoncitizenresidentshavea directstakein thepoliciestheCityadopts, theyarecurrentlyunableto votein localelections. SantaAna hasthelegalauthorityandtheabilitytosuccessfullyimplementnoncitizenvoting. In doingso, SantaAna wouldbetakingaboldsteptowardbecomingamoreinclusiveanddemocraticplaceto call homefor all of itsresidents.
AsaCharterCity, SantaAnaHastheLegalAuthorityto ExpandtheElectoratefor Municipal Elections
ThispastAugust, theCaliforniaFirstDistrictCourtof Appealin Lacyv. CityandCountyof San Francisco, 94Cal. App. 5th243 (2023), uphelda2016amendmenttoSanFrancisco’scitycharterto allownoncitizencaregiversto votein schoolboardelections, alsoknownasPropositionN. Although Lacyinvolvedschooldistrictelections, theLacyopinionfully supportsthelegalityof noncitizenvotingin localelections, includingmayoralandcity councilelections.
TheCourtof Appealin LacyrejectedthechallengetoPropositionN for tworeasons. Id. First, the Courtof AppealexaminedArticleII, section2(a) of theCaliforniaConstitution, whichprovidesthata UnitedStatescitizenwhois18 . . . mayvote,” anddeterminedthat “neithertheplainlanguageof the Constitutionnoritshistoryprohibitslegislationexpandingtheelectoratetononcitizens.” Id. at243, 245-
49. Second, theCourtof Appealheldthatchartercitieshavehomeruleauthoritytoexpandtheelectorate in schooldistrictelections. Id. at250, 259. In reachingthisconclusion, thecourtobservedthatArticle XI, section5 of theConstitution (“HomeRuleProvision”) grantschartercitiesbroadauthorityovermunicipal elections, including “plenary” authorityovertheelectionof municipalofficers. Id. at 250-52.
BecausetheSanFranciscoamendmentappliedtoschoolboardelections, andpubliceducation hasbeendeterminedtobeastatewideconcernfor somepurposes, seeid. at255, thecourtspenta fair amountof timein theLacydecisiondiscussingadifferentpartof theConstitution, ArticleXI, section16, andnotedthatit wasoriginallypartof theHomeRuleProvision. Accordingtothecourt, thisindicatedan SantaAnaMayorandCityCouncil Page2
intentto conferchartercitieswiththesameexpansiveauthorityoverschoolboardelectionsthattheyhave overmunicipalelections. Id. at251-53, 256. Putanotherway, thecourtheldthatchartercitiescanexpand thevotein schooldistrictelectionspreciselybecausetheyhaveindisputablybroadauthorityover municipalelections. Chartercities’ authorityto determinewhomayparticipatein electionsfor municipal officersisevenclearer. Seeid. at 256-57.
1CitystaffappeartobeinterpretingLacynarrowly. In thestaffreportfor Tuesday’smeeting, the CityAttorneyquotedlanguagefromtheopinionthat, readalone, canbemisconstruedassuggestingthat SantaAna’sauthoritytoexpandtheelectoratefor municipalelectionsis unsettled. But thethrustof the paragraphfromwhichthequotescame, ratherthanlimitingchartercities’ powerto determinewhomay vote, warnsthatcities—in exercisingtheirpoweroverlocalelections—mustneverthelessbemindfulnot to undulyinfringeonor narrowtherightto vote:
This conclusiondoesnotleavechartercitieswith limitlessauthorityto determinethe electoratefor schoolboardelectionsor, for thatmatter, theelectionof othermunicipal officials. “\[E\]venif a givenmatteris deemedto bea municipalaffair, a chartercity’s regulationremainssubjectto thevariousguaranteesandrequirementsof thestateand federalConstitutions.” \[citationomitted\]. Ourconclusionleavesintacttheapplicationof otherconstitutional “guaranteesandrequirements,” for example, thestateandfederal equalprotectionclauses . . . . Similarly, asPropositionN expandedthefranchise, we do notopineonchartercities’ abilityto narrowit. Wedecidetodaysolelytheissuebefore us: theConstitutionconfersontheCity theauthorityto expandtheelectoratefor school boardelectionstoincludenoncitizenparentsor guardiansof Citychildren.
Id. at259-60 (emphasisadded).
In sum, theholdingandreasoningin Lacyfirmlysupportthelegalauthorityof chartercitiesto expandtheelectoratetononcitizenresidentsin municipalelections. TheLacycourtunequivocallyheld thattheConstitution’svoterqualificationrequirementsarenotaroadblocktoexpandingtheelectorate, reassertedthattheHomeRuleProvisiongiveschartercitieslikeSantaAnabroadauthorityover municipalelections, andemphasizedthatthisauthority “permitsthevotersof eachchartercityto determinewhether \[noncitizenvoting\] isgoodpolicyfortheircityornot.” Id. at243. Thereis thusno reasontodenySantaAnavoterstheopportunityto decidewhetherit makessensetoexpandtheelectorate in theirlocalelections.
SantaAnaHasaRoadmapfor SuccessfullyImplementingNoncitizenVoting Theprocessof creatingSanFrancisco’snoncitizenvotingprogramshowsthatit ispossibleto developa successfulprogramwhenajurisdictionisproactiveandcommittedto workingcollaboratively withtheimmigrantcommunityandnonprofitpartners. Sincetheadoptionof PropositionN, San Franciscohasbeenworkingcloselywithadvocatesto ensurethatnoncitizenresidentsareprotectedand 2canmakeaninformeddecisionfor themselvesaboutwhetherto vote. Forexample, SanFranciscohas registrationformsandballotsspecifictononcitizenssothatthoseresidentsonlyregisterandvotein 3authorizedelections. TheSanFranciscoDepartmentof Electionsalsoprovidesvoterswitha “Rightto 1 Nov. 7, 2023StaffReportreItem #39, CityAttorneyOfficeat2, https://santa-ana.primegov.com/portal/viewer id=3856&type=0.
2 RonHayduk, MeganDias, andOliviaMarti, ImmigrantVotingandtheMovementfor Inclusionin SanFrancisco, https://caasf.org/wp- Chinesefor AffirmativeActionandImmigrantVotingParentCollaborativeat17-25, (Sept. 2023), content/uploads/2023/09/23-CAA-ImmigrationVotingReport-F2.pdf (providinganoverviewof theeffortsbetweenSan Franciscoandcommunityadvocatesto developnoncitizenvotingprogram). 3 See, e.g., Non-citizenVoterRegistrationFormfor Nov. 2019SanFransciscoSchoolBoardElection, https://sfelections.sfgov.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Voting/V23_Voter%20Registration_Application.pdf SantaAnaMayorandCityCouncil Page3
VoteLetter” thatindividualsapplyingfor naturalizationcanthensharewiththeUnitedStatesCitizenship andImmigrationServices (“USCIS”) toavoidanyunnecessarydelaysin theprocessingof their 4application. Advocates, in turn, haveworkedwiththelocalUSCISofficetoeducatestaffonthelegality 5of noncitizenvotingin SanFranciscoschoolboardelections.
SanFrancisco’sapproachdidnotmaterializeovernight. It tookintentionaleffortsby city officials andcommunityadvocatestoidentifyandresearchhowtoovercomepossibleroadblocks. Other jurisdictionsarealsothinkingthroughtheirownapproachtoadministeringmoreinclusiveelections.
Oakland, for example, iscurrentlyworkingwithcountyelectionsofficialstoimplementameasureto lowerthevotingage, andthelist of citiesandadvocatesthroughoutthestatethatarealsolookinginto 6howtomakeimmigrantvotingarealityis steadilygrowing. Thesestatewideeffortsconfirmthat, if it wantsto, SantaAnacandevelopandimplementanoncitizenvotingprogramin a mannerthatprotects voters.
WeurgetheCityCouncilto considerthisinformationasit weighsthedecisionof whetherto placeanoncitizenvotingmeasureontheNovember2024ballot. Thankyouverymuchfor yourtimeand consideration.
Sincerely,
Annie Lee, Esq. JuliaA. Gomez AnnieLai, Director
ManagingDirectorof Policy SeniorStaffAttorney JennaNarahara, LawStudent AmyAl Salek, Law StudentChinesefor AffirmativeAction ACLU of Southern California UC Irvine Schoolof Law
ImmigrantRightsClinic
Cc: ValerieAmezcua, Mayor, [email protected]
JessieLopez, MayorProTem, [email protected]
ThaiVietPhan, Councilmember, [email protected]
BenjaminVazquez, Councilmember, [email protected]
PhilBacerra, Councilmember, [email protected]
Jonathan Ryan Hernandez, Councilmember, [email protected] DavidPenaloza, Councilmember, [email protected]
SoniaR. Carvalho, CityAttorney, [email protected] 4 Guideto RegistrationandVotingProcessfor NoncitizenResidents: Nov. 8, 2022SchoolBoardElection, SanFrancisco Electionsat11, https://caasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/NCV-Guide_fin_EN_web.pdf 5 Supra, note2 at18.
6 Supra, note2 at9.
Alcala, Abigail
From: YoselindaMendoza <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November6,
To: eComment
Subject: PublicCommentforAgendaItem #39: InSupportofNoncitizenVoting Goodeveningcitycouncilmembers,
My nameisYoselinda. I amin supportof Agendaitem #39, theproposalto adopta resolutionto placeballot measurepermittingNoncitizenVotingin MunicipalElectionsonthe2024GeneralElectionballot.
1. Almostathirdof adultresidentsin thecitycan’t participatein localelections. Thatisunfair. All residentsdeserve tohaveavoicein theseelectionssincelocalgovernmentofficialsmakedecisionsthatdirectlyaffectthem.
I hopethecouncilmovestosupportdemocracyforall of itsresidentsandallowsforthevoicesof everyonetobe heard. Thankyou.
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: TracyLa <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November7, 202311:05AM
To: eComment
Subject: VietRISEPublicCommentinSupportofAgendaItem39 - NoncitizenVoting Attachments: 2023.11.07_VietRISE_LetterinSupportofAgendaItem39_NoncitizenVoting.pdf Hello,
Attachedis VietRISE's publiccommentin supportof agendaitem39 - noncitizenVoting.
Thankyou,
Tracy
TracyLa
She/Her
ExecutiveDirector
[email protected]
714) 589-5496
14351EuclidSt. #1M, GardenGrove, CA 92843
www.vietrise.org
1 Alcala, Abigail
From: MinhPhm <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday,
To: eComment
Cc: MinhPhm
Subject: PublicCommentforAgendaItem #39: InSupportofNoncitizenVoting GoodeveningCityCouncilmembers,
My nameisMinhPham, andI amaproudresidentof SantaAna/Westminster. I standbeforeyoutodayin strongsupportof Agendaitem #39, theproposalto adoptaresolutionto placeaballotmeasurepermitting NoncitizenVotingin MunicipalElectionsonthe2024GeneralElectionballot.
Everyonecontributestaxes, butnoteveryonegetsasayinelectingthepeoplewhomakedecisionsabouthow thosetaxdollarsarespent. Taxationwithoutrepresentationisfundamentallyunfairandundemocratic. Ourcity thrivesonthecontributionsof allitsresidents, regardlessof theirlegalstatus, andit'sonlyrightthattheyhavea voiceinshapingourlocalgovernment.
My neighbors, friends, andcolleagueswhomaynotbecitizensaredeeplyinvestedinourcommunity. Theylive here, workhere, andtheirlivesaredirectlyimpactedbythedecisionsmadebyourlocalgovernment. It isunjust to excludethemfromthedemocraticprocessthatdirectlyaffectstheirdailylives.
Byallowingnoncitizensto votein municipalelections, wearenotonlypromotingfairnessbutalsofostering civicengagementandstrengtheningourcommunity. Wheneveryonehasastakein thedecision-making process, wecreateamoreinclusiveandequitableSantaAna, whereresourcesaredistributedmorefairlyto meetthediverseneedsof allresidents.
I urgeyouto leadwithcourageandhope, justastheSanFranciscoDepartmentof Electionshasdone, by expandingvotingrightsto noncitizens. Let'sensurethatourcitycontinuesto beashiningexampleof inclusivityanddemocraticvalues.
Thankyoufor yourtime, andI hopeyouchooseto standontherightsideof historybysupportingthisvital proposal.
Best,
MinhPham
Minh NguyenKhai Pham, UCLABiochemistry, B.S. Class
of 2016 | MedicalAssistant | Paralegal
ChiefAdministrativeOfficer, Secretary (Boardof Director) 2020 - Present) at SocraticMedInc.
1 A Followthislinkto scheduleto meetor chatwithme (if
interested): calendly.com/minhpham93
M (714)757-2263 E [email protected]
W https://socraticmed.net/
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Createyourownemailsignature
2 Alcala, Abigail
From: CharlieNguyen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November
To: eComment
Subject: PublicCommentforAgendaItem #39: InSupportofNoncitizenVoting Hello,
ThankyouCouncilmembersfor yourimportantworkandfor theopportunityto sharemyopinion. Mynameis CharlieNguyen, andI'memailingto expressmysupportfor noncitizenvotingfor cityelectionsonthegeneral electionballotfor 2024 (agendaitem39). Legalstatusshouldnotpreventresidentsfromhavingtheirvoices heard — cityresidentscontributeviataxesandareasignificantpartof ourcommunity.
Best,
CharlieNguyen
1