Ibarra, Evelyn
From: WillNunes <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June17, 202410:56AM
To: eComment; Carvalho, SoniaR.; !CityClerk
Cc: SueLoftin; ArielBedell; WillNunes
Subject: KM1: OppositionofItem17ofthe6-18-2024CityCouncilMeeting Attachments: 2024-6-12CityfrmLSLOppositionItem17FINAL.pdf Attention: Thisemailoriginatedfromoutsideof Cityof SantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks.
TotheOfficeof theCityAttorneyandtheOfficeof theCityClerk, Thismessageisbeingsenttoyoutoprovideyouwithacopyof Ms. SueLoftin'sletterof oppositiontoAgenda Item17of theRegularCityCouncilMeetingtotakeplaceon6/18/2024.
Thisletterof oppositionhasalsobeensenttotheMayor, CityCouncil, andMayorProTemof theCityof Santa Anausingthe “ContacttheCityCouncil” functionof theCityof SantaAnaWebsite (Linkprovidedhere). The providedLetterof OppositionhasalsobeenmailedtotheCityof SantaAnaat20CivicCenterPlazaM-30, SantaAna, CA92701via8:00amovernightdeliveryserviceasnecessitatedbythecommentingproceduresof theCityof SantaAna.
HonorableMayorAmezcua, MayorProTemLopez, andtheCityCouncilof SantaAnahavebeeninformedof thistransmissiontoyou.
Pleaseletmeknowif youhaveanyquestions.
Bestregards,
WilliamNunes
LOFTIN|BEDELLP.C.
2540GatewayRoad
Carlsbad, CA92009
Tel: 760.431.2111
Fax: 760.867.2210
Attention: Thisemailhaslimitedpurposes. It maynotcontainthefull extentofanyconversationrelatedtoaspecifictopicand maynotrepresentlegaladviceonaspecifictopic. Emailsareabbreviatedmeansofcommunicationandassuchcannotberelied uponforafull andcompleteresponsetoanyfactualorlegalissue.
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1 OvernightMail andElectronicTransmission
June17, 2024
HonorableMayorValerieAmezcua, MayorProTemJessieLopezandCouncilMembersThaiViet Phan, BenjaminVazquez, PhilBacerra, JohnathanRyanHernandezandDavidPenaloza.
Cityof SantaAna
c/oOfficeoftheCityClerk
[email protected])
c/o Officeof theCityAttorney
[email protected])
20CivicCenterPlazaM-30
SantaAna, CA92701
Re: HearingDate: CityCouncilHearingJune18, 2024
AgendaItem17(3): Opposed
Title AgendaItem:
RESOLUTIONOFTHECITY COUNCILOFTHECITY OFSANTAANA GIVING
NOTICEOFA GENERALMUNICIPALELECTIONTOBEHELDINTHECITYOF
SANTACAN ONNOVEMBER5, 2024FORTHESUBMISSIONOFA BALLOT
MEASURE \[City CouncilAction/Not Petition\] TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS
PROPOSINGRENT STABILIZATION AND JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE ANDREQUESTING THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORSTOCONSOLIDATETHISELECTIONWITH THESTATEWIDE
GENERALELECTION.
RequestedAction: VoteNOwith thefollowingtwooptionsto Referto City Attorney:
Option 1: PreferredOption: Direct the City Attorney’sOffice to Preparetwo Ordinances: (i) one for the “MobilehomePark Community” comprisedof the Homeownersand thePark Owners, and (ii) onefor all other residentialrental properties;
Option 2: Refer the Rent Stabilizationand Just CauseEvictionwith Council Directionto AmendsaidOrdinancecomplywith California and FederalStatutes andRegulations, andCaseLaw relatingto MobilehomeParks
DearHonorableMayorValerieAmezcua,MayorProTemJessieLopez,andCouncilmembersThai VietPhan, BenjaminVazquez, PhilBacerra, JohnathanRyanHernandezandDavidPenaloza:
ThisFirmrepresentsKingsleyManagementCorporation, anditsaffiliatedcompanies, which manage, own, andoperate, withcareandconcernfortheHomeowners (residents) multiplemobilehome parkswithinin theCityof SantaAna.
2540GatewayRoad • Carlsbad • California • 92009
T: 760.431.2111 • Direct: 760.444-4040 • www.loftinbedell.com • [email protected] LOFTIN|BEDELLP.C.
City ofSantaAna
c/oCity ClerkandCity Attorney
June17, 2024
Page2of 3
Theconsistentgoalof KingsleyManagementCorporationandthisFirmhasbeento provide theCitythetoolstocraftRentStabilizationandJustCauseEvictionOrdinance(s)(the “Ordinances”) appropriatelyapplicabletoMobilehomeParkCommunities, Homeownerswithinthecommunitiesand ParkOwners. Detailedcorrespondenceshavebeenprovidedfor eachof thevarioushearingsrelating totheadoptionof suchOrdinancesclearlylayingoutthelegalrequirements. Ratherthantakethetime toprepareOrdinancesthatarelegallyapplicabletoMobilehomeParkCommunities (i.e. in compliance with thevariouslawsapplicableto mobilehomeparktenanciessuchastheMobilehomeResidency Law, amongotherstatutes), theCityhastakenthepositionsetbytheformerMayorVincenteSarmiento in theadoptionof theOrdinances – namelyapositiontorushtheOrdinancestovote. Duringthe2021 HearingontheOrdinances, inresponseto amotionto delayactionandrefertheOrdinancesto City AttorneytoreviewthelegalissuesraisedandrevisetheOrdinancesif appropriate, Mr. Sarmientodid notcallfor furthercommentsor calltheMotionfor avote, butrathersaidtheOrdinanceshadto be passedbecausetheCouncilmemberswereelectedtoofficetodothatandmadehisownMotiontopass theOrdinance. Withthatattitude, theMobilehomeParkCommunityof SantaAnahavesufferedthe passageof thetwo Ordinancesin October2021 (3009and3010), theconsolidationof thetwo Ordinancesinto oneOrdinancein October2022 (3027), andthepassageof the amendmentof 1OrdinanceNo. 3027in October2023toprohibitamendmenttospecificsectionsin the3027underthe guiseof theCityCharter. Thatguiseof authorityisattemptingtobecorrectedthroughtheadoptionof amendmentstotheCityCharterandreconfirmationof 2023AmendmenttoOrdinanceNo. 3027 – the matterbeforeyou, theCityCouncilatthishearing.
All of theLettersof Oppositionsubmittedin 2021, 2022and2023specificallyandclearlystate thecorrectionsthatshouldhavebeenmaderelatedtoMobilehomeParkCommunities –letterswhich includespecificproposedmodificationsthatwouldbringtheOrdinancesinto compliancewith applicablelaws. Ratherthanattachedtheletters,whichareapproximately200pagesin length, all publicrecordsfor theseriesof hearingsrelatedtotheadoptionof theseriesof Ordinancesandrelated matters. Therefore, thedocumentsandothermattersof publicrecordasprovidedin correspondence fortheOctober3, 2023CouncilMeetingareincorporatedhereatbyreferenceasthoughfully setforth.
Further, thisFirm, onbehalfof KinsleyManagementCorporationanditsaffiliatedcompanies, hasnoted, commencingJanuary2, 2020, tothepresent, violationsGovernmentCodesections54950 and36934, andpotentialviolation of GovernmentCodesection84308in communications, correspondences, andstatementsrelatedtoandpresentedtotheCityCouncilatvariousstagesof the CityCouncil’sconsiderationandadoptionof thevariousrentcontrolandevictionprotectionordinances andrelatedpolicies. Suchpriorviolationsanddeficienciesnotedpreviouslyin thepublicrecordare incorporatedhereinasthoughsetforthin full; however, werepresentedin thefollowingpublicrecords:
i) CityCouncilHearingsheldonSeptember21, October5 andNovember19, 2021 (“2021Record”) for theadoptionof OrdinanceNos. 3009and3010 (“2021Ordinances”); (ii) City CouncilHearings heldonOctober5, 2022andOctober18, 2022 (“2022Record”)for theadoptionofOrdinanceNo. 3027. (“2022Ordinance”); (iii) City CouncilHearingsAugust29, 2023andSeptember19, 2023 1 Thecommencementdatesof thehearingsrelatedtotheadoptionof theOrdinancesandtheeffectivedates, whichvaries fromthirtydaysafteradoptiontoimmediatelyeffective.
KMC700SAO1.010
LOFTIN|BEDELLP.C.
City ofSantaAna
c/oCity ClerkandCity Attorney
June17, 2024
Page3of 3
20231stAmendmentHearings”) and the opposition orally andin writing, including the correspondencesdatedAugust28, 2023from SueLoftin, Loftin|BedellP.C. andTerryDowdall, DowdallLawto theattemptedmodificationof theOrdinance, seerecordfor City CouncilHearing September29, 2023andOctober2, 2023; and(iv) adoptionall regulations, policies, retentionof third- partyvendors/agents, includingtheadoptionof all Resolutionsfrom2021tocurrentdateincludingall oppositionsrelatedthereto (“2023Resolutions”). Thepublicrecordscommencingapproximately January2, 2020of themeetings, communicationsandhearingsincludeall memorandums, electronic transmissions, lettersbetweenandamongstaff, consultants, andmembersof thepublic, excepting attorney-clientprivilegedmaterials; andbetweenanyCity staff person, consultantor electedor appointedofficialwithanythirdparty, andall oppositionletters, emailsandverbalpresentationsand thevideorecordingof thosehearingsareherebyincorporatedfortherecordin thismatter. Additionally, thePublicRecordsincludingall pleadingsforcasesthetwocasesnamingtheCityof SantaAnaasthe defendantin theFederalDistrictCourtCasesNos. 8:22-cv-00076-CJC-JDExand8:33-cv-00102- CJC-JDEandtheNinth Circuit Court of Appealfor CaseNo. 8:22-cv-00076-CJC (JDEx) are herebyincorporatedinto thisrecord.
KingsleyManagementCorporationandits relatedaffiliatedcompanieshaveconsistently saidthe City hasthe right to adoptRentControl (rentstabilization) andJustCauseEviction Ordinancesin concept. Rather, thepurposeof all oppositionto theOrdinances, whetheratCity publichearingsincludingall thewritten andoral objections, or in FederalCourt, hasbeento requirethe Ordinancesto complywith theStateandFederalStatuesincluding therespective regulationsandcaselaw specificallyapplicableto theMobilehomeParkCommunity. Thelaws applicableto theMobilehomeParkCommunity aresignificantly different thanfor all other residentialrentalhousingandsuchdifferenceshavebeenlargelyignoredby theCity in adopting theOrdinances, despiterepeatedanddetailedlanguageincludingproposedmodificationsto the Ordinancesbeingprovidedto theCity to bringtheOrdinancesin line with suchbodiesof law.
Sincerely,
LOFTIN | BEDELLP.C.
By: L. SueLoftin, Esq.
cc: Client (ViaEmail)
CityCouncilMembers (ViaOvernightMail)
HonorableMayorValerieAmezcua
MayorProTemJessieLopez
CouncilMembersThaiVietPhan,
GenjaminVazquez
PhilBacerra
JohnathanRyanHernandez
DavidPenaloza
KMC700SAO1.010
SANTAANACITY -(11ARK
JUN 18' 24
LOFTIN I BEDELL
1J ATTORNEYS AT LA \ v
Overnight Mail and Electronic Transmission
June 17, 2024
Honorable Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez and Council Members Thai Viet Phan, Benjamin Vazquez, Phil Bacerra, Johnathan Ryan Hernandez and David Penaloza.
City of SantaAna
do Office of the City Clerk
eComment@santa- ana. org)
c/o Office of the City Attorney
scarvalho@santa- ana. org)
20 Civic Center Plaza M- 30
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Re: Hearing Date: City Council Hearing June 18, 2024 Agenda Item 17( 3): Opposed
Title Agenda Item:
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA GIVING
NOTICE OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF SANTA CAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024 FOR THE SUBMISSION OF A BALLOT MEASURE [ City Council Action/ Not Petition] TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS
PROPOSING RENT STABILIZATION AND JUST CAUSE EVICTION
ORDINANCE AND REQUESTING THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS TO CONSOLIDATE THIS ELECTION WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION.
RequestedAction: Vote NO with the following two options to Refer to City Attorney:
Option 1: Preferred Option: Direct the City Attorney' s Office to Prepare two Ordinances: ( i) one for the " Mobilehome Park Community" comprised of the Homeowners and the Park Owners, and ( ii) one for all other residential rental properties;
Option 2: Refer the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction with Council Direction to Amend said Ordinance comply with California and Federal Statutes and Regulations, and Case Law relating to Mobilehome Parks Dear Honorable Mayor Valerie Amezcua, Mayor Pro Tern Jessie Lopez, and Councilmembers Thai Viet Phan, Benjamin Vazquez, Phil Bacerra, Johnathan Ryan Hernandez and David Penaloza:
This Firm represents Kingsley Management Corporation, and its affiliated companies, which manage, own, and operate, with care and concern for the Homeowners( residents) multiple mobilehome parks within in the City of Santa Ana.
2540 Gateway Road • Carlsbad • California • 92009
T: 760. 431. 2111 • Direct: 760. 444- 4040 • www. loftinbedell. com • Sue@loftinbedell. com LOFTIN I BEDELL P.C.
City of Santa Ana
do City Clerk and City Attorney
June 17, 2024
The consistentgoal of Kingsley ManagementCorporation andthis Firm hasbeento provide the City the tools to craft Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance(s) (the" Ordinances") appropriately applicable to Mobilehome Park Communities, Homeowners within the communities and ParkOwners. Detailedcorrespondenceshavebeenprovidedfor eachof thevarioushearingsrelating to theadoptionof suchOrdinancesclearly laying out the legal requirements. Ratherthantakethe time to prepare Ordinances that are legally applicable to Mobilehome Park Communities ( i.e. in compliance with thevariouslawsapplicableto mobilehomeparktenanciessuchastheMobilehomeResidency Law, amongotherstatutes),theCity hastakentheposition setby theformerMayor V incenteSarmiento in theadoptionof theOrdinances—namelyapositionto rushtheOrdinancestovote. Duringthe2021 HearingontheOrdinances, in responseto a motionto delayactionandrefertheOrdinancesto City Attorney to review the legal issuesraised and revise the Ordinances if appropriate, Mr. Sarmiento did not call for further comments or call the Motion for a vote, but rather said the Ordinances had to be passedbecausetheCouncilmemberswereelectedto officetodothatandmadehisownMotiontopass the Ordinance. With that attitude, the Mobilehome Park Community of SantaAna havesuffered the passage of the two Ordinances in October 2021 ( 3009 and 3010), the consolidation of the two Ordinancesinto one Ordinance in October 2022 ( 3027), and the passageof the amendmentof OrdinanceNo. 3027 in October20231to prohibit amendmentto specificsectionsin the 3027underthe guiseof the City Charter. That guiseof authority is attemptingto becorrectedthroughthe adoptionof amendments to the City Charter and reconfirmation of 2023 Amendment to Ordinance No. 3027— the matterbeforeyou, the City Council at this hearing.
All of theLettersof Oppositionsubmittedin 2021, 2022and2023specifically andclearly state the corrections that should have been made related to Mobilehome Park Communities — letters which include specific proposed modifications that would bring the Ordinances into compliance with applicable laws. Rather than attachedthe letters, which are approximately 200 pagesin length, all public records for the series of hearings related to the adoption of the series of Ordinances and related matters. Therefore, the documentsand other mattersof public record asprovided in correspondence for theOctober3, 2023Council Meeting areincorporatedhereatby referenceasthoughfully setforth.
Further, this Finn, on behalfof Kinsley ManagementCorporationandits affiliated companies, has noted, commencing January 2, 2020, to the present, violations Government Code sections 54950 and 36934, and potential violation of Government Code section 84308 in communications, correspondences, and statementsrelatedto andpresentedto the City Council at various stagesof the City Council' sconsiderationandadoptionof thevariousrentcontrol andevictionprotectionordinances and relatedpolicies. Such prior violations and deficienciesnoted previously in the public record are incorporatedhereinasthough setforth in full; however,werepresentedin thefollowing public records:
i) City Council Hearings held on September 21, October 5 and November 19, 2021 (" 2021 Record") for the adoption of Ordinance Nos. 3009 and 3010 (" 2021 Ordinances"); ( ii) City Council Hearings held on October 5, 2022 and October 18, 2022 (" 2022 Record") for the adoption of Ordinance No. 3027. (" 2022 Ordinance"); ( iii) City Council Hearings August 29, 2023 and September19, 2023 1The commencementdatesof the hearingsrelatedto the adoptionof the Ordinancesandthe effective dates,which varies from thirty daysafter adoption to immediately effective.
KMC700SAO1. 010
I
LOFTIN I BEDELL P.C.
City of Santa Ana
c/o City Clerk and City Attorney
June 17, 2024
2023 1st Amendment Hearings") and the opposition orally and in writing, including the correspondencesdated August 28, 2023 from Sue Loftin, LoftiniBedell P.C. and Terry Dowdall, DowdallLaw to theattemptedmodificationof the Ordinance, seerecordfor City CouncilHearing September29, 2023andOctober2, 2023; and (iv) adoptionall regulations,policies, retentionof third- partyvendors/agents, includingtheadoptionof all Resolutionsfrom2021to currentdateincludingall oppositions related thereto (" 2023 Resolutions"). The public records commencingapproximately January 2, 2020 of the meetings, communications and hearings include all memorandums, electronic transmissions, lettersbetweenandamongstaff, consultants, andmembersof the public, excepting attorney-client privileged materials; and between any City staff person, consultant or elected or appointedofficial with any third party, and all oppositionletters, emailsandverbal presentationsand thevideorecordingofthosehearingsareherebyincorporatedfortherecordinthismatter. Additionally, thePublicRecordsincludingall pleadingsfor casesthetwocasesnamingtheCity of SantaAnaasthe defendant in the Federal District Court Cases Nos. 8:22- cv- 00076- CJC- JDEx and 8: 33- cv- 00102- CJC- JDE and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal for Case No. 8:22- cv- 00076- CJC ( JDEx) are hereby incorporated into this record.
Kingsley Management Corporation and its related affiliated companies have consistently said the City has the right to adopt Rent Control ( rent stabilization) and Just Cause Eviction Ordinancesin concept. Rather, the purposeof all oppositionto the Ordinances, whetherat City public hearings including all the written and oral objections, or in Federal Court, has been to require the Ordinances to comply with the State and Federal Statues including the respective regulationsandcaselaw specificallyapplicableto theMobilehomeParkCommunity. The laws applicable to the Mobilehome Park Community are significantly different than for all other residentialrentalhousingandsuchdifferenceshavebeenlargelyignoredby theCity in adopting the Ordinances, despite repeated and detailed language including proposed modifications to the Ordinances being provided to the City to bring the Ordinances in line with such bodies of law.
Sincerely,
LOFTIN IBEDELL P.C.
ce
4 By: L. SueLoftin, Esq.
cc: Client( Via Email)
City Council Members ( Via Overnight Mail)
Honorable Mayor Valerie Amezcua
Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez
Council Members Thai Viet Phan,
Genjamin Vazquez
Phil Bacerra
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez
David Penaloza
KMC700SA01. 010
Ibarra, Evelyn
From: DaleHelvig <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June
To: eComment; Amezcua, Valerie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David
Cc: Carvalho, SoniaR.; Nunez, Alvaro; Mendoza, Steven; Hall, Jennifer Subject: 2024-06-17LettertoCityCouncil-Item17-NonCitizenVoting Attachments: 2024-06-17LettertoCityCouncil-Item17-NonCitizenVoting.pdf Attention: Thisemailoriginatedfromoutsideof Cityof SantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks.
Pleaseincludea?achedle inagendaforJune18, 2024CityCouncilmee?ng.
DaleHelvig
Resident, SantaAna
1 Ibarra, Evelyn
From: JuliaGomez <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, June18, 20241:26PM
To: eComment
Cc: Amezcua, Valerie; Lopez, Jessie; Phan, Thai; Vazquez, Benjamin; Bacerra, Phil; Hernandez, Johnathan; Penaloza, David; Carvalho, SoniaR.; AnnetteWong; AnishaHingorani; Annie Lee
Subject: PublicCommentreJune18Mtg, CSItemNo. 1andRSItemNo. 17 Attachments: 2024.06.18CAA, UCILawIRC + ACLULtrtoSantaAnareCSItemNo. 1andRSItemNo.
17.pdf
Attention: Thisemailoriginatedfromoutsideof Cityof SantaAna. Usecautionwhenopeningattachmentsorlinks.
A?achedpleasend publiccommentfromChineseforArma?veAc?on, UCILawImmigrantRightsClinic, andtheACLU ofSouthernCaliforniaregardingtoday’sClosedSessionItem1andRegularSessionItem18 (immigrantvo?ngballot measure).
Best,
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
THISMESSAGEIS INTENDEDONLYFORTHEUSEOFTHEINDIVIDUALORENTITYTOWHICHIT IS ADDRESSEDANDMAYCONTAIN INFORMATIONTHATIS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIALANDEXEMPTFROMDISCLOSUREUNDERAPPLICABLELAW. IFTHEREADEROFTHIS
MESSAGEIS NOTTHEINTENDEDRECIPIENTORTHEEMPLOYEEORAGENTRESPONSIBLEFORDELIVERINGTHEMESSAGETOTHE
INTENDEDRECIPIENT, YOUAREHEREBYNOTIFIEDTHATANYDISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTIONORCOPYINGOFTHISCOMMUNICATIONIS STRICTLYPROHIBITED.
1 Sentviaemail
June18, 2024
SantaAnaMayorandCityCouncil
CityCouncilChamber
22CivicCenterPlaza
SantaAna, CA92701
[email protected]
Re: June18, 2024City CouncilAgenda, ClosedSessionItem No. 1 andRegular SessionItemNo. 17, NoncitizenVotingBallotMeasure
DearMayorAmezcuaandMembersof theSantaAnaCityCouncil:
ChineseforAffirmativeAction, theACLUFoundationof SouthernCalifornia, andthe UCIrvineSchoolof LawImmigrantRightsClinicrespectfullysubmitthisletterabouttheCity CouncilÓsplanneddiscussionsrelatingtopotentiallyamendingthelanguageof theNovember 2024immigrantvotingmeasure (theÐMeasureÑ). TheCityCouncilhasbroaddiscretionover ballotlanguageandisundernoobligationtotakedirectionfromJamesV. Lacy, anindividual challengingtheMeasurein court. Mr. Lacyhasahistoryof unsuccessfullyopposingeffortsto expandthevotetononcitizenresidents, includingthroughafailedlawsuittosetasideSan FranciscoÓsimmigrantvotingprogramandafailedpre-electionlawsuittokeepOaklandÓs 1immigrantvotingmeasureoff theNovember2022ballot. BecausetheMeasureisclear, informative, andisneitherfalse, misleading, norpartialtooneside, theCityCouncilmaysend thecurrentversionof theMeasuretocountyelectionsofficials.
I. TheCity Councilhasbroaddiscretionto draft theMeasure, andacourtmust employa presumptionthat themeasurein neutral.
TheCityCouncilhasbroaddiscretiontoprepareballotlanguage. Yeson25, Citizensfor anOn-TimeBudgetv. Super. Ct. (ÐYeson25Ñ), 189Cal. App. 1445, 1452-53 (2010); Martinez v. Super. Ct., 142Cal. App. 4th1245, 1248 (2006). In contrast, courtsdonotenjoyawiderange of discretionwhenadjudicatingpre-electionchallengestothesufficiencyof ballotlanguage.
Becerrav. Super. Ct., 19Cal. App. 5th967, 976 (2017) (citingYeson25, 189Cal. App. 4that 1453). Rather, althoughacourtmustindependentlyassesswhetherballotlanguagesubstantially 1 Lacyv. City & Cnty. ofSanFrancisco, 94Cal. App. 5th238, 243 (2023) (rejectingchallengetoSanFranciscoÓs immigrantvotingprogram); BobEgelko, ConservativeGroupDropsChallengetoS.F., OaklandLawsAllowing NoncitizenVotingin SchoolBoardRaces, SanFranciscoChronicle (Oct. 10, 2023), https://bit.ly/4cuGSTD.
FYFDVUJWF! EJSFDUPS Ifdups!P/!Wjmmbhsb
DIBJS Tubdz!Ipsui.Ofvcfsu! WJDF! DIBJS Spc!Ifoojh
DIBJST! FNFSJUJ Njdifmf!HppexjoNbsmb!Tupof!!Tibsj!Mfjoxboe!!Tufqifo!Spief!!Ebooz!Hpmecfsh!!Bmmbo!L/!Kpobt+!!Cvsu!Mbodbtufs+!!Jswjoh! Mjdiufotufjo-!NE+!!Kbsm!Npio!!Mbvsjf!Ptuspx+!!Tubomfz!L/!Tifjocbvn+! efdfbtfe
PSBOHF! DPVOUZ! PGGJDF! 876!UIF! DJUZ! ESJWF-! TVJUF! 471! PSBOHF-! DB!: 3979! U! 825/ 561/ 4: 73! G! 825/ 694/ 9157! BDMVTPDBM/ PSH! SantaAnaMayorandCityCouncil
June 18, 2024 Page 2
complieswithstatutorystandards, seeMartinez, 142Cal. App. 4that1248, acourtmaygrant reliefÐonlyuponclearandconvincingproofthatthe \[challenged\] materialsinquestion \[are\] false, misleading, orinconsistentwiththerequirementsof \[Section9051\],Ñ Yeson25, 189Cal.
App. 4that1453 (quotingElec. Code § 9092), seealsoMcDonoughv. Super. Ct., 204Cal. App. 4th1169, 1173 (2012) (citingElec. Code § 9295(b)(2)). Ballotlanguagemaybedeemed insufficientonlyin aclearcase, andÐalllegitimatepresumptionsshouldbeindulgedin favorof theproprietyof the \[drafterÓs\] actions.ÑYeson25, 189Cal. App. 4that1453 (quotingEpperson 2v. Jordan, 12Cal. 2d61, 66, 70 (1938)).
Yeson25exemplifiesthediscretioncourtsaffordtodrafters. In Yeson25, acourtof appealreversedthelowercourtÓsrulingstrikingthefollowingballotlanguage:
CHANGESLEGISLATIVEVOTEREQUIREMENTTOPASSBUDGETAND
BUDGETÎRELATEDLEGISLATIONFROM TWOÎTHIRDSTO A SIMPLE
MAJORITY. RETAINSTWOÎTHIRDSVOTEREQUIREMENTFORTAXES.
INITIATIVECONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT
Id. at1450-51. ThepetitionersallegedthattheÐRetainsTwo-ThirdsVoteRequirementÑwas misleadingbecauseit suggestedthatpassageof thepropositionwasnecessarytokeepin place thetwo-thirdsvoterequirementtoraisetaxes. Id. at1448. Thecourtacknowledgedthat ÐreasonablemindsmaydifferÑastothesufficiencyof thelanguagebutconcludedthata differenceof opiniondidnotconstituteÐclearandconvincingproofÑthatthechallenged languagewasmisleading. Id. at1454. Becausepreparingballotmaterialsisadifficulttask, draftersareÐaffordedconsiderablelatitude.Ñ Id. at1452-53. Asin Yeson25, atmosttheremay beadifferenceof opinionbetweenMr. LacyandtheCouncilastowhethertheMeasureispartial orbiased. Butadifferenceof opinionisnotenoughtosetasidetheCouncilÓslanguage.
II. Theballotquestiondoesnotneedto bethemostneutralor completequestionandit maylist theeffectsof themeasureby wayof example.
DespitethedeferenceaffordedtotheCityCouncilandtheplainlyneutrallanguage includedin themeasure, Mr. Lacyallegesin hislawsuitthatthelanguageisbiasedbecauseit is 3incomplete. HeallegesÐparentsandtaxpayersÑdescribesonlysomeof thenoncitizenswho wouldbeabletovoteweretheproposedmeasurepassedandpointsoutthatnoncitizenswhoare ÐhomelessorcriminalsÑwouldalsobegrantedtherighttovote.
Thetestforwhetherballotlanguageissufficient, however, isnotwhetherthedrafters couldhaveusedthemostcompleteorneutrallanguage. SeeMartinez, 142Cal. App. 4that1248.
Indeed, courtsroutinelyrejectchallengestoballotlanguagethatsimplyexplainstheeffectof a measure. See, e.g., Greenv. Logan, 2014WL 2446069at *1 (Cal. Ct. App. June2, 2014) rejectingargumentthatrevenue-raisingmeasurewasbiasedsimplybecauseit included examples, butnotanexhaustivelist, of servicesthatit wouldfund); SantaClaraCnty. Bd. of 2 Whetheradraftersupportsoropposesameasuredoesnotlessenthedeferencecourtsgivetotheiractions. Lungren v. Super. Ct., 48Cal. App. 4th435, 440n.1 (1996) (in discussingthediscretiondraftershaveoverballotlanguage, notingthatit isimmaterialwhetherdrafterssupportoropposethechallengedballotlanguage); Martinez, 142Cal.
App. 4that1249 (ÐitistheballottitleÓslanguagethatmustbeimpartial, nottheclaimedmotivesofthecouncilÑ). 3 Lacy, etal. v. SantaAnaCityCouncil, etal., CaseNo. 30-2024-01402208, Pet. forWritof Mandate (Cal. Super.
Ct., OrangeCnty. May24, 2024).
BNFSJDBO! DJWJM! MJCFSUJFT! VOJPO! GPVOEBUJPO! PG!TPVUIFSO! DBMJGPSOJB! SantaAnaMayorandCityCouncil
June 18, 2024 Page 3
Supervisorsv. Super. Ct., 2004WL 1945665at *6 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 1, 2004) (concludingthat ballotlanguagestatingthatthecharteramendmentwouldÐsupersedeÑthedisputeresolution processin thecharterandÐimposeÑarbitrationforuniondisputeswasmerelyanaccurate descriptionof themeasureÓseffect, andthuswasnotfalse, misleading, orargumentative).
Instead, thetestforthesufficiencyof ballotlanguageisÐwhetherit ispartial (orfalseor misleading)Ñ andwhetherthelanguageÐsignalstovotersthecouncilÓsviewof howtheyshould vote, orcastsafavorablelightononeside . . . whiledisparagingtheopposingview.ÑMartinez, 42Cal. App. 4that1248 (emphasisadded).
In Martinez, thepetitionerunsuccessfullyarguedthatthefollowingballotlanguagewas incomplete, misleading, andbiased:
COUNCILMEMBERTERMLIMITSOFTHREETERMS; CITYLOBBYING,
CAMPAIGNFINANCEAND ETHICSLAWS. CHARTERAMENDMENT
ANDORDINANCEPROPOSITION __.
ShalltheCharterbeamendedandordinanceadoptedto: changeCouncilmember termlimitstothreeterms; restrictlobbyistsfrommakingcampaigncontributions, giftsandbecomingcommissioners; reviselobbyistregistrationthresholds; require contractorscertifycompliancewithlobbyinglaws; extendelectedofficialsÓpost- employmentrestrictions; requireethicstraining; andreviserequirementsfor independentexpenditureandcampaigncontributions?
142Cal. App. 4that1247. Althoughthecourtconcededthattheheadingof themeasurecouldbe moreinformativebystatingthatit wouldincreasetermlimitsfromtwotothreeterms, thecourt stressedthatthelanguagedidÐnotneedtobetheÒmostaccurate,ÓÒmostcomprehensive,Óor ÒfairestÓthataskilledwordsmithmightimagine.ÑId. at1248. Thecourtultimatelyrejectedthe challenge, emphasizingthattheÐjudiciary \[was\] notfreetosubstituteitsjudgmentgivenits deferentialstandardof review.Ñ Id.
In thelimitedinstanceswhencourtshavesetasidebiasedlanguage, thelanguagewas 4alsofalseormisleadingandheavilyfavoredoneside. Forexample, in HuntingtonBeachCity Councilv. SuperiorCourt, citedbyLacy, theCourtof Appealamendedthefollowingtext becauseit includedatermthatdisparagedthemeasure: ÐAmendmentof Utility Taxby RemovingElectricPowerPlantExemption.Ñ 94Cal. App. 4th1417, 1425, 1433-34 (2012). The Courtreasonedthatin thetaxcontextÐÒexemptionÓcarriesthewhiffofprivilegeÑbyimplying Ðunfairinfluenceandspecialtreatment.Ñ Id. at1433-34. Thecourtdeterminedthislanguagewas alsomisleadingbecausetheenergycompanytargetedbythemeasuredid payutility taxesÏjust notonwholesalenaturalgasÏandthustheballottitleÓsphrasingwasinaccurate. Id. at1434.
ThecourtthereforeorderedthecitytoreplaceÐexemptionÑwithÐexclusion,Ñawordthatdoes notcarryanoverlypositiveornegativeconnotationin thetaxationcontext. 4 LacyÓsbriefonlycitedthreecasestosupportitsposition. See, generally, Lacy, etal. v. SantaAnaCityCouncil, et al., CaseNo. 30-2024-01402208, PetÓrsÓOp. Br. (Cal. Super. Ct., OrangeCnty. June4, 2024). Oneof thosecases didnotinvolveachallengeundertheElectionsCodeatall. Seeid. at11-13 (citingCitizensforResponsibleGovtÓv.
CityofAlbany, 56Cal. App. 4th1199 (1997), acaseatthemotiontodismissstageinvolvingapost-election challengetoagamblingballotmeasurewheretheBusinessandProfessionsCode, unliketheElectionsCode, specifiestheexactwordingof themeasureandthecouncildeviatedbyaddingsuperfluouslanguage). Theothertwo cases, discussedin thisletter, involvedclearlybiasedlanguagethatwasalsomisleading.
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McDonoughlikewiseinvolvedlanguagethatclearlycreatedanimpermissiblebiasand wasmisleading. In McDonough, petitionersbroughtapre-electionchallengetoaproposed amendmenttotheSantaClaracitycharter, claimingtheballotquestionandthecityclerkÓs analysisof thequestionwereÐmisleadingandbiasedin favorof passage.Ñ 204Cal. App. 4that 1172. TheballotmeasurewastitledÐPensionReformÑandcontainedthefollowinglanguage:
Toprotectessentialservices, includingneighborhoodpolicepatrols, firestations, libraries, communitycenters, streetsandparks, shalltheCharterbeamendedto reform retirement benefitsof City employeesandretireesby: increasing employeesÓcontributions, establishingavoluntaryreducedpensionplanforcurrent employees, establishpensioncostandbenefitlimitationsfor newemployees, modify disabilityretirementprocedures, temporarilysuspendretireeCOLAs duringemergencies, requirevoterapprovalforincreasesin futurepensionbenefits? Id. at1173 (emphasisadded). TheCourtorderedtheballottitleÐPensionReformÑtobeamended tosayÐPensionModificationÑbecausethewordÐreformÑcharacterizedtheexistingpension systemasÐdefective, wrong, orsusceptibletoabuse,Ñ andthustookabiasedposition. Id. at 1174-76. Thecourtalsoorderedremovedtheitalicizedintroductorylanguagebecausetheterm ÐprotectÑmisledvotersintobelievingthatif themeasurefailedthepublicwouldlosethe services. Id. at1175-77. It wasthisimplicationthatledthecourttofindthelanguageÐpartisan andprejudicial.ÑId. at1176. Thereisnosimilarlanguagein theMeasure. Instead, theMeasure usesthewordÐincludingÑto indicatethattaxpayersandparentsaresomeÏbutnotallÏof the noncitizenSantaAnaresidentswhowouldbeimpactedbythemeasure.
Thechallengedlanguageherealsodoesnotcarryanoverlypositiveconnotationin the votingcontext, justasthetermsÐexclusionÑin thetaxcontextandÐmodificationÑthepension contextarelargelyneutral. In contrast, thetermstaxÐexemptionÑrejectedbytheHuntington BeachcourtandpensionÐreformÑrejectedbytheMcDonoughcourtundoubtedlycreatedbias.
And, asnoted, evenif acourtdeterminedthatthephraseÐtaxpayersandparentsÑcarriespositive undertones, CaliforniacourtshaveemphasizedthatÐaballottitleneednotbethe . . . ÒfairestÓthat askilledwordsmithmightimagineÑandthatÐthejudiciaryisnotfreetosubstituteitsjudgment foracitycouncilÓsjudgment\] given \[the\] deferentialstandardofreview.ÑMartinez, 142Cal.
App. 4that1248.
WeurgetheCityCounciltoconsiderthisinformationduringitsdiscussionsaboutthe ballotlanguage. Thankyouverymuchfor yourtimeandconsideration.
Sincerely,
5Julia A. GomezAnisha Hingorani AnnieLai
SeniorStaffAttorney PolicyManager Director
ACLUof SouthernCalifornia Chinesefor Affirmative Action UCIrvine Schoolof Law ImmigrantRightsClinic
5 GraysonRost, alegalinternattheACLUof SouthernCaliforniaandstudentattheUCLASchoolof Law, providedresearchsupportforthisletter.
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Cc: Valerie Amezcua, Mayor, [email protected]
JessieLopez, Mayor Pro Tem, [email protected]
Thai Viet Phan, Councilmember, [email protected]
Benjamin Vazquez, Councilmember, [email protected] Phil Bacerra, Councilmember, [email protected]
JonathanRyan Hernandez, Councilmember, [email protected] DavidPenaloza, Councilmember, [email protected]
SoniaR. Carvalho, CityAttorney, [email protected] BNFSJDBO! DJWJM! MJCFSUJFT! VOJPO! GPVOEBUJPO! PG!TPVUIFSO! DBMJGPSOJB!