Police Department
www.santa-ana.org/pd
Item # 7
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
February 3, 2026
TOPIC: East First Street Quality of Life Initiative
AGENDA TITLE
2025 Update on the East First Street Quality of Life Initiative
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and file.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
In 2025, the East First Street corridor was a concentrated source of public safety and quality-of-life concerns, marked by open drug use, widespread homeless encampments, chronic disorder, and motel-based criminal activity involving narcotics trafficking and prostitution. These conditions generated frequent calls for service and negatively affected nearby schools, residents, and businesses. In response, the Police Department initiated focused, corridor-specific enforcement to implement a sustained strategy to address criminal activity, nuisance locations, and restore public order.
Enforcement Activity
In 2025, the Police Department’s Operations Division enforcement efforts along the East First Street corridor resulted in the following:
Enforcement Activity
Misdemeanor Arrests 1,010
Felony Arrests 313
Total Arrests 1,323
Proposition 36 Arrests 252
Infraction Citations 239
Total Calls for Service 7,600
East First Street Quality of Life Initiative
February 3, 2026
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Cleanup Operations
Alongside enforcement activity, cleanup operations were conducted along the East First Street corridor. Landscape West completed 1,190 total cleanups, focused on removing debris, addressing encampment-related complaints, and improving conditions affecting public health and safety. Additionally, the Clean City Enhancement program conducted 48 power wash operations and 84 bus bench cleanups along the East First Street corridor.
Abatement Efforts and Interdepartmental Coordination
Abatement activities remain a central component of the East First Street Quality of Life Initiative. The Police Department, Code Enforcement, and the City Attorney’s Office continue to work collaboratively to address chronic nuisance properties and locations generating repeated calls for service. This coordinated approach integrates enforcement actions, administrative remedies, and legal strategies to promote long-term compliance and sustainable improvements.
Currently, coordinated abatement efforts are underway at Sunshine Village, Royal Roman, Royal Grand Inn, Sunland Motel, and the El Tapatio Restaurant, with ongoing compliance monitoring and enforcement activity. This interdepartmental partnership ensures that public safety concerns are addressed holistically while maintaining due process and consistency with applicable laws and regulations.
A significant highlight of 2025 was the coordinated enforcement and abatement action at 1427 East First Street (Sunshine Village). Through sustained collaboration between the Police Department, Code Enforcement, and the City Attorney’s Office, the property was ultimately red-tagged, eliminating a long-standing source of criminal activity and quality-of-life concerns along the East First Street corridor. This outcome reflects the effectiveness of joint investigations, coordinated enforcement efforts, and legal action.
Outreach and Service Engagement
In addition to enforcement and abatement efforts, the initiative emphasizes outreach and service engagement for individuals experiencing homelessness and related vulnerabilities along the East First Street corridor. In 2025, City Net connected 342 individuals to services, including shelter placement, case management, substance use treatment referrals, and other supportive resources.
Future Actions (2026)
During calendar year 2026, the Police Department will continue to advance the East First Street Quality of Life Initiative through enhanced interagency coordination, targeted enforcement strategies, and expanded use of available statutory tools. The Police Department will continue to collaborate with the California Highway Patrol and other state officials to address quality-of-life issues associated with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) facility on East First Street.
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In addition, officers will utilize the expanded authorities provided under California Senate Bill (SB) 43, which modernizes mental health conservatorship laws by broadening the definition of “grave disability” to include individuals with severe substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health conditions who are unable to provide for their essential safety, food, shelter, or necessary medical care.
Implementation of SB 43 will occur in coordination with O.C. Public Health and local hospitals to support appropriate treatment interventions, accountability measures, and continued collaboration to reduce chronic public safety impacts along the East First Street corridor.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Submitted By: Robert Rodriguez, Police Chief
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager