CITY ATTORNEY
Sonia R. Carvalho
CITY MANAGER
Alvaro Nuñez
CITY CLERK
Jennifer L. Hall
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org June 23, 2026
Orange County Board of Supervisors
400 W. Civic Center Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92701
RE: Opposition to Coordinated Reentry Center Proposed for Santa Ana Honorable Chair and Members of the Board:
I write to respectfully join Supervisor Sarmiento in opposing the County's proposal to develop a Coordinated Reentry Center at the former Youth Guidance Center site.
I would first like to thank Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento for his leadership and advocacy regarding the proposed Coordinated Reentry Center in Santa Ana. As the only member of the Board of Supervisors to publicly oppose the project at its current location, Supervisor Sarmiento has demonstrated a commitment to listening to residents, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring that community concerns are given the consideration they deserve. His call for additional outreach and evaluation of alternative locations reflects the thoughtful and transparent process that this issue warrants.
I want to be clear that my opposition is not to reentry services themselves. Individuals returning to our communities require access to support systems, rehabilitation programs, housing assistance, employment services, and opportunities for successful reintegration.
These investments are important and can have meaningful positive impacts for both participants and the broader community.
However, the question before the County is not whether reentry services should exist. The question is whether Santa Ana should once again be selected as the location for another countywide facility despite longstanding concerns regarding the concentration of regional services within our city.
Santa Ana has consistently stepped forward to help address Orange County's most pressing challenges. Our city serves as the County Seat and hosts numerous governmental, social service, behavioral health, and public safety facilities that serve residents from across the region. In addition, Santa Ana has invested significant local resources into housing, homelessness response, outreach services, and programs designed to improve quality of life for some of our most vulnerable residents.
EXHIBIT 2
Opposition to Proposed Coordinated Reentry Center at the Former Youth Guidance Center Site in Santa Ana
These efforts reflect our community's values of compassion, service, and inclusion. Yet true regional partnership requires that responsibility be shared equitably among all Orange County communities.
Many residents have expressed concern that decisions regarding this project have moved forward without sufficient community engagement or a transparent evaluation of alternative sites. Regardless of one's position on the proposed facility, I believe residents deserve a meaningful opportunity to participate in decisions that will affect their neighborhoods and quality of life for decades to come.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Board of Supervisors to suspend further advancement of the proposed Coordinated Reentry Center at the former Youth Guidance Center site and undertake a transparent, countywide review of alternative locations. Such a process should include robust public outreach, objective evaluation criteria, and meaningful collaboration with local stakeholders.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jessie Lopez
Councilmember – Ward 3
EXHIBIT 2