Ward 3 Newsletter: December 2025

As we wrap up 2025 and head into the New Year, I want to thank our community for an incredible year of partnership and progress. This month, our office has been busy supporting families with groceries, turkeys, shoes, and City resources, taking part in park cleanups and community events, and advocating in Council meetings for policies that protect our neighborhoods, including a request for a smoke shop moratorium.

I am grateful to our residents for your trust and engagement, to neighborhood leaders for working closely with my office, and to our business and community partners for everything you do to support Santa Ana families and strengthen our local economy.

Our team wishes you a joyful holiday season, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and all the best for the New Year. Please note that City Hall will be closed for the holidays. I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Councilmember Lopez in our Community!

Santiago Park Ribbon Cutting for Phase II

Santiago Park improvements have been years in the making, and I'm grateful to the neighborhood for the steady input, feedback, and partnership that shaped this master plan from the very beginning. We celebrated Phase I last year. Phase II is officially open - new picnic areas, creek overlooks, improved lighting, native planting, new trails, safety fencing, and so much more!

Thank you to the Park Santiago Neighborhood, Ward 3 residents, the California State Coastal Conservancy, Orange County Habitats, and our Public Works and Parks & Rec teams. This progress truly reflects our collective work. I'm excited to keep moving forward with Phase III.

Pico Lowell Neighborhood Association Turkey Giveaway

This year, we've been more intentional with our efforts, making sure we're present where families need us most. It was wonderful to join MPT and the Pico Lowell Association for this turkey giveaway and to see our community show up for one another with so much heart.

I'm grateful to our SAUSD personnel for supporting the resource fair, to the site's liaison, and to Erika from United Across Borders Foundation for the food bags and giveaways that added so much care to the day.

And thank you to my Ward 3 team for always showing up with compassion and commitment, ensuring our residents feel supported and valued.

Santiago Creek Clean-Up with OC Habitats

We wrapped up our final creek clean-up of the year with the support and partnership of OC Habitat and our dedicated volunteers. This work would not be possible without the many people who take time out of their busy schedules to help care for our creek, remove invasive plants, and protect this important natural space.

We look forward to continuing restoration efforts in the New Year, including planting native species and expanding our environmental stewardship work. Thank you to OC Habitat, our Public Works team, and our Parks and Recreation team for their continued partnership and commitment to our community.

Native American Heritage Month Proclamation

In recognition of Native American Heritage Month, I presented a proclamation honoring RedBoy Productions and the Heritage Museum of Orange County for their commitment to celebrating and preserving Indigenous history and culture. The proclamation officially declared November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month, celebrating the rich history, culture, and contributions of Native American communities and acknowledging the important work of local organizations dedicated to preserving and uplifting Indigenous heritage.

Latino Health Access Annual Tamalada

I had the pleasure of attending Latino Health Access's Annual Tamalada, a cherished community tradition that brings neighbors together through food, culture, and celebration. True to their motto, "A safe & healthy community, even if we have to sell tamales,"the event featured delicious tamales, music, and meaningful community connection, all while supporting Latino Health Access's mission and the vital programs that serve our community year-round.

The Cambodian Family's Breakfast with Santa

I am grateful to the Cambodian Family for once again hosting Breakfast with Santa and creating a welcoming space for our diverse community to come together. Events like this highlight the power of connection, culture, and shared meals. It was a joy to be with our neighbors as we celebrate the season and look ahead to welcoming the New Year together.

Boys & Girls Club Winter Wonderland Celebration

I was thrilled to join the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana for their annual Winter Wonderland celebration, where students met Santa, received holiday gifts, and enjoyed festive activities with their friends and families. The event created a joyful space for young people to experience the magic of the season while celebrating together in community.

Thank you to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana for hosting this wonderful celebration and for your continued commitment to supporting and uplifting our youth. Being with the Boys & Girls Club is always deeply meaningful to me. As a young person, this club was a safe haven and a place of opportunity. I worked there tutoring students younger than me, helping with homework, cleaning locker rooms, and doing whatever was needed. Seeing the impact the Club continues to have on Santa Ana youth fills me with pride and gratitude. Thank you for all that you do, B&G team!

Cafecito de Acción de Gracias with Building Skills Partnership

Our Ward 3 team joined Building Skills Partnership and SEIU members for Cafecito de Acción de Gracias, one of their final workshops of the year. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect with workers, reflect on the year's accomplishments, and celebrate community. To mark the holiday, we were able to provide each member in attendance with a turkey to help them celebrate Thanksgiving with their families.

DK Law's Thanksgiving Turkey Drive

Our team also supported DK Law, in partnership with Badge of Heart and our SAUSD Face Liaisons, for coming together to provide full holiday meals to 500 families across Santa Ana. It was an honor to join DK Law and community partners in being part of this meaningful event, which helped ensure families could celebrate the season with warmth, dignity, and support.

Celebrating Native American Heritage at Santa Ana College

The gathering at Santa Ana College was a powerful reminder that Native American history, culture, and resilience are living and vital parts of our community. Standing alongside Indigenous leaders, students, and neighbors underscored that these stories are not only part of our past, but continue to shape our present and guide our future.

I am deeply proud to have participated in this meaningful celebration and grateful to our local school districts for their continued commitment to uplifting Indigenous students. Thank you as well to the task force whose dedication and hard work make gatherings like this possible.

NAC Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Home

I had a wonderful time joining the NAC for their annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Home, where we distributed turkeys, hams, and chicken to current students and alumni. Celebrating alongside NAC Scholars, alumni, and parents, it was inspiring to see our community come together, showcasing the resilience and unity that make our neighborhood so strong. Thank you to everyone for demonstrating how we can support one another and be part of something bigger.

Councilmember Lopez's Intern Spotlight

Joe Mendoza - College

"Hello, my name is Joe Mendoza! Since July 2025, I have been working with the office of Councilwoman Jessie Lopez and the City Manager's Office. I have attended many community events, City Council meetings, neighborhood association meetings, and other events throughout the city of Santa Ana. At these events, I am representing Councilwoman Jessie Lopez and providing resources and services to the residents such as informing them about flyers about rental assistance, food assistance, immigration rights, etc. Some of these events where I represented the councilmember and provided resources were Fiestas Patrias, Chicano Heritage Festival, and more. I was also able to learn both the operations of an office within local government and helping out with outreach for a council member and the city in general. I learned how to utilize the City Manager's Office phone such as showing professionalism and communicating effectively when responding to the phone calls from residents about any questions, inquiries, and more.

These are just some of the many things that I learned during my time with Councilwoman Jessie Lopez and the City Manager's Office. I enjoyed every single aspect of this experience and there was not a single aspect that I did not enjoy during my time with Jessie Lopez and the City Manager's Office. Regarding my career aspirations, I want to be able to work in local government in any department like in the city, county, or state level to continue being a public servant for all residents. Being a civil servant is something that I am very passionate about because I want to be able to beneficially impact the lives of any resident in any way possible. From attending events to answering phone calls from residents, I enjoyed and will forever cherish every moment here. Thank you to Councilwoman Jessie Lopez, Valerie Magdaleno, Yesenia Cruz, all City Manager's Office staff for allowing me to have this amazing opportunity of working in city government."

Brandon Duarte - Santa Ana High School Senior

"Hello, my name is Brandon Duarte - I have worked as an intern in the Office of Councilmember Jessie Lopez and the City Manager's Office. Throughout my time here, I have experienced many things from meeting new people, to being able to help constituents in the city. Additionally I have learned to use things I was unable to operate before I worked here - in example, the copy/printer machine. I learned how to scan papers, copy papers, and even print certificates the city awarded. Surprisingly, I also learned how to properly send mail to someone - because nowadays we use email. Additionally I learned how to use an office phone, at first, I did not know how to transfer people or put people on hold, at some point, while transferring people, I would hang up on them without me knowing. I would add on that while talking to the constituents, I have really learned to speak and upgrade my communication skills, especially in Spanish. During my time here, I have attended many City Council meetings. The meetings allow me to see the process of how policies go into effect. For Example, in the City of Santa Ana we have a program called Ayuda Sin Fronteras, which is a program dedicated to help residents that need rental or utility assistance if they have been affected by the Immigration Raids. I saw the council vote on adding an additional $100,000 that would further assist residents - something I would be unaware of if I was not in this position.

This opportunity has also helped me learn about city events that I never knew existed. Even less, I was unaware of who represented the areas in the city. I did not even know Jessie Lopez existed, better yet, I did not know that she represented my ward. Santa Ana also has an app where you can report any issues like potholes, graffiti, traffic lights, streetlights or anything that you may need repaired - I never knew this existed. I have enjoyed everything during my time here, this opportunity gave me exposure to what I feel like is the 'backstage' part of The City of Santa Ana. This opportunity allowed me to look at local government differently ultimately giving me another career choice. From what I took, I believe that I would still like to pursue a career as a public defender or a district attorney. Both still within the government roles, which I enjoy doing. I have great appreciation and give thanks to the staff at the City Manager's Office or any other City Staff that I have met along the way giving me that advice and giving their time to teach me new things and even just have a conversation. There are way more things I can talk about, but I would be talking for days. I am very appreciative for this position and have enjoyed my time."

Councilmember Lopez Requested Items

I introduced a policy to the City Council to address the growing number of new smoke shops and the expansion of existing smoke shop uses across Santa Ana. The policy directs staff to return to the City Council within 90 days with a report outlining interim steps taken and a draft permanent ordinance establishing long-term rules for the location and operation of smoke shops.

Smoke shops, which sell tobacco products, vape devices, smoking paraphernalia, and related items, have increased significantly in many parts of our city. These businesses often locate along major corridors and near residential neighborhoods, schools, parks, transit stops, and youth-serving facilities. Residents and City staff have raised concerns about youth access to nicotine and vaping products, loitering and nuisance activity, and the overconcentration of smoke shops in certain areas.

Some retailers have also sold products such as nitrous oxide canisters, which the City recently addressed through a new ordinance banning recreational nitrous oxide sales, an effort I brought forward in direct response to community concerns.

While the City already regulates tobacco retailers through Chapter 18 of the Municipal Code and prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products, and while the State has enacted SB 793 to ban flavored tobacco statewide, these laws do not address the land-use impacts created by the concentration and placement of smoke shops.

This policy responds to growing concerns from residents about protecting youth, maintaining neighborhood quality of life, and ensuring that our commercial corridors develop in a balanced and responsible way. I am grateful to the residents who worked closely with my office to successfully bring this issue forward and help shape a thoughtful, community-driven approach.

Read My Full Report Here

Santa Ana Items of Interest

I'm pleased to share that Orange County Sanitation General Manager Rob Thompson's interview for a feature on PFAS destruction has now been published in Filtration + Separationmagazine. The article, "Breaking Forever Bonds," highlights several emerging methods for PFAS destruction, including OC San's own Supercritical Water Oxidation project.

Read the Article in Filtration & Separation - October 2025

Ward 3 Search Warrant Enforcement Updates

Over the past several weeks, our City departments have carried out multiple coordinated enforcement actions to address illegal activity, protect young people, and improve neighborhood quality of life in Ward 3. Below is a summary of three recent operations.

Search Warrant: 224 E. 17th St.
The Santa Ana Police Department's Quality of Life Team, in partnership with Directed Patrol and Code Enforcement, served a search warrant at a business located at 224 E. 17th St. in response to ongoing illegal activity impacting nearby neighborhoods. The business owner was arrested on illegal gambling-related charges, and five additional individuals were arrested for narcotics-related offenses and outstanding warrants. Officers seized illegal gambling machines, cash, and narcotics. Code Enforcement conducted an on-site inspection and issued citations for municipal code violations.

Search Warrant: North Grand and East Fourth Area
City departments also served a search warrant at a separate business in the North Grand and East Fourth area for illegal gambling machines and possession of nitrous oxide. Earlier this year, my office advocated for a citywide ban on recreational nitrous oxide sales in response to resident concerns. This operation reflects my commitment not only to passing laws, but to ensuring they are enforced.

Search Warrants: Multiple Smoke Shops Citywide (1106 E. 17th St., 1442 S. Bristol St., 1412 W. Edinger Ave.)
In a third operation, the City conducted targeted enforcement at three smoke shops across the city. Officers made seven arrests related to outstanding warrants, illegal sales of nitrous oxide, and illegal gambling activity. Code Enforcement placed notices on all three businesses, meaning the properties remain under review and may face further action.

These coordinated efforts demonstrate our ongoing commitment to enforcing the laws we pass, keeping harmful products out of the hands of young people, and protecting the safety and quality of life of our neighborhoods.

Lighting Improvements Coming to Pat McGuigan Skate Park

New lighting has been installed at Pat McGuigan Skate Park in Centennial Regional Park and is currently in the final stages of wiring. The system is expected to be fully operational within the next two weeks. Once complete, the upgraded lighting will allow skaters to enjoy the park until 10 p.m., expanding evening recreation options alongside Ed Caruthers Park and Gerardo Mouet Park.

Lighting and Major Upgrades at Angels Park

New lighting has been installed at Angels Park and is currently in the final stages of wiring, with full operation expected within the next two weeks. Once complete, community members will be able to enjoy the park into the evening and experience the many improvements made over the past year. These upgrades include new educational features at the playground, rubberized safety surfacing, refreshed fencing and paint, new restrooms, enhanced athletic field lighting, and added security lighting.

With the lighting installation nearly complete, the City will move into the final phase of improvements at Angels Park, which includes resurfacing and reconfiguring two full basketball courts and adding a new sidewalk - bringing this major park revitalization effort close to completion.

New Art and Literacy Initiatives at the Santa Ana Jail

The Library Services Agency, in partnership with the Santa Ana Police Department, continues to expand art and literacy programs at the Santa Ana Jail. These initiatives use reading and creative expression as tools for personal growth, reflection, and connection among inmates. Feedback from both participants and facility staff has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the impact of these programs on well-being and rehabilitation.

Upcoming Art Program: Unlocked Expressions

Launching in January 2026, the Library will introduce Unlocked Expressions, a new collaborative art program focused on creativity, leadership, and shared learning. Participants will work alongside library staff to co-facilitate sessions, exchange artistic skills, and explore a variety of art techniques. The program aims to empower individuals with artistic experience to mentor others while providing a welcoming space for all participants to express themselves creatively.

State Building Demolition Update

The City is moving forward with the modernization of the Civic Center, including the demolition of the former State Building at 28 Civic Center Plaza, supported by a state grant. During planning, it was determined that the adjacent Plaza of the Fountains would need to be removed first. As the Plaza sits on County-owned land, City staff have been coordinating with the County on a Purchase and Sale agreement.

Under the proposed terms, the County would transfer approximately 0.7 acres of the Plaza of the Fountains to the City for $1, relieving the County of $500,000 in structural repair costs. The City would receive these funds from the Orange County Civic Center Authority budget to support demolition and construct new access stairways to the Public Law Library.

Staff plan to present the agreement to the County Board of Supervisors and City Council in January 2026. The consultant's scope has been updated to focus on planning and environmental clearance for the Plaza demolition, keeping the project on track for demolition to begin in August 2026.

LAist Report: Major Landlord Settlement Over Rent Price-Fixing Allegation

A recent Laist and La Timesreport highlights a significant legal settlement involving Greystar, the nation's largest landlord, which agreed to pay $7 million to resolve allegations that it helped artificially inflate rental prices. The lawsuit, filed in January, accused Greystar, several other large landlords, and software company RealPage of using an algorithmic pricing system to keep rents higher than competitive market rates.

According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the software allowed landlords to share and analyze sensitive, non-public rental data, enabling coordinated rent increases. As part of the settlement, Greystar has agreed to stop using RealPage's software and to cooperate with ongoing investigations and prosecutions of other defendants.

This settlement is significant because it curtails the use of data-sharing tools that may have enabled landlords to collude and drive up housing costs. Proposed restrictions on RealPage would also limit the development of similar systems in the future, potentially making it harder for landlords to manipulate rental prices and helping protect renters across California.

Read more here from the LA times

Policy Watch: Utility Safety and Wildfire Prevention

Recent reporting has raised serious concerns about utility safety and maintenance across California. Investigations found that critical maintenance on aging electrical transmission lines was delayed or incomplete even as wildfire risks were increasing. Earlier this year, catastrophic fires destroyed thousands of structures and took lives, reminding us that failures in infrastructure oversight can have devastating and irreversible consequences.

Why this matters is simple. When utility equipment is not properly maintained or modernized, the risk of fires increases during high heat and wind events. These risks affect entire communities, including neighborhood safety, your insurance costs, emergency response capacity, and long-term recovery. Strong oversight, clear accountability, and proactive maintenance are essential to reducing wildfire risk and protecting the places people work, live, and raise their families. Staying informed and engaged on these issues helps ensure public safety comes before profit and that lessons are learned before another disaster occurs.

Read here

What I'm Reading & Reflecting On: Child Tax Credit and Families Who Are Left Out

A recent analysis found that more than 800,000 children in veteran familiesare excluded from receiving the full Child Tax Credit because of how current federal tax rules work. These families often work hard but still do not qualify for the full benefit because their incomes are too low under the way the credit is structured. At the same time, changes made in the federal budget made the tax credit slightly larger overall but did not fix the way it is phased in, leaving many children in working families with less support than they should receive.

Read more

This matters to our community because the Child Tax Credit is one of the most effective tools policymakers have to help families cover basic needs like food, clothing, health care, and housing costs. Research shows that when families receive the full credit, children are healthier, do better in school, and families are more economically secure. When the credit leaves out children in lower-income households, it means those kids and their families struggle more to make ends meet. Staying informed about how federal tax policy affects working families can help residents understand broader economic pressures on local households and why advocacy at all levels of government is important.

Read more

Local Events

• Resident Free Days at the Zoo • Third Sunday of each Month.
• Bowers Museum free Sundays • Santa Ana residents get in free each Sunday.
• Discovery Cube Waste Free Days • Santa Ana residents get free admission to the Discovery Cube on the first Tuesday of the month.
• Councilwoman's Office Hours • Santa Ana residents are invited to come and ask questions, share your concerns, and make suggestions about your neighborhood or the City of Santa Ana.