“The City of Santa Ana has had very preliminary and informal discussions with Chivas USA, a Major League Soccer team currently playing at the Home Depot Center in Carson, regarding a potential relocation to a new soccer venue. At present, the City has not engaged in any formal discussions or negotiations with Chivas, USA for these purposes. In the event, the City were to pursue formal negotiations with any major league sports team to relocate to our community, we would ensure that all residents, neighborhood associations and other stakeholders would be properly notified and would have an opportunity to participate in the process.”
The above statement was issued by interim City Manager Paul Walters on June 21, 2011.
Is anyone really to believe that The City of Santa Ana would actually notify or involve neighborhood associations in the process to bring a professional sports franchise to Santa Ana?
We don't and neither should you.
The letter above was received from the City of Santa Ana on July 13, 2011 in response to a request for any correspondence between Chivas and The City of Santa Ana.
In the letter the Interim City Attorney Joseph Straka states that
"meeting minutes, proposals, contracts, environmental and economic impact studies,records of ongoing negotions, of scheduled future meetings and the placing of related items on the council agenda." are exempt from disclosure.
Doesn't sound like the City of Santa Ana intends to either be truthful with the neighborhoods or offer them an opportunity to participate in the process.
