Santa Ana City workers rallied with supporters at City Hall to highlight the effects of service cuts.Emergency calls placed to the Santa Ana Fire Department rather than 911 will be answered by an electronic menu rather than a live Receptionist after upcoming layoffs. Layoffs in Santa Ana’s Planning and Building department will make it harder for Spanish-speaking builders, developers and homeowners to get plan approval and building permits-just as new building helps to fuel economic recovery in this majority Spanish-speaking city. Layoffs in the Police Department threaten the unsung support services that help to keep Officers on the street and the department serving the public.
Santa Ana City workers represented by SEIU Local 721 and supporters from Latino Health Access, the Laborers and the Teamsters gathered at City Hall, November 2, to call for alternatives to the cuts that will jeopardize public safety and hurt Santa Ana businesses.
SEIU 721 President, Bob Schoonover, addressed the crowd, acknowledging the need for sacrifices to be made to help Santa Ana through its budget crisis. “But we don’t want every single sacrifice to be a job lost and a service cut to residents.”
Anna Carrichi from Latino Health Access protested the cuts to services to the majority Spanish-speaking public in Santa Ana resulting from layoffs of bilingual staff that directly serve residents and builders trying to get plans approved to build in the City.
Octavio Silva, a bilingual Assistant Planner slated for layoff,
discussed the need for the specialized skill of technical translation.
“As a city we have to show that we care about providing equitable
services.”