David Benavides and Phil Bacerra
Agenda Item 13C is on tomorrow night’s Santa Ana City Council agenda, regarding the recommended reappointment of Phil Bacerra to the Ward 4 seat on the Santa Ana Planning Commission. Bacerra’s reappointment, which is being brought forward by Councilman David Benavides, was voted down by a 4-3 vote of the city council last December. Questions regarding Bacerra’s failing to properly disclose ex-parte communications were at the center of that debate.
However it is comments made by Bacerra on the dais during the May 12, 2014 public hearing on an affordable housing development called the “Depot at Santiago,“ that is being built by award-winning developer C&C Development, that raises questions as to why the council would agree to support Bacerra’s reappointment now. In the audio from the May 12th meeting Bacerra can be heard comparing the proposed development to the notorious Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago. Continue reading