Issues
The legal framework for addressing homelessness in Orange County has been shaped by the Ninth Circuit Court since 2018 through key cases like Martin v. Boise and City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which limited the ability of local governments to enforce common-sense measures for community safety. Locally, OCCW v. Orange County applied these restrictions to all cities in Orange County, including Stanton. While our city has complied since 2020, our law enforcement remains bound by ongoing countywide litigation. With the 2024 Supreme Court decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson and state executive orders, local authorities now have the restored ability to clear encampments. As your candidate, I will leverage this authority to assist in restoring the Sheriff’s ability to enforce the law and ensure our public spaces are safe while continuing to pursue regional solutions to homelessness.
Stanton Homeless Count
*County of Orange 2019, 2022, and 2024 Point in Time Count
Orange County Homeless Count
*County of Orange 2019, 2022, and 2024 Point in Time Count
In 2019, Stanton achieved a milestone with crime rates at historic lows. However, by 2023, violent crime had surged by 86%, reaching a 21-year high. Property crime also followed a similar trend, increasing by 47% and hitting a 14-year high in 2020. These shifts mark a significant departure from Stanton’s past successes and highlight the urgent need for effective crime prevention strategies. As your candidate, I am focused on restoring the safety and security our community deserves while supporting our law enforcement personnel in their efforts to protect our neighborhoods.
Violent Crime in Stanton
Property Crime in Stanton
Housing remains a critical issue and has recently been driven by new state mandates on cities. The state’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) program requires every city, including Stanton, to plan for significant new housing across all income levels to accommodate future population growth. For example, Stanton must plan for 1,231 new units, while Orange County as a whole faces a requirement of 183,861 units. As your candidate, I am committed to ensuring that any development aligns with Stanton’s unique character and enhances the quality of life for our residents.
State Housing Requirements on Local Cities
State Housing Requirements on Local Counties
*Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
**San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Stanton currently has 11 parks totaling 37.51 acres of developed parkland, which equates to a parkland ratio of 0.98 acres per 1,000 residents. This ratio is comparable to neighboring cities when not including county or state parks. However, as identified in the Stanton Parks Master Plan, District 4 is the most underserved district for parks, exacerbated by similar shortfalls in neighboring Garden Grove. As your candidate, I will prioritize a new park facility in District 4.
As a Stanton commissioner, I contributed to the Stanton Parks Master Plan, prioritizing safety through recommendations like Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This approach includes improved lighting, clear sightlines, security cameras, and secure access points to deter crime and create safer, more welcoming parks for all residents. These strategies are currently being implemented in the Premier Park renovation and in the upcoming renovations of the Family Resource Center, Stanton Park, Stanton Central Park, and Norm Ross Sports Park.
*California Department of Parks and Recreation
Beach Blvd, also known as State Highway 39, runs through Stanton, Anaheim, and Garden Grove. Motels that once served as summer destinations have now become a significant public safety burden. A common misconception is that most of the motels on or near Beach Blvd are located in Stanton. In reality, Stanton has 174 motel rooms across 6 motels, while Anaheim has 721 rooms across 15 motels, and Garden Grove has 231 rooms across 2 motels.
Addressing the challenges along this stretch requires collaboration with state and regional partners. In the past two years, Stanton (80), Garden Grove (53), and Anaheim (115) have closed or converted 248 rooms, yet 1,126 remain. This accounts for 64% of the remaining motel rooms in Anaheim, 21% in Garden Grove, and 15% in Stanton along Beach Blvd. As your candidate, I will continue to champion the efforts of Stanton and our neighboring cities to reduce these numbers and promote collaboration and partnerships. Additionally, I will encourage motels to be good neighbors that respect and support the local community.
Motel Rooms Near Beach Blvd
*Anaheim Motel Demand Study
**OC Sherriff’s Department
Stanton Districts 1 and 2 are grappling with the challenges brought on by California Senate Bill 357, the ‘Safer Streets for All Act,’ which decriminalizes loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution by removing Penal Code 653.22. This change has complicated local law enforcement’s ability to manage visible prostitution, leading to an increase in street-level activities, human trafficking, and related issues in Stanton. While several proposed state legislations, including those from our Assemblymember Tri Ta, have attempted to reinstate control, none have passed so far. This has resulted in Stanton investing heavily in active and passive deterrents to prostitution activities. As your candidate, I will continue to support these efforts to control prostitution in these districts.
Stanton, CA, is grappling with the challenges posed by the implementation of Senate Bill 357, the Safer Streets for All Act, which decriminalizes loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution. This legislative change has complicated local law enforcement efforts to manage visible prostitution activities within the community. By removing specific statutes that allowed arrests based on loitering with suspected intent to solicit, SB 357 has inadvertently led to an increase in street-level prostitution and related issues in Stanton.
