12 (02)You don't often get email from mramirez@occord.org. Learn why this is important
From: Mari sol Rami re z <mramire z@occord.org>
Se nt: Tue sday, Se pte mbe r 23, 2025 3:37 PM
To: The re sa Bass <TBass@anaheim.net>
Cc: occord-staff <occord-staff @googlegroups.com>; Cesar Covarrubi as <cesarc@kennedycommi ssi on.org>
Subje ct: [EXTERN AL] OCCORD - In support of Ite m 12
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Dear City Clerk,
Please distribute the message below to the Mayor and City Council and include it in the public record for tonight’s meeting.
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Good evening Mayor Aitken and Councilmembers,
My name is Marisol Ramirez, Interim Co-Executive Director at Orange County Communities Organized for Responsi ble
Development (OCCORD). I’m writing to express OCCORD’s support for Agenda Item 12. We beli eve this item advances
housing stability and economic equity for Anaheim’s working families and aligns with our mi ssi on to ensure development
benefits residents as well as the local economy.
We look forward to collaborating with the City to implement this policy effectively and equitably for the workers and
neighborhoods we serve.
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Thank you for your assistance.
Warmly,
Marisol Ramirez
Co-Director (714) 621-0919
mramirez@occord.org
www.occord.org
1505 E 17th St, Suite 122, Santa Ana, CA 92705
September 23, 2025
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken
Members of the Anaheim City Council
200 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
RE: Item 12 – Workforce Housing and Programs for ATID Area Modifications
Honorable Mayor Aitken and Members of the City Council,
On behalf of Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD),
I write to express our support for the City of Anaheim’s proposed modifications to the Anaheim
Tourism Improvement District (ATID) while also raising important considerations as this policy
moves forward. OCCORD is a community-based nonprofit committed to advancing economic,
housing, and civic justice for working families in Anaheim and across Orange County.
We commend the City’s recognition that the workers who uphold Anaheim’s tourism and
hospitality economy must also be able to access stable, affordable housing. The allocation of
nine percent (9%) of ATID revenues to a new “ATID Area Worker Housing Program” within the
Anaheim Local Housing Trust Fund is an important step forward. We are encouraged to see
programs for First-Time Homeowners, Housing Stability, and the Build More Homes Initiative
included in the proposal - these initiatives can provide both immediate relief and long-term
solutions for working families at risk of displacement.
At the same time, we urge the Council to address several concerns at tonight’s meeting:
1. Governance and Representation
The staff report establishes a five-member Housing Committee composed primarily of hotel
operators and the largest ATID contributor, with only one appointee designated by the City
Manager. As an organization that works closely with Anaheim’s low-wage workforce and
communities most impacted by housing insecurity, we believe it is critical that workers and
community representatives also have a seat at this table. The decision-making body for such an
important program must reflect the voices of those it is intended to serve, not just those of
industry stakeholders.
2. Depth of Affordability
While we support downpayment assistance for households up to 150% of AMI, we emphasize
that Anaheim’s most acute housing needs are among families earning far below that
threshold—particularly those making less than $30,000 per year. The Build More Homes
Initiative should prioritize deeply affordable rental housing to meet the realities faced by the
majority of Anaheim’s tourism workforce.
3. Preventing Displacement
The expansion of ATID boundaries to include The Viv Hotel and future hotel developments
along South Anaheim Boulevard, as well as the addition of vacation ownership/timeshare units,
will generate significant new revenue. However, these changes also increase development
pressures in neighborhoods already vulnerable to displacement. We urge the City to ensure that
new revenues are tied directly to protections for existing residents, and that short-term lodging
expansions do not come at the expense of long-term housing stability.
4. Transparency and Accountability
As the City implements these housing programs, clear reporting and accountability measures
must be built in to track how funds are spent, how many workers and families are reached, and
how outcomes address Anaheim’s housing equity goals. These safeguards will ensure that the
ATID housing programs fulfill their promise to the community.
OCCORD supports the City’s leadership in aligning economic development with housing justice,
and we believe the proposed modifications can be strengthened by embedding worker and
community representation, prioritizing affordability for the lowest-income families, and
implementing strong accountability measures. We look forward to collaborating with the City of
Anaheim to ensure that these programs deliver meaningful housing stability and opportunity for
those who make Anaheim’s economy thrive.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (
mramirez@occord.org.
Sincerely,
Marisol Ramirez
Interim Co-Executive Director
Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD)