Santa Ana officials are formally opposing county leaders’ plans to convert a juvenile rehab center to a halfway house for ex-inmates in the northern edge of town, with two council members arguing the city is not a “dumping ground” for such services.
City leaders say county officials have been quietly moving forward with the proposal for years without ever reaching out to them to get their input and engage with them about putting a coordinated reentry center in Santa Ana – the county seat.
Now, city council members are publicly questioning if they can trust county leaders to listen to the concerns of residents and say the move is the latest in a pattern of ignoring city officials and constantly having Santa Ana carry the brunt of their social service programs and facilities…