OC Supervisors OK $1.2M For Santa Ana Merchants Hurt By Streetcar Work

SANTA ANA, CA — Merchants in Santa Ana struggling to stay afloat amid construction work for the nearby Orange County Streetcar project got a little help from public officials Tuesday.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1.2 million proposal that will provide grants to help downtown businesses that have seen their customers and revenues dwindle because of the construction.

Businesses could receive $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000 grants, depending on their size.

Supervisor Katrina Foley spearheaded the proposal, and funding for the grants will come from COVID-19 relief money allocated to her district.

Foley said she was motivated to have the Board of Supervisors help out after the Orange County Transportation Authority, which oversees the streetcar project, declined to offer downtown Santa Ana merchants financial assistance.

"It's truly devastating what's been happening" to downtown Santa Ana businesses, she said.

The transit authority said it couldn't provide financial assistance if it wanted to because that would violate a state law prohibiting public money being given to private companies.

The county-funded grants followed a similar $1.5 million economic aid package approved by the Santa Ana City Council in March.

Construction of the 4.5-mile OC Streetcar started in January and will last at least through late summer.

Construction has involved tearing up portions of Fourth Street in Santa Ana, where many businesses are located.

Merchants at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday expressed frustration during public comment and detailed how their customers and revenues have plummeted.

Logan Crow, the operator of the Frida Cinema, said downtown businesses have turned into ghost towns as customers don't want to deal with the construction work on the street.

"I've never seen anything like this, a community so demoralized, frustrated, exhausted with pain and anger and a feeling of helplessness," Crow said.

City News Service contributed to this article.