Santa Ana is grappling with a growing homelessness crisis that demands urgent and compassionate action. Mario believes that the solution lies in a comprehensive approach, to not only provide immediate relief but also address the root causes of homelessness. As our next City Councilmember, Mario will prioritize mental health and addiction treatment services, recognizing that these are critical components in helping individuals rebuild their lives.

Mario is committed to investing in wraparound services and increasing the availability of permanent supportive housing, ensuring that those who are homeless have access to stable and long-term solutions. The city must continue to increase its collaboration with community organizations, leveraging local expertise and resources to create a stronger network of support.

Housing is a fundamental issue for Santa Ana’s working families. With the cost of living rising, too many are being priced out of an area they’ve called home for generations. The City must prioritize smart, inclusive growth that meets the needs of our diverse community. Mario is fighting to increase the availability of affordable housing, expand opportunities for first-time homebuyers, and protect renters from being priced out of their neighborhoods. 

To achieve more inclusive growth, Mario will:

• Support First-Time Homebuyers: Increase funding for down payment assistance programs and other initiatives that help working families achieve the dream of homeownership. Mario knows that homeownership is a key to building generational wealth and stability.
• Advocate for Affordable Housing: Support policies that have new developments include affordable units, ensuring that growth benefits all residents. The city must also enforce the law to protect tenants from excessive rent hikes.
• Promote Mixed-Use Spaces: Strategically locate the development of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods that blend residential, commercial, and community spaces. This approach also reduces traffic congestion and supports local businesses.
• Protect Renters and Tenant Rights: Advocate for policies that prevent unjust evictions and displacement, while ensuring that low-income residents, seniors, and those with disabilities have access to safe, affordable housing. The city must do a better job of protecting working families from extreme rent hikes.

It’s unacceptable that major new housing and economic development opportunities for the city have been repeatedly stalled or delayed by Mario’s opponent, at a time when working families continue to face a serious housing shortage. Mario is a strong advocate for economic development in order to create good-paying jobs, reduce housing scarcity, and improve our quality of life. Strategically placed new housing and mixed-use redevelopment is necessary for Santa Ana to revitalize struggling strip malls. It also reduces traffic congestion and improves quality of life to have more folks live near where they work.

The increase in gun violence and crime is unacceptable, while Mario’s opponent has failed to prioritize the safety of our neighborhoods. We must ensure that our public safety teams work hand-in-hand with the community to increase trust and heal the relationship between police and many of our neighborhoods. Mario is committed to working with all residents, community leaders, and our first responders to improve trust, reduce crime and gun violence, and address our safety concerns. There are currently 45 positions fully funded but vacant in the public safety department. These need to be filled in order to improve emergency response times for our neighborhoods.

Mario is the only candidate for Ward 5 endorsed by Santa Ana’s Firefighters, Paramedics, and Police Officers for his proven track record of leadership on public safety. He has earned the trust of those who protect and serve our community. Mario has also received the 2024 Gun Sense Candidate Designation from Moms Demand Action. This nonprofit group recognizes his steadfast commitment to support policies that reduce gun violence in our community.

Ward 5 is home to a diverse array of entrepreneurs who deserve more support and recognition from the city. As a longtime business owner, Mario understands the challenges faced by small businesses in Santa Ana. He is dedicated to reducing bureaucratic red tape, lowering fees, and improving online services to help local businesses thrive. Creating a more supportive environment for our small businesses will encourage innovation, create jobs, and contribute to the vibrant culture of our city.

Mario has publicly called out that there continues to be a waitlist for businesses impacted by the OC Streetcar construction to access grant funds made available by the city. We need a more responsive and effective City Council member to ensure that key city projects do not harm small businesses in the heart of Ward 5.

Fiscal responsibility is not just about balancing a budget; it’s about ensuring that taxpayer money is spent wisely and efficiently to benefit the community. Mario is appalled by his opponent’s decision to push for a 650% raise to his own pay while neglecting the needs of our first responders. The incumbent voted to support a large pay increase for the City Council while opposing a modest increase for the city’s first responders and unsworn personnel.

As a successful business owner, Mario brings a wealth of experience in financial management and will work to maintain a balanced budget, protect the city’s rainy day fund, and ensure that essential services are fully funded. His approach prioritizes transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of public funds to benefit our residents.

Mario is committed to improving and expanding our parks and recreational facilities, ensuring all residents have access to quality outdoor spaces and amenities. Ward 5 is insufficiently served with parks and recreational amenities despite our dense population.

Mario’s passion for improving our community spaces began nearly 30 years ago as an after-school program leader at Lincoln Elementary in Ward 5, where he worked in the Parks and Recreation Division. His leadership was instrumental in transforming an unused open space at the end of West Myrtle Street into what is now Friendship Park, serving the Casa Bonita neighborhood. Mario will continue to be a passionate advocate for investing in more parks and outdoor amenities to meet the needs of our community.

As a father and volunteer coach, Mario is a strong advocate for providing our youth with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. He supports increased investment in sports leagues, arts education, and after-school programs that offer safe and enriching environments for our youth.

Recognizing the financial burden of childcare, Mario supports reduced fees and more focus on programs and services for families with young children. City sponsored classes and programs are an important form of affordable childcare for working families.

Mario will also work closely with the Santa Ana Unified School District to ensure schools have the necessary support and collaboration from the city to prepare our children for a bright future. Many local teachers from SAUSD are supporting Mario’s campaign due to his long history of parent involvement and advocacy.

Santa Ana must take bold and decisive action to protect the environment, combat the effects of climate change, and reduce pollution. There is a lot more the City can do to accelerate environmental stewardship and sustainability. A healthy environment is critical for our kids and future generations to enjoy a thriving community, economic growth, and a good quality of life.

Mario supports an all-of-the-above approach to reduce emissions and pollution, including:

• Installing more Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations at public and private properties.
• Fully transitioning our city fleet to zero emission vehicles.
• Installing solar panels and energy storage at city facilities where feasible. 
• Increasing active transportation options to get folks out of their cars, such as more protected bike lanes and bike paths.
• Promoting rebates to spur investment by residents and businesses for solar, heat pumps, EV Chargers, and other technologies that reduce emissions.