SANTA ANA : Group Asks Support of Better Life Plan

A coalition of community leaders on Sunday appealed to the public and local government officials to support a policy that focuses on improving the future for Orange County families and children.

More than 2,000 members and supporters of the Orange County Congregation Community Organizations held a convention Sunday at Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana, officials said. Organizers launched their platform, Family Priority Agenda, that demands improvement in the areas of education, health care, housing, public safety, employment and recreation.

“Our goal is to challenge leadership to set priorities to solve the problems facing communities today,” said Father John Lenihan, pastor at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim and one of the event organizers.

Lenihan said the interfaith coalition has the support of more than 50,000 families countywide who want public officials to respond to their concerns.

“We’re doing this because many public officials aren’t in touch, or they’re not listening,” Lenihan said.

Several elected officials attended the convention, along with many candidates seeking election next month, he said. Lenihan said private corporations and public officials were asked to make commitments to meet and work with the organization to seek ways to solve problems such as drugs, violence and unemployment.

Santa Ana Mayor Daniel H. Young, who could not attend the event but sent a letter pledging his support, said the group has proven its effectiveness in the past.

“We worked with them in the past when they came to us about targeting several apartment buildings where drug dealing was rampant,” Young said. “I’ve been perplexed at times at the lack of participation by Hispanics, and yet (the coalition) has been effective at getting Hispanics involved.”