Over the past four years, I have dedicated myself to addressing homelessness on 17th Street between Flower St. and the 5 Freeway. I have worked tirelessly to hold the right people accountable and bring creative solutions to properties, striving to restore safety and dignity to our community. I have addressed one parcel at a time achieving a high level of success before moving to the next. The homeless population on this corridor has been reduced by more than 70% through my efforts. Don’t take it from me. Read the testimonial of families and businesses that have been impacted by my work.
Brian and Angelica Neudigate (Greenleaf & 17th St.)
“For two years, my wife and I lived with 40 feet of homeless encampment that was often used for prostitution. The bushes on the west side of the Dunn Edwards at 17th and Greenleaf attracted the unhoused and created vandalism. The breaking point was I decided to contact Jeff was when my oldest daughter became afraid to go out at night to retrieve her phone from the car. She encountered people loitering in the area and felt incredibly uncomfortable. We were fortunate that Jeff stepped into assist. Thanks to his persistence, within weeks, he persuaded Dunn and the property owner to remove the trees and bushes. The entire community is grateful for his efforts. We have seen far less issues, crime and repeated calls to SAPD and it’s like living in a different community. The Neudigate family supports Jeff for City Council.” – Brian Neudigate
The Peking Kitchen Shopping Center (17th Street & Jefferson/Ross)
“Over the past ten years, the Peking Kitchen shopping center went from a neighborhood spot to a place we feared. With 85% of its tenants gone, it became an encampment and tagging target for a local gang. I didn’t feel safe walking out my front door, let alone to my car. But Jeff Katz changed that. He’s been relentless—working with the homeless to find real solutions and pushing the property owner to upgrade the center. We’ve already seen a huge difference, and the dangerous activity has dropped significantly. We owe Jeff everything for giving us our neighborhood back.” – Ruby Vasquez (and her brother) – Neighbor on Jefferson St.
The Moore Family (18th Street and Broadway)
“We moved into our house in 2021. Unbeknownst to us, the homeless, numbering as many as 20, set up camp every night in the parking lot of the County building directly across from our home (at 18th St. and Broadway). We reached our lowest point when our ring camera filmed addict shooting heroin on our front porch. We saw Jeff out there every night and every weekend speaking with the homeless. The situation dramatically improved when Jeff, after coaxing for more than 4 months, persuaded the CEO of Orange County to hire an unarmed guard for the evenings. Jeff’s tireless dedication and compassionate efforts have transformed 18th Street into a safer, more welcoming place – a place where our kids can play safely in our front yard just like we were able to do as kids.
Thank you to Jeff for making a difference in our community and the lives of the homeless.” – The Moore family
Thomas at Yoshinoya’s (Broadway & 17th St.)
“For years, our restaurant has struggled with the homeless issue. The encampments on the front grass made potential customer uncomfortable about visiting our restaurant. The homeless at the front door harassed our customers. We couldn’t keep employees because of the environment. Jeff was here morning, evening and night. Speaking with the homeless. Calling police when necessary. His work for a year has paid off. We have seen a dramatic change. My staff and I are indebted to Jeff.” – Thomas, General Manager
Yes Donuts (Broadway & 17th St.)
“As a donut store owner, I used to dread arriving at 4 a.m. to open my shop. There would often be encampments right outside my door, and the smell of urine was overwhelming — it was bad for business. But Jeff Katz changed that. Jeff would show up at 5 a.m., helping me clear the way for customers and engaging with the homeless, guiding them toward alternatives. He even borrowed my broom and swept the front, making the store more inviting. Thanks to Jeff’s relentless efforts, our parking lot and front lawn have improved dramatically. I can’t thank him enough.” – Bora & Mandy, Owners
Brown Colonial Mortuary (Sycamore & 17th St.)
“Jeff came to our rescue. We were having many problems with the homeless on 17th St. He took the time to explain how we can get quicker responses from the City, instructed us on the necessary signage, and he, himself, would drive by at all hours, assuring our facility was safe. Things have improved immensely.
We are in the business of sending our clients to heaven. To us, Jeff has been heaven-sent. Thank you Jeff!” – Gerran W. Brown, Brown Colonial Mortuary – Partner
The Santa Ana Ars Collective (Main St. & 17th St.)
“I was one of the original tenants at the Santa Ana Arts Collective, excited to be part of a community for low-income artists. But instead of finding inspiration, we found ourselves living in fear. Nonresident drug users seemed to have free access to the building, bringing needles, drugs, public defecation, and even worse—right outside our doors. Many of us, including families with children, pleaded for help from our councilmember, but they never once visited or offered a solution.
Thankfully, someone connected us with Jeff Katz. Leveraging his experience as an attorney and his close relationship with Supervisor Katrina Foley, Jeff orchestrated a meeting with key stakeholders and brought real change to our community. The improvements were dramatic, and we finally felt safe again. Jeff’s dedication to helping us was a turning point, and I know he has even bigger plans for the Santa Ana Arts Collective. We’re all hopeful that he makes it onto the City Council so he can continue the important work he started here.” – Jill Gambora, SAAC Resident
Dr. Sean O’Harrow, President of Bowers Museum (Main St. and 18th St.)
“It is rare these days to find someone who is interested in solutions to problems, and someone who place public service over self; we are fortunate that Jeffrey happens to be one of those people and we are luck that he happens to live in our neighborhood in Santa Ana! Jeffrey has worked with man of us in the neighborhood to proactively solve our local issues and we are most grateful for this service. One example is the homeless encampment in the back of the Kidseum and in a small nook on the south side of the building. What was an habitual issue has dramatically been reduced. There is a palpable difference in our Bowers community.”
Player’s Choice (18th and Main St.)
“We moved our trophy business to Santa Ana a few years ago, excited about the opportunities ahead. But soon after, we faced constant vandalism and a persistent encampment on the north side of our building. Despite putting up a fence, every morning was a challenge, as we were confronted with the same issues.
That’s when Jeff Katz stepped in. He was relentless in addressing the problem, bringing a mix of compassion and the right amount of sternness that the situation required. Thanks to Jeff’s efforts, we now go weeks without any issues. The difference he has made to our work environment and for our customers is remarkable.
Jeff has shown us what effective leadership looks like, and we wholeheartedly support him for Santa Ana City Council.”
Dr. Kevin Ferguson – 17th & Main Chiropractic
“For years, the exterior of our building at 17th and Main has struggled with persistent encampments that have negatively impacted both the look and feel of our medical office. The overhangs around the building have become a refuge, leading to unsanitary conditions and an environment that is far from welcoming for our patients. The constant odor of urine and the unsightly presence outside my office have made it impossible even to open the shades.
“Jeff Katz has been relentless in addressing the situation, working tirelessly with the property manager and the City to find solutions. While it’s still a work in progress, we are extremely grateful for Jeff’s dedication and hands-on approach. He has never stopped pushing for improvements, and his efforts have already made a noticeable difference in alleviating the blight around our building. We feel fortunate to have someone like Jeff fighting for the businesses and the community at 17th and Main.” – Dr. Kevin Ferguson
Dr. Jean’s Dental Office (17th and Bush)
“Before Jeff stepped in, our office constantly struggled with the issues behind our building—homeless individuals camping in the dumpster area, drug activity, and an ongoing problem of illegal dumping in our parking lot. It was unsettling for both our patients and employees. Jeff took a personal interest in our situation, providing routine updates on his progress and offering guidance every step of the way. His dedication and persistence have made a remarkable difference. Our parking lot is now a safe, clean space, and the change Jeff has made is truly incredible for our team and the patients we serve.” – Esperanza, Office Manager – Dr. Jean’s Denal Office
Katre Kruus, Santa Ana Triangle Neighborhood Leader (17th and the 5 Freeway)
“I met Jeffrey Katz four years ago and immediately unloaded all my horror stories about living in the Santa Ana Triangle. Instead of just listening, Jeff encouraged me to get involved in my community. At first, I wasn’t sure that was something I could do, but Jeff kept encouraging me and showed me how to work with the City to get things done.
Our most ambitious project together was addressing the homeless encampment in the storm drain that borders the 5 Freeway. Jeff was relentless—he even camped out at the Caltrans office until he found the right person to talk to. With the support of Mayor Amezcua, Jeff secured a meeting with Assemblyman Valencia. While the City and Caltrans argued over who was responsible to perform routine clean-ups, Jeff pushed CalTrans to permanently fix the problem by replacing the chain link fence with a sturdy iron fence.
It took eight months of hard work, but in July 2024, CalTrans installed the new fence, and the problem is now non-existent. What a difference this has made in our neighborhood. Thanks to Jeff, our community is safer and stronger than ever.”
