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Santa Ana councilbackers direct staff to draft resolution supporting AB 91 to add MENA category
Summary
Councilmembers unanimously supported directing staff to prepare a resolution and send a letter backing Assembly Bill 91, which would add a separate Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category to state demographic data collection beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
The Santa Ana City Council directed the city manager to prepare a resolution expressing the city’s support for Assembly Bill 91, legislation that would require state agencies to include a separate Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category in demographic data collection.
Councilmember Jonathan Hernandez and Mayor Pro Tem Benjamin Vasquez led the discussion and urged the council to instruct staff to draft the resolution. Speakers and staff cited Census Bureau estimates that roughly 740,000 Californians identify as MENA, including an estimated 100,000 in Orange County and a significant number in Santa Ana.
Councilmembers who spoke on the item said a separate MENA classification would make the population visible to planners and service providers and help ensure equitable access to programs and resources. “This broad classification erases their identities and hides the very real needs, disparities, and challenges they face,” Councilmember Hernandez said when presenting the item.
Councilmembers agreed the city manager should send a letter of support on behalf of the city and return a formal resolution for council adoption. The city manager confirmed staff will both send a letter of support immediately and bring a resolution forward acknowledging the support and documenting that the letter was sent.
Ending: The council gave direction to staff to prepare and transmit a letter of support for AB 91 and to prepare a formal resolution to return to the council for adoption.
