An Orange County judge granted the city of Santa Ana’s request for a preliminary injunction against several businesses on East First Street accused of being public nuisances.
Officials say the move marks a significant victory in addressing problems that have reportedly plagued the area for years.
Granted by Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Oberholzer, the new injunction imposes strict rules on three properties, the Royal Roman Motel, the Royal Grand Inn and Marisco El Tapatio y Antojitos, all located within the same block of First Street east of Grand Avenue.
“We’ve seen through many arrests, there’s a lot of drug use and human trafficking,” said Santa Ana Police Department spokesperson Officer Natalie Garcia, who added that issues in the area have persisted for the last three decades.
The City Attorney’s Office, in an earlier report to the City Council, described the location as the source of a “staggering number of calls for service” for the Police Department since 2022. Garcia added that it took a coordinated effort from various entities, including the city’s code enforcement, to demonstrate that the area was unsafe.
The legal action is part of a drug den abatement effort authorized by the City Council in April. The businesses must now adhere to several court-ordered conditions, including enforcing a “no visitor” policy, requiring parking permits for all registered vehicles, and prohibiting known drug users from renting rooms. Failure to comply could result in a contempt order, which can lead to fines or potentially force the businesses to shut down.
Attorney Frank Weiser, who represents two of the motel property owners, pushed back against the city’s characterization of the situation.
“This is not as the city’s bending it — we’re going to be fighting this case, and we’re not going to take it lying down,” he said.
He said after the city amended the zoning code for the area in 2023, his clients tried to cooperate with the city’s demands to address building code violations, and even voluntarily reduced their occupancy rate by 20%, but found there was no “middle ground.” He also argued the city did not directly notify his clients around concerns of alleged drug activity on their motel property, nor that it had become a nuisance abatement situation until the recent lawsuit was filed.
Weiser said he respectfully disagrees with the ruling and filed an appeal against the Nov. 3 injunction the next day, in a move that could suspend the current enforcement order. He also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city on Nov. 5.
“I think there’s some serious legal, constitutional, Fourth Amendment issues and retaliation issues,” Weiser stated. “The city’s claim that they have a victory is mistaken.”
A spokesperson from the City Attorney’s Office could not immediately be reached for comment.
“This court decision makes it clear that Santa Ana will not tolerate properties that endanger our neighborhoods,” Councilmember David Penaloza said in a statement. City officials also said the City Attorney’s Office is looking at taking legal action against other properties along the street considered a nuisance.
“We’ve heard the frustration from neighbors who just want a safe place to live and raise their families,” Penaloza said. “Our residents and businesses deserve safe and clean communities, and this injunction is a strong step toward restoring safety, order, accountability, and pride in Santa Ana, Orange County’s downtown.”