Article: Santa Ana turns to marketing experts to combat negative image.(The Orange County Register)

SANTA ANA, Calif. _ A sample billboard reads: "Downtown" is not a dirty word. Santa Ana. The Spirit of Change.

The city with a bad rap wants to make a comeback.

A Santa Ana ad agency hired by the Chamber of Commerce designed this potential ad along with several other marketing ideas as part of a new campaign to reinvent a city image tainted by crime, poverty and unfavorable views of immigrants.

"Our current negative perception is denying us lots of potential investment, which is hurting our local economy," said Michael Metzler, president and chief executive officer of the chamber.

Metzler said many Orange County residents have the wrong ...

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