The City of Santa Ana is closing its playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts beginning Wednesday, April 1, in order to prevent gatherings and protect the public from COVID-19. The City has already shuttered its enclosed parks, recreation and other facilities and canceled all programs and classes except the take-out senior meals program. Those include:…
Effective March 30, Orange County Community Services has implemented a call center to meet the needs of businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Economic & Business Recovery Call Center will offer information and resources to help Orange County businesses navigate the current economic climate. These resources will support businesses with challenges such…
The City of Santa Ana is offering a grant of $2,500 to $5,000 for Santa Ana-based microenterprises through the Santa Ana Small Business Incentive Program. Applicants must qualify for the Small Business Incentive Grant. Details are available at www.santa-ana.org/SBIP. Eligibility Qualifications The program provides a reimbursement grant for eligible businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. Grant…
The City of Santa Ana has created webpages in English, Spanish and Vietnamese to help residential and commercial tenants understand the City and State moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webpages include frequently asked questions, a sample letter that renters can use to advise their landlord of their inability to pay…
Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento has reportedly pulled papers to run for Mayor of Santa Ana, hours after State Senator Lou Correa also pulled papers.
There is still no word as to whether or not longtime incumbent Mayor Miguel Pulido will in fact run again this November. Continue reading
An inside source has tipped us off that State Senator Lou Correa has pulled papers today to run for Mayor of Santa Ana. Correa is terming out of his State Senate seat this year.
This likely means that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido will not be seeking re-election himself.
Other candidates for Mayor include first term Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna and Mark I. Lopez. Other candidates may jump in but will have a very hard time contending with Correa who has served the area in both the State Assembly and in the State Senate for many years. Continue reading
The Bowers Museum is hosting the free Pacific Islands Family Festival today, August 3, 2014, from 11 am to 4 pm. This free event includes: face painting, art projects, and frozen tropical fruit bars tasting.
Here is the event schedule: Continue reading
City of Santa Ana
SANTA ANA, CA (August 1, 2014) – The public is invited to attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 as the Mayor and City Council will recognize Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and the Founders of the Artists Village for their outstanding contributions to the City of Santa Ana.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez was born and raised in Orange County and in 1996 she became the first Hispanic woman ever elected to Congress from Orange County. Congresswoman Sanchez is the highest ranking female on the House Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. She is the leading voice in Congress for women in the military and is an active volunteer within her local community. Continue reading
Anaheim Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2014
Released by: Lt. Bob Dunn, (714) 497-6330
Subject: **UPDATE 91 Freeway Homicide – ARREST OF SUSPECT**
Initial Information
On July 14, 2014 at 8:09 PM, Anaheim Police, the California Highway Patrol, and Anaheim Fire & Rescue were called to investigate a possible shooting westbound the 91 freeway east of the 57 freeway. When emergency service personnel arrived, they found four (4) people in a white Ford F-150 in the gore point of the westbound 91 freeway at the 57 freeway interchange. Two of the people in the Ford were found to have suffered injuries consistent with a gunshot. Agustin Villegas, 32, of Anaheim was the front passenger in the Ford and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Ford, a 42 year-old male, was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive. In the backseat of the Ford were two males, 13 and 15 years-old. These young men were uninjured and were taken to the Anaheim Police Department for interviews. Continue reading
National Night Out is set for Tuesday, August 5, 2014 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm at Delhi Park, located at 2314 S. Halladay, at Warner, in Santa Ana.
The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) and community service professionals will be celebrating community partnerships and a promise to work together for a safer city.
Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: August 1, 2014
Case #11ZF0126
SANTA ANA – An Army Specialist was convicted today of murdering a friend and attempting to murder his father and another man in an unprovoked shooting at a Cypress hotel. Steven Matthew LeClaire Jr., 26, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of second degree murder, two felony counts of attempted murder, and sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury. He faces a sentence of 90 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Oct. 10, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
In February 2011, LeClaire Jr. was absent without leave from his duty station in Texas. Continue reading
Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: August 1, 2014
SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) convicted 17 men in July 2014 of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution and/or agreeing to engage in prostitution. The defendants in these cases approached a woman, whom they believed to be a prostitute, in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County or loitered in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County. Some agreed to engage in commercial sex with a woman and were subsequently arrested by law enforcement.
The Santa Ana Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated these cases. Deputy District Attorny Tina Patel of the HEAT Unit prosecuted these cases. Continue reading
OC NORML is hosting a South County Meeting tonight at 8:30 pm at Fuddruckers located at 23621 El Toro Rd., in Lake Forest.
Tonight they will be discussing current state legislation regarding medical marijuana and the Santa Ana raids on medical marijuana dispensaries that took place yesterday and on in mid-July. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Matt Southgate – 714.381.9136 – mattsouthgateart@sbcglobal.net
“A Tribute to Santa Ana” by Urban Realist Painter, Matthew Southgate will open THIS SATURDAY 8/2 during DTSA’s ArtWalk. Celebrate historic scenes & local movie legends from the “Golden City” such as Chaplin, Brando, Bebe Daniels and more!
Southgate was taught painting by the legendary Emigdio Vasquez and also studied art at Santa Ana College. He’s been active in the Santa Ana arts scene for over 20 years, exhibiting at the Caged Chameleon Gallery in the 80’s, which DIEGO’S chef Richard Espinachio used to run, as well as in the Bowers Museum, OCCCA, and his infamous Studio del Sotano gallery in the historic Santora basement. A skilled muralist, portrait painter and sign-maker, Matt has also been active in local politics, advocating for Artists with the Artists Village Association of Santa Ana (AVASA) and United Artists of Santa Ana (UASA). His guiding vision has been to preserve the historic Santora Arts Building, Artists Village and DTSA as cultural hubs by providing Artists and Arts Businesses with the support needed so they can continue showcasing Santa Ana’s unique history. Continue reading
The Calacas Cafe recently relaunched after changing from a coffee shop to a Mexican cafeteria to compete in the changing downtown atmosphere, labeled by some as one of the hippest scenes in Orange County, according to the O.C. Register.
With a new bar or restaurant opening downtown just about every other month, the owner of Calacas, Rudy Cordova, said he felt he just couldn’t keep up.
No one can keep up. There are only so many hipsters around and the only way that Downtown Santa Ana’s hipster food and drinking – and arts – scene is going to survive is with a massive influx of new customers. Continue reading
The Santa Ana Police Department once again raided many of Santa Ana’s medical marijuana dispensaries, arresting over 40 people, last night according to OC-NORML’s Facebook page.
The SAPD made 42 arrests after similar raids in mid-July this year, according to the O.C. Register.
The City of Santa Ana banned medical marijuana dispensaries in 2007, but that was ridiculous given that the people of California approved the use of medical marijuana via a statewide ballot measure, Prop. 15, back in 1996.
The only reason our city is having these problems is that the city leaders opted to resist medical marijuana instead of working to find a way to make this work for everyone. What they should have done years ago was develop a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) protocol for medical marijuana dispensaries. Continue reading
MARK YOUR CALENDAR – BOWERS SUMMER NIGHTS MOVIE NIGHT ON THURSDAY| August 21
Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano, With Special Guest introduction and post-screening discussion
The career and songbook of the legendary “Father of Chicano Music” guide the viewer through seven decades of Mexican-American / Chicano history from Repatriation, the Zoot Suit riots and the UFW to the minifalda/mini-skirt and Chicano pride and prejudice. Guerrero captured it all in a dazzling array of musical genres including rancheras, boogie, tropical, norteño, cha-chas, mambos and beautiful boleros. Learn about the life and legacy of this multi-talented national musical treasure through rare photographs, historic footage and musical performances. Interviews with Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Dolores Huerta, Cheech Marin, Luis Valdez, Edward James Olmos and Los Lobos’ Louie Perez and Dave Hidalgo help bring Lalo Guerrero’s eclectic cultural tapestry to life! Continue reading
UPDATE: SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias contacted us today to confirm that she is going to talk to SAUSD administrators about this situation!
A group of parents at Santa Ana’s Segerstrom Fundamental High School are reportedly upset because the daughters they enrolled in a popular dance class are now facing the prospect of being taught by a male PE instructor this Fall instead of the female PE instructors that were previously assigned to this class.
I am told that the administration at Segerstrom, which for years has been identified as Santa Ana’s best high school, is totally new this year, under the leadership of Principal Duncan McCulloch.
Now why would Segerstrom’s administration pull a bait and switch on the female students who signed up for the dance program only to find out after the fact that the teachers who did such a great job leading the dance classes got set aside for a male instructor who reportedly doesn’t even want this assignment? What gives? Continue reading
For Immediate Release: July 31, 2014
For More Information Contact: Maria Unzueta – mobile: (657) 464-4742
JOSE SOLORIO FOR STATE SENATE CAMPAIGN STARTS GENERAL ELECTION WITH OVER $625,000 CASH-ON-HAND
Campaign Raises Additional $300,000 During Recent Primary Campaign
SANTA ANA – The Solorio for State Senate Campaign announced today that after raising more than $300,000 during the recent June Primary time period, it will report a total of $625,211.34 cash-on-hand on its semi-annual campaign finance report which is due on July 31. Former State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is running to replace outgoing State Senator Lou Correa in the 34th State Senate District.
“Our campaign’s momentum has grown dramatically over the last few months and I am very humbled to have a large and very diverse group of donors from business, labor, Democrats, and Republicans,” said Solorio, who presently serves as a President of the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees. “The response to our fundraising effort has been incredible and we are fully on track to fund our aggressive campaign plan in its entirety for this fall.” Continue reading