New Santa Ana

Santa Ana man killed wife when she tossed him due to gambling and cheating

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF2088: February 20, 2013
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718; Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING WIFE AFTER MARITAL DISCORD OVER HIS GAMBLING AND CHEATING

SANTA ANA – A man faces trial today for murdering his wife after she asked him to move out of their home for gambling away $100,000 in pension money and learning of his extra-marital relationship. Agustin Armaraz Espinoza, 58, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of murder and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. Opening statements are expected to begin this afternoon, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Department C-44, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined. Continue reading→

Artist Jennifer McGrath featured at John Wayne Airport

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Santa Ana Leave a comment

‘Hoodoo’ by Jennifer McGrath. More images can be seen here.

John Wayne Airport News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2013
Contact: Jenny Wedge, Office: (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

ARTIST JENNIFER MCGRATH FEATURED IN COMMUNITY FOCUS SPACE PROGRAM AT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A selection of photographs by Orange County photographer Jennifer McGrath are on exhibit from February 7, 2013, through March 20, 2013, in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal as part of John Wayne Airport’s Community Focus Space Program. McGrath’s photography can be seen on the Departure (upper) Level near the security screening areas in Terminals A, B and C and on the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4. Continue reading→

Correa introduces a zero-tolerance drugged DUI bill

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, Lou Correa, Santa Ana 1 Comment

LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKED BILL DESIGNED TO MAKE ROADS SAFER

Sacramento – State Senator Lou Correa (D – Santa Ana), joined by state-wide law enforcement and victims’ rights groups, introduced Senate Bill (SB) 289, a measure that would establish a zero tolerance policy for driving under the influence of drugs.“Driving under the …read more
Read more here: Correa

Santa Ana man sentenced for sexually assaulting 2 women and a 12-year-old

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Women 1 Comment

Leonel Santana Cervantes

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 11CF3116: February 19, 2013
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718; Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS IN PRISON FOR VICTIMIZING TWO WOMEN AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO LIVED IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced to 10 years and eight months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration today for victimizing two women and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, who all lived on the same street in Santa Ana. Leonel Santana Cervantes, 44, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of first degree residential burglary of an inhabited dwelling, one felony count of lewd acts on a child under 14, and one misdemeanor count of peeking. Continue reading→

The SAPD will buy guns back anonymously on 2/23 at the Santa Ana Bowl

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Entertainment, Guns, Public Safety, Santa Ana 5 Comments

The Santa Ana Police Department has announced the City of Santa Ana’s First Ever Anonymous Gun Buy Back Program, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, from 9 am to 2 pm, at the Santa Ana Bowl, located at 602 N. Flower St., in Santa Ana.

Residents of Santa Ana will receive a $100 gift card for handguns, shotguns and rifles, and a $200 gift card for assault weapons. Undetermined is whether or not criminals and gang members will be motivated to turn in their guns. Continue reading→

Time for the Supervisors to vote for letter grade restaurant health ratings?

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Food, Health and Medical, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Public Safety, Safety, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer 15 Comments

c grade restaurant.jpg

From the OC Politics Blog

UPDATE: Supervisor Todd Spitzer now says that he is going to ask the Supervisors to reconsider restaurant letter grade health ratings! Thank you Supervisor Spitzer!

Despite a warning from the county grand jury, the Orange County Board of Supervisors declined, back in December of 2008, to impose a letter grading system designed to inform would-be diners about the health safety record of restaurants, according to the L.A. Times.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen cast the key vote against the letter grading system for restaurants. I broke the news afterwards that O.C. Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s husband, Tom Bonikowski, owned a Lee’s Sandwiches franchise in Stanton that had been fined many times by the O.C. HCA. She never reported that when she voted against the letter grade ratings – and it blew up in the press. Bonikowski has since sold the restaurant. Continue reading→

Statement from Supervisor Spitzer regarding Orange County shootings

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 19, 2013
CONTACT: Justin Glover714-834-3330 (office)714-980-2031

(Orange County, CA) — Supervisor Todd Spitzer gave the following statement following the tragic shootings in Orange County this morning. Spitzer represents the third supervisorial district, which includes the cities of Tustin, Orange and Villa Park. Continue reading→

Has Council Member Michele Martinez declared war on the SAPD?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 24 Comments

Not only was Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez the driving force behind the ouster of Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters – my sources are now telling me that she has apparently turned on the Santa Ana Police Department.

I am hearing that Martinez is trying to get rid of the SAPD Strike Force – the heroic police officers who helped stem the tide against gang violence and drug dealing in our city. She blames them, I am told, for the arrest of her half brother, a few years ago, during her failed campaign for Mayor. She blames Walters for that arrest too, I am told. Continue reading→

The Grand Jury isn’t done thrashing Nguyen over her destruction of CalOptima

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Health and Medical, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Watch The Grand Jury, Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Medi-Cal on PBS. See more from KOCE.

The Orange County grand jury is planning two more reports on CalOptima, the county’s health plan for disabled, low-income and elderly residents, whose oversight by the Board of Supervisors was the subject of a highly critical report last month, CalOptima CEO Michael Schrader said Thursday” according to the Voice of OC.

Here a few more key excerpts from the Voice of OC:

Among its recommendations, the grand jury urged county supervisors to appoint more than one of its members to the CalOptima board. Currently, only Supervisor Janet Nguyen serves on the board. She engineered a complete restructuring of the CalOptima board that left it, as the grand jury noted, with no member who served longer than 20 months and most who have been there less than a year. Continue reading→

Congresswoman Sanchez’ foreclosure prevention workshop set for 2/21

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Housing, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is hosting a Home Foreclosure Prevention Workshop on: Thursday, February 21, 2013, from 4:00 pm-7:30 pm at the Delhi Community Center, located at 505 E. Central Ave., in Santa Ana.

This free workshop will provide homeowners with essential tools to avoid foreclosure. Knowledgeable lenders and helpful Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved housing counselors will be in attendance to answer questions and discuss the numerous programs that are available to assist homeowners. Continue reading→

OC Fair announces Come & Get it theme for the 2013 Fair

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Orange County, Orange County Fair Leave a comment

Media/Press Contact: Robin Wachner, Communications Department (714) 708-1543.

“Come & Get It” at the 2013 OC Fair (July 12-August 11)

Annual Summer Celebration Features Food, Concerts, Entertainment, Exhibits and Endless Summer Fun

Costa Mesa, Calif. (February 13, 2013) – The OC Fair is ringing the dinner bell and inviting Fairgoers to “Come & Get It” this summer with food, fun, entertainment, exhibits, rides and more July 12-August 11, 2013.

The 23-day tradition, themed “Come & Get It” in 2013, will entice Fairgoers to get their fill of giant turkey legs, sweet funnel cakes, fluffy cotton candy, roasted corn and tons of other tasty options on a stick, from the BBQ or deep-fried. Foodies can also build up their culinary skills with food-related contests, competitions and demonstrations offered throughout the run of the 2013 OC Fair. Continue reading→

The SAUSD has reached a tentative agreement with their teachers’ union

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Labor, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

saea

The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has apparently negotiated a “signed tentative agreement” with their teachers’ union, the Santa Ana Educators Association (SAEA), according to an email sent by SAEA President Susan Mercer to her members. The deal is pending ratification by the SAUSD School Board and the SAEA’s members.

The SAEA has been endorsing the SAUSD Trustee incumbents for years. So this new deal really was a forgone conclusion however it should be noted that the new deal does NOT include any furlough days or pay cuts.

Here is Mercer’s email to her members about the tentative agreement with the SAUSD: Continue reading→

Correa bill funds County veteran service officers

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana 2 Comments

Sacramento – Today, State Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) introduced Senate Bill (SB) 296, a measure designed to fund appropriately the state’s county veteran service officers (CVSOs).“Our CVSOs are the state’s crucial link toward helping veterans and their families receive the important federal and state benefits they have earned through …read more
Read more here: Correa

Santa Ana man gets 16 years to life for stabbing his mom’s houseguest

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF2716: February 15, 2013
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718; Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR STABBING-MURDER OF MOTHER’S HOUSEGUEST

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 16 years to life in state prison for murdering his mother’s houseguest by stabbing him in the chest with a pocket knife. Saul Jose Salazar, 29, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 26, 2012, of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. Continue reading→

Solorio’s campaign for the 34th State Senate District is heating up

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana 23 Comments

Former Assemblyman Jose Solorio, a Democrat who currently serves on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education, formally announced his campaign for the 34th State Senate District seat that is currently held by Lou Correa. The seat opens up in 2014. Republican O.C. Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who screwed up CalOptima this year, has also announced that she is running for the 34th.

It is my understanding that failed Assembly candidate Julio Perez, who has never won any political office before, may enter the race for the 34th just to try to make Solorio lose. Let’s hope labor figures out that Nguyen would be an even bigger nightmare as a State Senator than she already is as a County Supervisor.

Solorio sent out a campaign update today to his supporters – and from the sounds of it he is going to be tough to beat. Let me be up front here – I have already made a decision to endorse Solorio. Here is his campaign update: Continue reading→

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