Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana’s playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts to close
March 31, 2020 - Civic Affairs, Disease, Emergencies, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities - No Comments

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:…

Read More…
The County of Orange has launched an Economic & Business Recovery Call Center
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Orange County, Santa Ana - No Comments

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…

Read More…
Santa Ana businesses can get help from a Small Business Incentive Grant
March 31, 2020 - Business, Civic Affairs, Emergencies, Santa Ana - No Comments

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…

Read More…
Understanding Santa Ana’s moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Housing, Real Estate, Santa Ana - No Comments

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…

Read More…

Google Ad

Thai Viet Phan for the Santa Ana City Council

Help stop COVID-19!

Is the Disney company trying to buy the 69th Assembly District?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 8 Comments

My sources are telling me that a Political Action Committee run by an organization that calls itself SOAR (Support our Anaheim Resort) is the main driver behind Orange County Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly’s campaign for the 69th Assembly District.

Who is SOAR?  According to their website:

SOAR is a broad coalition of local business owners, community leaders and Anaheim residents. Its mission is to educate area residents about the Resort District and the critical services it funds such as police, fire, and paramedics. Continue reading→

Why doesn’t 69th Assembly candidate Tom Daly have a campaign website yet?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 3 Comments

There are three Democrats vying for the 69th Assembly District.  Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez is leading the pack – and she has had her campaign website up for some time.  Labor consultant Julio Perez has never run for anything before, but he has a website up too.

But what is up with Orange County Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly?  He does NOT have a campaign website.  Why is that?  He has raised thousands of dollars, but can’t even put up a simple website?  Could it be that he doesn’t want us to know more about him?  Or maybe he would rather not admit what his agenda is?

Fortunately we have covered Daly from every conceivable angle. And guess what?  When you search on Google for “Tom Daly for Assembly,” here is what you will find as the top search results: Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s new Genki Sushi now hiring

Posted on by Posted in Business, Jobs, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Genki Sushi is hiring restaurant staff! Ranked amoung the top Kaiten Sushi restaurants in the world, Genki Sushi is opening their first California location at Westfiled MainPlace in January 2012.

They are currently seeking restaurant staff as follows: Sushi Chefs, Servers & Kitchen Staff. Interviews are being held next Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Dec. 15th, 16th & 17th) at Westfield MainPlace between 10am and 6pm. Continue reading→

Christmas events and entertainment at the Westfield MainPlace Mall

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Family, music, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Take your picture with Santa Claus at the Westfield MainPlace Mall, in Santa Ana, daily from 10 am to 8 pm.  Hours may vary.  Click here for Santa’s schedule.

Join Westfield MainPlace throughout the holidays for sounds & sights of the season in Center Court:

  • Saturday, December 10, 3pm – Hardey & Welch
  • Sunday, December 11, 2pm – Voices of Hope
  • Saturday, December 17, 2pm – Church of God in Anaheim
  • Sunday, December 18, 1pm – Orange High School Band
  • Friday, December 23, 1pm – V2 Song & Dance Troupe
  • 6pm – Holiday Carolers, Friday, December 24, Noon – Holiday Carolers Continue reading→

The Amezcua brigade demands seats on the Santa Ana Ethics Panel

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 18 Comments

Al Amezcua and his daughter Valerie Amezcua led a contingent of angry Usual Suspects at last night’s Santa Ana Code of Ethics Committee meeting, which was held at City Hall.  They were accompanied by a wandering blogger from Long Beach.

The Code of Ethics Committee is comprised of Council Members Vince Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero, who chaired the meeting.  Tinajero was forced at one point to intercede when a teetering vintage Usual Suspect tried to talk over Sarmiento.  That brought on an angry tirade from former Councilman Tom Lutz who objected to Tinajero’s attempt to run a professional meeting.  “She’s not one of your students Sal,” proclaimed Lutz, who was right – Tinajero’s students are much better behaved than the Usual Suspects. Continue reading→

OCHSA students tutor children at the Santa Ana Public Library

Posted on by Posted in Education, Literacy, Literature, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

OCHSA Students Lend a Hand in Writing

Tuesday, 12/06/2011

Students from Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) in Santa Ana recently began a ten week long “Creative Minds Writing Workshop” at the Santa Ana Public Library. In classes designed to teach 3rd to 6th grade children valuable writing skills, elementary students will learn about different aspects of writing, such as character development, devices for setting and plot , and how to write essays, stories, and poems. The workshop also covers the basics of different literary genres such as horror, fantasy, mystery, and comedy. Continue reading→

Santa Ana to close City Hall and stop street sweeping during holiday break

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana 1 Comment

Advisory: SCHEDULED CITY HALL CLOSURE AND STREET SWEEPING SERVICES SUSPENSION

In conjunction with the anticipated City Hall closure starting Friday, December 23, 2011 through January 2, 2012, the City has decided to also suspend street sweeping services during that time. No ticketing will occur for parking in designated street sweeping areas. Street sweeping services and the designated parking enforcement will resume on January 3, 2012. Continue reading→

AT&T expands mobile broadband wireless capacity in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Business, Santa Ana, Technology Leave a comment

AT&T EXPANDS MOBILE BROADBAND WIRELESS CAPACITY IN SANTA ANA

Additional Spectrum Expected to Improve Connectivity and Performance of Mobile Broadband Data and Voice Connectivity

SANTA ANA, CA, DECEMBER 8, 2011 — Customers in Santa Ana are expected to experience improved mobile broadband coverage and voice performance as a result of continued investment and innovation by AT&T. The company announced today that it has completed a key initiative in its ongoing efforts to enhance the wireless capacity and performance of its mobile broadband network throughout the Santa Ana area.  Continue reading→

SAPD to conduct DUI checkpoint in Santa Ana on Friday, Dec. 9

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Advisory: The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, December 9th, 2011. It will begin at 7:30P

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, December 9th, 2011. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1900 W. 1st Street, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Updated: Usual Suspects punked by Appellate Court – the OBP Tower is back on!

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Courts, Development, Lawyers, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana 19 Comments

Mike Harrah can start building his One Broadway Plaza Tower now!

“The 4th District Court of Appeal last week reversed an Orange County Superior Court ruling that had put a stop to the construction of One Broadway Plaza, a 37-story office tower in Santa Ana that voters approved in 2005,” according to the Voice of OC.

The  Appellate Court decided that the voters voted for a zoning ordinance, not for a development agreement.  What this means is that developer Mike Harrah can finally start building his One Broadway Plaza tower.   That means over two thousand union construction jobs are on the way. Continue reading→

Supervisors Bates and Campbell vote for Nguyen’s takeover of CalOptima

Posted on by Posted in Health and Medical, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Shawn Nelson 5 Comments

“In a 3-2 vote, with supervisors Shawn Nelson and John Moorlach dissenting, the board not only approved changes that increase health care industry representation on the board but also extended a supervisor’s term on the board from one to two years. Nguyen is the supervisors’ current representative,” according to the Voice of OC.

Nelson and Moorlach ripped Nguyen and her dumb proposal to take over the CalOptima board – be sure to read the Voice of OC article for details, but Supervisors Pat Bates and Bill Campbell went along with Nguyen.

Here is what Moorlach had to say about his lame colleagues in his latest email newsletter: Continue reading→

Support DeColores Queer OC by buying their holiday tamales

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Food, Latinos, LGBT, Santa Ana Leave a comment

We hope this email finds you and your loved ones fabulous during these holidays. DeColores Queer OC is excited to share with you our Tamalona Holiday Sale.

This is a great opportunity for you all to help us fundraise and feast on some delicious homemade tamales. The profits made from this fundraiser will help is pay the expenses for our 2012 year retreat in January. Continue reading→

Support the Santa Ana Police Officers Association’s fundraiser on Feb. 4

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Police Officers Association is comprised of sworn and non-sworn Santa Ana Police Officers, retired police officers and reserve officers of the Santa Ana Police Department. We are all dedicated to our common goal of making our community a safer environment in which to live and work. To accomplish this goal, we need your help.

For 40 years, the Santa Ana Police Officers Association’s main fund raising event is the Annual Comedy/Magic Benefit Show held on Saturday, February 4, 2012 at Santa Ana College – Phillips Hall. The show starts at five o’clock in the evening. Proceeds will support local youth athletics, the Santa Ana Police Explorer program, which involves the youth in law enforcement, and the Santa Ana Police Widows and Orphans Fund which will help the families of Santa Ana Police Officers injured or killed in the line of duty. Continue reading→

UPDATE: Santa Ana Code of Ethics meeting tonight at 6 pm

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 30 Comments

Unethical behavior is abundant in Santa Ana politics…

The Santa Ana City Council is holding a meeting on Dec. 6, at 5:30 pm, to review the “Code of Ethics,” which voters passed when they voted for Measure D, which extended Council term limits.  The Council appointed a committee of three Council Members, including Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, Vince Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero, to conduct this review.

Alvarez has since backed out – in the wake of the Code being used by Council Members David Benavides and Carlos Bustamante to try to punish her after she made a bad Hitler analogy in referring to controversial Downtown Santa Ana landlord Irv Chase.

None of the other Council Members, including Benavides and Bustamante, want anything to do with the Review Committee.  I can’t blame them.  The Code of Ethics was designed to muzzle bloggers who were put on City Commissions.  Ironically it is now being used by the Usual Suspects to attack Santa Ana’s Council Member.  And that obsessed Long Beach blogger has written not one but two posts about the Santa Ana Code of Ethics Review Committee.  Good grief! Continue reading→

Outsourcing to the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo may be a bad idea after all

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Fiscal Sustainability, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 32 Comments

A membership renewal drive for the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo had revenues of $15,279, of which the organization got $2,433, or less than 16 percent,” according to the O.C. Register.

The Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo offered up a lame excuse that the fee was paid to a company that helped them get renewal memberships.

Cathi Decker, the executive director of the Friends of Santa Ana Zoo,  said that they use Comnet, a membership telemarketing company that most Association of Zoos and Aquariums organizations use for membership renewals. Continue reading→