New Santa Ana

Council installation ceremony quite upbeat

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Last evenings city council installation ceremony was great success that had a very upbeat vibe about it. Mayor Miguel Pulido and Councilmembers Michele Martinez, David Benavides and Sal Tinajero all reaffirmed their oath’s of office and the 2010-2012 Santa Ana City Council was seated joining their colleagues Claudia Alvarez, Carlos Bustamante and Vince Sarmiento.

Despite a small gathering of protesters organized by the failed Amezcua campaign the evening went off without a hitch and each of the councilmembers and the mayor offered up encouraging words for our city’s future. It looks like all seven members of the council are committed to moving forward with an agenda that will help improve the quality of life for all of our residents and not let the naysayers and malcontents hold us back.

The highlights of the evening had to have been Councilmember Benavides daughter holding Benavides late father’s Bible during his swearing in and the moving tribute to Councilmember Martinez late mother. Benavides father passed away last year and Martinez mother died the day before the election this year.

It was great to see the families of all of our elected officials and many of our city staff. Sometimes in the brutal battles that take place in the political arena we lose sight of the fact that these folks are human like the rest of us and have families that love them very much. Last night allowed us all to see that very human side of our leaders. Mayor Pulido’s son Miguelito even helped entertain the crowd at the Bowers Museum reception by playing classical guitar along with his classmates from the Orange County High School of the Arts.

There was one matter of business before the council last night and that was the selection of Mayor Pro Tem. The council unanimously selected the current Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez to continue on in that position. The solid support from her colleagues is a testament to the leadership shown by Alvarez durin her tenure on the council.

Last night’s event left me feeling very good about the future of our city and I am excited to watch what our city leaders do to move our city forward over the next two years. Lets hope the malcontents and the naysayers will get on board and help make Santa Ana a better place.

Pulido keeps it positive at swearing in ceremony

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 1 Comment

While failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua and about 15 of his unhappy followers froze outside, the Santa Ana City Council Members and Mayor Miguel Pulido were sworn in on Tuesday evening. Later on they convened at the Bowers Museum for more festivities.

For Council Member Michele Martinez the evening was special. She asked Jeff Bishop, an administrator at the SAUSD, to swear her in. Some years ago he decided to work with her rather than expel her from Santa Ana High School. As we all now know, his decision directly led her to where she is today. Martinez wrote about this on her blog, where she also mentioned her mother, who recently passed away.

Pulido laid out a list of priorities that included more jobs, a mass-transit line through downtown, more street trees and a renewed focus on health. He described Santa Ana as a “magical place.” “At the end of the day,” he said, “if things are working well, you’re seeing good results, then we’re doing our jobs,” according to the O.C. Register.

Congratulations to all the Council Members and to Mayor Pulido. Kudos to Pulido for keeping his message positive. What a contrast between his message and Amezcua’s “discontented vigil.”

I look forward to working with our City Council to find ways to better ways to serve the public.

New organization formed to represent artists and others in the Santa Ana Artist Village

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Santa Ana 6 Comments

When the City of Santa Ana partnered with the Downtown Santa Ana Restaurant Association to begin a trial valet parking program, utilizing metered parking spaces on the streets surrounding the Artist Village, the local artists felt left out as they were not consulted.

Now the artists have organized themselves into a new organization of independent artists and citizens called the Artists Village Alliance of Santa Ana (A.V.A.S.A.). This group has formed out of their mutual concern for the future of the Artist Village.

This new group feels that the most urgent issue in the Artist Village that needs to be addressed is the valet parking program, according to an email distributed this evening by A.V.A.S.A.

The founding board of A.V.A.S.A. (Artists Village Alliance of Santa Ana) include:

Margie Zuliani
Matt Southgate
Kalim Quevedo
Moises Camacho
Joseph Hawa
Theo Hirsch
Alicia Rojas
Yenny Bernal
Salvador Ruiz

Click here to contact A.V.A.S.A..

Lyon Street Community “Christmas In The Neighborhood” on Dec. 18

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 2 Comments

In The Lyon St. Neighborhood – Annual Street Fair!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

11:00 am – 2:00 pm

801 S. Lyon Street (Between Village Meadows & Las Fuentes Apartments)

Entertainment includes:

Music
Fun & Games
Refreshments
BRING YOUR CAMERA & TAKE Pictures with Santa
Face Painting
Bouncers
Popcorn
Food
Kids Play Zone
Design Your own Ginger Bread Man

Sponsored By:

LYON STREET COMMUNITY
FAMILIES TOGETHER OF O.C.
STARBRIGHT
Participating Apartments:
VILLAGE MEADOWS
LAS FUENTS
WARWICK SQUARE
CHATHAM VILLAGE
REGENCY WEST

Click here to see the event flyer.

OC Fire Authority desperately needs more holiday toys for needy children

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Charities, Entertainment, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Toys are desperately needed in Orange County this Holiday Season and all OC Fire Stations are collecting toys. Please help! The toy warehouse, which is staffed by volunteers, is ready to fill orders for toy distribution but is in dire need of new unwrapped toys and gift cards.

With the poor economy and people without jobs, the need for toys this year is up dramatically.

Right now it looks like they just don’t have enough donations. Please do what you can to help!

How to Donate

You can donate online with a credit card through the California Community Foundation (CCF). All proceeds will go to buying toys or sports equipment for the children.

And you can also drop off your new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment at your local Fire Station or CVS/pharmacy.

For 18 years, ABC7 and firefighters from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, along with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, have joined forces to run the “Spark of Love Toy Drive”. This campaign collects new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment for the under served children in our communities. Toys collected in the respective counties are distributed locally. Last year alone, “Spark of Love” collected over 500,000 toys within all five counties and we want to top that total this year, so please help the firefighter’s ignite a spark of love in a child’s heart.

Join Garth the Elf for Stuff-A-Bus events

This year there will be four Stuff-A-Bus events. On four days in November and December, from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., you can help ABC7′s Garth Kemp (dressed as a giant elf) stuff a bus full of toys.

On Friday, Dec. 17, Garth the Elf will be at the Honda Center in Anaheim

View an interactive map and get directions to all the Stuff-A-Bus locations

Friday, December 17
ABC7 & Southland Firefighters
“Stuff a Bus”
5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Honda Center
2695 East Katella Ave.
Anaheim, 92806
(818) 863-7220

LULAC reception for president of Coastline Community College, on Dec. 16

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Education, Entertainment, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Orange County League of United Latino American Citizens (LULAC) Foundation is hosting a welcoming reception for the president of Coastline Community College, Dr. Lori Adria.

The reception will be held on Thursday, December 16 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Casa Garcia Restaurant located at 531 West Chapman Street, Anaheim, CA 92802

Your attendance to this reception will demonstrate LULAC’s precense in the community and it strong support for the obtainment of higher education for our Latino Youth.

If you need more information call Benny Diaz at (714) 357-4328 or email: bennydiaz@sbcglobal.net. Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Amezcua’s vigil of malcontents

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, David Benavides, Extremism, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 4 Comments

On Saturday afternoon I received an email from a group calling itself “Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government” and they were announcing their plans for a protest at City Hall Tuesday. As Art Pedroza wrote on Saturday this group is just a front operation for failed Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua. It is evident that Amezcua and his supporters have no plans on be gracious in defeat.

The protest, which they have labeled a “Vigil of Discontent”, is scheduled to take place prior to the inaugaration of three of our finest city leaders, Mayor Miguel Pulido, Councilmember Sal Tinajero and Councilmember Michele Martinez along with Councilmember David Benavides. Amezcua and his supporters want you to join the “community” in protest, doesn’t he realize that it was the community that overwhelmingly defeated him in November.

This event is nothing more than a side show created to make people think that the residents of Santa Ana are opposed to the great council majority that will lead our city for years to come. As we all saw from the election results the residents support our Mayor and council majority. This is sour grapes from the Amezcua camp and a demonstration that they lack any class whatsoever.

I find it laughable that Amezcua is now “discontented” with Mayor Pulido and company. It appears that Amezcua, a long time ally of Pulido and the “white” power structure here in Santa Ana, only started to express his discontent once Pulido refused to invest in Amezcua’s failed Santa Ana Business Bank and once Pulido turned his back on his old “angry white” voter base and began to allign himself with the more progressive Latino’s on the council.

The time for politics and campaign rally’s is over Al. It is time to help our elected officials and other city leaders move Santa Ana forward. Cheap publicity stunts like the one you have organized for Tuesday does nothing to bring the community together or help make Santa Ana a better place. You lost, move on. Stop with these silly vigil’s of malcontents.

Willard Principal Dennis Cole cancels all the student clubs at his school

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Working Families, Youth Activities 22 Comments

After weeks of outrage, the Principal at the SAUSD’s Willard Elementary, Dennis Cole, was directed to cancel the Bible/Prayer clubs he had been promoting at his school. Many teachers and other community activists were outraged by Cole’s actions with regard to those activities as he appeared to be mixing religion with the public school environment – far beyond what the law allows.

Cole canceled the clubs in question, but he apparently did not stop there. He canceled ALL the student clubs at his school!

Here is what one commenter, at the Orange Juice blog’s long-running SAUSD thread, had to say about this latest development:

Dennis Cole is a vindictive evil individual! Had no reason to cancel all clubs. He was directed to terminate his bible club, that was it. He took it upon himself to cancel and get rid of the other clubs on his own.

Cole is a person who can not and will not accept positive or constructive criticism. If it did not come from him, it is not a good idea and its not happening.

And here is more information about Cole’s actions, from another commenter:

Click here to read the rest of this post.

Celebrate Christmas at the historic First Baptist Church of Santa Ana

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Manger Scene

First Baptist Church of Santa Ana is celebrating Christmas all throughout December. Here are a few of their upcoming programs:

On December 19, they are having a Christmas Potluck, at 12 noon, after the combined 11 am service. That service will feature “A Thrill of Hope,” by the Chancel Choir, at 11 am.

Bring a dish to share at the potluck. Dessert and beverages will be provided.

On Thursday, Dec. 24, First Baptist Church will celebrate the birth of Christ the Lord, on Christmas Eve, at 6 p.m., with a special Candlelight Christmas service.

Continue reading→

Lee’s Sandwiches in Santa Ana celebrating their one year anniversary today

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Entertainment, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Today is the one-year anniversary of Lee’s Sandwiches in Santa Ana. They will have free food samples and music form 12 noon to 4 pm.

Lee’s Sandwiches in Santa Ana is located at 3350 South Bristol, Suite A, in the Target Center.

Lee’s Sandwiches is the product of the merging of ideas and family support. Chieu Le, the founder, came to America and settled in San Jose, CA in 1980. He began taking adult education classes to study English and frequently bought food from a catering truck before and after class. Seeing the potential of a portable food service vehicle, Chieu Le worked on a catering truck to better understand the business. By 1981, he bought his first catering truck and started his route around San Jose.

Chieu Le saw more potential in the catering truck business. He saw the need for trucks to have a place to park and clean their trucks with access to easily restock food and ice. The idea developed into Lee Bros. Foodservices, Inc, which him and his younger brother Henry Le developed in 1982. They chose the name “Lee” so it would be easily pronounced.

Within time, they created the largest industrial catering company in Northern California; serving more than 500 independently owned and operating catering trucks at one time.

Lee’s Sandwiches attracts a diverse crowd, from traditional Vietnamese- Americans to a younger crowd, all ethnicities of all ages with the extensive menu that offers a unique dining experience for every preference.

Beyond providing fresh and delicious food for their customers, Lee’s Sandwiches is heavily involved with the communities it serves. They have contributed and helped raised additional funds for many tragedies including 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, the floods in Vietnam, earthquakes in Mexico, and other local charities such as donating food and sponsoring various community and non profit events.

Don’t believe the naysayers, violent crime has gone down in Santa Ana

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Crime, Education, Public Safety, Santa Ana 7 Comments

An irresponsible O.C. blogger, who regrettably has joined the Amezcua cult, has been advancing the notion that violent crime has not gone down in Santa Ana.

In 2009, according to the FBI, there were 1,726 violent crimes in Santa Ana. The same amount of violent crimes happened in 2008, again according to the FBI.

A few differences should be noted. There were 30 murders in Santa Ana in 2008 – and only 25 murders in 2009. Statistically that is quite a drop.

And there were 788 aggravated assaults in Santa Ana, in 2008, but only 755 such assaults in 2009. Again, that is a substantial drop in number. And it dropped even more when you consider that in 2007, there were 1,080 such assaults in Santa Ana, according to the FBI. That is a thirty percent drop compared to 2009!

In 2006, there were 1,998 acts of violent crime in Santa Ana, according to the FBI. That same year there were 126 acts of violent crime in Irvine. Guess what? In 2009 there were 153 violent crimes in Irvine. That’s right. Violent crime is going UP in Irvine while Santa Ana has seen a drop in violent crime in the same timespan!

Our local newspapers focus primarily on reporting crime. They fail utterly to report all the good things happening in Santa Ana. We try, very hard, to make up for that. The truth is that we are improving as a city, not going backwards.

Racists often attack our residents and blame them for things they have not done. This is due in part to the newspapers and to the actions of a few irresponsible bloggers who rather focus on what is bad while ignoring the ongoing improvements in Santa Ana.

The same blogger I have referenced here also attacked our Mayor, Miguel Pulido, because of the problems with education in our city. That is just beyond ridiculous. Pulido is not in charge of our schools. And the fact is that we have a lot of great non-profits in town, such as the Santa Ana Police Officers Athletic League and Think Together, who are making a real difference with regard to education.

We are all working together to try to fix this mess, and in the meantime local Democratic leaders keep backing the SAUSD Trustees who have created this mess. Both Jose Solorio and Lou Correa endorsed SAUSD Trustee Audrey Yamagata Noji this year. Blame them when she inevitably makes things worse in the next four years.

I intend to continue to focus on the good things happening in town. If other bloggers want to twist statistics and focus on being negative, good for them – but that won’t happen here on this blog.

Alfredo Amezcua’s cultists to engage in rude protest at Council inauguration ceremony

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 7 Comments

When a political candidate loses an election, generally they do so with some modicum of grace. It is customary to call the winning candidate and congratulate him, and concede the election.

Not so for failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua. He posted this on his Facebook page this week:

Join the community Tues, Dec. 14 at the Vigil of Discontent outside city council chambers at the parking lot at Ross and Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Our mayor is being inaugurated to another term on a very sad week for our city. We learned of another violation of the public trust. Mayor Pulido arranged a $500,000 finder’s fee for himself for helping business partners buy state property.

How rude! Wasn’t it a “violation of public trust” when Amezcua fraudulently registered to vote at his law office, so he could run for an Area of the Rancho Santiago Community College District that he did NOT live in?

Wasn’t it a “violation of public trust” when Amezcua allegedly changed his name on some 19 traffic tickets in order to preserve his driving record?

Wasn’t it a “violation of public trust” when Amezcua opened the ill-advised Santa Ana Business Bank – ultimately costing his investors 40% of their stake?

This man has no shame! The election is over Amezcua! It is time to work with those who won, not stage ridiculous protests and disrupt public ceremonies.

Word has it that Amezcua will be greeted on Tuesday by dozens of counter-protesters.

Solorio fights to save the OC Fair, but does it really matter?

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, irvine, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana 3 Comments

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio issued a statement today regarding the filing of a lawsuit “asking for an injunction to stop the current sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds.”

The suit was filed on behalf of State Senator Lou Correa, State Assemblyman Jose Solorio, former Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley and the Orange County Fair Preservation Society (OCFPS).

Solorio listed a few reasons to oppose the sale of the O.C. Fairgrounds, as follows:

Why was there no appraisal done to learn the fair market value of the property?
Why weren’t the requirements of the original legislation and the Department of General Services (DGS) own bid documents followed?
How do we know the bid process was fair when the terms of the deal favor one bidder above all others? This whole bid process has been flawed.

According to Solorio, the Orange County Fairgrounds generates $180 million annually in economic activity, including hundreds of jobs.

What sort of jobs is he talking about? Janitorial? Carnies? Ticket booth operators? These don’t seem like very good jobs, and they are temporary at that.

I have been to the Fair a few times over the past few years. My kids find the animals boring and just want to ride on the overpriced, rickety carnival rides. The food is totally unhealthy and disgusting and way overpriced. The carnies all look like meth addicts!

We already have two zoos in Orange County – the Santa Ana Zoo and the Irvine Zoo. Both feature farm animals. Do we really need the OC Fair? Really?

Let’s face it – Orange County is no longer even remotely an agricultural county. We just aren’t. Most of our farms were paved over years ago. Kids today don’t know one end of a cow from the other, and they could care less.

The O.C. Great Park, in Irvine, does have a farm, that they use for educational purposes. Why not move the O.C. Fair there? It makes sense. They have the room to accommodate the Fair.

The land the Fair sits on, in Costa Mesa, is prime real estate. Why not sell it and use that money to pay down California’s debt?

And why is Solorio spending so much time on this? Is the Fair even in his Assembly District? I don’t think so. Odd.

Senator Correa to sponsor a free day at the Santa Ana Zoo on Dec. 12

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Lou Correa, Nature, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Senator Correa’s 10th Annual Canned Food and Toy Drive
Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 10:00 AM

Join Senator Correa for a FREE DAY AT THE ZOO! Canned food and toy donations will benefit children and families served by Toys for Tots and the Orange County Food Bank. Highlights include: health screenings, games, face painting, BBQ, entertainment, legislative updates, and raffle prizes.

Meet author Don Jose Ruiz on Dec. 15 at Librería Martinez Books and Art Gallery

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Entertainment, Literature, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Meet author Don Jose Ruiz, who will discuss and sign his new book, “The Fifth Agreement,” at Librería Martinez Books and Art Gallery, on Wednesday, Dec. 15., from 7-9 p.m.

Librería Martinez Books and Art Gallery is located at 216 N. Broadway, Santa Ana.

Please note: Reservations with purchase of a book can guarantee a seat for this exciting event. CALL and order your book now…Don’t miss out! Call (714) 973-7900.

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