Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: October 2010

Congressional candidate Ceci Iglesias to host a fundraiser on Oct. 15, at El Tapatio

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Elections, Entertainment, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Restaurants, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The Cecilia Iglesias congressional campaign is hosting a fundraiser this Friday, October 15, at 6:30 p.m. at El Tapatio Restaurant, located at 3700 W. Warner St, Santa Ana, 92704.

Iglesias collected over 11,000 signatures in order to qualify for the ballot as an independent.  She is running against Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Assemblyman Van Tran.

Tran and Sanchez debated each other this week at KOCE, but Iglesias was shut out.  Instead she appeared on this week’s Orange Juice Blog Radio show.

Sanchez is bringing President Bill Clinton to Santa Ana to promote her campaign, tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm.  Maybe he can stop by El Tapatio for dinner and find out why Iglesias supports the Dream Act and immigration reform!

Hula Hoop dance fitness class at Santiago Park on Oct. 23

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Sports, Women, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Pixie Hoop Dance (which was in attendance at this year’s Park Santiago Summer Concert) is holding a Hoop Dance Fitness Class on Saturday, October 23rd at 4pm. The class will be held near the Lawn Bowling Entrance in Santiago Park by the big trees.

Class fee is $10.00 for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Contact Kasey with any questions or to RSVP (to ensure she has a hoop for you) to pixiehoopdance@gmail.com.

Ward 6 candidate Helen Martinez refuses to talk about immigration and the Dream Act, while addressing Godinez High students

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Elections, immigration, Latinos, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

Helen Martinez, a candidate for Ward 6 on the Santa Ana City Council, showed up today at Godinez Fundamental High School, where she spoke to a combined group of students from three government classes.  Unfortunately for Martinez, the group included my son Joey, a senior and AP student, who quickly texted me.

Joey asked her stance on illegal immigration and the Dream Act; she chose to “reserve her opinion.”  What a cop-out!

However Martinez was able to give her opinion on prop 19, which she is opposing.   One student asked her why she was able to give her opinion on that but not on illegal immigration and she said “it’s because that isn’t a proposition.”  Lame!

Martinez’ main argument against marijuana was that california would become “smokier” and she had concerns for asthmatics, such as herself.  She had nothing else to say basically, she just beat around the bush a lot.

When asked why she was running against the incumbent, Councilman Sal Tinajero, with the person asking the question looking for specific policies, all she said was that it was because her opponent had lost sight of what it means to be a “public servant,” that he never showed up when he was supposed to.  She went off on a huge tangent, according to my son, and she failed to answer the question.

The general reaction towards her from my son’s classmates was that she didn’t really answer anybody’s questions and that she didn’t seem well informed.  My son didn’t think anyone in his class would have voted for her.

Martinez is running against incumbent Councilman Sal Tinajero, an award-winning teacher who used to work at the SAUSD.  Why did she get invited to speak and not Tinajero as well?  This is an outrage.  I suspect the SAUSD district office will be hearing from Tinajero tomorrow.

I know the Godinez students would learn a lot more from Tinajero, who also served on the SAUSD School Board previously,  then they could possibly learn from Martinez.

I am very proud of the students who asked about immigration and Prop. 19.  This shows they are very much aware of some of the most important political issues we are currently dealing with.

Tinajero, for the record, does support the Dream Act, which provides students who came here at a young age and completed their education in our schools to have a pathway to citizenship – and college.

Santa Ana Council candidate Nam Pham says his white supporters are opposed to Mexicans

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Elections, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Nam Pham, a longshot candidate for Ward 6 on the Santa Ana City Council, got busted today by the OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano, who found a Pham campaign ad in a Vietnamese newspaper.  Someone translated the ad for Arellano, who reported that Pham claimed in the ad that among his supporters are white voters who are helping him specifically because they don’t want a Mexican to win the seat.

The forum in question was the Com Link forum, which we reported about here at the New Santa Ana blog.  Pham was actually awful at that debate.  The best performer that night was mayoral challenger Charles Hart, although it should be noted that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido answered his questions very candidly and he did so smoothly.

Nam Pham ad courtesy of the OC Weekly

According to Arellano, Pham went on to claim that these mysterious gabachos “guided and helped me a lot, including printing flyers and helping distribute to every home. They often give me encouragement.”

Pham is of course referring to Santa Ana’s notorious “Usual Suspects,” who were at the Com Link forum in full force.  I spoke to one of them, Thomas Gordon, today.  He reiterated that he thinks Pham is “very smart.”  Pham has been almost unintelligible at the two forums I have attended.

Gordon also said he thinks Pham might win.  This is ironic given that Gordon pulled papers to run in Ward 6 too, but he failed to collect twenty signatures.  To make matters even murkier, Gordon’s papers were signed by another Ward 6 candidate, Helen Martinez, and her family.

One of our readers recently saw Gordon picking up Martinez signs at Cogs Printing, in Santa Ana.

Gordon also told me today that he has been very impressed by Pham’s signs.

Is Gordon helping both of these Ward 6 candidates?  That would be an odd strategy.  We did catch him texting answers to Martinez at the South Coast Neighborhood Association candidates forum, which we also reported here on this blog.

Pham previously served on the Santa Ana Library Board, which is now defunct.  He ran for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education in 2008, in Area 1.  He came in dead last, according to Smart Voter, with just over ten percent of the vote.

His top priorities in 2008, were:

  • Plan and Organized the future for our children.
  • Guidance and Support our children to ensure their success.
  • Be there to have the works intall properly.

Yes, he wrote them exactly that way.

This year his top priorities, according to Smart Voter, are:

  • EMPLOYMENTS! … EMPLOYMENTS! … EMPLOYMENTS! Key to all problems.
  • Utilize the limited available funds to balance the budgets.
  • Plannings effectively.

Yes, that is verbatim as well.

He claims that his occupation is “Community Volunteer.”  I don’t know about that but I think I can guarantee this guy will never be a Santa Ana Councilman.

Bistro 400’s 7th Annual Halloween Bash on Oct. 30

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Bistros 400’s 7th Annual Halloween Bash is on Saturday October 30, from 8 pm to close.

D.J. Serge is going to turn Bistro 400 into a Ghoulish Haunt with great music, food and drink specials.  Prizes will be given out every hour!

Bistro 400 is located at 400 W. 4th Street, in Santa Ana.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Desperate Amezcua falsely claims Clinton campaigning for him

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Democratic Party, Elections, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

First Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua falsely claimed that Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez was appearing at a fundraiser on his behalf at the exclusive estate of Orange Park Acres resident and Republican Arturo Lomeli but an email sent out by his campaign today has outdone that lie with a real whopper.  According to the email sent this morning by “Amezcua 4 Mayor 2010” former President Bill Clinton is coming to Santa Ana tomorrow to campaign for Amezcua.

The email read:

Support  the Winning Team!

President  Bill Clinton
Congresswoman  Loretta Sanchez
State  Senator Lou Correa
and Alfredo  Amezcua!
Candidate  for Mayor

Invite  you to a free rally

Friday,  October 15th
3  to 5 PM
Old  Orange County  Courthouse
Downtown  Santa Ana
211  W. Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa  Ana,  CA 92701

Everyone  Welcome!
Pick  up your Amezcua For Mayor  T-Shirt
at  our Campaign Office
1311  N. Broadway
Santa  Ana,  CA 92706
Call  714-558-8683

Amezcua and his campaign got a few of the facts correct.  President Clinton will indeed be at the Old Courthouse in downtown tomorrow campaigning on behalf of Sanchez, Correa and the Democratic ticket.  He will not be there campaigning for Amezcua.  This attempt by Amezcua campaign to mislead voters and residents to think he has the support of President Bill Clinton is shameless and hints of desperation on their part.

This blatant attempt to deceive and mislead the voters and residents of Santa Ana by the Amezcua campaign demonstrates a tremendous level of arrogance and dishonesty.  Voters need to ask themselves if this is how candidate Amezcua operates and carries himself, what can we expect from a Mayor Amezcua?

To demonstrate just how much this is not an Amezcua event, sources tell me that President Clinton was scheduled to make a brief appearence at Liberia Martinez but that has been scrapped do to the fact that the owner of that well know establishment is supporting Amezcua.  I have not been able to confirm this but I would not be surprised.  Remember this is a Democratic Party event and the Democratic Party had endorsed Mayor Miguel Pulido.

You can be sure that Pulido and the other Democrats on our city council will be appearing on stage with Clinton and the other luminaries.  Perhaps if Alfredo wants a photo of himself at the event with President Clinton he should contact Trung Nguyen and have him photoshop Alfredo into a picture with Bill.

Fitness and Nutrition Extravaganza in Park Santiago Neighborhood on Oct. 23

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Education, Entertainment, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Santa Ana’s First Congregational Church is hosting a Fitness and Nutrition Extravaganza on October 23, from  12-3pm.

The event includes: Zumba, guests speakers, Ukelele, Belly Dancing and more!!!  $8 toward the Green Being Project.

The event will be held at 2555 Santiago Street, in Santa Ana’s Park Santiago Neighborhood.

For more information please contact Ria Vigil at 949-293-8480.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Here is a message about the event from the event organizer:

Hello everyone! During the month of October we are celebrating Optimal Health with a Fun, Fitness Extravaganza in the City of Santa Ana. We are celebrating because it is time to acknowledge that our bodies WANT to be in Optimal health, including our immune system, our mind, our heart.

Optimal Health for BODY, Optimal Health for Immune System, Optimal Health for Mind, Optimal Health for HEART. Happy Mind = Happy Heart = Happy Body = Happy Immune System

JOIN us on OCTOBER 23rd 12-3pm in the City of Santa Ana ~ we will be fundraising for Promoting Health & DISEASE PREVENTION through one solid ZUMBA Master class, and other unique fitness DEMOS and Nutrition 101 with the Very BEST!!! more details to come…save the date 😉 xoxo

SAPD traffic collision reports now available online

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

The Santa Ana Police Department has contracted with a company to make our traffic collision reports available online. All traffic collision reports taken after August 1, 2010 will be available online. Go to www.policereports.us to retrieve and print a copy of the report. The cost of this service is $23.

Additional Police Services available via the internet:

  • Review Santa Ana Crime Statistics: www.crimemapping.com
  • Community Oriented Policing Resources: www.cop-talk.org
  • To view your red light violation video: www.photonotice.com

KOCE shut out Ceci Iglesias, but she will be on Radio Orange Juice tonight!

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Elections, Loretta Sanchez, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Independent Congressional Candidate Cecilia Iglesias might be the difference-maker in this year’s contest for the 47th Congressional District, but KOCE shut her out of tonight’s televised debate between the incumbent, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, and the Republican challenger, Van Tran.  So we are leading off our show tonight with Ms. Iglesias in studio, on the latest edition of Radio Orange Juice.

We will follow up that interview with Anaheim Councilwoman Lucille Kring, who is running hard against the incumbent in the 34th State Senate District, Lou Correa.  We are also working on getting Correa himself on the show!

Also on the agenda for tonight’s show – Anaheim City Council candidate Thomas “Hoagy” Holguin.

We also invited Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Al Amezcua to come on the show, but he didn’t have the guts to do so.  Too bad!  I really wanted to ask him about his apparent endorsement by Usual Suspect Tim Rush.

If you are running for office and want to be on our second hour, at 8 pm, text me at (714) 606-7622.  Or email me at artpedroza@gmail.com.

CLICK ON THE RADIO below at 7 every Wednesday night to hear us!

Call-in number 877-805-4208

With me tonight will be my co-host Sean Mill, and a special guest host, Francisco Barragan, plus the editor of the Orange Juice blog, the inimitable Vern Nelson!

Don’t miss out on this exclusive Radio Orange Juice experience…

Radio Orange Juice comes to you courtesy of our friends at Santa Ana’s Beat Lounge Entertainment and Beat Lounge Gospel.

Trace your family history in Central Mexico on Nov. 6, in Orange

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Latinos, mexico, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Family History Presentation and Research

Saturday, November 6, 2010, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Orange Family History Center, 674 S. Yorba Street, Orange, CA.

A free presentation on how to trace family histories in Central Mexico. The seminar, presented by John P. Schmal, is sponsored by the Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research (SHHAR). The seminar will include a discussion of locating the place of origin, availability of records, and database search strategies. Handouts of documents will be included.

The area of discussion will include the states of Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, and Michoacán.

One-to-one research assistance is provided from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Presentation begins at 10:15 a.m.

For more information on this event, call Mimi Lozano at 714-894-8161.  Visit SHHAR’s website at http://shhar.net/.

South Santa Ana Merchants Association to host Santa Ana candidates forum tonight

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The South Santa Ana Merchants Association (SAMA) is hosting a Santa Ana City Council and Mayoral candidates forum tonight, at the O.C. Musicians Hall, located at 2050 S. Main St., in Santa Ana.

Admission is free and dinner is free too, courtesy of Otto Bade, who operates the La Perla de la Amazona restaurant, at the Santa Ana Zoo.  Bade is himself a past candidate for State Assembly.

If you have any questions you may call Jorge Doffo, the President of the Association at 714-715-6609, or call Mary Guzman, their Secretary, at 714-380-2210.

Other SAMA officers include Rene Mancia, the owner of the Pupusodromo Restaurant; Gustavo Barcenas, of the Mill Bakery; Alfredo Amezcua (who is also a candidate for mayor this year), who operates a law firm on Broadway, just north of the downtown area; Omar Moreno, of Comerica Bank; Felipe Sosa; and Alejandro Racini, a consultant.

Click here to visit SAMA’s website.

Santa Ana’s Road Less Traveled announces Dia de los Muertos workshops

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Dia de los Muertos workshops!

Shrines for Dia de los Muertos (10/24, 2:30-6PM): join local artist Chela Banuelos for this creative shirne class where you will incorporate a number of techniques to make a shrine or sacred place. Bring your own personal memorbilia to personalize your works. To view more on the workshop, register HERE.

The Breads of Day of the Dead (10/24, 11-1:30): join local baker Cory for this intimate class on preparing and decorating authentic bread of this holiday. Taste samples, learn basic bread techniques and take home recipes in this hands-on class. This class is limited to 6 students only so register NOW.

Truffles (10/24, 11-2): the role of chocolate is seen throughout Mexican culture. Learn to make delicious chocolate treats with Chocolatier Courtney of C-Salt Gourmet. This is a great class for future holiday gifts as well! Register HERE.

book sale 10/13-11/14

We need to make room for holiday items and new releases. Starting tomorrow, for the next month, we will be have deep discounts on all store titles. Every title in our shop will be 25-50% off!  We rarely have sales, so start your shopping early and take advantage of this!

*sales only apply to in-house purchases, not on-line*
other workshops in october!

We still have room for a few workshops in october-many of these classes will be the last time we offer them in 2010!

Cooking from the Hive (10/17, 11-1): Join the Backyard Bee ladies in a backyard honey hive tour with cooking demo using local honey.

Solar Cooking (10/17, noon-2): efficient and economical cooking using the sun!

Terrariums (10/30, 11-1): mini-gardens for your home or as a gift.

Foraged Foods 2 (10/30, 10-2): learn to make acorn bread and toppings straight from the wild. Identification, meals and recipes included!

Welding Basics (10/24, 10-3PM): basic welding techniques to help you manipulate metal!

view details of our october calendar on our website.
Noche de Altares: November 6th 2010

On Novemeber 6th, of the best celebrations of Dia de los Muertos in California will be taking place in Downtown Santa Ana, just a few blocks from our shop. Hosted by our good friends at Calacas and El Centro Cultural de Mexico, Noche de Altares is a beautiful showcase of culture, food, craft and shrines honoring loved ones lost. If you haven’t been to this event, you are truly missing out on one special event in Orange County!  This event is free, for directions click HERE.

State Senator Lou Correa against Congressman Van Tran in 2012?

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

While there is a good chance that Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will lose her seat to Republican Van Tran this November, Democrats should take heart.  If State Senator Lou Correa wins in his reelection battle, he will be primed to run for Sanchez’ seat in 2012.

How would Correa fare against Congressman Tran?  I think he would trounce him.

Consider that Tran has been careful not to appear too involved with his possible replacement in the State Assembly, Allan Mansoor, even though Mansoor’s campaign manager is one of Tran’s associates – Daisy Tong.  Tran simply doesn’t want to anger Correa, and with good reason.  The amiable Correa is very popular in Little Saigon.

Correa has never forgotten his  voter base, unlike Sanchez, but he hasn’t had to pander to Viets the way she has.  He has simply, quietly, reached out to them – and he has succeeded.

The last time Correa ran for the 34th State Senate District he almost lost to Republican Lynn Daucher, primarily because Tran pumped up the Little Saigon vote for her.  Correa has worked hard ever since to get that community on his side.

Sanchez has actively pandered to the Viet vote, including showing up to the Tet Parade every year dressed in Viet clothes.  But she lost that community when she complained in a Spanish language interview, on T.V., that the “Vietnamese” were trying to take her district.

Correa is in his own tough race this year, against Anaheim Councilwoman Lucille Kring, but most political experts believe he will prevail.  When he does, I would imagine he will immediately start drafting his plans to run for Congress – if Sanchez loses to Tran on Nov. 2.

Facebook friends of the Santa Ana Meg Whitman page include Lupe Moreno

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Elections, Latinos, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Meg Whitman just doesn’t get it.  She opened an office in Santa Ana, ostensibly to reach out to Latino voters, but now her new Meg Whitman Santa Ana Facebook page includes Minuteman Lupe Moreno, who wants to get rid of many of Santa Ana’s Latino residents.  No bueno Meg!

Any kind of Latino outreach that includes Minutemen isn’t outreach at all.

To make matters worse for Ms. Meg, she only has 16 friends on this page!  Lame.

Besides Moreno, Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante has been seen at Meg’s Santa Ana office.  He is also actively campaigning for Van Tran, who is running against Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

Ceci Iglesias urges supporters to protest debate snub at KOCE on Monday, Oct. 11

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Elections, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

PRESS ALERT

For More information, call Julie Rosales (714) 486-1055

Santa Ana, CA – Supporters of Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias, the first Independent Candidate for U.S. Congress to earn a position on the ballot in the history of Orange County are announcing a “Campaign March” outside KOCE TV station, for Monday October 11, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. Over 400 supporters have confirmed to be present and we expect more in numbers to be added. KOCE Station has excluded Cecilia Iglesias from a televised debate scheduled for this coming Wednesday, October 13th.

Iglesias, a candidate for the 47th Congressional District faces Democrat Loretta Sanchez and Republican Van Tran on November 2nd. Iglesias successfully gathered 11,000 votes to qualify to have her name placed on the ballot but KOCE TV has decided not to allow her to participate in the debate.

“I am very disappointed that a station that supports to be a public broadcasting channel denies the public the very right to hear the views of all the candidates and instead interferes with a free and fair election process,” says Iglesias. “District 47 deserves to hear from all THREE Candidates, and decide who will best represent them.””

Iglesias challenges Loretta Sanchez and Van Tran to support her call for KOCE to allow her to participate and exercise the spirit of fair play demands that voters hear from all the candidates in the race.

“What do either Ms Sanchez or Mr. Tran fear from my being allowed the same opportunity they have? After all, both have stated in public they want transparency and accountability from the person representing the 47th District in Congress. This is their chance to prove this is not just another empty promise from two professional politicians,” said Iglesias.

“March for a Voice” will be set-up outside KOCE TV Studios located at 15751 Gothard St.; Huntington Beach CA_92647. For more information, contact Julie Rosales (714) 486-1055 to www.ceciforcongress2010.com