Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: September 2012

Tinajero versus Amezcua?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Democratic Party, Education, Elections, John Palacio, Jose Hernandez, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Republican Party, Rob Richardson, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 15 Comments

Myriam Tinajero

Ballots are arriving now in the mail for this November’s General Election.  Here in Santa Ana we are voting for three Trustees on the Santa Ana Unified School District’s Board of Education.

Incumbents Rob Richardson and Jose A. Hernandez are running for re-election – and SAUSD incumbents never lose.  They have both been endorsed by the Santa Ana Educators Association.  There is one open SAUSD seat as Trustee Roman Reyna is leaving the School Board after only one term, to run for the Santa Ana City Council, in Ward 5.

There are several challengers running for the Reyna seat on the SAUSD School Board.  The top candidates include Myriam Tinajero, who is the sister of former SAUSD Trustee and current Santa Ana Council Member Sal Tinajero; Orange County Probation Officer Valerie Amezcua, who lost four years ago to Reyna; and former Congressional candidate Cecilia Iglesias, who recently became a registered Republican and subsequently disavowed the Dream Act. Continue reading→

Cheerios’ flashlight has gone out but the memories remain

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

 

His real name was Kenneth Pierre.  But folks in Santa Ana knew him as “Cheerios.”  He was “the old guy who hangs around high school football games, shining a flashlight at passing cars to remind the drivers to turn on their headlights,” according to the O.C. Register.

Robert Sanchez started a Facebook group devoted to Cheerios and it was there that he posted this sad goodbye today: Continue reading→

Mayor Pulido to host a campaign reception on Oct. 4

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Entertainment, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is hosting a re-election campaign reception at the offices of First American Title Company on Oct. 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 at 1 First American Way, in Santa Ana.

You may RSVP by calling 818-835-2375 or send an email to Kenya@psccampaigns.com. Continue reading→

Celebrating Mexican independence at the Colonization Fair?

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Mexican Independence?

If you don’t know who Theo Hirsch is, then you’re missing out on one of Downtown Santa Ana’s most compelling artists – a guy who is creative not only with visual arts but also with written and spoken words and with music.  Hirsch has his own blog and while he doesn’t post to it very often, when he does it usually means he has something to say.

The other day I got an email from Hirsch about a new post he had been working on.  That post is now done.  It  looks like he drew inspiration from the recent Fiestas Patrias event held in Downtown Santa Ana, ostensibly in celebration of Mexican Independence. A word of warning, like the great comedian George Carlin, may he rest in peace, Hirsch likes to sprinkle his posts with lots of expletives.  Here are a few excerpts: Continue reading→

Team Benavides supports every tax increase on the Nov. ballot

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Eric Alderete, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 46 Comments

Let’s raise taxes!

A curious thing happened at the Santa Ana City Council Candidates Forum hosted by Com Link last night.  The event moderator asked the candidates if they intended to support three ballot measures that are going to increase our sales, income and property taxes – Measure Q, a bond measure to fund remodeling projects at Santa Ana College; Prop. 30, the tax increase initiative backed by Governor Jerry Brown, which actually restores a few sales and income taxes that would otherwise go away; and Prop. 38, an even bigger tax increased backed by liberal millionaire Molly Munger, much to the chagrin of Brown. 

The candidates responded and it is worth noting that the faction that is supporting Council Member David Benavides, including Ward 1 candidate (and incumbent) Vince Sarmiento, Ward 3 candidate Eric M. Alderete and Ward 5 candidate Roman Reyna, all supported all of these tax increase measures. Continue reading→

Labor unions are supporting Santa Ana Council Member Vincent Sarmiento

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Labor, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2012

CONTACT: Karia Salazar, PHONE: (714) 623-7185, EMAIL: salazar_karia@yahoo.com

Working Families Line Up in Support of Councilman Vincent Sarmiento for Re-election in Santa Ana City Council

Santa Ana, California – Councilman Vincent Sarmiento receives the backing of working families for his re-election to represent Santa Ana’s Ward -1.

“We are proud to endorse Councilman Sarmiento for re-election. Councilman Sarmiento has a proven record of delivering for working families in Santa Ana . We look forward to working with him to build a smart, transparent and vibrant city,” said Tefere Gebre, Executive Director of Orange County Labor Federation. Continue reading→

American Soldiers play starting on 10/11 at Santa Ana College

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Education, Entertainment, Latinos, Military, Plays, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2012

Contacts: Judy Iannaccone, Director, Communications Phone: (714) 480-7503, e-mail: iannaccone_judy@rsccd.edu

American Soldiers Comes to Santa Ana College Phillips Hall Theatre

*Production runs October 11-21*

(Santa Ana)—Santa Ana College (SAC) is set to open Matt Morillo’s American Soldiers on October 11. The play will be produced for the second time ever at Santa Ana College. The original production in 2010 ran in an Off-Broadway theatre. The play examines the effects on an Army veteran and her family when she returns emotionally unbalanced from the war in Iraq. Continue reading→

Free Latin American Film Festival at Santiago Canyon College starts on 10/12

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Latinos, Movies, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2012

Contacts: Judy Iannaccone , Director, Communications , Phone: (714) 480-7503, e-mail: iannaccone_judy@rsccd.edu

Santiago Canyon College Hosts Free Latin American Film Festival

Three October Film Screenings Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

(Orange)— Santiago Canyon College (SCC) invites the community to attend a free Latin American Film Festival. The free screenings will be held on Friday, October 12; Friday, October 19; and Friday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m. in D-101 at Santiago Canyon College, 8045 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange. Parking, admission, and snacks are all complimentary. An introduction and discussion of each film will be provided by SCC Modern Languages Department faculty. Continue reading→

Teen Leadership Foundation celebrates 5th birthday on 11/9 in Costa Mesa

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Costa Mesa Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: 09/24/2012

Contact: Lisa Castetter 949-769-6670 x25, lisa@teenleadershipfoundation.org

Teen Leadership Foundation Celebrates 5th Birthday

Newport Beach, CA – September 24, 2012 – Teen Leadership Foundation (TLF), a Newport Beach-based 501 C3 non-profit serving all of Southern California and the Pacific Northwest will be hosting a 5 year Anniversary Concert with local artists at Rock Harbor in Costa Mesa on November 9th, 2012. Continue reading→

Walk to School Day set for 10/3 at Heninger Elementary School

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Health and Medical, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2012

Contact: Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer , (714) 558-5555 Office, (714) 673-4995 Mobile

Media Advisory: Fitness and Safety Promoted at Walk-to-School Day at Heninger Elementary School on October 3, 2012

Event: Join the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and its Healthy Eating Active Communities partners Orange County Health Care Agency and Latino Health Access along with the Santa Ana School Police and Santa Ana Police Department as they participate in the annual International Walk to School Day. Educators, parents, students, and community members will take part in this global event to bring awareness to the importance of practicing safe walking, biking, and traffic skills. In addition, participants will review ways to maintain secure routes before, during and after school hours throughout the city of Santa Ana, while promoting physical activity. Continue reading→

Local Career College and non-profits launch free career workshops

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

For Immediate Release

For-Profit Career College Launches Free Career Workshops in Partnership with Local Non-Profits

Career College of California provides their successful career training to local residents free of charge.

Santa Ana, CA – September 28, 2012 – Career College of California seems to be doing something right since over 80% of their graduates are landing jobs in their fields of training. But with the unemployment rate still sky-high in Orange County they have decided to make some of their proprietary career services training available to local residents free of charge. They have partnered with some of the best and well respected local organizations including Kidworks, Working Wardrobes, Orange County Therapeutic Arts Center, Santa Ana Work Center, U.S. Marines and most recently Santa Ana Public Library to offer a series of career focused workshops. Continue reading→

Who will defeat Tom Daly in 2014?

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Tom Daly, Vince Sarmiento 6 Comments

It looks like we are going to be stuck with Tom Daly as our Assemblyman in the 69th Assembly District, with the news we broke today that his opponent, Jose Moreno, has withdrawn from the contest after being threatened with the loss of his job, via the federal Hatch Act.

But Daly is going to be toast in two years – and there will be no shortage of viable candidates available to take him out.

So who will defeat Daly in two years?  Here are the top contenders: Continue reading→

10th Annual Santa Ana Noche de Altares set for Nov. 3

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

Announcing the 10th Annual Noche de Altares, which will take place on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012, from 1:00pm – 10:00pm., at 4th & Birch Street, Downtown Santa Ana.

Take part in this unforgettable community event by participating as an altar builder in the 10th Annual Noche de Altares! Build an altar dedicated to a loved one or to bring awareness to a social issue.

Schedule of Events: Continue reading→

Jose A. Mata is wanted by the SAPD for domestic violence, attempted murder

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

Jose Antonio Mata

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:

WANTED: Jose Antonio Mata, wanted for Domestic Violence in Santa Ana, Arrest Warrant for Attempt Murder in Fresno

Suspect Information:

Name: Mata, Jose Antonio – Male, Hispanic, 23 years, 5’09, 195 lbs, black hair, brown eyes. Continue reading→

The Hatch Act ends Jose Moreno’s campaign for the 69th Assembly District

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Moreno, Labor, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 3 Comments

Jose Moreno’s campaign for the 69th Assembly District has ended – a result of a federal law, the Hatch Act, which prevents many employees of county governments from running for legislative seats – if federal funds are used by their departments. Moreno works for the Orange County Health Care Agency. As such his job was threatened – because union members and local liberal bloggers used the Hatch Act to attack him and to go after his job and his family’s well-being.

Moreno’s opponent, Orange County Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly, also appears to have a Hatch Act problem as his department takes federal money in order to fund their processing of U.S. passports. Daly is also embroiled in charges of sexual harassment.

Moreno will remain on the ballot and I will still be voting for him. Continue reading→