Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: November 2012

Darrell Johnson named next CEO of the OCTA

Posted on by Posted in Darrell Johnson, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation 5 Comments

Johnson Named Next CEO of OCTA

Darrell Johnson, a 20-year industry veteran, will take over the reins March 1

ORANGE – Darrell Johnson, the current deputy CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority, was selected by the board of directors today to become the next chief executive officer effective March 1.

“Darrell has extensive experience in the transportation industry and an unparalleled understanding of OCTA’s vision,” said OCTA Chairman Paul Glaab, also the mayor of Laguna Niguel. “He has been instrumental in developing and implementing OCTA’s strategic goals and we are excited he will be stepping into this new role.” Continue reading→

Full Art School Scholarships for High School Students by Ryman Arts & CSUF!

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

It is a real pleasure to announce that an agreement has been finalized to launch a dynamic new collaboration between Ryman Arts and California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

Beginning in January 2013, Ryman Arts will offer classes on the campus of California State University, Fullerton on Saturdays, in addition to the current array of classes they will continue to offer at Otis College of Art & Design on Sundays. Continue reading→

Planning Commission approves ordinance to keep alcohol away from youth

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Eric Alderete, Planning, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Sean Mill 29 Comments

UPDATE: The Santa Ana Planning Commision voted 4-2 to approve the ordinance discussed below.  Eric Alderete and Patrick Yrarrazaval were opposed.  Sean Mill and Frank Acosta made and seconded the successful motion.

Santa Ana’s Planning Commission will be considering a proposed ordinance tonight, No. 2012-03, which will establish an Entertainment Permit that will be issued by the Santa Ana Police Department to local businesses that provide entertainment while also serving alcohol.

The main concern, as I understand it, is ensuring that nightclubs and restaurants in town are not allowing minors, 18 and under, in their establishments when alcohol is being served.  Some of these venues, such as the Velvet Lounge, aggressively advertise the presense of 18 year old youngsters, ostensibly as a way to market to older clients who are trolling for youthful partners.  The Yost Theater does this as well.  Continue reading→

Pro bono legal services now available to victims of domestic violence

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Lawyers, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Women 1 Comment

Family Law Attorneys in Orange County, California, Farzad & Mazarei, Launch a Pro Bono and Limited Means Department for Victims of Domestic Violence

Victims of serious domestic violence without the funds to retain an attorney now have hope for help, for themselves and their children

Farzad & Mazarei, family law attorneys in Orange County, California, will formally launch on Thursday, November 15, 2012 a pro bono and limited means department for victims of serious domestic violence, with the focus on obtaining restraining orders against the perpetrators of abuse. Continue reading→

Blame John Lewis for the Democrats picking up an Assembly supermajority

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Cecilia Iglesias, Fullerton, Jose Moreno, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Tom Daly, Transportation 13 Comments

Former State Senator John Lewis has such a hold on the Republican Party of Orange County that he was able to force the withdrawal of Robert Hammond, their candidate for the 69th Assembly District, so as to pave the way for his Democratic pal Tom Daly. And Lewis also ran the failed campaign of Chris Norby, for the 65th Assembly District. With the loss of Norby’s seat, and the 69th, the California Republican Party ceded a supermajority in the State Assembly to the California Democratic Party.

But Lewis is not the only one to blame. OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh (a political consultant) and OC Supervisor Janet Nguyen were personally involved in pulling Hammond out of the race for the 69th. And neither of them helped Jose “Joe” Moreno, the Anaheim Republican who, at the last minute, filed for the 69th rather than concede the victory to Daly. Moreno was however undone by allegations that he violated an obscure Federal law – the Hatch Act. Moreno, an employee of the O.C. Health Agency, was accused of this by labor, even though he is a longtime union member. Continue reading→

Shop small in Santa Ana today on Small Business Saturday

Posted on by Posted in Business, Santa Ana 8 Comments

 

American Express’s Small Business Saturday is today – November 24, 2012. Small Business Saturday always sits between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is dedicated to driving sales to small businesses on one of the busiest holiday shopping weekends of the year. It is the day we celebrate the Shop Small® movement and support the small businesses that help fuel the economy and invigorate communities, according to Score OC.

Click here to find out which Santa Ana businesses are participating in Small Business Saturday.  Here are a few highlights: Continue reading→

Will the new City Council support finishing the Santiago Creek bike trail?

Posted on by Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Bicycles, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Health and Medical, Mark McLoughlin, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

How will the new Santa Ana City Council deal with the uncompleted Santiago Creek Bike Trail?  The trail is complete right now – except for a “missing link” – a 1/4-mile gap located in the Santiago Creek, between the 5 Freeway underpass and Flower Street.  The City of Santa Ana does not currently have a bike trail proposed in the missing link.

A grass-roots neighborhood organization, Neighbors for the Santiago Creek Bike Trail, was formed to further the goal of a bike path in the “missing link” along Santiago Creek. Once the bike trail is completed, our neighborhoods will have ready access to adjoining trails. The Neighbors for the Santiago Creek Bike Trail want open space and the ability to connect to these outlying bike trails, shopping centers and communities either by biking, jogging or hiking. Continue reading→

Pulido is beating Benavides by a larger margin than he beat Amezcua in 2010

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Angelica Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Education, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, George Collins, Lupe Moreno, Mark McLoughlin, Miguel Angel Briseno, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is currently leading his closes challenger, Santa Ana Council Member David Benavides, by over 12,000 votes. Pulido has 27,068 votes, or 48.2% of the ballots versus 14,982 votes, or 26.7% of the ballots for Benavides.  There were four other mayoral candidates this year, including George Collins, Roy Alvarado, Lupe Moreno and Miguel Angel Briseno. 

Pulido beat Alfredo “Al” Amezcua two years ago, in 2010, by just under ten thousand votes. Pulido got 21,588 votes, or 49.5% of the ballots, in 2010, versus 11,689 votes, or 26.8% of the ballots, for Amezcua, according to Smart Voter. There were three other mayoral candidates in 2010 – Alvarado, Collins and Charles Hart. Continue reading→

John Wayne Airport offers travel tips for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Posted on by Posted in Airplanes, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2012
Contact: Jenny Wedge, Office: (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT OFFERS TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – In anticipation of one of the most heavily traveled holiday periods, John Wayne Airport (JWA) offers travel tips to help passengers prepare for a safe and enjoyable holiday. Passengers traveling through JWA between Friday, November 16 and Monday, November 26 will experience higher-than-normal passenger traffic due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest travel days are expected to be Wednesday, November 21 and Sunday, November 25. Continue reading→

Copwatch meeting at El Centro Cultural de Mexico set for this Wed. night

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

An organization called “Copwatch” is hosting a meeting this Wednesday, Nov. 21, from 7 pm until 9:30 pm, at El Centro Cultural de Mexico, located at 313 N. Birch Street, in Santa Ana.

This meeting is supposed to be a “general meeting/discussion regarding the police state in our hood.” They’ll be sharing their experiences as well as bringing up possible solutions to the problems in our communities that have resulted from “criminalization by the police.”  They will also have a skill-share section showing people how to check a cop. Continue reading→

O.C. freeways will be free of construction this Thanksgiving weekend

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 21, 2012

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Laura Scheper (714) 560-5697

Freeways Free Of Construction Thanksgiving Weekend

No closures anticipated on projects throughout the county

ORANGE – People headed to Thanksgiving feasts will enjoy a more relaxed commute as construction closures throughout the county will be postponed for the holiday weekend. Continue reading→

Nicolas Academic Centers host inner city students at a Thanksgiving dinner

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Education, Henry T. Nicholas III, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 1 Comment

For Immediate Release

Media Contact, Nicholas Academic Centers: Robert Magnuso, rgm@magnusonandcompany.com; 949-290-9382

Nicholas Academic Centers Celebrate Record Successes at Fourth Annual Thanksgiving Dinner For Inner-City Students

Henry T. Nicholas, III, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido Praise the “NAC Model”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez Sends Her Support, Plans to Visit the Centers on Dec. 10

SANTA ANA, CA.—NOV. 20—The Nicholas Academic Centers (NACs) celebrated record student achievement last weekend at their fourth annual Thanksgiving Dinner event for more than 300 inner-city high school students and their families. Broadcom (NASDAQ:BRCM) Co-Founder and former CEO Henry T. Nicholas, III, Ph.D. and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido praised the “NAC Model”—a nurturing educational “family” that combines personal tutoring, cultural enrichment and social and family support for underserved high school students. Continue reading→

SAPD to conduct a DUI checkpoint on Friday, 11/23, at 2100 W. McFadden

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

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:

Police Department conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint Friday, November 23rd 7:30PM- 1:30AM 2100 W. McFadden Ave

Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, November 23rd, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2100 W. McFadden Avenue, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Pulido stands up for Vietnamese Americans and the Council backs him up

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Development, Jobs, Jose Solorio, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

As this year’s mayoral campaign drew to a close, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, in one fell swoop, was able to secure the vote of most Vietnamese Americans in his city.  On Nov. 1, Pulido held a press conference on the steps of the Santa Ana City Hall, with Assemblyman Jose Solorio and Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, and dozens of Vietnamese American community leaders, to announce his support for a city resolution that would discourage visits by Vietnamese government and trade officials.

Tonight Pulido introduced his resolution and the Council majority reluctantly fell in line as it became apparent to them that there future in the Vietnamese community was on the line.  At one point during the meeting the community leaders invited Pulido and the Council to come down and take a picture with a giant flag of South Vietnam, the fallen republic.  Pulido and Alvarez quickly stood up and the rest of the Council had no choice but to do so as well.  They each received a scarf festooned in the colors of the flag of South Vietnam.  Pulido and Alvarez kept their scarves on but the rest of the Council took them off. Continue reading→

Famous Dave’s BBQ re-launches catering menu

Posted on by Posted in Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que® Re-launches Catering Menu

Dave Revamps Catering Line and Introduces a Saustastic New Menu, Just in Time for the Holidays

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Nov 19, 2012 — Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que® is re-launching its entire catering menu beginning Nov. 19., introducing a fresh new menu look and catering options that include Family Style Feasts and Pig Out Party Packs. For those looking for more than just a feast, Famous Dave’s catering offerings also come complete with add on options such as a slab of ribs, whole barbequed chicken, and several other meats and side dishes, customizable to your party. Continue reading→