Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: December 2012

Angelica Amezcua will pick the next Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Angelica Amezcua – or Angie Oliver, courtesy of the OC Register

Can you believe it?  Newly elected Council Member Angelica Amezcua is now in a position to be the key vote that will determine who our next Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem will be.  How this happened is an interesting tale.

The “Santa Ana Spring” failed miserably this November, particularly when Amezcua beat her Team Benavides opponent, Eric Alderete.  She spent not a dime and he raised and spent a small fortune, for naught.  Now the Benavides cabal is down to three votes – David Benavides, Michele Martinez and newly elected Roman Reyna. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council Installation and Reception set for 12/11

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs 5 Comments

The Santa Ana City Council Installation and Reception has been set for Tuesday, December 11, 2012, at 6 pm, at the City of Santa Ana’s Council Chambers, located at 22 Civic Center Plaza, in downtown Santa Ana.

Immediately following the installation will be a reception hosted by the Bowers Museum’s Board of Directors, at the Bowers Museum, located at 2002 North Main Street, in Santa Ana.

Santa Ana Noise Fest 4, tonight at OCCCA in downtown Santa Ana

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

The Santa Ana Noise Fest (SANF 4) returns for its fourth installment to the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art today, Dec. 8, starting at 5 pm, at 117 North Sycamore, in Santa Ana. This event is FREE!

This celebration of all things experimental, improvised, distorted and loud offers an opportunity for interested parties to test their earplugs with performances from:

Brutal Poodle, Cold Grey Eye, Craig Sibley, +DOG+, Endometrium Cuntplow, Grizzly, Jesus Is Dead, phog masheeen, Six Mystic Points, Randy Jim, XSXCXEXBX and Yard Goat. Continue reading→

Ride the Christmas Train at Irvine Park this weekend!

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, irvine, Orange County Leave a comment

Irvine Park Railroad’s 17th Annual Christmas Train – Dec. 8, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  (Activities open at 4 pm).

It’s the season, once again for Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train. Come with family and friends and take this enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train will depart from the brightly-lit train station and drop you off at Santa’s Village.

While waiting to meet Santa, you may purchase coffee, hot chocolate, freshly-popped popcorn and cookies from our Elf House Snack Bar to warm you up. A full kitchen menu is also available at the Train Station. Continue reading→

Free Christmas choral concert at First Baptist Church today at 3 pm

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Churches and Religion, Entertainment, music Leave a comment

First Baptist Church of Santa Ana presents Let’s Celebrate Christmas, today, December 8, 2012 at 3:00 pm, at 1010 West 17th St. in Santa Ana.

Featuring:

  • The Choirs of the First Baptist Church of Santa Ana
  • Ted N. Storm, Director and Vladimir Medel, accompanist
  • Members from the Casta del Sol Chorale of Mission Viejo
  • The Mellowdians
  • Mount of Olives Lutheran Church of Mission Viejo
  • Mount of Olives Lutheran Church Handbell Ensemble
  • Gregory Ellis, Director and Paul Zuill, accompanist Continue reading→

Reward offered for driver who hit 7-year-old girl

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

Santa Ana Police are still searching for the driver of the dark-colored SUV, who hit 7-year old Evelyn Jimenez,  when she darted into the street on Tuesday night, then dragged her about 15 yards. The vehicle was traveling about 30 mph on the residential street, said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department, according to the O.C. Register.

The crime happened at the 400 block of South Birch Street.  If you saw this incident please contact the Orange County Crime Stoppers at  1-855-TIP-OCCS. Continue reading→

Free screening of Zeitgeist Addendum set for tonight at the Santora Building

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Banking, Entertainment 1 Comment

How did Private Bankers come to ensnare the entire world in a system of debt via the U.S. Federal Reserve, The B.I.S., I.M.F. and the World Bank?

Come watch a free screening of Zeitgeist Addendum (Zeitgeist 2) this Saturday Dec.8 @ 5 p.m. in the Santora Building, located at 207 N. Broadway. Santa Ana Artists Village. Q and A to follow at 6:30.

SAPD seeks more victims of man who exposed himself by schools

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

Contact: Sgt. Manuel Chavez – Public Information Officer, Santa Ana Unified School District, City of Santa Ana, Office:714-558-5535, Cell:714-309-7674
Contact: Cpl. Anthony Bertagna -Public Information Officer Santa Ana Police Department, Office: 714-245-8029, Cell: 714-709-2043

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF A COSTA MESA MAN ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE NEAR SCHOOLS

SANTA ANA – On Friday, December 7, 2012 at approximately 7:55 AM, a Santa Ana School Police Officer saw a vehicle matching the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with a series of indecent exposure incidents near schools. Continue reading→

City Manager Paul Walters receives the O.C. Bar Foundation’s Sammy Award

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Lawyers, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:

City Manager Paul Walters receives the Orange County Bar Foundation’s Sammy Award

The Orange County Bar Foundation’s “Sammy” award is given each year to a recipient who has contributed greatly to the Foundation to assist in best serving the youth and families of Orange County. The “Sammy” is dedicated in loving memory of Robert Sam Barnes who was a longtime supporter and friend that contributed greatly to Orange County families and their youth.

Santa Ana City Manager Paul M. Walters was honored to accept the 19th Annual Robert Samuel Barnes Award. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gang member sentenced for shooting a man outside a restaurant

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Gangs, Lawyers, mexico, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney
Press Release, For Immediate Release: December 7, 2012
Contacts:, Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO 50 YEARS TO LIFE FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF INNOCENT RESTAURANT PATRON IN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA – A gang member was sentenced today to 50 years to life in state prison for the unprovoked shooting-murder of an innocent man outside of a restaurant in Santa Ana. Ivan Sanchez, 23, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 27, 2012, of one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. Continue reading→

Who should replace retiring DPOC Chairman Frank Barbaro?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Churches and Religion, Democratic Party, Frank Barbaro, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

By: Joe Hill, OC Politics Blog

“Tired of infighting in his organization, Orange County Democratic Party Chairman Frank Barbaro said Tuesday he would step down,” according to the Mission Viejo Patch.

“There’s a lot of infighting,” Barbaro said. “The day after the election, the problems were over. But leading up to the election was a nightmare. It was Democrat versus Democrat and the whole thing was just overwhelming.”

Barbaro cited the intra-party squabbling over Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s supporters and his challenger David Benavides as one example. Continue reading→

100 students toured the Ford HQ in Irvine as a gang prevention incentive

Posted on by Posted in automobiles, Gangs, Lawyers, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Henry Ford III

Orange County District Attorney
Press Release, For Immediate Release: December 6, 2012
Contacts:, Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

100 STUDENTS INVITED FOR AN INSIDE LOOK AT FORD REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR GANG PREVENTION INCENTIVE

*Media interested in attending are asked to arrive at the Ford building by 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 7, 2012

ORANGE COUNTY – Ford Motor Company (Ford) has invited 100 elementary and middle school at-risk students to visit the Ford facilities as an incentive for positive behavior, perfect attendance, and staying out of gangs. To earn this reward, the students met a challenge to have no unexcused absences, criminal activity or arrests, violence or weapons on campus, and no gang-related clothing, writing, or behavior.

During the visit to the Ford Irvine headquarters, the students will spend time with Ford’s design team learning about the studio design process, including the Ford Shelby GR1, the Lincoln MKR and the Ford START, three futuristic concept cars. Continue reading→

Breakfast for the needy, in Santa Ana, set for Christmas Day

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Food, homeless, Santa Ana 8 Comments

December 7, 2012

TyRon Jackson Presents: The Gift of Giving-Christmas Breakfast Celebration!

This Christmas, share the Gift of Giving! Christmas is a time to be with family, to remember the year that has past and be thankful for what you have been given. Christmas is also a time to remember those less fortunate, the needy, the forgotten, the homeless. Most of all, Christmas is a time to remember what our Savor did for us, and in return share that same Love! Continue reading→

Santa Ana couple arrested for pimping at a Motel 6 by Disneyland

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Picture courtesy of the Anaheim Police Dept.

Anaheim police and members of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Andres Parra Terrones, 28, of Santa Ana and Irina Martinez, 27, of Anaheim on Monday following an investigation into the prostitution ring. Officials say the two ran their “business” out of the Motel 6 at 100 W. Disney Way, according to the LAist.com.

Anaheim Police vice investigators hope the booking photos of the suspects may lead other women to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Anaheim Police Department Vice Detail at 714.765.1482 or the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force at 888.373.7888 or here, according to the OC Weekly. Continue reading→

Pulido opposes the Downtown Santa Ana PBID tax!

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Estela Amezcua, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Taxes, Vince Sarmiento 14 Comments

“Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido said Monday he opposed allowing a controversial downtown property tax to continue, the mayor’s first declaration on the issue since he was given the OK by the city attorney to vote on the tax district,” according to the Voice of OC.

Even worse for the corrupt PBID crew at Downtown, Inc., Pulido is now part of a 4-2 Council majority that opposes the PBID.  The only PBID supporters that I am aware of are Council Members David Benavides and his longtime pal Carlos Bustamante.  Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has been a solid leader against the PBID for some time, as has been Council Member Sal Tinajero.  Council Members Michele Martinez can’t vote on the PBID, as I understand it.  But if they could I think that if she could she would support it. Continue reading→