Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: March 2013

Cesar Chavez was no hero – he opposed Mexican immigrants

Posted on by Posted in immigration, Labor, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Cesar Chavez, Anti Immigrant

From the OC Politics Blog

Google chose to honor Cesar Chavez on their website today – and I was quite disgusted by that.  He was not a supporter of immigrants and his supporters should stop trying to pretend otherwise.

Cesar Chavez (born César Estrada Chávez, was born on March 31, 1927. President Obama has recognized March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. Chavez was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which was later known as the United Farm Workers union. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Police Foundation to offer a free Active Shooter class on 4/4

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

Click for video

The Santa Ana Police Foundation is hosting FREE Active Shooter Response for Business Class on April 4, at 10 am. Seats are limited and registration is required.  Click here to register online.

This is a basic exposure to Active Shooter Response training for businesses. Seats are limited. It will close at 30-people. Please be early to sign-in. Continue reading→

Downtown Santa Ana’s “The Crosby” is turning five this Monday

Posted on by Posted in Bars, Entertainment, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Can you believe it?  On Monday, April 1, 2013, Downtown Santa Ana’s “The Crosby” turns 5 years old!  The owners of The Crosby are opening on Monday night at 5 pm for dinner and to celebrate their fifth anniversary.

Several DJs who have either played as guests at The Crosby in the past or who currently have residencies will play a quick set in honor of The Crosby still being here. DJ rotation begins at 8pm and will go until 2am. Continue reading→

Councilman Benavides voted to increase your sanitation bill

Posted on by Posted in David Benavides, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Angry David Benavides

Your annual Orange County Sanitation District fee is going to go up – and our representative on the OCSD Board of Directors, Councilman David Benavides, voted for the increase.

OCSD sanitation fees have gone up an astounding 61% since 2005, according to our sister blog, OC Politics.  And thanks to Benavides they are going up again – The board voted 18-7 to increase sewer service charges by 4.8 percent this year and 2.4 percent each of the next four years. On July 1, the annual fee for the average single family home will become $14 in 2013 and about $8 each of the next four years. The 2013 fee of $294 will be $339 by 2017-18. Continue reading→

It turns out that Reyna is just a temp at the O.C. Dept. of Education

Posted on by Posted in Education, Orange County, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Councilman Roman Reyna at meeting

Santa Ana Council Member Roman Reyna’s official city bio says he is an “Orange County Case Manager at the Orange County Department of Education.”  We questioned that hire as Reyna has a high school diploma – not a college degree.

We contacted several Trustees of the O.C. Department of Education and one of them sent us this answer: Continue reading→

Goodbye Geisha House, hello Chipotle!

Posted on by Posted in Business, Restaurants, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Santa Ana’s Geisha House restaurant is out of business.  Workers are currently remodeling the site for a new restaurant that is moving in – Chipotle Mexican Grill.

Geisha House was busy when they first opened their doors but once they were sold, to a Korean family, the restaurant went downhill fast. Continue reading→

Things to do on 2013 Easter Weekend in and around Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Entertainment, Family, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Easter weekend is here!  And there is lots to do in and around Santa Ana:

Santa Ana businesses busted for unsafe storage and sale of Nitrous Oxide

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

(Joint News Release Update) Nitrous Oxide search warrants result in Arrests, Assault Rifles, Stolen Guns, Cocaine, Cash, Unsafe NOS Storage…& a 16-yr old’s home Nozz party arrest after he advertised his Nozz/Drug party openly on social media.

(2nd Joint News Release) Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Federal Food and Drug Administration

Nearly 300 federal Food and Drug Administration agents and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies served 17 federal search warrants on March 22, 2013 related to the sales of Nitrous Oxide as a drug. This is an update on the results of those search warrants. Continue reading→

Santa Ana boxing coach gets 2 years in prison for sex assaults on boys

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Anthony Serrano

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF2119: March 29, 2013

BOXING COACH SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO 14-YEAR-OLD BOYS IN HIS SANTA ANA HOME

SANTA ANA – A boxing coach was convicted and sentenced today to two years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for sexually assaulting two 14-year-old boys, whom he met through a Santa Ana boxing club. Anthony Serrano, 45, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to the court to four felony counts of lewd acts on a child. The defendant was facing a maximum sentence of five years in state prison.

At the time of the crimes, Serrano worked as a boxing coach at Santa Ana Boxing Club. Serrano met both of his victims through the boxing club. Continue reading→

The OCDA and OC GRIP to host 10th annual soccer camp for elementary students

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Orange County, Santa Ana, Soccer, Youth Activities Leave a comment

OrangeCounty_DA_logo

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: March 29, 2013

OCDA AND OC GRIP KICK OFF SPRING WITH 10TH ANNUAL SOCCER CAMP TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY AND POSITIVE CHOICES FOR STUDENTS

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP) will be hosting the 10th Annual Spring Youth Soccer Camp (SYSC) next week for elementary school students. OCDA’s SYSC is an ongoing gang prevention effort to build self-esteem and encourage healthy and positive choices for young students. The 3-day spring break soccer clinic begins on Monday, April 1, 2013, at 8:00 a.m. and concludes on Wednesday, April 3, 2013. The program will be held at Centennial Regional Park located at 3000 West Edinger Avenue, Santa Ana, and Carl E. Gilbert Elementary School located at 7255 8th Street, Buena Park, and will include students from Davis Elementary, Kennedy Elementary, John Adams Elementary, Diamond Elementary, Carl E. Gilbert Elementary, and James A. Whitaker Elementary. Media are invited to attend all portions of the camp. Continue reading→

Santa Ana drunk driver convicted of killing a 2-year-old boy in a crash

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 24, Santa Ana

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11CF3062: March 28, 2013

DRUNKEN DRIVER CONVICTED OF CRASHING INTO MOTHER CROSSING STREET WITH HER TWO CHILDREN AND KILLING HER 2-YEAR-OLD BOY

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was convicted today of killing a 2-year-old boy by crashing into the toddler and his mother and baby sister as they crossed the street. Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 24, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing bodily injury, hit and run with permanent injury or death, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a license, with sentencing enhancement allegations for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5 years old, fleeing the scene, and an additional injured person. He faces a maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison at his sentencing, May 3, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Why not save money in Santa Ana by using the Sheriff’s Swat Team?

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Santa Ana Police Budget

The City of Santa Ana is once again grappling with a difficult budget and finding ways to make ends meet. Fully 77% of the City’s budget is dedicated to police and fire.

What about consolidating the Santa Ana Police Department’s separate swat team into a regional swat team – perhaps with the Orange County Sheriff’s Swat Team? Continue reading→

Pimp to be arraigned under new Prop. 34 anti human trafficking law

Posted on by Posted in buena park, Courts, Crime, Economy, Human Trafficking, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

OrangeCounty_DA_logo 

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 13WF0628: March 28, 2013

PIMP TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR FORCIBLE SEX TRAFFICKING OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN FIRST ORANGE COUNTY PROPOSITION 35 CASE

*Co-defendant prostitute is charged with recruiting and trafficking the victim

WESTMINSTER – A pimp accused of forcing a 14-year-old girl into prostitution will be arraigned tomorrow as the first defendant to be charged in Orange County with forcible human trafficking of a minor under Proposition 35 (Prop 35). Chuncey Tarae Garcia, 33, is charged with one felony count each of human trafficking of a minor by force or fear, pimping a minor, and forcible rape, with sentencing enhancement allegations for forcible rape of a minor 14 years of age and prior prison convictions for possession for sale of cocaine in 2007 and transportation of cocaine in 2009. If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum sentence of 28 years to life in state prison. He is being held on $1 million bail. Continue reading→

Orange County Philanthropists to be honored on Nov. 21, in Irvine

Posted on by Posted in Charities, irvine, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Jess Block – JessBlockPR@gmail.com – 909-706-8525

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Orange County Philanthropists will be Honored at the 28th Annual National Philanthropy Day Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA– Submissions are now being accepted by the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for businesses, corporations, schools, nonprofit organizations and individuals for the 2013 National Philanthropy Day Orange County Awards Luncheon, the premier awards ceremony in Orange County honoring businesses, groups and individuals for their outstanding philanthropy in the community.

Continue reading→