Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: September 2013

Did the SAUSD hire the right Superintendent in Dr. Rick Miller?

Posted on by Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Seniors 8 Comments

SAUSD Superintendent Dr. RIck Miller

The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has finally settled on a new Superintendent, hiring a guy in his 60’s, Dr. Rick Miller, away from the smaller Riverside Unified School District.

So what do we know about Miller? According to his official bio, he only worked at the Riverside Unified School District since 2009.  How long before he ditches the SAUSD – after forty years in education he is surely going to spike his pension at our expense!  Keep in mind the fact that he ditched the Oxnard School District after only four years too, according to his LinkedIn Page.  And he only lasted two years at the Kelseyville Unified School District! Continue reading→

The SAUSD hires a new Superintendent from Riverside

Posted on by Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Dr. Rick Miller

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rick Miller, Ph.D. New Superintendent of Santa Ana USD

SANTA ANA, CA – September 24, 2013 – After conducting a nationwide search, the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education has appointed Rick Miller, Ph.D., as its new superintendent. “Our community demanded that this Board find a proven leader that would have a genuine commitment to the success of the students and families of Santa Ana. I believe that we have delivered with the appointment of Dr. Miller,” said Board President José Alfredo Hernández, J.D.

Dr. Miller brings 40 years of educational experience to Santa Ana, including twenty-two years as a superintendent in both California and Idaho. For the past five years, he has served as superintendent for the Riverside Unified School District. He holds four academic degrees including a Ph.D. in education; Ed. Sp. (Education Specialist) in educational administration; M.Ed. (Masters in Education) in educational administration and higher education; and a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He has also authored several articles and presented at state and national conferences. Continue reading→

12 men busted after being fooled by a fake prostitute in Santa Ana

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OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney

Press Release, For Immediate Release: Sep. 24, 2013

TWELVE SEX PURCHASERS CONVICTED OF AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN SEX ACTS WITH WOMAN WHOM THEY BELIEVED TO BE PROSTITUTE

SANTA ANA – Twelve sex purchasers were convicted and sentenced yesterday for agreeing to engage in sex acts with a woman whom they believed to be a prostitute. Raul Ambrosio, 27, Orange, Flavio Bernal, 40, Orange, Jose Rodolfo Castillo, 47, Santa Ana, Fortunato Contreras, 41, Santa Ana, Omar Arreola Gonzalez, 21, Garden Grove, Juan Jimenez Ochoa, 28, Santa Ana, Jonathan Ramirez, 28, Santa Ana, Pedro Roman, 42, Irvine, Misael Sanchez, 44, Lake Forest, Juan Daniel Soto, 30, Santa Ana, Jose Rosario Velasco, 64, Santa Ana, Mario Velazquez, 31, Santa Ana, each pleaded guilty yesterday, Sept. 23, 2013, to one misdemeanor count of agreeing to engage in prostitution. Roman also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of driving a vehicle without a valid license. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Community Graffiti Clean-up Day set for Oct. 5 at Madison Park

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Santa Ana Grafitti Paint Out Day

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: City of Santa Ana Scheduled to Host a Community Graffiti Clean-up Day

SANTA ANA, CA (September 23, 2013) –In promoting the City’s graffiti abatement efforts, Santa Ana Public Works in collaboration with residents, community volunteers/ organizations, and city contracted graffiti removal crews will host a Community Graffiti Clean-up Day. Graffiti Protective Coatings will provide materials and supplies for the graffiti abatement. Coffee and donuts will also be given along with T-shirts for the volunteers. The graffiti clean-up day will begin at Madison Park picnic area and will proceed throughout the various surrounding neighborhoods. Continue reading→

Solorio launches drive to increase awareness about online voter registration

Posted on by Posted in california, Jose Solorio, Politics Leave a comment

COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEE JOSE SOLORIO LAUNCHES DRIVE TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION PROGRAM

Tell-A-Friend program gives participants a chance to win gas for college or work

Santa Ana, California – College Trustee Jose Solorio has launched an online registration drive in support of National Voter Registration Day, which is September 24, 2013. The drive includes a Facebook campaign, “I Registered. Did You?” at www.facebook.com/solorio4california, which is designed to promote the new statewide online voter registration system that makes it fast and easy to register. Continue reading→

Baskin Robbins Grand Re-Opening set for 9/28 at the MainPlace Mall

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Baskin Robbins Logo

Baskin-Robbins is hosting a celebration on Saturday, September 28 to celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of its Santa Ana store, located at 2800 North Main Place, Santa Ana, CA 92705, in the Main Place Shopping Center on the 2nd floor.

A long-time fan of the Baskin-Robbins brand, franchisee Tati Fung is opening the ice cream specialty store in Santa Ana to share the Baskin-Robbins experience and its world-class ice cream, cakes and frozen treats with the community. Guests will be able to enjoy face painting, balloon twisting, live entertainment, fun giveaways and great deals. Baskin-Robbins franchisee, Tati Fung, will also be making a $250 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana at the event. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gangs raided as authorities go after the Mexican Mafia again

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Crime, FBI, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 6 Comments

FBI Seal

UPDATE: We have received the official press release regarding this multi-agency gang sweep. It is posted at the end of this article.

Pre-dawn raids at about 75 locations throughout the county Tuesday were the culmination of a multi-agency investigation called “Operation Smokin’ Aces” taking aim at the Mexican Mafia, a notorious prison gang known for its grip on local street gangs, particularly in Santa Ana, authorities said, according to the O.C. Register.

Authorities said it involved dozens of arrests and search warrants that were served throughout Santa Ana neighborhoods. More than 800 officers, deputies and agents of the Santa Ana police; Orange County Sheriff’s Department; FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and U.S. Marshals took part in the investigation and the arrest warrants that were served before sunrise. The arrests were coordinated simultaneously. Continue reading→

Will the SAUSD School Board hire a new District Superintendent on Tuesday?

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Dr. Rick Miller

Riverside Unified School District Superintendent Rick Miller

The Board of the Santa Ana Unified School District may announce the appointment of a new superintendent at its meeting on Tuesday, according to the O.C. Register.

The possible appointment is on the agenda for this Tuesday’s SAUSD School Board meeting, available here, as item #13: Appointment of SAUSD Superintendent of Schools and Approval of Employment Agreement. Continue reading→

City Council agrees to pay $275K to an innnocent man attacked by a police dog

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

Police attack dog

The Santa Ana City Council has agreed to pay $275,000 to a Santa Ana resident who contended in a claim that he had been mauled by a police dog, according to the O.C. Register.

Apparently Santa Ana police officers thought they were sending the dog into a house on West First Street to get ayoung suspected felon named Reuben, at 3:35 am on June 6, 2012.  But the dog attacked 50-year old Higinio Hernandez instead.

Here’s the best part of this mess – the city, said Assistant City Attorney Laura A. Rossini, “did not acknowledge any liability for the city and/or any employees for this matter as a result of the settlement.” Continue reading→

Free Theatre-Making Workshop st for 9/27 at Latino Health Access

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

You are invited to the launch of South Coast Repertory’s free Introduction to Theatre-Making Workshop series!  Dialogue/Diálogos is hosting a Free Theatre Workshop in Santa Ana on Friday, Sep. 27, 2013, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, at Latino Health Access, located at 450 W. 4th Street, in Santa Ana.

Sign-Up officially to RSVP via this link if you have not already called or emailed it in. Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez is launching her re-election campaign on Oct. 3

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment
Michele Martinez at Naleo Chicago

Several Santa Ana Council Members spent $10K of our money being wined and dined at the NALEO Conference in Chicago this year

Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez is hosting a “Re-Election Announcement Kick-Off” on Thursday, October 3, 2013
5:30p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at  Chapter One-the modern local, located at 227 N. Broadway, in  Santa Ana.

The Martinez campaign is asking Bronze Sponsors to donate $249.00, and individuals to donate $ 100.00. They want Gold Sponsors to pay $1000 and Silver Sponsors to pay $500.00. Continue reading→

The OCTA gives teens a chance to weigh in on transportation policy on 10/1

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, OCTA, Orange County, Transportation, Youth Activities Leave a comment

OCTA Logo

Opportunity for Teens to Weigh In on Transportation Policy

By Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is hosting a discussion about transportation and student travel from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday, October 1 in Conference Room 103/104 at OCTA Headquarters, 600 S. Main Street, Santa Ana. Continue reading→