New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: August 2015

Why is the Santa Ana City Council ignoring the growing gang threat?

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Graffiti, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Have you noticed that the City of Santa Ana is no longer responding quickly to graffiti? The situation has worsened in the past few weeks – it is now common to see crossed out graffiti as gangs try to take the upper hand. The graffiti is also becoming more intricate.

It is completely dismaying to see how much crime happens in our city. Don’t look to the SAPD for that info. Unlike many other cities in Orange County that provide crime statistics on a regular basis, such as Anaheim, Irvine, Tustin and Fountain Valley, the City of Santa Ana sits on the data. If it wasn’t for Crimemapping.com we would never know how much crime has increased in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The OCTA commits $56M to the light rail line that will connect Santa Ana to Garden Grove

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Garden Grove, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation 1 Comment

In a bid to win federal approval and matching funds, the OCTA agreed Thursday to commit $56 million toward a new light-rail line connecting Santa Ana and Garden Grove. By making the commitment, the OCTA stands to gain up to $144 million from a competitive federal grant program called New Starts to spend on a planned $289 million light-rail line, according to the O.C. Register.

Santa Ana had a streetcar years ago but it was removed – in part to mollify the automobile manufacturers who wanted folks to drive instead of using light rail. It was part of the Pacific Electric rail system, which was a privately owned mass transit system in Southern California consisting of electrically powered streetcars, interurban cars, and buses and was the largest electric railway system in the world in the 1920s. Organized around the city centers of Los Angeles and San Bernardino, it connected cities in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County, according to Wikipedia. Continue reading→

SUV runs into an ambulance near Madison Park, in Santa Ana

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana Leave a comment

There have been a lot of strange vehicle accidents in Santa Ana this summer but this latest incident might top the list. A man drove his Nissan SUV into an ambulance that was rushing to respond to a medical emergency on Standard Ave., on Wednesday at about 10:05 a.m., according to the O.C. Register.

The accident occurred near East Edinger Ave. and Cedar Street, in Santa Ana, just south of Madison Park. Continue reading→

High temperatures to bring risk of heat-related illnesses to the O.C. this weekend

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release:August 13, 2015

Contact: Deanne Thompson dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

High Temperatures Bring Risk of Heat-Related Illnesses

(Santa Ana) – Temperatures in many inland Orange County communities are expected to reach high temperatures above 95 degrees this weekend, increasing the risk of heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke for those who are more sensitive to heat.

Prolonged exposure to excessive temperatures may cause serious conditions like heat exhaustion or heat stroke and can even be fatal. Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache, nausea or vomiting and dizziness. Warning signs of heat stroke may include an extremely high body temperature, unconsciousness, confusion, hot and dry skin (no sweating), a rapid, strong pulse, and a throbbing headache. If symptoms of heat stroke occur, immediately call for medical assistance. Move the person to a shady area and begin cooling their body with water. Continue reading→

Big SAPD response to a minor accident involving a parking enforcement golf cart

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SAPD Parking enforcement vehicle hit in DTSA

Photo by Igmar Rodas

A vehicle rear-ended a Santa Ana Police Department Parking Enforcement Golf Cart just before 10 am this morning at Ross and Civic Center, in front of the Library Entrance on Ross, in Downtown Santa Ana, according to Santa Ana community activist and photographer Igmar Rodas.

No injuries were reported however the SAPD turned out in large numbers to investigate this minor traffic collision. Continue reading→

Woman charged with shooting and killing her boyfriend outside a Garden Grove mobile home

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WF1727

Date: August 7, 2015

WOMAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING BOYFRIEND OUTSIDE MOBILE HOME IN GARDEN GROVE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A woman is scheduled to be arraigned today for shooting and killing her boyfriend outside their mobile home in Garden Grove. Arlene Kathyrn Bautista, 20, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter by lawful act in an unlawful manner with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a firearm. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison. The People will request she be held on $80,000 bail at her arraignment this afternoon in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 3:35 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2015, Bautista is accused of shooting her boyfriend, 25-year-old Luis Vidal, while they were outside their mobile home in Garden Grove. The victim died as a result of the gunshot wound. Continue reading→

Gregorio Luke presents “Murals Under The Stars” at the Bowers on Aug. 28

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Victor Payan, Latino Audience Engagement Specialist, 714.567.3645, VPayan@bowers.org

Gregorio Luke Presents “Murals Under The Stars” at Bowers Aug. 28

Mexican Master Raul Anguiano’s Centennial Celebrated With Special Evening Event

(Santa Ana, CA) In celebration of the centennial of renowned Mexican muralist Raul Anguiano, the Bowers Museum is holding a special “Murals Under the Stars” presentation by internationally acclaimed speaker and Smithsonian scholar, Gregorio Luke, on Friday, August 28 at 8 pm.

Luke will provide an informative and inspiring discussion of Raul Anguiano’s life and work while projecting the master muralist’s work onto a giant outdoor screen in the Bowers’ romantic mission-style courtyard. This promises to be a magical evening that will transplant the audience to Mexico as if seeing Anguiano’s celebrated murals in their original settings. Continue reading→

Carjacking suspect arrested by the SAPD at 1600 North Susan in Santa Ana

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Officers Arrest Carjacking Suspect – Detectives Believe There May Be Additional Unreported Victims

Arrested: Matthew Jacob Granados (20) Santa Ana Location: 1600 North Susan

Charges: CPC 215 Carjacking, CPC 245 Assault with a Deadly Weapon, CPC 211 Robbery

Summary: Fri, 8/7/15 7:05 am Officers responded to a reported armed carjacking in the 1600 block of North Susan. The victim was asleep in his 1997 black Honda CRV, when he was confronted by a suspect wearing a black hoodie and a black mask. The suspect was on a blue beach cruiser bicycle. The suspect was holding a black handgun and ordered the victim out of his vehicle. The suspect demanded the victim’s cellular phone and vehicle keys. The victim complied and the suspect fled the scene.

The victim followed the suspect, who returned to the victim’s vehicle, placed his bicycle on the vehicle hood and drove away eastbound on 17th Street. At approximately 0830 hours, SAPD officers located the victim’s vehicle unoccupied at 4317 W. 1st Street. Officers conducted a surveillance of the vehicle. Continue reading→

Orange County reports the first human West Nile Virus case of 2015

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange, Orange County Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: August 7, 2015

Contact: Deanne Thompson, dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

ORANGE COUNTY REPORTS FIRST HUMAN WEST NILE VIRUS CASE OF 2015

(Santa Ana) – A 51 year-old resident of the city of Orange tested positive this week for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection, becoming the County’s first human WNV infection in 2015. This is the 19th human case of WNV reported in California this year. The man experienced symptoms during the third week of July and has completely recovered.

In 2014, Orange County reported the highest number of human infections of West Nile virus in the nation with 280, including nine deaths. OCMVCD uses more than 10 years of sampling data collected during routine monitoring and testing of mosquitoes, dead birds, and human infections to determine areas of greater risk throughout the county. Continue reading→

Benavides welcomes Bustamante back to the City Council chambers

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Erika Carranza, Politics, Restaurants, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Disgraced former Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante returned to the City Council Chambers at this Tuesday’s City Council meeting, where he was warmly welcomed by his old friend, Councilman David Benavides.

Bustamante and Benavides have been friends for year although they hail from different political parties. Bustamante is a Republican and Benavides is a Democrat. They flew to Washington DC together a few years back when then President George W. Bush invited Bustamante to a Cinco de Mayo celebration for the GOP. Lord knows what those two did while their wives were back home! Continue reading→

Santa Ana celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Elections, Federal Government, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: 50th Anniversary of Voting Rights Act

The City of Santa Ana, in partnership with the Orange County Voter Registrar’s Office and the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials, announces that August 6th marks the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a milestone in national legislation that prohibits discriminatory voting practices from disenfranchising African Americans and makes it illegal to require eligible voters to pass literacy tests in order to register to vote. Since its initial passage, the Act has expanded its reach with amendments that assist minorities in the voting process by providing language-specific election materials to jurisdictions with large numbers of minorities whose primary language is not English. Continue reading→

Two adults and two kids hurt in a hit and run car accident at Lyon and McFadden

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Two adults and two children in a Toyota Corolla were injured in a two-vehicle collision Thursday night, at 8:25 p.m. at Lyon Street and McFadden Avenue, in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

The Corolla was headed east on McFadden Avenue when the driver tried to turn to go north on Lyon Street, at a yellow light. A man in a Toyota pickup truck broadsided the Corolla as he was going west on McFadden Avenue. Continue reading→

Santa Ana water users who do not reduce their monthly water use by 12% to pay penalty

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Water Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Santa Ana Adopts Drought Penalty Effective Immediately

City Council Establishes Excessive Use Penalty To Further Incentivize Water Conservation

The Santa Ana City Council at its meeting on August 4, 2015 approved amendments to the city’s existing water conservation program and adopted an excessive water use penalty designed to encourage water conservation during the ongoing drought. The penalty is in response to the mandated statewide 25% potable water-use reduction, as outlined in Governor Brown’s executive order of April 1, and the City of Santa Ana’s Stage II Water Supply Shortage resolution requiring a 12% citywide reduction in water usage.

Under the Santa Ana Municipal Code sections 39-111 and 39-112, Santa Ana water customers who do not reduce their monthly water use by 12%, using 2013 as the base year, will be assessed an excessive use penalty of $4.65 per unit (1 unit=100 cubic feet=748 gallons). For example, a customer who used 33 units of water in 2013 would have a target reduction of 4 units or a target consumption of 29 units. If the customer exceeded this target and used 32 units (3 units over the target consumption), the customer would be assessed a penalty of $4.65 per unit over the limit or $13.95 (3 units x $4.65) in addition to the base rate. Continue reading→

SAUSD launches “Read Santa Ana Read” to increase literacy

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Literacy, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Young Senators Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Media Advisory: SAUSD Launches “Read Santa Ana Read” to Increase Literacy

Community Volunteers Tutor First Graders Remotely through Online Tutoring Program

(Santa Ana, CA) – With the goal of every child reading at grade level by the end of the third grade, the Santa Ana Unified School District, with the partnership of Innovations for Learning, and the support of Orange County United Way, will launch “Read Santa Ana Read,” a volunteer program supporting nearly 250 first graders at reading during the 2015- 2016 school year. “For 30 minutes once a week, volunteers from the community can help a child learn to read without ever leaving their desk. Through an online tutoring program, Tutormate, volunteers will be able to interact with our students remotely from their computers and tablets and tutor and encourage them to become strong readers,” said, Michelle Rodriguez, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning of the Santa Ana Unified School District. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Kiwanis Club addresses human rights

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, mexico, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Oriana Cordero Dernehl

Human Rights now on the Radar in Santa Ana

The Santa Ana Kiwanis Club addresses Human Rights as the UN International Human Rights Summit approaches this August

SANTA ANA, CA – Aug. 6, 2015 – Admittedly, human rights are not acknowledged around the world. Here in Santa Ana, the issue is now on the radar with the Kiwanis Club.

Last week the Santa Ana Kiwanis Club welcomed the Executive Director for the Youth for Human Rights International’s Orange County Chapter, Oriana Cordero Dernehl, who works to educate youth about human rights.

“I have seen how people change by knowing these human rights and teaching them to others. After my presentation, several leaders approached me because they want presentations in their own churches and groups. This year is the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and it is more important than ever for each of us to know what our rights are.” Continue reading→