New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: December 2016

The City Council has already decided Santa Ana’s new brand – Sanctuary City

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The City of Santa Ana recently announced that they have partnered with North Star Destination Strategies to develop a community “Brand” for marketing the area to residents, businesses and visitors in the year 2017 and beyond. However that branding effort might have already been settled when the Santa Ana City Council decided this week to support a resolution declaring Santa Ana to be a Sanctuary City.

City employees in these sanctuary areas are directed not to contact the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency when they become aware of an illegal alien in the community, according to the Sanctuary Cities website. Continue reading→

Should the Santa Ana City Council issue a formal apology to Nativo Lopez?

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Education, immigration, Mark McLoughlin, Miguel Pulido, Nativo Lopez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, SAUSD 3 Comments

Do you remember Nativo Lopez? He was a Santa Ana School Board member who was recalled in 2003 due in part to allegations that he was impeding the implementation of Proposition 227 in the 62,000-student school system. Prop. 227 was the measure backed by wealthy Republican Ron Unz that put a stop to bilingual education in California. Unz also spent $100,00 to gather the signatures that put the Lopez recall on the ballot.

But in the November General Election this year California’ voters reversed Prop. 227 – by passing Prop. 58 they restored bilingual education in the Golden State. And this week the Santa Ana City Council passed a Sanctuary City resolution. Continue reading→

Thorpe Fundamental School is on lockdown due to police activity

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Santa Ana School Police Department

Wednesday December 7th, 2016, 10:27 a.m. PST

Advisory: Thorpe Fundamental School on Lockdown due to Police Activity in the area. Police Officers on scene. Students Safe.

Update: The lockdown has been lifted as of 10:33 a.m. The suspect has been arrested by the SAPD.

Police are searching for a suspect in the area of Thorpe Fundamental School. As a precaution only, Thorpe has been placed in a lockdown. Police Officers are on site at the school Students are safe. Continue reading→

Orange County Health Improvement Plan now available for public comment

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Plan to Improve Health of Orange County Community Available for Public Comment

On behalf of the Orange County Health Improvement Partnership (HIP), the Orange County Health Care Agency announces the availability of the 2017-19 Orange County Health Improvement Plan for public review and comment at www.ochealthiertogether.org through December 16, 2016. Continue reading→

Man arrested for masturbating in public in Fountain Valley

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Fountain Valley, homeless Leave a comment

INDECENT EXPOSURE ARREST

On December 4, 2016, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Fountain Valley Police Officers were dispatched to the rear alley of 18533 Brookhurst Street in reference to a subject masturbating in public.

Officers arrived on scene and located William Bowyer (31) from Hemet, who was lying on the ground in a sleeping bag. Bowyer admitted to lewd behavior in public. Continue reading→

No. Cal. man heading to prison for pimping in Orange County and stun gun possession

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

December 6, 2016

Case # 16CF0030

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STRIKER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRING TO PIMP WOMAN AND POSSESSING STUN GUN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Northern California man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for conspiring to pimp a woman and illegally possessing a stun gun in his vehicle. Binh Cong Thai, 29, San Jose, pleaded guilty on March 3, 2016, to one felony count of conspiracy to commit pimping and one misdemeanor of unlawful possession of a stun gun with a prior conviction, and admitted to a prior strike conviction for a 2013 armed robbery in Santa Clara County. He was sentenced to five years of formal probation and 12 years in state prison was suspended. Due to a probation violation, Thai will serve 12 years in state prison.

Circumstances of the Case Continue reading→

Poll – should the undocumented be allowed to vote in Santa Ana’s local elections?

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2018 elections, Civic Affairs, Elections, immigration, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana’s City Council members voted 5-0 Tuesday in favor of adopting a Sanctuary City resolution that requires the city to strengthen various policies that already exist to further protect undocumented residents, according to the O.C. Register.

Santa Ana’s Sanctuary City resolution is rather toothless. The City Council could have made this an ordinance as the resolution is not a law. It is more of a P.R. move. Continue reading→

Poll – Should Santa Ana become a Sanctuary City?

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, immigration, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana City Council will be considering a resolution at their meeting tonight to declare Santa Ana to be a Sanctuary City.

If passed, the resolution would require the city prohibit using city resources for immigration enforcement; reaffirm its commitment to preventing biased-based policing; exercise maximum discretion in policing; protect sensitive information; provide training for affected employees, officials and agents; and explore the feasibility of establishing a task force for oversight, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Christmas Pancake Breakfast and Laundry Day for the homeless set for 12/25

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, homeless, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Operation Warm Wishes Presents: The 5th Annual Gift of Giving – Christmas Pancake Breakfast Celebration and Laundry Day for the Homeless and Families in Need!

Featuring…..”The Happy Holiday Hut” filled with toys and gifts for our children and families! Join us! All are invited! No one will be turned away!

When: Christmas Morning

Where: Good Choice Laundry- 1620 East First Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Continue reading→

The CHP pursued and stopped a suspected car thief by John Wayne Airport on Sunday night

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A suspected car thief led the California Highway Patrol in a pursuit that started in Laguna Beach and ended in by the John Wayne Airport, according to the O.C. Register.

As is often the case the car in question, a blue Honda Civic, was reported stolen in Santa Ana. The suspect took the stolen car to Laguna Beach where local police officers tried to stop the driver but of course he took off, traveling down Newport Coast Drive before heading southbound on the 73. Continue reading→

Why is the Rancho Santiago Community College District still playing footsie with the corrupt Saudis?

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arabs, Arianna Barrios, Education, Orange County, Politics, Raúl Rodríguez, Santa Ana 1 Comment

You would think that the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees might have learned something in November when one of them, Claudia Alvarez, almost lost her reelection campaign. But apparently they didn’t as the Rancho Santiago Community College Foundation’s Board of Directors is once more considering a ridiculous consultation contract in Saudia Arabia – a country that regularly mistreats women and minorities and even beheads their own citizens in public executions.

The Rancho Santiago Community College Foundation’s Board is going to be “reviewing and approving the contract with the Colleges of Excellence Company and Al-Khaleej Training and Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” according to their published agenda, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016. You can review the contract here. Continue reading→

Man charged with pimping two women and a boy in Costa Mesa

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

December 1, 2016

Case # 16CF3024, 16WF0849, 16CF2991

CORONA MAN ARRAIGNED FOR PIMPING AND PANDERING TWO WOMEN AND 17-YEAR-OLD BOY IN COSTA MESA THEN ASSAULTING AND FURNISHING METH TO THE MINOR

*Co-defendant charged with dissuading witnesses for contacting the victims on behalf of the incarcerated man

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Corona man was arraigned yesterday for pimping and pandering two women and a 17-year-old boy in Costa Mesa, then assaulting and furnishing meth to the minor. Kenneth Wayne Phillips, 28, was charged on Nov. 29, 2016, with one felony count of human trafficking of a minor, one felony count of pimping a minor, one felony count of pandering a minor over 16 by promise, threat, or violence, one felony count of furnishing methamphetamine to a minor, three felony counts of dissuading a witness, and three felony counts of violation of a protective order, with a sentencing enhancement for crime-bail-crime. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Phillips is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 7, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested in Fountain Valley for alleged car burglaries

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana Leave a comment

CAR BURGLAR ARRESTED

On November 21, 2016, a vehicle burglary occurred at 17200 Newhope Street in Fountain Valley. During the incident, the vehicle’s right front passenger window was smashed and a purse and wallet was taken. The crime was captured on video surveillance and a license plate was obtained on the suspect vehicle, a green 2011 Scion sedan. Video surveillance also captured the suspect using the victim’s credit cards at various locations in Santa Ana.

On November 26, 2016, a vehicle burglary occurred at an apartment complex located on the 10300 block of Slater Avenue in Fountain Valley. The suspect entered the vehicle by smashing a window and fled after taking music CDs. A security guard, who was working at the location, heard glass breaking and went to investigate. The security guard was able to write down the suspect’s license plate as he drove away. The license plate and vehicle description matched the vehicle used in the first incident. Continue reading→

Santa Ana receives 75 HUD housing vouchers for homeless veterans

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Federal Government, homeless, Housing, Santa Ana, Veterans 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: HUD-VASH Project-Based Vouchers Award

The City of Santa Ana is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded seventy-five (75) vouchers for homeless veterans to the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Ana. This supportive housing assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. Continue reading→

The SAPD has received a $400K state traffic safety grant

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Crime, Santa Ana, Traffic Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FOR SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CRASH PREVENTION

Santa Ana Police Department has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries Santa Ana Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.

Chief Carlos Rojas said, “This grant award is critical to the on-going efforts in traffic/pedestrian safety in our city. This award compliments our Strategic Plan goals in traffic safety and Santa Ana’s Safe Mobility Plan.” Continue reading→