New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: March 2017

The OCTA seeks volunteers for two Citizens Advisory Committees

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 30, 2017

OCTA Seeks Volunteers for Two Citizens Advisory Committees

Applications for the Citizens Advisory and Special Need Advisory committees are accepted through April 10

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is looking for community leaders to serve on two important citizens’ advisory committees that provide public input on a broad range of transportation-related issues.

OCTA is currently looking to fill openings on the Citizens Advisory Committee, a 34-member group that provides input on a range of transportation projects, studies and outreach activities, and on the Special Needs Advisory Committee, which serves as a liaison between customers with special needs, care providers and service agencies.

Eligibility to apply for the committees includes: Continue reading→

Love Santa Ana Initiative Day of Community Beautification and Día del Niño Resource Fair set for 4/8

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Volunteers Needed / Se Necesita Voluntarios: Love Santa Ana Initiative Day of Community Beautification and Día del Niño Resource Fair

The Love Santa Ana Initiative Day of Community Beautification and Día del Niño Resource Fair for children and families will take place on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in the Casa Bonita and Bella Vista neighborhoods on Willits Street between Daisy Avenue and Wood Street. Through this collaborative effort, hundreds of volunteers will gather to help transform neighborhoods through an impactful day of service. Participants will be painting fences, murals, gardening, planting trees, removing graffiti, and picking up trash in the neighborhood. Continue reading→

You could win a new Prius by coming up with a great way to save water in Santa Ana

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Water Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Santa Ana Joins Nationwide Challenge To Be Most “Water Wise”

6th National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is April 1st – 30th

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido is joining mayors across the country in asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation — and in return residents can win a new Toyota Prius, water saving fixtures, and hundreds of other prizes.

The annual challenge, April 1- 30, is a non-profit national community service campaign to see which leaders can best inspire their residents to make a series of informative and easy-to-do online pledges at mywaterpledge.com to use water more efficiently, reduce pollution, and save energy. Continue reading→

You can now sign up to receive email alerts about Santa Ana city meetings

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: The City of Santa Ana Expands its Open Government Capabilities/La Ciudad de Santa Ana amplía sus capacidades de Gobierno Abierto

SANTA ANA – In an effort to champion Open Government, the City of Santa Ana recently launched an agenda subscription service, where residents can sign up to receive real-time notifications for all official public meetings held in the City of Santa Ana, including City Council meetings, Council Committee meetings, various board and commission meetings, and more. The new service, which can be found on our Open Government webpage www.santa-ana.org/opengov, alerts subscribers when agendas for these meetings are available, and sends those agendas directly to them. Continue reading→

Lacy/6th Street community outreach meeting set for April 6

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Neighborhood Associations, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Lacy/6th Street Community Outreach Meeting / Junta de Enlace Comunitario sobre Lacy/6th Street

SANTA ANA, CA – The community is invited to participate in the upcoming Community Outreach Meeting on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. at the corner of Lacy and 6th streets. This meeting is being held in accordance with the City’s practice of informing the public of the procurement of the parcels located in the area of Lacy and 6th Streets to develop a community park.

Topics to be covered include:
• Brief history of the project
• Presentation of feedback
• Conceptual plan input Continue reading→

Santa Ana man gets 9 years in prison after trying to have his ex-wife murdered

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 13CF3980

Date: March 31, 2017

MAN SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTING TO HAVE EX-WIFE MURDERED DURING CHILD SUPPORT AND CUSTODY BATTLE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced to nine years in state prison yesterday for attempting to have his ex-wife murdered during the course of their child support and custody family court hearings. William John Wallace, 36, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty on March 30, 2017, to one felony count of attempted murder and two felony counts of solicitation to commit murder.

Wallace is divorced from Jane Doe, with whom he shares a child. In 2013, the former couple was engaged in a child support and custody battle. Continue reading→

Don’t be fooled by phone callers pretending to be from So. Cal. Edison

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Energy, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Don’t Let Caller ID Spoofing Hang You Up

That ‘Southern California Edison’ phone call may not be legit.

By Susan Cox

Your telephone rings and a Southern California Edison number appears on your caller ID display.

You answer and the caller says they are affiliated with SCE and want to talk to you about solar installations or other products and services that can save you money on your electric bill. They may then ask about your electricity usage and other personal information.

Beware! This may sound like a legitimate SCE call, but it’s not. It’s a caller ID spoofing scam.

Continue reading→

Two shootings were reported in Santa Ana on Tuesday

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, David Benavides, Gangs, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

On Tuesday, March 28 at about 5 p.m., SAPD police officers responded to the area of 700 South Center regarding a shooting. The investigation revealed the shooting occurred in front of Jerome Center. Witnesses said the victim was shot in his upper torso, according to SAPD Case # 17-08295.

This shooting happened next to Monte Vista Elementary School in Santa Ana’s Ward 4, which is represented by Councilman David Benavides. Continue reading→

The SAUSD’s School Police Chief is retiring on March 31

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Retiring SAUSD Police Chief Hector Rodriguez

On the morning of March 29, 2017, the men and women of the Santa Ana School Police Department formally recognized the retirement of Chief of Police, Hector Rodriguez.

Chief Rodriguez will retire effective, March 31, 2017 after having had served in a variety of law enforcement roles for the past 29 years; includes the Los Angeles Police Department from 1988 to 2002, the Los Angeles School Police Department from 1991 to 2013, and retiring from the Santa Ana School Police Department as Chief of Police where he served from 2013-2017. Continue reading→

Easter Sunrise Service set for April 16 at the Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Power of Easter: Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary to Host 23rd Annual Easter Service

Join Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary for its 23rd annual Easter Sunrise Service titled “The Power of Easter” on Sunday, April 16. Families and community members will unite to hear inspirational Easter messages and music by The Praise Symphony Orchestra and The Calvary Church Celebration Choir.

Special guests will include Nelson Cook of Christian Business Men’s Connection, Pastor Ric Olsen from the Beacon Church of Orange and Pastor Drew Smithson of Orange County First Assembly. Continue reading→

Pimp from Bakersfield facing charges of pimping over 20 women in Orange County

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

March 29, 2017

Case # 17CF0535, 16NF2060

FELON FACING ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR PANDERING OVER 20 WOMEN WHILE INCARCERATED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PIMPING CHARGES

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A felon is facing additional charges for human trafficking, pimping, pandering, and assault. Deunta Patterson, 26, Bakersfield, was arraigned yesterday, March 28, 2017, with 22 felony counts of pandering by promise, threat, or violence to become a prostitute, four felony counts each of pimping and pandering a minor over 16 years old by procuring, two felony counts each of human trafficking, human trafficking of a minor, and attempted pimping, and one felony count each of pimping a minor, pandering, and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. Patterson also faces sentencing enhancements for human trafficking of a minor by force and/or fear and a prior strike conviction for residential burglary in 2013 in Kern County. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. Patterson is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on April 26, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Missing Santa Ana 16-year old has been located and returned to her family

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Esli Samaria Vasquez, the 16-year old Santa Ana resident who police said was missing has been located and reunited with her family, according to the SAPD.

Vasquez was spotted on Tuesday arguing with an unknown man in Anaheim, outside Sami’s Liquor at 1845 W. Katella Ave. in Anaheim, according to the O.C. Register. Then, the pair walked away from the store – southbound. Continue reading→

Santa Ana teenager missing since yesterday afternoon

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Missing Person Detectives Asking For Assistance in Locating Missing 16 Year-Old Female
Missing Person: Esli Samaria Vasquez (16)

Description: Female, Hispanic, 5’04”, 135 lbs., black hair, brown eyes, wearing unknown clothing.

Location: Esli Samaria Vasquez was last seen on 3/28/17 at about 1:25 p.m. at Sami’s Liquor located at 1845 W. Katella, Anaheim, CA.

Synopsis: On 02/14/17 Esli Samaria Vasquez ran away from a group home. VASQUEZ has been in communication with her father via telephone only advising that she is safe. On 3/28/17 at 1:25 p.m., VASQUEZ called her father from Anaheim. She told her father that she could not go home because someone was threatening her. VASQUEZ hung up before her father could get further information. An employee at the liquor store confirmed that VASQUEZ was seen arguing with a male outside the store. They were last seen walking south from the liquor store. No further details. VASQUEZ has run away several times in the past and currently has a child protective custody warrant. Continue reading→

The family of slain TKO boxer Isaac Gonzalez is hosting a Kermes and car wash on 4/2

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Crime, Santa Ana 6 Comments

The family and friends of Isaac Gonzalez, a 15-year old TKO boxer who was shot and murdered by gangbangers in Santa Ana on March 25, is hosting a Kermes and Car Wash to help pay for his funeral expenses on April 2, 2017, starting at 7 a.m., at 2023 S. Susan St., in Santa Ana.

A Kermes is a what a Catholic religious bazaar is called in Spanish. It’s usually a fundraiser, often held at a church, where rides, games, music, dancing and food are available. In Santa Ana Kermes are often used to help local families to pay for funeral expenses and also to help to pay medical bills when someone becomes very ill. Continue reading→

Local business and community leaders to act as Principals for the day at SAUSD schools on Friday

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2017

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

56 OC Business and Community Leaders to Experience a Day in the life of a Principal during SAUSD’s Principal for a Day Program

The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) will host “Principal for a Day” to provide members of the community an opportunity to experience the daily operation of a school. Each of the district’s 56 schools will have a guest principal from the community on campus. Following their morning assignments at their specified schools, the guest principals will join all the principals in the SAUSD for a luncheon and program at McFadden Intermediate School, where they will share their experiences as Principals for a Day. Continue reading→