Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: September 2019

SAUSD Walk to School Celebration Event set for Oct. 2 at Lincoln Elementary

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The SAUSD is celebrating Walk to School Day on Oct. 2, 2019, with a group walk to Lincoln Elementary School, located at 425 S. Sullivan St.

The meet-up time will be at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Willits St. and S. Glenarbor St. and at a second meeting site at the corner of W. First St. and S. Sullivan St.

The walk to Lincoln Elementary School will begin at 7:40 a.m.

A ceremony will be held at Lincoln Elementary School at 8 a.m.

For additional info. contact the SAUSD Special Projects office at 714-558-5507.

Garden Grove man going to prison for over 19 years after a carjacking and high speed chase that cost an SAPD police dog his teeth

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Garden Grove man who carjacked a woman and led police on a televised high-speed pursuit that ended with the suspect being bitten by a police K-9, causing the dog to lose its front teeth has pleaded guilty.

Antonio Padilla Jr., 38, was sentenced to 19 years and four months in state prison.

Padilla pleaded guilty today to one felony count of carjacking, one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon, one felony count of assault on a police animal and one count of felony evasion.

Padilla was arrested on February 26, 2018, a week after he attempted to run over a Garden Grove Police motor officer who had pulled him over for speeding and was writing him a ticket. The officer managed to jump out of the way and was not harmed.

Garden Grove police tracked Padilla’s vehicle to Santa Ana on February 26, 2018, and asked Santa Ana police to assist in stopping the defendant.

Padilla refused to stop for police, and began driving more than 60 miles an hour on surface streets while running stop signs and traffic lights.

The high speed pursuit continued into the City of Irvine, where he dragged a 22-year-old woman out of the SUV she was driving and carjacked her. The woman’s brother witnessed the carjacking and began struggling with Padilla. While the two men struggled, Padilla accelerated the vehicle, narrowly missing hitting the carjacking victim’s brother.

Padilla continued the pursuit in the carjacked vehicle, hitting several other vehicles until he hit a raised curb, disabling the vehicle.

Padilla got out of the SUV and ran from the pursuing police officers. Sana Ana Police deployed K9 Puskas, who brought Padilla down.

SAPD Police Dog Puskas in recovery

While being held by Puskas, Padilla continued to hit the K9. The chase and arrest was covered live by multiple television stations.

Puskas suffered multiple injuries, including the loss of most of the dog’s upper and lower teeth, and had to undergo surgery. Puskas recovered from his injuries and returned to work patrolling the streets of Santa Ana.

SAPD Police Dog Puskas

“Our K-9s are invaluable assets to our law enforcement family, and it is due to the training and dedication of Puskas and his human partners that a dangerous criminal is off the streets and behind bars,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

California could put 10,000 repeat felons back on the street

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County is asking Governor Gavin Newsom to veto legislation that would reduce sentences for as many as 10,000 repeat felons.

Senate Bill 136, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, D- San Francisco, would eliminate a one-year sentence enhancement for repeat offenders that go on to commit more crimes. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, an estimated 10,000 inmates are currently serving sentences under existing sentencing laws.

“SB 136 is dangerous,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, a former prosecutor. “California lawmakers are putting dangerous predators back on the streets, where they can terrorize our neighborhoods.”

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved OC Supervisor Andrew Do’s resolution urging Gov. Newsom to veto the controversial legislation.  

SB 136: Early Release for Child Abuse, Domestic Violence

Neither the poorly crafted bill nor the legislative analyses identify the complete list of crimes that would qualify for shorter sentences. The Associated Press reports that it “would ease sentences for those convicted of repeat child abuse and domestic violence offenses.”

“This legislation grants early release to violent felons that have repeatedly engaged in child abuse and domestic violence,” said Supervisor Do. “SB 136 sends a horrible message to crime victims: California won’t protect you from the devastating violence of child abuse and spousal abuse.”

SB 136 faced bipartisan opposition in the state legislature from victims’ rights advocates, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, including the California District Attorneys Association and California State Sheriffs Association. Sixteen Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill.

“There’s got to be accountability at some point,” Democratic Assemblyman Jim Cooper of Sacramento, a former sheriff’s deputy, told the Associated Press.

California Already Released 48,000 Prisoners in 12 Years
SB 136 comes as California has already granted early release to tens of thousands of prisoners. Today, there are approximately 48,298 fewer prisoners in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities than in 2006.

“48,000 prisoners back on the streets is equivalent to the population of Aliso Viejo or Cypress,” said Supervisor Do.

As of October 31, 2006, at midnight, 173,357 inmates were incarcerated in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities. As of September 18, 2019, at midnight, that figure is just 125,059.

Supervisor Andrew Do represents Orange County’s First District, which includes the Central Orange County Cities of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, a portion of the City of Fountain Valley, and the unincorporated community of Midway City. In his second term, Supervisor Do has reformed Orange County’s mental health services, expanded access to health care, and led efforts to combat homelessness.

Santa Ana reaches a settlement with the O.C. Catholic Worker regarding a homeless shelter

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, homeless, Housing, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, CA -At the Tuesday October 1st City Council Meeting a settlement agreement between Santa Ana and the Orange County Catholic Worker will be presented for final approval. This concludes over a year-long involvement in homeless litigation that the City of Santa Ana intervened in as a defendant.

Under the terms of the settlement the City commits to ensuring a 200 to 250 bed low-barrier shelter operates within the City. The City currently has a temporary 200 bed shelter known as “The Link”, the new required shelter will replace this facility. It is anticipated there will be an overlap time period for which both shelters are operational. The new shelter will operate similar to “The Link” and serve the homeless population with ties to Santa Ana.

A location for the new shelter has not been determined. The City still has an active cross-complaint against that County regarding a replacement for the County operated shelter known as “The Courtyard” and other obligations under a related Memorandum of Understanding.

To view a copy of the Request for Council Action and Settlement Agreement, please visit https://santaana.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=7235&meta_id=99728.

About City of Santa Ana
Santa Ana is downtown for the world famous Orange County, California. As the County Seat, home to a vibrant evening scene and one of the most diverse communities in California, Santa Ana is gaining national attention for its efforts to innovate and address a changing County. Over 1,200 City employees work hard every day to deliver efficient public services in partnership with our community to ensure public safety, a prosperous economic environment, opportunities for our youth, and a high quality of life for residents. Learn more at http://www.santa-ana.org.

The SAUSD’s annual Family & Community Engagement Conference is set for this Saturday

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The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) is holding the annual FACE (Family & Community Engagement) Conference from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Santa Ana High School.

https://www.facebook.com/sausd/videos/2584907904895207/

The conference, which is free and open to all SAUSD parents, will include workshops, a School Choice Fair, and a Community Resource Fair. Free child care and transportation will be provided from SAUSD schools. To participate, visit the front office or Wellness Center at your child’s school.

Restored Emigdio Vasquez painting to be unveiled at the Heritage Museum tonight

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An auto body shop worker discovered a rolled-up canvas in the rafters of the shop he worked at five years ago. It turned out to be a lost painting by famed Orange County artist Emigdio Vasquez, who was known by many as “El Godfather of Chicano Art,” according to the O.C. Register.

The artwork, which measures 10 feet by 48 feet, was repaired by Vasquez’s daughter, Orange artist Rosemary Vasquez Tuthill. Tonight the canvas will be unveiled at the Heritage Museum of Orange County, on their 30th anniversary, from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm

The event tonight will also feature classic cars and tacos. This program is free and open to the public. Please RSVP through this link so the Museum can be sure to have enough tacos- one free taco for the first 250 guests! Special thanks to the Orange County Car Club and La Carreta Mexican Food.

So how did the missing canvas end up at an auto body shop? Al Martinez, who owned a body shop in Santa Ana, asked Vasquez to paint a mural for an event he was promoting that year — the Salsa 89 Lowrider Car Show and Family Fiesta. But after the cultural event, that lush canvas apparently was put away and forgotten for over two decades, according to the O.C. Register.

The restored canvas depicts a timeline of Mexican history, from indigenous people to Spanish conquistadores, to women doing daily chores in a village.

Vasquez was born on May 25, 1939 in the historic mining town of Jerome, Arizona. His father worked for Phelps-Dodge Copper mines; and in the early 1940s his family moved to Orange, California. His interest in art was evident as early as grade school where he would replicate comic book styles to create his own comics based on stories his father told about the Mexican Revolution, according to Wikipedia.

Vasquez exhibited his work in many museums and private galleries, including the historic Chicanarte at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (1975); A Traves de la Frontera exhibition in Mexico City (1984); Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation at the UCLA Wight Gallery (1990), and Three Faces of Latino Art at the Caged Chameleon Gallery, Santa Ana (1996), according to UCSB.

Vasquez taught in the art department at Rancho Santiago Community College. From 1985 to 1988 Vasquez managed a major public arts program for the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, the California Arts Council and the City of Santa Ana. This included creating an eighty-five foot mural at the Orange County Transportation Center in Santa Ana. In 1996 Vasquez received an Artists Fellowship from the Adolph and Esther Gottleib Foundation in New York to support his continued documentation of the Chicano experience in Southern California.

The next Com Link meeting is set for this evening

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The Board of the Santa Ana Communication Linkage Forum (Com-Link) will hold their monthly general meeting on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department Community Room – 60 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana. Parking validation will be provided.

The following topics will be discussed:

• Kevin Cabrera of the Heritage Museum of Orange County
• Citywide Parking Issues Panel and Discussion with City Councilmember Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias and City staff from the following agencies: Public Works, Planning and Building, and the Santa Ana Police Department Traffic Division
• “Neighbor to Neighbor” Segment and Announcements
For more information, please tap or click here to view the September 26th Com-Link general meeting flyer.

In case you missed the August 22nd Com-Link General Meeting, below are highlights shared by the main presenter, Santa Ana City Manager Kristine Ridge:

1) City Council approved a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 and current reserves exceed City’s reserve policy. With Public Safety being a top priority, the Santa Ana Police Department is on track to hire 50 new officers by the end of the 2019 calendar year.

2) Homelessness is the #1 concern in the community and the City is making progress through the following ways: $2M in additional funding allocated to address homelessness, separate from $1M already funded to operate “The Link” – the City’s 200-bed shelter; the City will soon contract with a private security company specifically for all City parks; the City’s Quality of Life Team addressing homeless encampments Citywide work shift has been moved later from 6 p.m. – 12 a.m.; City Manager has been in negotiations with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) company to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding to partner and address trash and encampments on UPRR property; and the City’s smartphone app will soon have a feature to report homeless encampments on public and private property.

3) Capital Improvements Opportunity – As soon as funding is available, the City will move forward with plans to improve street medians with drought-tolerant landscaping.

Santa Ana residents report getting great results using the MySantaAna Smart phone app available at the Apple and Android store. Please tap or click here to refer to the attached bi-lingual fact sheet for further details.

Please respond by email or contact the Santa Ana Neighborhood Initiatives Program office at (714) 667-2260 should you have questions or need additional information.

Be sure to follow the City of Santa Ana on Twitter @cityofsantaana and “Like” us on Facebook to get regular updates on what is happening around town. Don’t forget to TAG us in photos or posts using #SantaAna.

Santa Ana Down Payment Assistance Workshop set for tonight

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The City of Santa Ana is pleased to announce the availability of financing to assist Income qualified Santa Ana residents an opportunity to become first-time homeowners. The program is funded through the City of Santa Ana Inclusionary Housing Fund and Community Development Block Grant program. The Program offers zero percent, deferred payment loans of up to $80,000 for Low Income Households and up to $40,000 for Moderate Income Households.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Borrower(s) must be a resident of Santa Ana and/or work in Santa Ana at least 32 hours per week for at least the last 6 months.
• In addition, Borrower(s):
• Must be pre-qualified for a 1st mortgage
• Must be a first time homebuyer
• Make a down payment of at least 3% from own funds
• Must complete the Homebuyer Counseling Program through NeighborWorks of Orange County
• Home must be located in Santa Ana
• Total Annual Income of the household, cannot exceed the Income limits provided below:

Household Size Low Income Moderate Income:

1 $ 66,500 $ 82,250
2 $ 76,000 $ 94,000
3 $ 85,550 $ 105,750
4 $ 94,950 $ 117,500
5 $ 102,550 $ 126,900
6 $ 110,150 $ 136,300
7 $ 117,750 $ 145,700
8 $ 125,350 $ 155,100

A homebuyer informational meeting will be held at the City of Santa Ana Council Chambers (22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA) on Thursday, September 26, at 6:00 p.m.

To learn more about Santa Ana’s Down Payment Assistance Loan Program, please visit https://www.santa-ana.org/residents/homeowners-renters/rehab-loan-programs/down-payment-assistance-loan-program or call 714-667-2250.

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La Ciudad de Santa Ana se complace en anunciar el Programa de Préstamo de Asistencia para el Pago Inicial que brinda financiamiento especial para comprar su primera vivienda. El Programa ofrece una tasa de interés del cero por ciento, préstamos de pago diferido de hasta
$ 80,000 para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos y hasta $ 40,000 para Hogares de Ingresos Moderados.

Requisitos de elegibilidad
• Debe ser residente de Santa Ana y/o trabajar en Santa Ana por lo menos 32 horas por semana durante los últimos 6 meses (excepto veteranos militares de los EE. UU.)
• Debe ser precalificado para una primera hipoteca de un prestamista privado
• Debe ser un comprador de vivienda por primera vez (una persona sin interés en la propiedad, o que no ha tenido el “título” de una residencia principal durante un período de tres años anterior a la compra de la propiedad)
• El comprador debe ser capaz de hacer un anticipo de al menos el 3% de su propios fondos
• Debe completar el Programa de Asesoramiento para Compradores de Casa de 8 horas ofrecido por una Agencia de Asesoramiento de Vivienda Aprobada por HUD
• El hogar debe estar ubicado en la ciudad de Santa Ana
• El ingreso anual total del hogar no puede exceder los límites de ingresos actuales:

Tamaño del Hogar Ingreso Bajo Ingreso Moderado
1 $ 66,500 $ 82,250
2 $ 76,000 $ 94,000
3 $ 85,550 $ 105,750
4 $ 94,950 $ 117,500
5 $ 102,550 $ 126,900
6 $ 110,150 $ 136,300
7 $ 117,750 $ 145,700
8 $ 125,350 $ 155,100

Para obtener más información sobre el Programa de Préstamo de Asistencia de Pago Inicial, visite https://www.santa-ana.org/residents/homeowners-renters/rehab-loan-programs/down-payment-assistance-loan-program o llame al
(714) 667-2250.

El próximo Taller Informativo para Compradores de Vivienda se llevará a cabo en Council Chamber de la Ciudad de Santa Ana (22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA) el jueves, 26 de septiembre de 2019 a 6:00 p.m.

Supporters of SAUSD School Board candidate Carolyn Torres got so rowdy last night that the police were called

Posted on by Posted in 2019 Elections, Carolyn Torres, Civic Affairs, Elections, Manuel Escamilla, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

Supporters of SAUSD School Board candidate Carolyn Torres got pretty rowdy at last night’s candidate forum. One of the event organizers eventually had to call the police but, it figures, the police did not arrive until after the forum was over.

I was at the forum at its start but did not stay for the whole event. I missed out on the Torres supporter shenanigans during the School Board candidates forum. However I did sit near them and they most certainly were hooting and hollering during the City Council candidates forum. They appeared to be supporting Manny Escamilla for Ward 4 on the Santa Ana City Council.

The pro Torres crowd represents the very far left fringe in Santa Ana. They should be ashamed of themselves for their behavior last night – but I doubt they are.

The SAPD is searching for a transient who burglarized a local business

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On January 19, 2019, Vantha Nhean (34), a transient, was observed on video surveillance breaking into a business in the city of Santa Ana near the intersection of Mcfadden Ave. and Lyon St.

During the commission of the burglary, Nhean stole approximately $5,000 worth of laptops, cameras and other electronics.

A warrant was issued for Nhean’s arrest reference the burglary in addition to two other outstanding warrants for drug possession.

Nhean is a transient who frequents the southeast section of the city as well as motels in the 2100 block of E. 1st Street.

Anyone with information on Nhean’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Garcia at (714)245-8732 or jgarcia@santa-ana.org

A Santa Ana College student was arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Middle College H.S. student

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

The SAPD arrested Kenji Kina, 20, on Sept. 23 for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Middle College High School student, according to the OC Weekly.

Middle College High is located within Santa Ana College, where Kina goes to school, according to his Linkedin Page.

Students at Middle College High are dual enrolled at both MCHS and at Santa Ana College. This is supposed to help give them an advantage as they move on to a four-year college and start building their careers.

Kina met the victim on campus on the morning of Feb. 14, 2019 (Valentine’s Day), according to the SAPD.

Kina told the victim that he wanted to show her a ‘cool place’ and took her to a secluded stairwell on campus. Kina then began ‘making out’ with the victim who said she was overcome with fear. Kina then proceeded to sexually assaulted the victim.

The victim reported the incident to the SAPD in back in July, after she spoke with her doctor.

SAPD detectives worked closely with Santa Ana College campus safety officers to identify Kina. Once identified, he was detained.

After Kina’s arrest on Sept. 23 , he admitted to engaging in sex acts with the victim and knowing she was only 14 years old.

What safeguards are in place to prevent this from happening again? It seems highly irresponsible to place 14-year-olds on a college campus, particularly now that a college student has been arrested for sexually assaulting a child.

No the teacher’s union has not endorsed Carolyn Torres for the SAUSD School Board

Posted on by Posted in 2019 Elections, Carolyn Torres, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Education, Elections, Gisela Contreras, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

You would think that SAUSD School Board candidate Carolyn Torres had the endorsement of our local teacher’s union, the SAEA, given the ads her campaign is running on Facebook. But that is actually not correct! They are not supporting her.

In fact the SAEA (Santa Ana Educators Association) is backing former Santa Ana City Councilman David Benavides. (Apparently the SAEA is sitting out this campaign, which is incredibly lame!).

Former Santa Ana City Councilman David Benavides has been endorsed by current SAUSD School Board Members Valerie Amezcua and John Palacio.

While Torres is a teacher she is also not exactly a savory candidate, as we divulged in a previous post.

Benavides is not a teacher but he was once married to a SAUSD teacher who has won multiple teaching awards and his kids have all gone to local schools. He also is the head of a local non-profit, KidWorks, which does a lot of good in the community, primarily serving our young people.

Iglesias incidentally is backing Gisela Contreras, a local parent who supports school choice and advocates for family values.

The SAPD is trying to find a missing man named Hector Noel Rivera

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On January 27, 2000 at approximately 6 PM, Hector Noel Rivera left his home in Santa Ana and said he was going to the gym (Jamboree and Irvine). Hector left home in his 1999 black Chevrolet 2 door pick-up truck.

At the time Hector went missing he was working at Nordstrom’s at South Coast Plaza. He worked at Nordstrom’s while in high school and continued working there after graduation. Hector was very involved with cheerleading in high school and participated in cheer competitions in different locations to include Florida and Ohio. Hector was last seen in Aliso Viejo after he left the gym. He then left the area to meet an unknown person. He may have travelled to San Francisco.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hector Rivera please contact Investigator Jurado at (714) 245-8353 or Detective Gracia at (714) 245-8408.

Someone crashed into an SAPD police car early this morning, injuring a police officer

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

A patrol car driven by a Santa Ana police officer collided with another vehicle at about 1:30 a.m. this morning, according to the O.C. Register.

The crash happened at the intersection of N. Main Street and W. Civic Center Drive, according to ABC News.

The police officer ended up in the hospital but had stable vital signs, according to the SAPD.

The driver of the other car had to take a field sobriety test at the scene. No report yet as to whether or not he was hurt or will be charged with a DUI.

A news videographer at the scene told the O.C. Register that the driver of the other vehicle was seen sitting on a curb.

One of our readers reported the incident to us at 4 a.m. The intersection remained closed to the public until about 5 a.m. this morning while the police conducted their investigation.

The accident happened in the Civic Center area, not far from the SAPD headquarters, and just north of the Artists Village/DTSA, where there are many bars. Pro bar enthusiasts have been petitioning the State Legislature to keep bars open until 4 a.m., a crazy idea we hope never comes to pass.

This week’s Cochino List includes Birreria Nochistlan, El Picante and Cafe Ta-Go

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Health, Health and Medical, Insects, OC Health Care, Orange County, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of Sept. 12 to Sept. 20. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved.

Birrieria Nochistlan, 1628 S. Standard Ave., Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 17, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 18

El Picante, 1610 S. Standard Ave., Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 17, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 18

Cafe Ta-Go, 5210 W. 1st St., Suite D, Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 12, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 13

M Bakery, 13038 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, Closed: Sept. 19, Reason: Rodent infestation

Beba’s, 1909 E. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, Closed: Sept. 17, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 18

Gyu-Kaku, 14181 Newport Ave., Suites A-B, Tustin, Closed: Sept. 16, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 17

AM/PM at Arco station, 519 S. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, Closed: Sept. 12, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Sept. 13

Kitchen at Holiday Inn, 1240 S. Walnut St., Anaheim, Closed: Sept. 12,

Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Sept. 12

Palm Tree Cafe at Clarion Hotel, 616 W. Convention Way, Anaheim, Closed: Sept. 12, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 12