Art Pedroza

Start the spring season with Santa Ana’s first Plaza Primavera

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Family, Food, music, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Join the Community to Start the Spring Season with Fun & Celebration

SANTA ANA, CA (March 20, 2014) – The City is excited about this Saturday’s First Annual Plaza Primavera and would like to remind everyone to attend the kickoff event to celebrate the start of the spring season. It will be held at Plaza Santa Ana on the corner of Fourth and French Streets this Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. City Council Member Michele Martinez and City Manager David Cavazos are two of our VIP judges for the City’s first contest to select the “Best Bakery (Panaderia) in Town” for 2014. Continue reading→

City budget outreach community meeting set for March 27

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: NOTICE OF COMMUNITY MEETING BUDGET OUTREACH SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA

SANTA ANA, CA (March 20, 2014) – NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance, the City of Santa Ana’s Finance Department and City Manager David Cavazos will hold a Budget Outreach Community Meeting Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall, Ross Annex – Room 1600, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California. Continue reading→

SAPD looking for a carjacking suspect named Joe Gamez

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives request media and community assistance locating wanted Carjacking Suspect

Synopsis: On 02/26/2014 at approximately 9:45 P.M. suspect Joe Gamez approached the victim (a past acquaintance) and demanded money that he claimed was owed to him. Gamez then began to beat the victim with his fists as the victim sat in his truck. The victim was able to exit his truck and continued to be beaten by suspect Gamez. The victim dropped his keys on the ground as he was being assaulted. Suspect Gamez took the victim’s keys, entered his vehicle and drove away. Continue reading→

Paul Walters to serve as an Executive Fellow with The Police Foundation

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Paul Walters, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Former SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters has been tabbed as an Executive Fellow with The Police Foundation. The purpose of the Police Foundation is to help the police be more effective in doing their job, whether it be deterring robberies, intervening in potentially injurious family disputes, or working to improve relationships between the police and the communities they serve.

Here is the official announcement by the Police Foundation:

The Police Foundation is honored to welcome our latest Executive Fellow, Paul M. Walters, who retired last year after 24 years as Chief of the Santa Ana Police Department in California. Walters was the longest-serving chief of a major U.S. city in modern history, and received accolades from a number of presidents for his work in community policing and anti-gang violence efforts. Continue reading→

The SAPD will be looking to bust those who text while driving, in April

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Police to Hold Zero Tolerance Distracted Driving Enforcement Operation

Santa Ana, CA – As part of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, the Santa Ana Police Department will be actively ticketing those texting or operating hand-held cell phones on April 3rd, 8th, 17th and 22nd. Drivers who break the law and place themselves and others in danger will be cited with no warnings. The current minimum ticket cost is $161, with subsequent tickets costing at least $281. Last April, over 57,000 tickets were written statewide for texting and hand-held cell use. There were nearly 450,000 convictions in 2012. Whether it’s a ticket or a crash, as the campaign theme states, “It’s Not Worth It!” Continue reading→

The Little Sparrow cuts back on hours and deals with health violations

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana 8 Comments

When the owners of Downtown Santa Ana’s “The Little Sparrow” were begging the Santa Ana Planning Commission for a full alcohol license and extended hours of service they claimed to be very experience in operating restaurants, although that did not appear to the case.

Perhaps that suspected inexperience has caught up to them now as they have announced via a sign on their door that as of March 4, 2014 they are no longer serving breakfast and lunch, although they will continue to serve brunch on Sundays and will have dinner service from Tuesday – Saturday, from 5 pm to 12 midnight. Continue reading→

SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias announces her campaign for the 69th A.D.

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Unified School District Trustee Cecilia Iglesias Enters 69th District Assembly Race

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2014

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – School Board Trustee Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias kicked off her campaign on Wednesday at the Mexicanisimo Restaurant in Santa Ana. With a large coalition of supporters, Iglesias enters the race as the leading Republican for the seat.

“My campaign is about putting our community first and not letting the Sacramento political establishment dictate what is best for the residents of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Orange,” Iglesias said. “My goal is to reach out to all residents of the 69th District to tell them that I will work to represent our entire community, regardless of political affiliation.” Continue reading→

Student at NOVA Academy Charter school arrested after making death threats

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory

Student makes death threats at School suspect arrested

On 3-17-2014, at approximately 7 PM, the principal at NOVA Academy Charter School (1010 West 17th Street) called the Santa Ana Police Department to report that one of the school’s students had sent threatening emails to his ex-girlfriend, who is also a student at the school.

The suspect, a 16 year old sophomore, mailed the ex-girlfriend stating that he had a “hit list” of people who he was going to shoot at the school and added that he was going to recruit other students to help him carry out the planned shooting. He made no threats to the ex-girlfriend but mentioned that he was tired of being bullied. Continue reading→

Westminster man to face trial for soliciting the murder of his wife

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF0340/13CF1025: March 17, 2014

HUSBAND TO FACE TRIAL FOR 2004 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES CONSPIRACY-MURDER BY SOLICITING MURDER OF WIFE

SANTA ANA – A husband will face a jury trial tomorrow for the 2004 solicitation-murder of his wife. Magdi Faiz Girgis, 61, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder, one felony count of conspiracy to commit murder, and one felony count of false imprisonment by violence, and sentencing enhancements for murder for financial gain and murder to prevent testimony. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow morning, Tuesday, March 18, 2014, in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Irvine man to face trial for raping two women in Irvine and Newport Beach

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, irvine Leave a comment

Picture courtesy of KABC

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11HF1885: March 17, 2014

MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO WOMEN IN IRVINE AND NEWPORT BEACH

SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for the sexual assaults of two women in Irvine and Newport Beach. Travis Dewayne Batten, Jr., 31, Irvine, is charged with two felony counts of forcible rape, one felony count each of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense during the commission of first degree burglary, sodomy by force, sexual penetration by foreign object by force, dissuading a witness by force or threat, kidnapping to commit a sex offense, and first degree residential burglary. He also faces sentencing enhancement allegations for committing sexual offenses during the commission of a burglary and tying up or binding a person. If convicted, Batten faces a maximum sentence of 176 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, March 18, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. in Department C-27, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Learn how to watch the cops at a CopWatch seminar on March 22

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Interested in direct action and applying it in Santa Ana? Are you down for self-defense and self-determination? Want to help out in the checkpoints, community/school workshops, community patrols, etc…? Tired of facebook, voting, fake politicians and want to take it to the streets? Do you want to know what it’s all about and how to do it?

Then Copwatch Santa Ana might be for you! The seminar is set for Saturday, March 22, 2014, from 6 to 8 pm at 313 N. Birch St., in Santa Ana. RSVP on Facebook here. Continue reading→

ACLU to speak about homelessnesss in the OC on 3/18 in Costa Mesa

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Costa Mesa, homeless, Santa Ana 1 Comment

In Orange County, thousands of persons experience homelessness in a given year. Many remain homeless because they cannot access affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, medical care or benefits. Due to the lack of year-round emergency shelter, many homeless individuals are forced to live in public spaces and face criminal penalties for engaging in necessary activities – like sleeping in public – that are a direct result of their homeless status.

Join Heather Johnson, ACLU SoCal staff attorney on the Dignity for All Project, and community members for an important discussion on homelessness in Orange County and learn what you can do to help. Continue reading→

5K Run/Walk in memory of ret. SAPD Sgt. Centanni’s son who died in Afghanistan

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana 3 Comments

2nd Annual Centanni-Cottle Memorial 5K Run and Walk

On March 24, 2010, Marines Sgt. Major Robert “RJ” Cottle and LCpl Rick Centanni were killed by an IED in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Cottle was a Police Sergeant from the LAPD, who left a wife and one-year old daughter and Centanni was the 19 -year old son – and only child – of Jon Centanni, a retired gang unit sergeant from the Santa Ana Police Department. Continue reading→

The OC DUI Task Force will be looking for drunk drivers on St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock (714) 904-7042, Gail Krause, (714) 623-8940

Designate a Sober Driver on St. Patrick’s Day

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (March 15, 2014) — With St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and the Orange County “Avoid the 38” DUI Task Force are reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 269 people were senselessly killed nationwide in crashes involving drunk drivers during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2007 to 2011. Those fatalities were preventable. Continue reading→

Learn how financial peace can change your life at 10Ten starting on 3/23

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Newsong Church of Santa Ana, which is known as 10Ten, is hosting a life-changing class called Financial Peace University, taught by Dave Ramsey and the FPU teaching team on video and coordinated by Jossh Gladness that will help you to achieve your financial goals by showing you how to eliminate debt, save for the future, and give like never before.

You will be challenged and motivated to make a plan for your money and change your family tree forever. This changes EVERYTHING! Your money. Your story. Your life. Learn God’s ways of handling money with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University! The average turnaround is $8,000 in just the first three months!

Class Information: Continue reading→

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