Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

Santa Ana and the SAUSD to partner in building the new Roosevelt Elem. Park

Posted on by Posted in Education, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Community: STATE OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF GRANTS AND SERVICES AWARDS THE CITY $5 MILLION FOR NEW JOINT USE PARK SITE

City’s Partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District Played Pivotal Role in Receiving the Highest Grant Amount an Agency Can Receive

SANTA ANA, CA (March 29, 2012) – To address the need for more open space in the community, the City of Santa Ana has aggressively been seeking areas of opportunities to address this challenge. The City of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Unified School District have been working cooperatively to provide recreational opportunities for the community through a Joint Use of City and School District properties. After a year of planning, an application to be considered to receive a Proposition 84 grant was submitted. The City was recently notified it was awarded the grant by the State of California Office of Grants and Local Services. The $5 million dollar grant was designated to develop a 2.7-acre park on the Roosevelt Elementary School site, located at 501 S. Halladay Street. Continue reading→

Spring Awakening musical to open at Santa Ana’s Theatre Out on April 6

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, LGBT, music, Plays, Santa Ana Leave a comment

THEATRE OUT TO OPEN AWARD-WINNING HIT MUSICAL “SPRING AWAKENING”

Santa Ana, CA (3/29/2012) – Theatre Out, Orange County’s gay and lesbian theatre company, who brought you recent hits Avenue Q and The Wild Party is pleased to present the Tony Award-Winning musical SPRING AWAKENING beginning April 6, 2012. Running through May 5, this moving musical relives the trials and tribulations of becoming an adult. Continue reading→

Carlos Bustamante’s former boss at the County of Orange placed on leave

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The placing of OC Public Works Director Jess Carbajal on administrative leave last week is just one of several personnel moves being made as county officials scramble to gain control over a department rocked by revelations that sexual harassment allegations against former executive Carlos Bustamante were not properly handled, according to the Voice of OC.

The Voice of OC also reported that Ignacio Ochoa, who now heads the department’s engineering division, will take over as interim head of the OC Public Works Agency. Continue reading→

Seasonal Orange County homeless emergency shelters closing on 4/10

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012

CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805

SEASONAL HOMELESS EMERGENCY SHELTERS TO CLOSE

(Santa Ana, CA) – On April 10, 2012 the Armory Emergency Shelter Program will close. The Armory Program, which opened on December 1, 2012, is a seasonal program that provides up to 400 beds for homeless families and individuals. The program provides shelter to the homeless along with a nutritious meal, warm shower, safe place to sleep, warm clothes, a wide variety of supportive services, and a friendly and safe atmosphere. The shelters are located at the National Guard Armories in Fullerton and Santa Ana. To date this season, the Armory Program has served 1,475 unduplicated individuals; however, final figures are not available until after the program closes.
In recent years, Federal, state and local funding available for shelter, especially emergency shelter, has declined. The County of Orange funds over 65% of the program cost. Additional funding was provided by the State of California Emergency Housing and Assistance Program, private foundations, and neighboring cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, Santa Ana, and Tustin. Continue reading→

HUD $3.5 Million grant award to Orange County to fund homeless services

Posted on by Posted in Federal Government, homeless, Housing, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012
CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805

COUNTY AWARDED $2.5 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR HOMELESS SERVICES
HUD GRANT WILL DIRECTLY ASSIST THE COUNTY’S POPULATION OF HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS

(Santa Ana, CA) – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded $2,522,824 in new project funding to the County of Orange in homeless assistance funding under the 2011 Continuum of Care programs grant competition. The annual grant competition and the grant award to the County of Orange, with OC Community Services as the lead agency, is a direct result of the County’s partnership with cities and homeless service organizations to address the issue of homelessness in Orange County. This collaborative effort is part of a regional plan aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness. Continue reading→

O.C. Housing Authority receives $884,560 grant to assist homeless veterans

Posted on by Posted in Federal Government, homeless, Housing, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Orange County Housing Authority receives $884,560 to assist homeless Veterans through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2012

CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805

(Santa Ana, CA) – The Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) has been awarded $884,560 to further expand its ongoing Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (VASH). This funding is a portion of $75 million appropriated to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for 2012 in a coordinated effort involving HUD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and local housing authorities to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans in conjunction with supportive services. Continue reading→

O.C. Poltical blogger rips Moreno’s and Stroud’s lame ballot designations

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

OC Political blogger Chris Nguyen posted an article today poking fun at the top 10 worst ballot designations, pertaining to Orange County political candidates in the upcoming June primary.  His list includes a couple of Santa Ana residents – Lupe Moreno and Glen Stroud.  Both are Republicans who are running for the obscure Republican Party of Orange County (OC GOP) Central Committee, in the 69th Assembly District.

Here is what Nguyen had to say about Moreno and Stroud’s ballot designations: Continue reading→

$9 million available to complete Santa Ana’s Santiago Creek bike trail

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Neighborhood Associations, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Transportation 8 Comments

The OCTA’s Bicycle Corridor Improvement (BCI) Program 2012 Call for Projects is a $9 million bicycle program available to local Orange County agencies. The guidelines and application are provided below. Eligible applicants must submit project proposals by 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2012.

There is word on the street that a non-profit bike organization that supports bike trails in Orange County is going to file the necessary paperwork to complete the missing 1,500 foot section along Santiago Creek, in the Fisher Park/Floral Park neighborhoods and then turn the grant money over to the City of Santa Ana as a shovel ready deal! Continue reading→

OCTA bus terminal is no place for the homeless, according to city planners

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency fired back today at those who are trying to force the City of Santa Ana to turn the vacant OCTA terminal building into permanent housing for the homeless.   The Planning Agency  sent a memo to City Manager Paul Walters, that you can read here, explaining in great detail why this is a very dumb idea.  Walters, in turn, sent that memo to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The memo makes it clear that the City of Santa Ana wants to do its share to end homelessness, but the OCTA bus terminal building simply is not an appropriate place to shelter the homeless, for a number of reasons, including: Continue reading→

Young man raised in Santa Ana qualifies for Mexico’s Olympic wrestling team

Posted on by Posted in Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Sports 1 Comment

Have you heard about Jesse Ruiz?  He was raised in Santa Ana, where he lived in abject poverty and slept on the floor of a garage, according to Cage Radio’s blog, and he has just qualified for Mexico’s Olympic team, in wrestling.  Jesse’s parents were born in Mexico.

Jesse, trains and coaches at the Citadel in Charleston South Carolina. While he does indeed have wrestling, financially he’s still flat broke.  Any and all help we can provide with regard to his fundraising efforts would be greatly appreciated. Continue reading→

Help the O.C. Dream Team at Calacas’ Loteria Fundraiser, this Friday night

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Education, Entertainment, immigration, Latinos, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Calcas is hosting the Orange County Dream Team’s 4th Annual Loteria Fundraiser, this Friday night, March 30th, from 6:30-8:30pm.  They are asking for a $10 Donation.

Location: Calacas, Inc., located at 324 W. 4th St. #B, in Santa Ana.

Prizes • Snacks • Beverages Continue reading→

Santa Ana couple arrested for sexual assault of 9 year old family member

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Police Arrest Couple for Sexual Assault of Family member under the age of 10

Santa Ana Police Arrest Couple for Sexual Assault of Family member under the age of 10

Arrested:

1.Nazario Enrique Cruz-Sanchez (40) Santa Ana (Pictured Above)
2.Estela Garcia (28) Santa Ana (Pictured Below)

Continue reading→

O.C. Lawmen vs. Columbus Marauders in 35th Annual Copbowl on 3/31

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Katie Cover, Public Relations/Marketing Director
PO Box 10572, Westminster, CA 92685

Lawmen host Columbus Maruaders for big charity game…

Westminster, CA, March 27, 2012 – On March 31st the OC Lawmen will take on the Columbus Marauders at the Santa Ana Bowl/Eddie West field for the teams 35th annual Copbowl benefiting the Orangewood Children’s Home. Game starts at 3pm and admission is $5, kids 12 and under are free. Continue reading→

Santa Ana solar panel program coming to a close!

Posted on by Posted in Energy, Green, Santa Ana Leave a comment

News Release, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information: Anne Bessinger, Community Developer, 1-800-SULLIVAN ex.214

March 27, 2012

SANTA ANA SOLAR PROGRAM COMING TO A CLOSE

Citywide Cash-back Incentive Program Nears End

SANTA ANA, CA (March 27, 2012) – Santa Ana’s Solar Program is an innovative program that allows residents to go solar for no upfront cost and receive substantial cash-back awards for their involvement. With a few weeks left in the program, residents are able to receive up to ten percent cash-back incentives. Continue reading→