Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

Could Tran defeat Supervisor Nguyen in 2012, if the County goes bankrupt?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Loretta Sanchez, Orange County, Politics, Public Safety, Republican Party, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The honeymoon might be over between Van Tran and Janet Nguyen

If the County of Orange declares bankruptcy – again (due in part to Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s vote to take away $48 million in state funding, from the County), will that open the door for former Assemblyman Van Tran to challenge incumbent Supervisor Janet Nguyen, in the First District?

Tran has very high name I.D., due to his run for Congress last year.  He did not beat the incumbent, Loretta Sanchez, but he garnered a lot of press, both negative and positive.

Nguyen, on the other hand, fumbled last year’s Black April event, in Little Saigon, angering her Vietnamese-American voter base, and then endorsed Meg Whitman, which turned out to be an epic fail with her Latino constituents. Continue reading→

Isn’t it time for Santa Ana to outsource the Neighborhood Associations?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana 73 Comments

2010 – 2011 Comlink Board

Unless you’ve been in a coma or under a rock somewhere you are well aware of the fiscal crisis facing our community.  Municipalities are being asked to do more with less and tough decisions need to be made as to where budget cuts should take place.  According to our acting City Manager, Paul Walters, the City of Santa Ana is even considering outsourcing a number of services, including fire dispatch, the public library and even the Santa Ana Zoo.

Of course the last area we should cut is public safety (even though we do need to make sure our cops and firemen aren’t getting sweetheart deals), but there are areas of the budget that should be cut in order to save during this fiscal crisis.  One of those area’s city officials should cut immediately is the funding for neighborhood associations and Comlink. Continue reading→

Will the Chivas USA soccer team move to Santa Ana’s Willowick Golf Course?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Latinos, Parks and Recreation, Real Estate, Redevelopment, Santa Ana, Sports, Working Families 18 Comments

The City of Santa Ana has entered into negotiations with the Chivas USA soccer team, with a goal of relocating them to the Willowick Golf Course – with perhaps a temporary home at Eddie West Field.

According to a City of Santa Ana press release, “the potential move to Santa Ana would include their Major League team, reserve division, youth teams, and their non-profit foundation, which focuses on community service projects and programs.”

“In these trying economic times, I am pleased that a Major League Soccer team would consider relocating to our city to bring much needed resources. Chivas’ presence would create recreational amenities and programs for youth, bring economic development opportunities to our businesses, and revitalize areas within our city,” stated Mayor Miguel Pulido. Continue reading→

OC Wine Week begins today, Sep. 25, includes three Santa Ana restaurants

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

OC Wine Week starts today, September 25.  This two week event will take place at OC’s top restaurants and offer food, wine and beer aficionados fantastic dining options and really great prices.

This delicious event will begin with OC Wine Week September 25 – October 1. Menus will be prix fixe and offer wine pairings or wine flights with your meal. OC Beer Week takes place immediately following and will begin October 2 until October 8.

Locations participating in Central Orange County include: Continue reading→

Free identity theft seminar on 9/28, in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment Leave a comment

Orange County’s Credit Union has once again teamed up with Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Orange County to bring awareness to identity theft month in October.

They will be kicking it off on Wednesday September 28th with an identity theft workshop at Orange County’s Headquarters, located at 1701 E. St. Andrew Place, Santa Ana, CA, presented by Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Orange County. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce AT&T Golf Tournament is on 9/26

Posted on by Posted in Business, Charities, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce presents their annual AT&T Golf Tournament on Monday, September 26 at the Santa Ana Country Club, which is located at 20382 Newport Boulevard, in Santa Ana.  Proceeds from this event will benefit the economic programs of the Chamber.

The Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce has been working for over 120 years to improve the economy of Santa Ana and Orange County.  This has included training programs for a skilled workforce for the future and as well as ongoing business advocacy, education and networking programs. Continue reading→

Buy books for as low as 25 cents this Saturday at the main Santa Ana library

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Education, Literacy, Literature, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Public Library “Children’s Book Sale” continues this Saturday, September 24, 10 am – 3 pm. Refer to the attached FLYER  for additional information.

The Santa Ana Public Library, Main Library is located at 26 Civic Center Plaza.  The book sale will be held in Meeting Room A, Second Floor. Continue reading→

National Public Lands Day at Santiago Park

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Green, Nature, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Back to Natives Restoration “National Public Lands Day at Santiago Park”

Come assist Back to Natives in restoring habitat for animals at the Santiago Park Nature Reserve in Santa Ana!

Bring gloves, sunscreen, a re-usable water bottle filled with water, hat, and closed toed shoes.

Who: YOU! Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Youth Community Block Party

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Dance, Entertainment, music, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Stapleton Foundation Academy of the Arts “Santa Ana’s Youth Community Block Party”

ORANGE COUNTY’S HOTTEST YOUNG ARTIST Live Entertainment all day long!! Youth performances, Carnival style games, Face Painting, Water Slides, Jumpers, & much, much more!!! Come join us for a day in celebrating our youth! Continue reading→

Team Pulido and Solorio publicly endorse Michele Martinez at her fundraiser

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 43 Comments

When OC Labor Political wannabe Julio (Wholio?) Perez held his fundraiser this month it turned into a reunion of the sad sacks who failed to elect Alfredo Amezcua last year, when he got thoroughly trounced by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.  In stunning contrast tonight, Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez was ringed by the entire Pulido political machine – including Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who enthusiastically endorsed Martinez.  So what do you think?  Will the failed Team Amezcua beat Team Pulido?  LOL!  Not in our lifetime…

Martinez and her supporters met at Chapter One: the Modern Local, a newish restaurant over on Broadway and 3rd.  Santa Ana Council Members David Benavides, Vince Sarmiento, and Sal Tinajero showed up to publicly announce their support for Martinez – and so did several Santa Ana Planning Commissioners, including Eric Alderete, Sean Mill and Mario Turner. Continue reading→

Michele Martinez to keynote at Career College of California’s graduation on 9/23

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Jobs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana 4 Comments

For Immediate Release

For additional information: Kayla Caceres, Director of Communications, Career College of California, 714-243-8635 

COUNCILWOMAN MICHELE MARTINEZ TO GIVE KEYNOTE SPEECH AT CAREER COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA GRADUATION ON SEPT. 23RD

More Than 300 Guests Will Celebrate at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana 

Career College of California, based in historic downtown Santa Ana, is holding its Fall 2011 graduation ceremony at the Bowers Museum at 6:30 pm on Friday, September 23.  Councilwoman Michele Martinez will be the keynote speaker.  More than 80% of Friday’s graduates have already started new careers in their field of study.  Continue reading→

New hall at Spurgeon Intermediate named after slain teacher Russell Ford

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angela Burrell, APR, (714) 558-5555 

Spurgeon Intermediate Dedicates ‘Russ Ford Hall’ on September 23

New two-story classroom building honors legacy of beloved teacher

SANTA ANA, CA – September 22, 2011 – Santa Ana Unified School District’s (SAUSD) Spurgeon Intermediate School will hold a ceremony to dedicate the school’s new classroom building in memory of retired teacher Rusell Ford on Friday, September 23 at 9:00 a.m. Ford was tragically slain last spring in a domestic dispute. Continue reading→

What if Bustamante were still on the state’s anti-harassment commission?

Posted on by Posted in california, Carlos Bustamante, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

When Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced, back on Jan. 2, 2008, that he was appointing Santa Ana Carlos Bustamante to the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission, I could not believe it.  It was perhaps the most ridiculous appointment ever.

Looking back at the failed appointment it is even more ridiculous given that the Fair Employment and Housing Commission is in charge of overseeing sexual harassment cases!  How dumb does the appointment look now – after Schwarzenegger’s career imploded when we all found out that he impregnated a Latina housekeeper, behind his wife Maria’s back, and of course Bustamante has now been accused of some of the most embarrassing sexual harassment behavior in the history of Orange County.

Below are a few excerpts from the Orange Juice blog post that I about the appointment – this post blew up and eventually I heard from State Senator Lou Correa, who personally rallied the legislators to stop the Bustamante appointment, forcing Bustamante to resign from the commission. Continue reading→