Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

State Senator Lou Correa to host a forum on sex offender housing issues on Friday, May 14

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Housing, Lou Correa, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Women, Youth Activities 3 Comments

Do your neighbors look like these guys?

State Senator Lou Correa is hosting a Public Forum on Sex Offender Housing Issues, on Friday, May 14, from  3 pm – 5 pm, at the Rancho Santiago Community College District Building, which is located at 2323 N. Broadway, in Santa Ana.

This discussion is an opportunity for Senator Correa to hear from concerned residents about sex offenders living in their communities.

Resident’s are encouraged to bring their specific concerns to the forum in order to facilitate possible solutions. This dialogue will help Senator Correa better address community concerns legislatively, as well as create a discourse among concerned residents. Continue reading→

Only One Week Left for Dog Owners to Take Advantage of License Amnesty Program

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2010

Contact: Ryan Drabek (714) 935-7107 or Katie Ingram (714) 935-6194

Only One Week Left for Dog Owners to Take Advantage of License Amnesty Program

(Orange, – CA) Dog owners living in the 17 cities and unincorporated areas served by OC Animal Care have just one week left to renew their expired licenses with no worry of late fees or extra charges.

Since the amnesty program began April 1st, the department has issued 3,567 more dog licenses than were purchased during the same period last year – a 25% increase overall. Continue reading→

State Senator Correa to honor Asian Pacific Islander Culture on May 20

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Asians, Culture, Democratic Party, Lou Correa, Pacific Islanders, Santa Ana Leave a comment

State Senator Lou Correa and the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) are hosting an Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration event called “An Evening of Recognition and Cultural Celebration” on May 20, from 6 to 8 pm, at the Delhi Center, located at 505 e. Central Ave., in Santa Ana.

The program will include a cultural celebration, legislative and community updates as well as a special presentation
of Community heroes, emerging leaders, and Community impact Awards.

Various cultural performances will also be provided by local APiA performing artists.

This event is free and open to the public. Continue reading→

City leaders play hard in Nutrition Fair basketball game at Godinez High School

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Sports, Vince Sarmiento, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Santa Ana 714 Nutrition and Fitness Fair was held today at Godinez High School, located adjacent to Centennial Park.  The highlight of the event was the basketball game between Santa Ana City Council Members, Santa Ana School Board Members, community organization activists, high school students and other city leaders.

Council Member Michele Martinez captained the red team, which included Councilman Vince Sarmiento and SAUSD School Board Member Roman Reyna.  Councilman Sal Tinajero captained the blue team, which featured businessman George Pla, and two members of the Santa Ana Planning Commission.  Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido was also supposed to be on the blue team, but he was late, having attended a function involving his daughter, and so he did not play, although he did stay and cheer for the blue team.

Watch the second video, below, to see which team won!

Click here  to see a list of the full rosters of the two basketball teams. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Fitness Fair will feature Mayor Pulido playing basketball

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Health and Medical, Latinos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento, Youth Activities 3 Comments

The Santa Ana 714 Nutrition and Fitness Fair, which is set for this Saturday, May 8, will feature a basketball game between Santa Ana City Council Members, Santa Ana School Board Members, community organization activists, high school students and other city leaders. 

The event will be held at Hector Godinez Fundamental High School, located at 3002 West Centennial Road, in Santa Ana.

Here are the basketball teams: Continue reading→

Van Tran signs already polluting Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Elections, Loretta Sanchez, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 2 Comments

Mexican hating Assemblyman Van Tran hasn’t wasted any time.  His campaign signs are starting to pop up all over Santa Ana.  The sign in the picture above was posted on public property near the Main St. on-ramp to the 5 Freeway.

Tran’s website is LAME.  It has no mention of what issues he stands for and lists no endorsements.

Tran is opposed in the Republican primary for the 47th Congressional District by Tan Nguyen, who is yet another Mexican hater, and Anaheim School Board Trustee Katherine Smith. Continue reading→

Is it time to make Santa Ana a Sanctuary City?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, immigration, Latinos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 3 Comments

A new Facebook group has formed in support of making Santa Ana a Sanctuary City. The group’s page states that “In Santa Ana we have the numbers to make Santa Ana a Sanctuary city but we act like a minority . We must fight back!”

An effort to do this died in 2008, after Council Member Michele Martinez’ motion was defeated by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and the rest of the Santa Ana City Council.  Ironically, she is now part of Pulido’s team and is in a good position to reintroduce this idea to the rest of the Council.

Recently Pulido and his Council passed a motion voicing their displeasure with the racial profiling bill in Arizona, SB 1070.  Will they now revisit the idea of making Santa Ana a Sanctuary City?

We have an all-Latino City Council in Santa Ana, but the police keep cracking down on our people.  They did so brutally this week on Cinco de Mayo and are conducting another DUI checkpoint tonight.  The purpose?  To take cars away from immigrants and raise money for our bankrupt city by charging ridiculous impound fees. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint tonight at 2000 E. 17th St.

Posted on by Posted in immigration, Latinos, Public Safety, Santa Ana 3 Comments

 The Santa Ana Police Department will conduct a DUI/driver license checkpoint from 7:30 p.m., to 1 a.m., tonight through Saturday, near 2000 E. 17th St., according to the O.C. Register.

The City of Santa Ana uses these checkpoints to take cars away from immigrants.  Warn your friends to stay away from this area tonight!

Brutal SAPD crackdown ruins Cinco de Mayo

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Crime, Cruisers, Lowriders, mexico, Miguel Pulido, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 16 Comments

I just heard from a friend that the Santa Ana Police Department went completely nuts tonight, shutting down several streets in an unprecedented Cinco de Mayo crackdown.  My friend reported seeing dozens of vehicles being towed away. 

He also said folks were being stopped for having tinted windows and for driving while brown. The cops seemed to be looking for cruisers in particular.

I could not find any report of this over at the O.C. Register, but their reporter, Therese Cisneros, did have this to say on her Facebook page:  Police to crack down on cruising tonight…..Police will be on the look out for criminal activity and vehicle code violations. Traffic will be reduced to two lanes in each direction on Bristol between McFadden and Warner….Edinger between Main and Bristol will be closed. Traffic on
Main between Mc Fadden and Warner will be reduced to one lane….Surrounding streets may be closed as well. Continue reading→

Geisha House celebrates Cinco de Mayo with half price drinks

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Culture, Latinos, mexico, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OK, this is going to sound weird, but Geisha House is celebrating Cinco de Mayo too.  No, not with Mexican Sushi.  Instead the are offering all their alcoholic drinks for half off, all night!  Be sure to take a designated driver with you…

Location: The CityPlace, at 2773 North Main Street, in Santa Ana.  Phone: 714-564-0350.

Try Cinco de Mayo at Memphis!

Posted on by Posted in Business, Culture, Latinos, mexico, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Looking for something to do tonight?  Try Cinco de Memphis!

Join the folks at Memphis at the Santora for Dinner Specials featuring Traditional Mexican fare with a Southern twist.  Plus Beer, Margarita & Tequila specials!

Memphis is located at 201 North Broadway, in the Artists Village, in Santa Ana. Phone 714.564.1064.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at McCormick & Schmick’s!

Posted on by Posted in Business, Entertainment, Latinos, mexico, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

 Next Wednesday, May 5th, you can enjoy some tasty specials at McCormick & Schmick’s, in honor of Cinco de Mayor.

Happy Hour specials include baja-style fish tacos for $1 each, oysters on the half shell for $1 each, peel and eat shrimp for only $3.95, and many other popular items for only $1.95.

There will also be Mexican beer and Tequila specials!

And there will be live music and entertainment, as well as prizes and giveaways. Continue reading→

Help Gloria get to Harvard’s Graduate School

Posted on by Posted in Dream Act, Education, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 6 Comments

The haters will tell you that Mexicans cannot amount to anything – the truth is that our young people are just as capable as anyone else.

In the video above, you will meet Gloria Montiel, a graduate of Santa Ana High School.  She was accepted into Harvard – and she finished an undergraduate degree.  Now she wants to go to Harvard’s graduate university, to get a Master’s degree in education, but the cost is $50,000.  Because Gloria is undocumented, she cannot avail herself of the student loans that the rest of us take for granted.

But Gloria isn’t giving up!  Her friends are helping her raise $39,000 so she can finish school and get her Master’s degree.  You can help out by clicking here and printing out the event flier, and going to La Casa Garcia tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5, anytime from 10 am to 10 pm, to enjoy a $10 plate of Turkey Mole, with the works, including rice, beans and tortillas.  La Casa Garcia is located at 531 W. Chapman Ave., in Anaheim. Continue reading→

Pulido says he didn’t know Arpaio came to Original Mike’s

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

How did Pulido not know this guy was in town on April 23?

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido deserves kudos for leading the Santa Ana City Council tonight in passing a motion calling for immigration reform, and slamming the racial profiling bill passed in Arizona recently.

That said, during the meeting Pulido allegedly said he did not know that his pal Mike Harrah hosted Bill Hunt and racist, corrupt Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, at Harrah’s restaurant, Original Mike’s, on April 23.

The Santa Ana Police Department conducted a DUI checkpoint right down the street from Original Mike’s the same evening. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council to recognize Harvey Milk Day at tonight’s meeting

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Housing, LGBT, Redevelopment, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

The Santa Ana City Council meeting tonight should be a lively one.  In addition to a measure opposing the Arizona racial profiling bill, and calling for immigration reform, the Council will also be considering a motion to recognize May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day.  The proclamation was crafted by Council Members Vince Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero.

Harvey Milk Day is a day of recognition that occurs every May 22, starting 2010, in the state of California for gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1978. Milk is only the second person in state history, in addition to conservationist John Muir, to gain such a designation.  He is also the only openly gay person in the country to be honored with this designation.

The City Council will also be voting to approve the Consolidated Five-Year Plan for 2010-2014 and the Annual Action Plan and authorize its submittal to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Continue reading→