New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Jose Solorio

Solorio picks up early labor endorsements for his 2014 Senate race

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Jose Solorio, Labor, Santa Ana 1 Comment

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2013
For More Information Contact: Maricela Taylor – mobile: (714) 794-8431

Solorio Receives Early and Important Labor Endorsements for his 2014 Senate Race

These endorsements, plus a $450,000 campaign warchest, position Solorio as strong candidate in the 34th Senate District

Santa Ana, CA – Community College Trustee Jose Solorio announces he has received an important statewide endorsement from the California Nurses Association and several local endorsements from the Anaheim Firefighters (Local 2899), Carpenters Union (Local 803), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Local 441), Ironworkers Union (Local 443) and the Laborers’ Union (Local 652). Continue reading→

RSCCD Trustee Solorio encourages families to have summer adventures

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Family, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEE JOSE SOLORIO ENCOURAGES FAMILIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW SUMMER ADVENTURES

ORANGE COUNTY – With schools just out of session, Community College Trustee Jose Solorio would like to bring to light a variety of fun summer activities for kids and their families to enjoy, many of which are free!

Orange County is home to a diverse number of local attractions and activities, and summer presents a great opportunity for families to explore new adventures. These activities include free movie screenings and concerts, arts and crafts exhibits, campouts, sport activities, and festivals held by different cities, libraries, local organizations and businesses. Current economic factors are still leading many families to look for free or low-cost activities to take part in, and fortunately there are many opportunities in our county that are affordable. Continue reading→

RSCCD Trustees vote to waste money with a union-only PLA at Santa Ana College

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Jose Solorio, Labor, Larry Labrado, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Trustees of the Rancho Santiago Community College District have completed voting to rip us off. How so you ask? They have voted to enter into a union-only Project Labor Agreement (although they chose to call it something else, that is what it is) with regard to the Bond Measure passed last November, ostensibly for construction projects at Santa Ana College. (It should be noted that Trustees Phil Yarbrough and Arianna Barrios as well as the Student Trustee Ryan Ahari voted against the PLA!).

What this means is that the RSCCD is going to hire only contractors who hire from union halls. While it is true that Santa Ana College has a number of union-only apprenticeship programs their dirty little secret is that it is very difficult to get into those programs and most of the union workers that will end up working at Santa Ana College will not in fact be apprentices. And the RSCCD will not allow non-union apprentices to work on these projects. What all this adds up to is that they are going to waste our tax money to the tune of at least 15%. Continue reading→

Solorio to host a campaign fundraiser on May 30

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Jose Solorio is hosting a fundraiser at Antonello’s Ristorante on Thursday, May 30th at 5:30 p.m., in support of his campaign for the 34th State Senate District, in 2014. The incumbent in the 34th, State Senator Lou Correa, is terming out.

Solorio is currently serving as a Trustee on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education. You can reach him at (714) 514-6233 or at Facebook.com/JSolorio and Twitter.com/JoseSolorio. Continue reading→

Early Cinco de Mayo celebration with Amezcua, Reyna and Solorio?

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Angie Oliver Amezcua

If your idea of celebrating Cinco de Mayo involves hanging out with politicians, then this event is for you. RSCCD Trustee Jose Solorio, who just got elected in November last year and is now running for the 34th State Senate District, that will open up in 2014, will join Santa Ana Council Members Angie Amezcua and Roman Reyna, at Original Mike’s, on Friday, May 3, 2013, from 5 to 7 pm. Apparently they want to meet you. Continue reading→

Jose Solorio gives Janet Nguyen an early Christmas present

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Education, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Taxes 19 Comments

Janet Nguyen versus Jose Solorio

The Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Trustees voted 5-2 tonight to authorize their Chancellor to negotiate a Project Labor Agreement with the Los Angeles/Orange County Building Trades Council.

Impressively their Student Trustee, Ryan Ahari, voted against this debacle. I am told he is a fan of Ron Paul. He might be the smartest Trustee! His vote doesn’t count unfortunately. Republican Phil Yarbrough and Arianna Barrios were the only no votes.

What does this mean? It means that the RSCCD will hire only union contractors when spending the Measure Q bond money that is coming from our property taxes. This means they will have less bidders, as non-union contractors will be shut out. That means higher prices – which is to say that our tax money will be wasted in order to feather the union members’ nests.

Several of the Trustees said some incredibly stupid and incorrect things in the process. John Hanna, who told me a few years ago that he would never again vote for a PLA, tried to change the name of this deal from a PLA to a “community and student workforce agreement.” He admitted though that it was still the same deal – a union only PLA. The board voted unanimously to change the name of this disaster. But it is still a PLA.

Jose Solorio tried to delay the vote, sensing that he was giving a huge gift to his GOP opponent for the 34th State Senate District, Janet Nguyen. That didn’t fly either.

Hanna said that PLAs are important for safety. I have to call BS on that. Every contractor abides by the same Cal/OSHA standards.

Hanna also said PLAs equate top quality work. This guy really has no clue. Public construction projects have very tight specifications. Every bidder has to agree to do the work as it is mandated, using the same techniques and materials. And there are inspections at every step.

Solorio said that the non union contractors would now have the same benefits as the union shops. No. The workers will have to get into a union hall, which is damn hard to do, and they they will have to pay dues that they will never see in the future as they will just go back to non union contractors after the work is over.

Solorio also said that PLAs save money. Another lie. All public works contractors pay the same salary rates, and the lowest bidder always wins. But with a union only PLA there will be no non union bidders. The union contractors have to abide by silly work rules that just delay project completion and add unwarranted costs to these projects. Money gets wasted, not saved!

The unions will now pony up some of their dues money for Solorio’s campaign. Well, good luck to him. There is no way I am backing Nguyen but I am now quite unenthusiastic about Solorio. He voted to waste our money tonight and that is simply inexcusable.

This blog had over 5,000 views last November 6. My OC Politics blog had over 3,000 views on that same day. I now publish Anaheim and Fullerton blogs too. Every one of these blogs will now be pointing out Solorio’s shortcomings, through the general election in 2014. These blogs totalled over 70,000 views in the month of March, 2013. Sorry Jose. We don’t reward ineptitude.

The RSCCD Trustees are for a Measure Q union-only PLA tonight

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Jose Solorio, Labor, Santa Ana 5 Comments

The Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Trustees are meeting tonight to consider a busy agenda that includes “Approval to Negotiate a Project Labor Agreement Action.” The administration of the RSCCD is recommending authorization be given to their Chancellor to negotiate a Project Labor Agreement with the Los Angeles/Orange County Building Trades Council.

Some people never learn! We warned Santa Ana voters last year not to vote for Measure Q – the latest bond measure of the RSCCD, which will increase our property taxes in order to supposedly pay for construction at the Santa Ana College campus. We already had approved a previous bond measure, Measure E, which the RSCCD wasted on the Santiago Canyon campus in Orange and on the construction of the O.C. Deputy Sheriff Training center (which was not needed with about five such centers within half an hour of Orange County).

In 2003, the RSCCD Trustees placed a union-crafted Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on all Measure E bond work. Measure E had been passed by voters in 2002 with no hint of a controversial PLA would be used. Voters were not warned about a PLA regarding Measure Q either!

Continue reading→

California Disclose Act campaign kickoff set for 3/23 at the Delhi Center

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2013 Elections, Elections, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Come to the Orange County campaign kickoff for SB 52, the California DISCLOSE Act! Join SB 52 supporters including Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, Community College Trustee and former Assemblymember Jose Solorio, Costa Mesa Councilmember Sandy Genis, and local activist leaders to kick off the local legislative campaign for the California DISCLOSE Act.

WHEN: March 23rd, 2013 12:00 PM through 2:00 PM
WHERE: The Delhi Community Center, located at 505 East Central Ave, in Santa Ana.

SB 52, the California DISCLOSE Act, would change the Big Money game and fight back against unlimited hidden spending on campaigns by letting voters know who REALLY is paying for political ads — on the ads themselves. Continue reading→

Shouldn’t RSCCD Trustee Solorio finish his first term before moving on?

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, 2014 Elections, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

State Assemblymember emeritus and now Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Trustee, Jose Solorio announced his candidacy for the 34th Senate District a little over a month after being sworn in.

This means that Solorio had no intention of finishing his term, but he still ran for the position. A month into the position, and he is already planning to jump ship. Continue reading→

The Grand Jury isn’t done thrashing Nguyen over her destruction of CalOptima

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Health and Medical, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Watch The Grand Jury, Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Medi-Cal on PBS. See more from KOCE.

The Orange County grand jury is planning two more reports on CalOptima, the county’s health plan for disabled, low-income and elderly residents, whose oversight by the Board of Supervisors was the subject of a highly critical report last month, CalOptima CEO Michael Schrader said Thursday” according to the Voice of OC.

Here a few more key excerpts from the Voice of OC:

Among its recommendations, the grand jury urged county supervisors to appoint more than one of its members to the CalOptima board. Currently, only Supervisor Janet Nguyen serves on the board. She engineered a complete restructuring of the CalOptima board that left it, as the grand jury noted, with no member who served longer than 20 months and most who have been there less than a year. Continue reading→

Solorio’s campaign for the 34th State Senate District is heating up

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana 23 Comments

Former Assemblyman Jose Solorio, a Democrat who currently serves on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education, formally announced his campaign for the 34th State Senate District seat that is currently held by Lou Correa. The seat opens up in 2014. Republican O.C. Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who screwed up CalOptima this year, has also announced that she is running for the 34th.

It is my understanding that failed Assembly candidate Julio Perez, who has never won any political office before, may enter the race for the 34th just to try to make Solorio lose. Let’s hope labor figures out that Nguyen would be an even bigger nightmare as a State Senator than she already is as a County Supervisor.

Solorio sent out a campaign update today to his supporters – and from the sounds of it he is going to be tough to beat. Let me be up front here – I have already made a decision to endorse Solorio. Here is his campaign update: Continue reading→

Democrat electeds shot themselves in the foot by boycotting the Tet Parade

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Asians, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, LGBT, Little Saigon, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana, Travis Allen, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Travis Allen at the Tet Parade

Did the gay activists who insisted that their supporters who are elected officials boycott the Tet Parade, in Little Saigon, this past Sunday actually hurt their political allies? Rest assured that the Republican elected officials, including Assemblyman Travis Allen (pictured above) were very well received by the masses at the Parade.

RSCCD Trustee Jose Solorio, for example, showed up in a car he was sharing with Ken Nguyen, the leader of a local Vietnamese American charity. But Solorio jumped out of the car, to go hang out with the gay activists, leaving Nguyen to navigate his way through the rest of the parade, without Solorio (see the picture below). It made for a bizarre image. The worst part is that Solorio hopes to run for the 34th State Senate District in just two years – and now he has some explaining to do to the entire Vietnamese American community in Little Saigon! Continue reading→

The race for the 34th State Senate District is already heating up

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Long Pham, Lou Correa, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 2 Comments

Jose Solorio and Jerry Brown

From the OC Politics Blog

Lou Correa has had a great run in the 34th State Senate District but he is terming out in 2014 and already both Democratic and Republican candidates are lining up for a shot at his seat.

The leading Republican candidate for the 34th is O.C. Supervisor Janet Nguyen. She has not distinguished herself in any way but the DPOC gave her a free pass last year and so she is loaded – her fundraising advantage will make it hard for any other Republicans to challenge her in the Open Primary. Continue reading→

RSCCD Trustee Solorio announces new Solorio Scholars

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Jose Solorio (center) with the Solorio Scholars, Class of 2013.

PRESS RELEASE, For Immediate Release: January 16, 2013
For More Information Contact: Maricela Taylor – mobile: (714) 794-8431

Community College Trustee Solorio Announces New Solorio Scholars, Urges High School Seniors to Explore Other Scholarship Opportunities

Outstanding seniors received financial help and additional writing tips for college application process

SANTA ANA – On a Saturday evening this past holiday season, 25 outstanding high school seniors were recognized as “Solorio Scholars” at the Santa Ana Police Officers Association Hall in Santa Ana. The evening capped an intense college application season made easier for the Solorio Scholars through personalized help with their college applications and up to $250 for college application fees. The Solorio Scholars program was created in 2009 to inspire more high school students in central Orange County to apply for college. Continue reading→

Governor Brown sending more funds to help the SAUSD’s neediest students

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Cecilia Iglesias, Claudia Alvarez, Education, Jerry Brown, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

“Schools will be the big winner in the governor’s new spending plan, receiving $56.2 billion in state funds, an increase by $2.7 billion over the last year. That funding is set to jump to more than $66 billion by 2016,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

“School districts would receive a 35 percent increase in per-student funding for each of their English language learners and economically disadvantaged students, and districts where more than half of students fall into those categories would automatically receive an a second 35 percent bump in per-student funding, according to the governor’s plan,” according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→