Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Business

The Santa Ana City Council will host a PBID Public Hearing on 8/24

Posted on by Posted in Business, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Entertainment, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 9 Comments

The Santa Ana City Council is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, August 24, at 5 pm.  The biggest item on the agenda is a public hearing regarding the controversial Downtown Santa Ana PBID – an annual assessment that has succeeded in cleaning up and marketing Downtown Santa Ana.

I have no idea how the Santa Ana City Council will approach the PBID, but I do know that Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has a real problem with Downtown, Inc., the organization that runs the PBID.  I think Downtown, Inc. can count on Mayor Miguel Pulido and Council Members Carlos Bustamante, Vince Sarmiento and David Benavides.  I am not sure where Council Members Sal Tinajero and Michele Martinez are on the PBID.  I think they are supportive of the proposed changes to the PBID’s boundaries, bit they may want even more changes.

Here are the details about the Public Hearing: Continue reading→

Solorio’s anti-employer AB 350 headed for a Senate floor vote by 8/29

Posted on by Posted in Business, Jose Solorio, Labor, Santa Ana Leave a comment

AB 350 Headed to Senate Floor.  Call Your Senators Today!

Yesterday, AB 350 passed out of the Senate Appropriations committee and is headed for the Senate floor as early as Monday 8/29.  Despite some minor technical amendments, AB 350 remains a bill that chooses winners and losers in the employment market.  Senators need to hear from you as to why they should vote no on AB 350 when it reaches the floor.

Please call your senators today!  Tell them: Continue reading→

Solorio responds to mounting criticism of his anti-employer bill, AB 350

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Business, california, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Labor, Latinos, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s Communication Director, Carol Chamberlain, contacted me today with news that Solorio had in fact responded to mounting criticism of his proposed bill, AB 350, in a letter sent to the Sacramento Bee.  I am reprinting that letter below.

AB 350 Provides Fairness for Low Wage Workers

By: State Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Anaheim

The Bee editorial, Union Bill would tie hands of employers, misses the mark, includes factual errors and is biased. Anyone knowledgeable of AB 350 and who read this opinion would recognize the voice of the highly financed, anti-union alliance feeding inaccuracies to a welcoming Bee editorial board and other newspaper boards throughout the state. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana publishes a new online Business Resource Guide

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The City of Santa Ana has posted a new “Guide to Doing Business in Santa Ana” on their website, in both English and Spanish.  Here is their announcement regarding the new guide:

The City of Santa Ana is pleased to present a new and exciting guide for businesses designed to assist with their growth and prosperity in the City. Continue reading→

The Yost Theater opens in grand style but Gustavo can’t let go of the past

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, music, Santa Ana 14 Comments

The historic Yost Theater finally reopened for business last night, an hour late, to a large crowd that patiently lined up outside while getting their I.D. bracelets.

I stopped by at about 9:30 pm and had a chance to speak with Dave Leon, one of their owners.  Leon has been working on opening not only the Yost but also the Velvet Lounge.  I thought he might be quite frazzled, having spent all Saturday trying to get everything done to the satisfaction of the City of Santa Ana’s Planning Department.  But Leon was just relieved, more than anything else, and he had to be happy to see how many folks came to the Yosts’ grand opening. Continue reading→

The Artists Village Art Walk extends into Santa Ana’s East End

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Fashion, Food, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The East End promenade featured a musical celebration last night that succeeded in attracting those who were hanging out at the Santa Ana Artists Village Art Walk.  You can see a few pictures of the Art Walk above and a few pictures of the East End event below.

This is the first time I can remember that the Art Walk has been successfully extended to the East End. Continue reading→

Cafe Calacas’ grand opening set for Saturday, August 6

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Coffee, Entertainment, Food, Latinos, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Cafe Calacas is celebrating their Grand Opening en el Corazan de Santana this Saturday, August 6.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

They are open right next door to their shop, which is also owned by Rudy and Jackie Córdova, so you can buy a snack and some cafe and then stroll over to their store and buy a t-shirt or some Mexican curios.

They are actually open now – I stopped by there yesterday morning.  But it is a soft opening while they work the kinks out. Continue reading→

Latin Showcase & Music Festival at Santa Ana’s East End Promenade on Aug. 6

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Fashion, Latinos, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Visit Santa Ana’s East End promenade this Saturday, August 6, from 6 pm to 10 pm, for a Latino Showcase, Music (+ More) Festival that not only celebrates the renovated Promenade, but also the grand opening of The Yost Theater, the new Friday Night Downtown Summer Concert Series, Posse on Broadway, the extended Downtown Artwalk, new Downtown businesses and neighbors, and the future of Downtown Santa Ana as it continues to grow and develop as the cultural epicenter of Orange County.

Come visit the 4th Street Mall & listen to some great music!!!  Continue reading→

Legal Do’s and Don’ts for Small Business workshop on July 27, in Santa Ana

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

The Orange County Small Business Development Center is hosting a workshop entitled “Legal Do’s and Don’ts for Small Business,” in partnership with Alvarado Smith, on Wednesday, July 27, from 4 – 6:30 p.m.

This workshop covers basic legal issues faced by small businesses in California. You will learn the most common costly legal mistakes that most small business owners make. We will discuss how to determine the best legal structure for your business, the pitfalls to avoid in contracts, partnership agreements, and leases, employee versus independent contractor, and how to protect your brand and much more. Here’s your chance to get answers to your business legal questions. Continue reading→

Employee that ripped off Santa Ana company sentenced to four years in prison

Posted on by Posted in Business, Courts, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Photo Courtesy of the SAPD

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: July 19, 2011

Susan Kang Schroeder, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Chief of Staff Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

Case # 11CF1202: OFFICE MANAGER SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR STEALING $82,000 BY PAYING OFF CREDIT CARDS ONLINE USING COMPANY SAVINGS ACCOUNT Continue reading→

O.C. Hispanic Chamber partners with CA State Employment Training Panel

Posted on by Posted in Business, california, Education, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Lori Serrato Olin, 949.697.3338
For the Orange County Hispanic Chamber

ORANGE COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS PARTNERED WITH THE STATE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PANEL TO OFFER FREE BUSINESS, COMPUTER, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SKILLS TRAINING TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana to host a free Business Forum on July 19, at the Delhi Center

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The City of Santa Ana is hosting a Business Forum on July 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m, at the Delhi Community Center, located at 505 E. Central Avnue, in Santa Ana, for local entrepreneurs who are looking to start or grow their business.

This is a free Business Forum entitled “Navigating Your Business to Succeed in Santa Ana” hosted by the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez to take a tour of Little Saigon’s Business District

Posted on by Posted in Asians, Business, Garden Grove, Little Saigon, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Women Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District

MEDIA ADVISORY, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ TO TOUR LITTLE SAIGON BUSINESS DISTRICT

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and member of the bipartisan-bicameral Joint Economic Committee will join Vietnamese American business leaders and members of the Vietnamese-American Chamber of Commerce in Orange County and the Asian American Business Women Association to visit the Little Saigon Business District. The focus will be on Little Saigon’s small business community where she will meet with business owners and their employees to deliver a congressional update on the economy and jobs scheduled this Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 3:30pm – 6:00pm. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s “Connect Your Home” raises funds for Cystic Fibrosis cure

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Business, Charities, Entertainment, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Connect Your Home
social@connectyourhome.com

CONNECT YOUR HOME RAISES FUNDS FOR CFF THROUGH CAUSE DONATION PROGRAM

Portion of Cause Donation Program Sales Contributed to Cystic Fibrosis Research

SANTA ANA, CA, (July 7, 2010) – Connect Your Home, a leader in providing consumers with affordable home services, continues to support charitable causes in the community through its Cause Donation Program. In partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Orange County Chapter) during Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in May, Connect Your Home helped raise $1,300 towards finding a cure for the life shortening disease. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Yost Theater is reopening on August 5

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Bars, Business, Entertainment, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

99 years old…3 years in the making…a legend is reborn!

Orange County’s most historic venue the Yost theater is finally ready to re-open, on August 5, at 9 pm, at 307 N. Spurgeon St., at the East End in Downtown Santa Ana. Along with Camden gourmet restaurant, full bar, and the best entertainment!  Click here to RSVP on Facebook. Continue reading→