New Santa Ana | Category Archives: california

Altamed is providing free health insurance enrollment help this weekend in Santa Ana

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Health and Medical, Insurance, Santa Ana Leave a comment

LAST CHANCE: FREE ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE IN ORANGE COUNTY ON SATURDAY, JAN. 28 AND SUNDAY, JAN. 29 AS DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR OBAMACARE COVERAGE APPROACHES

January 31 Marks Official Deadline to Sign up for Obamacare Coverage Effective throughout 2017; AltaMed Health Services to Offer Free Enrollment Assistance for Orange County Residents

WHO/WHAT: January 31 marks the deadline to sign up for Covered California health care coverage that is effective throughout 2017. On Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

AltaMed Health Services, the largest network of Federally Qualified Community Health Centers in Southern California, will provide the public with free health insurance enrollment and renewal assistance at its Health Insurance Resource Center in Santa Ana. Multilingual certified enrollment counselors will be available to assist the public. Continue reading→

The SAPD has received a $400K state traffic safety grant

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Crime, Santa Ana, Traffic Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FOR SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CRASH PREVENTION

Santa Ana Police Department has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries Santa Ana Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.

Chief Carlos Rojas said, “This grant award is critical to the on-going efforts in traffic/pedestrian safety in our city. This award compliments our Strategic Plan goals in traffic safety and Santa Ana’s Safe Mobility Plan.” Continue reading→

Santa Ana doctor placed on probation for 8 years for prescribing opiates without medical reasons

Posted on November 23, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Crime, Drugs, Health and Medical, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Dr. Kent Lehman, a Santa Ana doctor, has been placed on probation for eight years by the California Medical Board and has been restricted in what medications he can prescribe, according to the O.C. Register.

Lehman was accused of prescribing addictive opiates without a medical reason. He also was accused of gross negligence, due to prescribing opiates without first conducting proper physical exams and inadequate record keeping as well. Lehman is no longer allowed to prescribe certain controlled substances, including narcotics. Continue reading→

Will Governor Brown allow criminals to vote on crime reform this November?

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Crime, Democratic Party, Politics 1 Comment

Criminals Voting On Crime Reform

By: O.C. Supervisor Todd Spitzer

Do we really want tightly fought Orange County election races and propositions decided by criminals who have made serious transgressions against our society or deciding on what is the definition of a crime?

On August 28, 2016, the Orange County Register printed, Imprisoned felons could determine outcome of local elections that was authored by Senator Patricia Bates. Senator Bates lamented that, with little fanfare, AB 2466 went to the Governor’s desk for signature. The measure would allow convicted felons to vote while they are still in jail or still under post-release supervision. She reminded us of recent very close election results in Orange County, with the specter of undecided races, recounts and contested elections. Do the residents of the Santa Ana Unified School District, the City of Santa Ana and the First Supervisorial District want to allow criminals from all other cities and Districts, to be able to vote on Santa Ana school board, Santa Ana municipal issues and for the closely-contested Supervisor’s race, merely because their address is in the County Jail in Santa Ana? Continue reading→

Two cases of Zika-related birth defects reported in California

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Disease, Health and Medical, Women Leave a comment

CDPH Reports Two Cases of Zika-Related Birth Defects in California

Date: 8/4/2016, Number: 16-47

Contact: Ali Bay – (916) 440-7259

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported today that two infants with Zika-related microcephaly have been born in California to women who had Zika virus infections during pregnancy after spending time in a country where the virus is endemic. While mosquitoes that can carry the virus have been found in 12 California counties, there is no evidence these mosquitoes are transmitting Zika in the state at this time.

“This is a sobering reminder for Californians that Zika can cause serious harm to a developing fetus,” said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “We join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in urging pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with known Zika transmission. Pregnant women who must travel to one of these areas should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and speak with a health care provider upon return.” Continue reading→

Parole agent arrested for allegedly embezzling state funds in exchange for narcotics

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Crime, Drugs, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case #16CF1898

Date: July 28, 2016

PAROLE AGENT ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF EXCHANGING EMBEZZLED CDCR FUNDS FOR PAROLEE’S PRESCRIPTION NARCOTICS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A parole agent was arrested yesterday on charges of exchanging embezzled California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) funds for narcotics prescribed to a parolee. Scott Patric Keblis, 49, Chino, is charged with one felony count of embezzlement by a public employee and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. If convicted on all counts, Keblis faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and one year in county jail, and would be ineligible to ever hold any office of honor, trust, or profit in California. Keblis was released from custody today after posting $20,000 bond. The defendant’s court date is to be determined. Continue reading→

Head of Santa Ana’s OneOC reappointed to the California Volunteers Commission

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Charities, Jerry Brown, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Calif. Gov. Brown Reappoints OneOC’s Tim Strauch to California Volunteers Commission

Santa Ana, California, June 8, 2016 – Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. recently reappointed Huntington Beach resident Tim Strauch, vice president and chief operating officer at the nonprofit OneOC, to the California Volunteers Commission, where he has served since 2015.

OneOC partners with over 750 local nonprofits each year, offering volunteer opportunities that address critical community issues.

Strauch provides strategic oversight to the different divisions at OneOC including Volunteer Services, Training, Consulting and Business Services as well as the newly launched Center for Business & Community Partnerships. Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez appointed President of the So. Cal. Assn. of Governments

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Michele Martinez, Planning, Santa Ana 3 Comments

City of Santa Ana

Advisory: Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez Sworn in as President of the Nation’s Largest Metropolitan Planning Organization

Today, May 5, 2016, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) swore in Councilwoman Michele Martinez for a one-year term as President at its 2016 Regional Conference & General Assembly in La Quinta. At 36, she is the youngest President in the 51-year history of SCAG and the first to hail from Santa Ana. Goods movement, multimodal transportation, earthquake retrofits and economic equality are among the top priorities for the incoming president.

Martinez has spent the past year as Vice President of SCAG, during which the organization approved its 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). The plan, which serves as a blueprint for meeting the six-county region’s growth over the next quarter-century, identifies $556.5 billion in transportation investment during that period, including $70.7 billion in goods movement strategies. Freight, logistics and related industries represent one-third of all jobs and economic activity in the SCAG region. Continue reading→

Jan. 31 is the last day to sign up for Covered California health care insurance

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Health and Medical, Insurance, Santa Ana Leave a comment

LAST CHANCE: JANUARY 31 DEADLINE FOR COVERED CALIFORNIA

Nine of 10 of Uninsured May Qualify for Financial Assistance and Avoid Paying $650 tax

AltaMed Enrollment Center Offers Bilingual Assistance in Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, CA – The deadline for signing up for health insurance under Covered California is fast approaching, with Sunday, January 31 as the last day to sign up and avoid paying the federal tax.

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of southern Californians remain uninsured and of those, nine out of 10 may qualify for state and federal financial assistance to help cover the cost of their health care coverage. Those uninsured will face a tax penalty of $695 this year. Continue reading→

The CHP will have maximum enforcement on our freeways through Sunday

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Crime, Traffic Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/20/2015

CALIFORNIANS PREPARE TO RISE TO THE HOLIDAY TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGE

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – This Thanksgiving, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is partnering with law enforcement agencies across the nation for the third annual “Interstate 40 Challenge.” The goal of the traffic safety campaign is zero fatalities during the holiday travel period on the more than 2,500-mile stretch of I-40.

“Last year, California reported zero fatal traffic collisions on Interstate 40 during the challenge periods,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “With the public’s assistance, we are striving to achieve the same success rate this year on I-40 and throughout the state.” Continue reading→

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido will be back on the S.C.A.Q.M.D’s Board in a few weeks

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Curt Pringle, Democratic Party, Environment, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Sacramento Democrats are looking forward to punking the OC GOP

The OC GOP’s Chairman, Fred Whitaker celebrated the Republican takeover of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) that took place this week when Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, a moderate Democrat, was replaced by Lake Forest Councilman Dwight Robinson, a Republican.

But Whitaker’s celebration might be very short lived. A well-placed source told me today that the Democrats in Sacramento are livid about the GOP’s shenanigans – which were engineered, allegedly, by none other than former Anaheim Mayor, turned lobbyist, Curt Pringle , on behalf of the oil industry. Continue reading→

Santa Ana ranked almost last in Orange County in new jobs study

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, california, Economy, Jobs, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Six years ago California’s unemployment rate peaked at 12.2 percent. It is now done to a more reasonable 6.1%. California has created more than 1.5 million non-farm jobs since our last financial crisis, a growth driven primarily by the technology sector and other high-wage industries. But how is Santa Ana doing?

To help California residents and inbound migrants find the best cities for employment, WalletHub analysts compared 250 cities in the state across 16 key metrics to determine the best and worst California cities in which to find a new job.

Here are some of the key findings of the new WalletHub jobs study with regards to cities in Orange County (note that you will have to scroll down quite a bit to find how Santa Ana ranked): Continue reading→

Santa Ana doubles down on bike lanes with $11.5 M in new state funding

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Bicycles, california, Civic Affairs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Santa Ana to Receive $11.5 Million in Active Transportation Funding for Safe Bikeways

Santa Ana will receive more than $11.5 million in state active transportation funds to help build three major bikeway projects, a major step forward in the city’s efforts to improve bicycle safety. Protected bicycle lanes at Santa Ana Boulevard and 5th Street ($5.4 million) and on Endinger Avenue ($2.37 million), as well as the Civic Center Bike Boulevard ($3.7 million), are among 34 active transportation projects in Southern California that were approved for funding today by the California Transportation Commission.

The 34 projects, totaling $83.9 million over the next three years, represents nearly half of the $180 million in funding approved statewide.“This isn’t about building bike lanes. It’s all about safety,” said Michele Martinez, a Santa Ana Council Member and First Vice President of SCAG. “I’ve experienced myself the challenges that bike riders have – riding on sidewalks and sometimes against traffic. It’s how more and more people get to work and it’s unsafe. These three projects will go a long way toward establishing Santa Ana not as a ‘bike city,’ but as the region’s premier ‘bike-safe city.’” Continue reading→

DMV employee convicted of taking bribes from two drivers license applicants

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

Westminster DMV, Picture Courtesy of Yelp

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WF0525

Date: July 17, 2015

DMV EMPLOYEE CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR TAKING BRIBES TO OBTAIN DRIVER’S LICENSES FOR TWO APPLICANTS

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee was convicted and sentenced today for accepting bribes from customers in exchange for providing California driver’s licenses (CDL). Jose Alberto Carrillo, 47, Fresno, pleaded guilty to the court to two felony counts of altering public documents and two felony counts of computer access and fraud. He was sentenced to one year in jail stayed pending completion of 40 hours of community service and three years formal probation, over the objection of the People.

At the time of the crimes, Carrillo worked as a Motor Vehicle Representative at the Westminster DMV Office. Continue reading→

Supervisor Do calls on Medi-Cal to stop taking money back from CalOptima doctors

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Andrew Do, california, Health and Medical, Santa Ana 1 Comment

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2015

Contact: Brian Probolsky, (949) 533-4254

OC SUPERVISOR ANDREW DO CALLS ON MEDI-CAL TO HALT CLAWBACK OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM CALOPTIMA DOCTORS

(Santa Ana, California) – Years after the bills have been paid, the state’s public health insurance program has begun to demand repayment of millions of dollars from doctors who provide health care to low-income families, children, seniors and persons with disabilities in Orange County.

Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, a member of the CalOptima board of directors, is calling for an end to this clawback by the state’s fee-for-service Medi-Cal program, arguing that the process is unfair and could result in more doctors leaving CalOptima, Orange County’s low-income health insurance program. Continue reading→