New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Civic Affairs

First Annual Plaza Navidena set for Dec. 14 in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Community Alert

Plaza Navidena: First Annual City Sponsored Holiday Celebration

SANTA ANA, CA (December 10, 2013) – The City of Santa Ana is producing the First Annual Plaza Navidena celebration for the community to enjoy. In the spirit of the Holiday Season, the City is inviting the general public to enjoy each other’s company, delicious food, and talented local performances. The event will take place this Saturday, December 14 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Plaza Santa Ana, which is in Downtown Santa Ana on the corner of French and Fourth Street. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project meeting set for Dec. 18

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Entertainment, Traffic, Transportation 1 Comment

Notice of Public Information Meeting: Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project

Meeting date and time: December 18, 2013 from 6pm to 8 pm

The City of Santa Ana (City), in coordination with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to update the existing Santa Ana Boulevard/Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Metrolink railroad crossing. This City project would: Continue reading→

Exclusive – Mayor Pulido responds to latest unfair VOC slam on him

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 5 Comments

OCEA boss Nick Berardino has a grudge with Mayor Pulido

The Voice of OC is reporting that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido voted for a $1.35-million no-bid city contract with a local auto parts firm just over a year after he and members of his family purchased a home from the store owner for $230,000 less than its fair market value.

As usual when the VOC attacks Pulido you have to dig a little deeper to figure out how contrived these attacks are. I spoke to Mayor Pulido and he was happy to explain what happened. Continue reading→

Will Santa Ana College put a parking lot on the SE corner of Bristol and 17th?

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Planning, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Can you believe it? My sources are reporting that Santa Ana College has purchased the land on the corner of Bristol and 17th, where several businesses were force off their land by the City of Santa Ana, due to the Bristol Street widening project. I am told that Santa Ana College plans to use this highly trafficked corner for – a parking lot for their administrators.

What a revolting development! This land should have gone to a retail establishment – particularly a restaurant or a convenience store. Instead the city is going to lose the resulting tax revenue and the poor Washington Square neighbors are going to have to put up with noise and trash from a parking lot that most likely will be operating at all hours. Continue reading→

Santa Ana draft Housing Element update now available for review

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Housing, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: City Announces Draft 2014-2021 Housing Element Update Now Available for Review

SANTA ANA, CA (November 6, 2013) – The General Plan contains the City’s values and vision for its future. The Housing Element of the General Plan communicates goals, policies and programs to address Santa Ana’s local and regional housing needs and a sustainable quality of life.

Over the past year, the City has been working with the community to update the Housing Element and refine the City’s housing policy. This effort studied a variety of housing considerations including maintaining and improving current housing stock, housing for groups of special needs, and where future housing can be developed. This has also been an opportunity for the City to include relevant polices promoting health, safety, multi-generational housing options, cultural arts, wellness, and mobility as part of the Housing Element Update. Continue reading→

City’s loaded survey results to be reviewed at public workshops at union halls

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Labor, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Now that the Santa Ana City Council is done conducting their loaded community survey, which reportedly faltered online forcing them to conduct “numerous community meetings” in order to get any answers at all, they are ready to conduct yet another public meeting – a Strategic Planning Community Workshop (that I am sure will barely be attended).

According to a city press release, at this meeting, “staff will inform attendees about the community survey results, solicit additional feedback, and will provide an update on the remainder of the process.”

This one-day workshop will take place at two separate locations: Continue reading→

Why is the Santa Ana City Council messing around with the Mayoral elections?

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, David Cavazos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Vince Sarmiento 4 Comments

Is it desperation? Santa Ana Council Members Sal Tinajero and Vince Sarmiento placed an odd 85 A item on tonight’s City Council agenda:

DIRECT CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO PROPOSE A CHARTER AMENDMENT ESTABLISHING A PRIMARY ELECTION FOR MAYOR SEAT TO BE CONSIDERED BY VOTERS AT THE 2014 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION – (Mayor Pro Tem Tinajero and Councilmember Sarmiento

If I am reading this correctly it looks like a proposal to make the Mayoral election in November, 2016 a Primary Election, with a General Election to be set at some later date. This is completely crazy! The only good news is that the voters would have to approve this in the November, 2014 election, as it is a change to the city’s charter. Continue reading→

SAUSD teachers Benavides, Ramirez and Bush honored as Teachers of the Year

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Education, Emily Benavides, Santa Ana, SAUSD 3 Comments

Teachers Daniel Ramirez, Emily Benavides, and Mark Bush were honored.

SAUSD Teachers Daniel Ramirez, Emily Benavides, and Mark Bush were honored earlier this year as “Teachers of the Year,” according to the SAUSD.

Emily Benavides has served the district for 13 years. Benavides has taught everything from sixth-grade science to math and the Advancement Via Individual Determination program. Benavides boosts morale, encourages other teachers and is involved in lunchtime events, fundraisers, dances and activities that support school spirit. Benavides also finds the time to support after-school tutoring at Carr Intermediate School. She even stays in touch with her former students who have gone on to high school and college by attending their sports games and even helping them and their families with monetary support, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Neighbors push for a green strip while Bristol St. businesses try to survive

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Development, John Palacio, Lynette Verino, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana, Tom Lutz 8 Comments

A group of business owners along Bristol Street have banded together to see if together they can find a way to remain on their portion of the corridor, which the city plans to widen from four to six lanes,’ according to the O.C. Register.

If you at all drive through Santa Ana you know the area in question. It is a strip of businesses on the East side of Bristol, just south of 17th. These include a martial arts dojo; a McDonald’s and an optometrist.

What makes this case interesting is that the Washington Square Neighborhood Association has gotten involved and there has been a bit of a ruckus as the neighbors want to see these businesses torn down so they can get a promised green strip. Continue reading→

The survey the City of Santa Ana will never ask you to answer

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

The City of Santa Ana has been conducting a truly ridiculous loaded survey for awhile now – and response has been so tepid that they have taken the survey on the road.

If the City Council really wants to know what we think they need to launch an honest survey, with questions like these:

Do you still feel safe in Santa Ana even though the FBI’s latest crime report indicates that we have just about caught up with Los Angeles with regard to violent crime?
Do you support the City of Santa Ana’s ban on big box stores that has prevented major retailers from opening new locations in Santa Ana, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars of tax revenue and hundreds of jobs? Continue reading→

City to demolish El Pollo Norteño and the Grande Bakery, to widen Grand Ave.

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Development, Food, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Restaurants, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Anabella and Salvador Corona opened the first El Pollo Norteño restaurant back in 1981. It was the culmination of their longtime desire to open a restaurant abroad after coming to the United States from the State of Sonora, in Mexico.

Today their son Alfonso continues their traditions but now the City of Santa Ana has condemned his flagship restaurant, at 202 N. Grand Ave. – the very same one that Salvador opened 32 years ago. The reason? The City is widening Grand Ave. and El Pollo Norteño is in their way.

And it’s not just this restaurant – the whole shopping center is slated to be torn down including the beloved Grande Bakery. The loss of this resaurant cuts to the bone – Alfonso grew up here as did his kids. Losing this location is like losing part of their family.

Continue reading→

City to do remote surveys on Sunday since folks aren’t doing this online

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: City launches mobile computer lab tour this Sunday to encourage community survey participation

SANTA ANA, CA (October 25, 2013) – At the City Council’s direction, staff has launched an online computer survey as part of the 5-year Strategic Planning process. In an effort to encourage resident participation, a mobile computer lab will be used in at two churches on Sunday with several internet ready computers. The City Council wants your input so please join us at one of the stops to complete the community survey. If you have already completed the survey pass this information to your friends so that the City Council has a good understanding of the community’s needs as they develop the 5-year Strategic Plan. Help us create our future! Continue reading→

Santa Ana to host a budget community outreach meeting on Oct. 29

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NOTICE OF SANTA ANA COMMUNITY MEETING BUDGET OUTREACH MEETING

SANTA ANA, CA (October 23, 2013) – NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN:That in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance, the City of Santa Ana’s Finance Department and City Manager David Cavazos will hold aBudget Outreach Community Meeting on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California.

Finance staff will address the following items:

– Overview of the City’s overall budget structure
– Year-end review of the FY2012-13 budget
– Fiscal year 2013-14, 1st Quarter update Continue reading→

Santa Ana Public Library TeenSpace Haunted House set for Oct. 24-25

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Family, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Santa Ana Public Library TeenSpace Haunted House

SANTA ANA, CA (October 21, 2013) – The Santa Ana Public Library invites the community to the annual TeenSpace Haunted House at the Jerome Recreation Center and Santa Ana Central Library. These events are free and open to the public.

The Jerome haunted house will be open to the public on October 24th & 25th from 6-8pm. TeenSpace staff will be giving out free candy while supplies last. Community members are asked to line up along the south side of the Recreation Center facing the soccer field. The Jerome Recreation Center is located on 726 S. Center Street Santa Ana, CA 92704. Continue reading→

City Council blew over a million dollars getting rid of Paul Walters

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Kevin O'Rourke, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 1 Comment

This Council spends money like drunken sailors…

At its last meeting with him, an appreciative City Council honored O’Rourke with a proclamation and declared the day “Kevin O’Rourke Day,” according to the O.C. Register. As it turns out, O’Rourke made a mint working as a temp City Manager in Santa Ana.

How much did it cost Santa Ana to get rid of former City Manager Paul Walters? Over one million dollars. That is the tip of the icerberg. Check out the huge sums of money our City Council has blown over the past few years: Continue reading→