Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Civic Affairs

O.C. District Attorney’s Victims’ Rights March and Rally this Friday

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Entertainment, Lawyers, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The Orange County District Attorney’s 4th Annual Victims’ Rights March and Rally, led by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 27, 2012.

Program:

  • 9:30 a.m. Reception @ the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, located at 401 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701
  • 10:30 a.m. March to Old Orange County Courthouse, at 211 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana, CA 92701
  • 11:00 a.m. Rally at the Old Orange County Courthouse

Please visit www.orangecountyda.com homepage to watch the 2011 video. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council to honor Vietnamese Temple on 2nd St. this Saturday

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATES LOCAL TEMPLE AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY AT UPCOMING CEREMONY

Who: Join the Santa Ana City Council and Abbot Thich Minh Nguyen as they gather at the Truc Lam Yen Temple to honor the Vietnamese community.
What: A ceremonial press event will designate this temple as the birthplace of the Vietnamese community in Orange County. Continue reading→

So. Cal. Gas performing pipeline integrity work at Grand & Chestnut

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Energy, public works, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Advisory: SOCALGAS PERFORMS PIPELINE INTEGRITY WORK IN SANTA ANA

LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2012 – Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) is performing pipeline integrity work along Grand and Chestnut avenues in the city of Santa Ana through August 8, according to company officials. The work, which began April 1, ensures compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline Integrity Program and the Office of Pipeline Safety to ensure continued safe and reliable natural gas service.

Westbound traffic lanes along Chestnut, west of Grand, are closed to traffic for the duration of the project, along with the number two lane on southbound Grand Ave. The number two eastbound lane on Chestnut Avenue will remain open. Continue reading→

Floral Park’s 20th Annual Home & Garden Tour on April 20-28

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana Leave a comment

 

 
PRESS RELEASE
PR Contact: Linda Schulte, Tel (714) 569-0529, Email: fpnews@floral-park.com
 
FLORAL PARK ANNOUNCES 20th ANNUAL HOME & GARDEN TOUR
 
SANTA ANA, CA, – The Floral Park Neighborhood Association (FPNA), located in historic North Santa Ana, will be celebrating its 20th annual Home & Garden Tour on April 28-29, 2012. The event will spotlight the FPNA’s ongoing efforts to promote restoration and preservation of the neighborhood’s unique homes, and the many people who have supported those efforts. Ninety-seven neighborhood homes are now listed in the Santa Ana Register of Historic Properties. Since the first Home & Garden Tour in 1993, over 187 homes and gardens in Floral Park have opened their doors to visitors from the United States and Europe. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint tonight at 2300 W. 5th St., in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Advisory: The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint April 13th, 2012.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, April 13th, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2300 W. 5th Street, in the City of Santa Ana. In the event of heavy rain, the checkpoint will be suspended and officers will be deployed in a saturation patrol format. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Cinco de Mayo sponsorships and vendor booths available now

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

Connect with 150,000 Latinos at this years Santa Ana Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Historic Downtown! Sponsorships and Vendor Booths Available. Get yours now!  Call the MX Live Office at 714-966-1788 or visit CalleCuatro.Com.

MX LIVE is the company that now produces CINCO DE MAYO & FIESTAS PATRIAS on Fourth St. in Downtown Santa Ana.  MX LIVE ENTERTAINMENT is looking for a creative and reliable Web Design Intern for the spring semester. Must know Adobe Dreamweaver, HTML, Adobe Flash and WordPress. Spanish skills are a plus. The internship is unpaid, but you will gain valuable skills, earn school credit, and attend fun events. We will work with student schedules, but must be available 15/hours per week. Please send resume to mxliveintern@gmail.com.

Continue reading→

SAPD Easter cruiser crackdown set for this Sunday, April 8

Posted on by Posted in automobiles, Civic Affairs, Latinos, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Easter Day – Police Enforcement Activity

In an effort to provide a safe environment and minimize the impact on our local neighborhoods, the Santa Ana Police Department will be deploying extra police personnel to deal with the possible influx of cruiser activity expected on Easter (Sunday, April 8th) and Cinco de Mayo (Saturday, May 5th). Continue reading→

Santa Ana receives grant to expand computer classes at the library

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

Community: DIGITIZING YOURSELF INTO THE INTERNET COMMUNITY

SANTA ANA, CA (April 3, 2012) – The Santa Ana Library has been awarded a grant by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. The grant, entitled “Digitizing Yourself into the Internet Community,” will enable the library to expand its current basic computer classes with brand new courses taught by experts. These classes will help Santa Ana residents build the skills necessary to participate fully in the digital world. Continue reading→

Sonia Rubio Carvalho is the new Santa Ana City Attorney

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Lawyers, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Community: Santa Ana Names BB&K Attorney as First Female Hispanic City Attorney

Sonia Carvalho Begins Duties in Unique Hybrid City Attorney Role to Save City Money

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Santa Ana City Council has named Sonia Rubio Carvalho as the city’s first-ever female Hispanic city attorney, hiring her to fill a unique hybrid position aimed at saving the city thousands of dollars in the long-term.

Carvalho will be a contract employee but perform all the duties of an in-house city attorney, which will save the city from paying her health and retirement benefits.

“I am honored to take on this unique role with Santa Ana, and I applaud them for thinking outside of the box and exploring a cost-savings business model,” she said. Continue reading→

OCTA bus terminal is no place for the homeless, according to city planners

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The Santa Ana Planning and Building Agency fired back today at those who are trying to force the City of Santa Ana to turn the vacant OCTA terminal building into permanent housing for the homeless.   The Planning Agency  sent a memo to City Manager Paul Walters, that you can read here, explaining in great detail why this is a very dumb idea.  Walters, in turn, sent that memo to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

The memo makes it clear that the City of Santa Ana wants to do its share to end homelessness, but the OCTA bus terminal building simply is not an appropriate place to shelter the homeless, for a number of reasons, including: Continue reading→

One dollar admission to the S.A. Zoo from 4/16 to 4/29 due to construction

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Family, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Santa Ana Zoo Walkway Replacement Project Brings Partial Zoo Closure

SANTA ANA, CA (March 21, 2012) – The Santa Ana Zoo is getting new walkways as part of a construction project in late April to replace all of the zoo’s old asphalt paths. As a result, a major portion of the zoo where most of the exotic animals and monkeys are exhibited will be closed from Monday, April 16, through Sunday, April 29. The front areas of the zoo not affected by the construction (the Crean Family Farm, the Exploration Outpost activity center, playground, gift shop, Knowlwood Café, maze, Zoofari Express train ride and the Conservation Carrousel) will remain open to the public during the construction project.  Continue reading→

Santa Ana to host a climate action plan community meeting on 3/27

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Energy, Green, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Community: Climate Action Plan Community Meeting

SANTA ANA, CA (March 13, 2012) – The City of Santa Ana is developing a Climate Action Plan to help improve the environment. The Climate Action Plan will outline strategies to reduce Santa Ana’s greenhouse gas emissions from both the City’s municipal operations and the community. The public is invited to join us in this discussion. Continue reading→

Santa Ana restaurant stakeholders to discuss new alcohol policies on 3/20

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Civic Affairs, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Restaurant Community Stakeholder Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the City Hall Ross Annex First Floor Conference Room 1600, 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, to discuss the proposed changes to alcohol policies in the Santa Ana Municipal Code. Continue reading→

Santa Ana to give preference to local businesses on qualified city contracts

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Jobs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

 

CITY OF SANTA ANA HELPS LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH LOCAL PREFERENCE ORDINANCE 

SANTA ANA, CA (March 6, 2012) – The Santa Ana City Council voted unanimously at its March 5th meeting to give preference to local businesses on qualifying city contracts. “The City Council supports business friendly principles and we’re taking active steps to help local companies succeed,” said Councilwoman Michele Martinez. 

The ordinance provides a new incentive for local businesses. Santa Ana businesses will be given a 7% preference when they bid on City contracts. And Orange County based businesses can be eligible for a 4% preference. “We help our businesses, as well as the City, when we keep dollars in the community” explained Councilman Vincent Sarmiento. “Studies show that these benefits are multiplied within the community and will have a positive effect for many within the City” added Councilman David Benavides.  Continue reading→

Walters hailed for restoring public safety and the Santa Ana city budget

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Paul Walters, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD 3 Comments

“Two decades ago, Orange County’s largest city was mired in gang violence. Nearly 90 people were killed during its bloodiest year. The crime rate climbed to 76 per 1,000 residents, ” according to Cal Chiefs News.  What is the rest of the story?  “In 2011, only 12 people were killed. The overall violent crime rate plummeted below 25 per 1,000 residents. In December, Forbes magazine crowned Santa Ana as America’s fourth safest big city.”

Walters has done such a great job as our Chief of Police that he is on the cover of the latest issue of “Behind the Badge.”  Walters credits “experience, relationships, a great team, and consistency” for his department’s success.

Walters has also done a great job as Santa Ana’s interim City Manager.  In fact even Voice of OC reporter Adam Elmahrek, who has been critical of the Santa Ana City Council, has had to admit that Walters has pulled the city “back from the brink.”  Here are a few excerpts from Elmahrek’s latest article: Continue reading→