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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Carlos Bustamante

Martinez pushes the Santa Ana City Council to review term limits on Monday

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Ream, Democratic Party, Eric Alderete, Karina Onofre, Latinos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Play time is over – the Santa Ana City Council appears to be rebelling against Mayor Pulido

“The Santa Ana City Council is scheduled July 16 to consider a ballot measure that for the first time could place a term limit on longtime Mayor Miguel Pulido and change term limits for other council members,” according to the Voice of OC.

Council Member Michele Martinez placed an 85 A item on the agenda that reads as follows, “DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL BALLOT MEASURE REGARDING MAYORAL AND COUNCIL TERM LIMITS.”

Both Martinez and her colleague, Council Member David Benavides, ripped Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez this week, on Facebook, when Alvarez’ ally, Santa Ana Parks and Rec Commissioner Max Madrid, filed a lawsuit to compel the Santa Ana City Clerk to issue nomination papers to Alvarez.  She is seeking to run again in November, for reelection, although she appears to be termed out. Continue reading→

San Fernando councilman who had an affair resigns – what about Bustamante?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, Eric Alderete, Lawyers, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Women 3 Comments

A married San Fernando councilman who publicly revealed that he was having an affair with a colleague last year has resigned, according to he L.A. Times, which also stated that “Councilman Mario Hernandez’s resignation came just days after the City Council unexpectedly fired the city’s police chief.”

Hernandez had an affair with a fellow Council Member, and he did the right thing and resigned.  What about Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante?  He has been charged with a plethora of felony sex crimes and public theft, and Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas basically called him a predator.  Why hasn’t Bustamante done the right thing and resign from the Santa Ana City Council? Continue reading→

Bustamante allegedly plans to attend closed Council sessions only

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 14 Comments

Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante, who was arrested earlier this month on a plethora of felony sex crime and public theft charges, is out on bail now and according to a city hall insider he is allegedly planning on attending closed sessions of the Santa Ana City Council, but he won’t be attending public sessions.

My source reports that Bustamante wants to keep getting his Council stipend, his car allowance, and his health benefits, but he does not want to face the music by putting himself in the public square. Continue reading→

Shouldn’t Daly be investigated for alleged Bustamante-like behavior?

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Crime, Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly, Women Leave a comment

Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante’s arrest is a tragic situation that should have been resolved many years earlier.

I am deeply disappointed by our County government’s inability to quickly identify and take swift action against all those who didn’t do their job – upholding a workplace that is free from sexual harassment, abuse of authority and abuse of women.

It is a tragedy that many in our County government choose not to listen or turned a blind eye, possibly thinking an investigation would be too embarrassing, too financially costly or as seemingly apparent, a way to protect one of their own, regardless of the potential for serious criminal charges. Continue reading→

Ward 3 Council candidate Alderete releases his campaign issues

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Democratic Party, Eric Alderete, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

 

Santa Ana Ward 3 candidate Eric Alderete has posted an article on his campaign Facebook page outlining the issues he is running on.  Alderete is the only announced candidate for Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council.  The incumbent, Council Member Carlos Bustamante, was arrested on Monday and charged with numerous felony sex crimes and public theft.

Here is Alderete’s article:

The Issues I’m Building My Campaign Around

by Eric M. Alderete Continue reading→

Mayor Miguel Pulido should join those asking Bustamante to resign now

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Sean Mill 22 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has been silent thus far on the matter of whether or not Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante should resign from the City Council, now that he is facing a number of felony sex crime and public theft charges.  My sources tell me though that he is standing by Bustamante.

Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Sean Mill sent an email to Pulido earlier today, asking him to join in the call for Bustamante’s resignation.  You may also email Pulido at this link.  Here’s Mill’s email message to Pulido: Continue reading→

Planning Commissioner Alderete to run for Bustamante’s City Council seat

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Eric Alderete, Jose Solorio, Lou Correa, Michele Martinez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Sean Mill, Vince Sarmiento 20 Comments

Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Eric Alderete has announced that he will campaign for Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council, which is currently held by Council Member Carlos Bustamante, who was arrested last week on a plethora of sex crime and public theft charges.   Ward 3 opens up in November, although Bustamante could still run for reelection.

Alderete has already racked up a number of powerful endorsements including those of: Continue reading→

Bustamante’s last hurrah was the Usual Suspects’ 2012 4th of July event

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, David Benavides, Francisco Barragan, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 5 Comments

It turns out that Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante’s last hurrah was the 2nd Annual Santa Ana Independence Day event at Centennial Park, which was held last Sunday.   He was arrested the very next day, after parking his car in a parking structure at City Hall, on charges of sex crimes and public theft.

One of the things that always bothered me about Bustamante was his overstated patriotism and gung ho attitude towards public safety.  It always felt fake to me.  He once compared himself to movie character Forrest Gump, a pretty dumb guy who made out over time by being in the right place at the right time.  That is the story of Bustamante’s life. Continue reading→

Bustamante almost ended up on the state civil rights commission…

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Twin devils of deception

Everyone in Santa Ana is talking about the arrest of Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante, on multiple felony counts of various sex crimes, but most folks have forgotten that former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger once appointed Bustamante to the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission, back in January of 2008.

When I found out about the appointment I could not believe it.  Even then we knew Bustamante had some issues with women, but when I first wrote about the appointment, over at my old Orange Juice blog, I tackled the issue from a different standpoint – pointing out the fact that Santa Ana was a leader in home foreclosures – and Bustamante had done nothing at all about that. Continue reading→

Supervisor Moorlach addresses Bustamante arrest in email update

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, John Moorlach, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Subject: MOORLACH UPDATE — Carlos Bustamante — July 3, 2012
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 21:45:01 +0000
From: Moorlach, John

To refresh your memory, you may want to reread MOORLACH UPDATE — Closed Sessions — March 14, 2012, which I am providing below. The reason I refer to this UPDATE is that I was unable to comment publicly on this issue until a thorough investigation had been concluded. The District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, and his staff completed their investigation and arrested Santa Ana Councilman and former Orange County employee Carlos Bustamante yesterday evening. Continue reading→

Remarks by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas regarding Bustamante charges

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Courts, Crime, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Remarks by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas
Charges Against Carlos Bustamante

July 3, 2012

When a person is elected to public office, or accepts a taxpayer-funded high-ranking executive position, that person owes a duty of trust to the public to protect the powers of that position.

One holds such a position not as an owner, but as a steward for a limited time. Holding such a position is a privilege bestowed by the public, and we must do all we can to safeguard the public’s trust. Continue reading→

Councilman Bustamante charged with sexual assaults and theft of public funds

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Orange County District Attorney
Press Release, For Immediate Release:  July 3, 2012
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

SANTA ANA CITY COUNCILMAN AND FORMER HIGH-RANKING EXECUTIVE FOR COUNTY OF ORANGE CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

SANTA ANA – A Santa Ana City Councilman who was a former high-ranking executive for the County of Orange until recent allegations related to this case surfaced has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting seven subordinates and committing grand theft of public funds. Continue reading→

Exclusive: Emails from one of Bustamante’s alleged lovers

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 42 Comments

 

Editor’s Note: Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante has been arrested on multiple felony charges.  We are taking this opportunity to bring back a post featuring exclusive emails from one of his alleged lovers.

Carlos Bustamante, an executive manager with the county’s Public Works department and a Santa Ana city councilman, has been placed on paid administrative leave from his county job, the county’s Human Resources director confirmed Thursday.  The leave was imposed after the county received an anonymous letter last month detailing allegations of a sexual nature against Bustamante, an executive manager overseeing Public Works’ Facilities and Fleet Services divisions, according to the O.C. Register.

I have known about this since May 19, 2009, when I first started to receive emails from an anonymous lady who claimed that she was having an affair with Bustamante.  In her emails, which continued through March of this year, she outlined everything that had gone on between her and Bustamante. Continue reading→

Alvarez gets the last laugh as Bustamante gets arrested

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Courts, Crime, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Alvarez couldn’t help but smile at tonight’s City Council meeting…

Remember when Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante went after his colleague, Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, after she compared landlord and developer Irv Chases’s business practices to Adolf Hitler’s ethnic cleansing?  Well, last week the Orange County Grand Jury found that Alvarez was right about Chase and his friends at Downtown, Inc. – in a report that slammed the Santa Ana PBID tax.  And Bustamante?  Well he is now rotting in jail after being arrested today on multiple felony and misdemeanor counts.

When Bustamante raises bail he will have quite a few decisions to make – like hiring a lawyer, but eventually he will also have to write his formal letter of resignation.  His time on the Santa Ana City Council is done.

I expect that one of our City Commissioners will be named to replace him – perhaps one of the many Planning Commissioners who live in Ward 3.  Bustamante’s seat will be available this November in the General Election and his replacement will have a leg up on the rest of the competition. Continue reading→

Councilman Carlos Bustamante arrested on multiple felony counts

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, Republican Party, Santa Ana 10 Comments

For Immediate Release: July 2, 2012
Case # 12CF1964
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO: Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas

WHAT: Will hold a press conference to discuss the criminal charges against Santa Ana City Councilman and former administration manager for Orange County Public Works Carlos Bustamante. Continue reading→