New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Michele Martinez

Council majority adds item to dismiss Walters to next week’s meeting agenda

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 37 Comments

The Santa Ana Council Majority has placed an item, 1C, on the agenda for the next Council Meeting, on Jan. 22, that reads:

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE AND/OR

POTENTIAL DISMISSAL/RELEASE pursuant to Government Code Section

54957(b)(1)

Title: City Manager

This is it folks. They are going to move to fire our City Manager, Paul Walters. They apparently did not learn a thing from the last Council meeting, on Jan. 7, when dozens of local residents and business leaders, including OCTA Chairman Greg Winterbottom, SAUSD Trustee and Local Attorney Jose Hernandez, and Com Link Chair Evangeline Gawronski, ripped them a new one for threatening to fire Walters. Imagine how many folks will turn out for next week’s meeting? Continue reading→

Poll: Does Santa Ana really need a new City Manager?

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Gerardo Mouet, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Politics, Santa Ana 17 Comments

Maybe Michele Martinez needs a time machine so she can vote again for a new City Manager?

So this is what it has come down to. The two or three defenders of the Santa Ana City Council majority are now pleading on the blogs, anonymously of course, for a new national search for a new City Manager even though we already have one and he was selected unanimously by the Council. And they gave him a contract that pretty much backfires on them if they can him.

The reality folks is that the Council Majority is desperate to take complete power at City Hall and that is not going to happen as long as Paul Walters is at the helm. Note that former Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez is gone now. She was the one who kept these guys from breaking the law. The good news is that now she can come after them as an Orange County Deputy District Attorney – and that is just what it might come down to. Continue reading→

Poll: Should any of our Council members be recalled over the Walters flap?

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2013 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 41 Comments

What to do? Our Santa Ana City Council majority has lost it. Now Council Member David Benavides is back from his travels – apparently he flew to India with his church. And so they are ready to resume their horrible attack on our City Manager, Paul Walters. What is driving this? Who knows? Hatred of our popular Mayor, Miguel Pulido? Pressure from the police union, which wants a big contract? Apartment developers who want to build high density units that Pulido won’t allow? Who knows?

What we do know is that it might well be time to strike back. And one way to do that would be to start a recall – and remove these miscreants from our Council. But who to recall? Michele Martinez? That would be a good start. She certainly has been the vortex of the Walter attacks. Benavides? He allowed his supporters to attack Pulido’s kids during his failed mayoral campaign. Vincent Sarmiento? He almost lost in November to a total unknown. Sal Tinajero? He already survived the recall of his pal Nativo Lopez, from the SAUSD School Board, back in the day. Can he survive another one? Roman Reyna? He seems to be going along with the Walters lynch mob…

Here is your chance to be heard! I have set up the poll below so that you may vote to recall one of the Council Members, or more, or all of them, or perhaps none of them. You decide! Continue reading→

It is time to Save our City Manager, Paul Walters!

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Santa Ana 63 Comments

You can now express your support for our great City Manager, Paul Walters, on a new blog and on a new Facebook page. And be sure to show up to the next Santa Ana City Council meeting, on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 5 pm, to speak up for Walters. Bring signs and tell your friends and neighbors.

Our ridiculous Santa Ana City Council majority continues to wage war on Walters, who saved our city from a horrible budget crisis last year. Why isn’t the Council focusing on the problems our city faces? Where are their good ideas? These insane people would rather bring down one of Orange County’s best public administrators than work to improve Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: the return of Thomas Gordon?

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Alcohol, Cecilia Aguinaga, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Frank Barbaro, Julio Perez, Labor, Latinos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Public Safety, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 14 Comments

The Return of Thomas Gordon?

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero thought he was being rather clever when he moved community activist Thomas Gordon out of his ward, when the City Council changed the Council ward map before the general election in November. But now I am hearing that Gordon has moved back into Ward 6 – and he will be ready to take on Tinajero in 2014.

Gordon tried to run against Tinajero in 2010, when a Vietnamese American and a Latina also filed to run against Tinajero. There was evidence that appeared to indicate that Gordon was involved in their campaigns, which made sense as this would have been the ultimate vote split. But the Santa Ana City Clerk tossed out Gordon’s signatures, including his own, and he waited too long to turn in his signatures, so there wasn’t time to get more. Continue reading→

Exclusive: Recall campaign against Council Member Martinez may be underway

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2013 Elections, Civic Affairs, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 63 Comments

So it begins. I am told, on good authority, that a Santa Ana businesswoman and resident named Cherie Kerr allegedly went to City Hall today to begin the process of recalling Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez. This is, no doubt, fallout from Martinez’ attack on Mayor Miguel Pulido and City Manager Paul Walters. Martinez, and the Council Majority, have recently declared war on Walters, even though he has done a fine job as our City Manager and previously as our Chief of Police.

I have been saying for awhile that eventually the Council’s ridiculous behavior would end up in a recall and here we are. Remember that Pulido and his supporters previously recalled former SAUSD Trustee Nativo Lopez, who at the time was allied with current Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero – who previously served on the SAUSD School Board. Continue reading→

The Council’s chismosos are wrong about Walters resigning

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 10 Comments

“Amid swirling rumors that members of the Santa Ana City Council majority have asked City Manager Paul Walters to resign by Friday, the city’s chief bureaucrat declared Thursday that he plans to remain in the top slot for five to six years,” according to Adam Elmahrek, over at the Voice of OC.

Now you might be wondering about those rumors – who exactly is spreading this B.S.? Could it be the SAME Council Members who recently had a cow because Mayor Miguel Pulido allegedly acted as a community organizer by calling a few folks and asked them to show up at the last Santa Ana Council Meeting, in support of Walters? Continue reading→

Has the Council forgotten that they voted unanimously to hire Walters?

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 40 Comments

The lame Santa Ana City Council Majority want us to believe that Mayor Miguel Pulido forced them to hire current City Manager Paul Walters, but they were all there at the City Council meeting on May 21, according to the meeting minutes, when they discussed the appointment of Paul Walters, who at the time was the Acting City Manager, in closed session. It should be noted that three Council Members were late to that meeting – Vince Sarmiento, David Benavides and Michele Martinez.

Those Council Members are now accusing Mayor Miguel Pulido of violating the Brown Act, but what were they doing arriving late to that May meeting – and walking in together to boot? Did they have an illegal “pre-meeting?” Continue reading→

Martinez and Reyna flee the Council meeting early to escape Walters’ fans

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 22 Comments

Martinez left early tonight. Perhaps she had a party to get to?

Mission accomplished! So many fans of Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters showed up at tonight’s Santa Ana City Council meeting that Council Members Michele Martinez and Roman Reyna got up and fled the meeting early, breaking quorum and rendering the meeting useless, as Council Member David Benavides was in Mexico and new Council Member Angelica Amezcua was a no-show again.

Martinez has been pestering Walters for years – accusing him of arresting her half brother when she ran for Santa Ana Mayor. That is of course total BS as her half-brother has a different name and he was arrested for legitimate reasons – busting parole. This year Martinez has taken her battle to another level – calling for Walters’ dismissal even though he saved our city from a budget disaster last year. Continue reading→

Stand up for our City Manager at the Council meeting set for this Monday

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Public Safety, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 52 Comments

Supporters of Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters are expected to turn out in large numbers at this Monday’s City Council meeting, on Jan. 7, 2013, at 5:45 pm, at the Council Chambers, at 22 Civic Center Plaza, in Santa Ana.

Walters has come under fire as the current Santa Ana City Council majority has decided to come after him even though he saved our city from a budget fiasco last year and is even now our best hope to resolve the State of California’s demand for the return of some $56 million dollars in redevelopment funds. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: is the Benavides Council cabal out of control?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Taxes, Tom Daly, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

SARMIENTO WANTS TO CREATE A COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS DISSOLVING OTHER COMMITTEES

“The City Council has taken another step toward reducing the mayor’s authority by voting to give the council, rather than the mayor alone, the power to appoint members to council committees,” according to the O.C. Register.

I have no problem with that – in fact the Council Members hate serving on most of these committees and often run away from these assignments. Now they have no excuse.

But here is the funny part: Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Attorney to resign if the Council fires Walters?

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Lawyers, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Sonia Carvalho, Vince Sarmiento 31 Comments

Santa Ana City Attorney Sonia R. Carvalho has apparently had enough of the amateurs on the Santa Ana City Council and she is allegedly planning to resign – if the Council fires City Manager Paul Walters, according to my sources at City Hall.

Carvalho, a partner in the Municipal Law practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP, currently serves as the city attorney for the City of Claremont as well. She previously served as city attorney of Azusa (1998-2012), Colton (1998-2001) and Yorba Linda (2001-2010). Ms. Carvalho is also the co-chair of her law firm’s Public Policy and Ethics sub-practice group. Continue reading→

Poll: Who is Santa Ana’s 2012 Woman of the Year?

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Claudia Alvarez, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Karina Onofre, Loretta Sanchez, Michele Martinez, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Politics, Santa Ana, Women 28 Comments

This was a news-packed year in Santa Ana – and women were a big part of many of our leading stories this year. Now its time to pick our 2012 Woman of the Year. Are you ready to vote? You may vote for up to three candidates! Please let me know if I overlooked someone who should be added to the poll. Voting will close on Jan. 8, 2013.

Our nominees include popular politicians and community and education leaders, including Angelica Amezcua, the schoolteacher who came out of nowhere to win a seat on the Santa Ana City Councilp; Claudia Alvarez, who finished her last term as Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem and promptly got elected to the RSCCD Board of Trustees; Cecilia Iglesias, the newly minted Republican who ended up being the top vote-getter for the SAUSD School Board; and Delilah Snell, the creative mastermind of the Road Less Traveled and the Patchwork Festivals.

Here is our poll – be sure to vote for up to three candidates: Continue reading→

The Benavides Council Cabal doesn’t have a mandate to fire Paul Walters

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Karina Onofre, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Paul Walters, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 12 Comments

What is up with the Santa Ana City Council? In their quest to fire popular and successful City Manager Paul Walters, they are talking like tough guys – as if they have some sort of mandate. But do they?

Here’s what Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero told the O.C. Register after this week’s last minute closed-door meeting to ostensibly review the performance of City Manager Paul Walters and Sonia R. Carvalho, our City Attorney (who was added to the agenda just to make this look like less of a lynching of Walters):

“I don’t think he’s angered them,” Tinajero said of Walters. “It’s the mayor’s reluctance to address the fact that there are seven council members. The mayor has to realize that you don’t get to call all the shots.” Continue reading→

Updated: City Council to go after Walters on 12/27

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

UPDATED: There is now an agenda posted for a special City Council meeting set for Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 1:15 pm to evaluate the performance of the Santa Ana City Manager and City Attorney.

My sources are reporting that Santa Ana Council Member David Benavides is still planning on calling for a special Council meeting so that he and his cabal can try to fire Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters, even as the city struggles with the attempt by the State of California to seize $56 million dollars in redevelopment money from our city coffers. Continue reading→