Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Miguel Pulido

Benavides and Bustamante thwarted by the Santa Ana City Council

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 11 Comments

The Santa Ana City Council just voted on the 85 A item that was put on the agenda tonight, by Council Members Carlos Bustamante and David Benavides.  They said they weren’t trying to punish Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, but that is precisely what they were trying to do.

The Council voted 4-3 for an alternate motion submitted by Council Member Vince Sarmiento, condemning Alvarez’ comments last week, when she used a Hitler analogy in talking about Jewish property owner and developer Irv Chase.

Surprisingly, Council Member Michele Martinez sided with the “B-Boys.”  However they could not get four votes.  Indeed, they got punked.  Council Members Pulido, Sarmiento, Tinajero and Alvarez voted for the substitute motion. Continue reading→

Live blogging – Alvarez vs. Bustamante and Benavides at the Council meeting

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 12 Comments

I am covering tonight’s Santa Ana City Council meeting – which figures to be an epic confrontation between Republican Council Member Carlos Bustamante and his sidekick, David Benavides vs. Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.  The “B Boys” have put an 85 A item on the agenda to punish and maybe even ask Alvarez to resign from the Council.

This all came about as a result of an analogy made by Alvarez at the last Council meeting, when she compared developer and property owner Irv Chase to Adolf Hitler.  She has since apologized. Continue reading→

Benavides and Bustamante to attack Alvarez at the 9/6 City Council meeting

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 66 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has faced a withering attack this week, even though she has already apologized for her ill-chosen analogy, comparing developer and landlord Irv Chase, who it turns out is Jewish, to Adolf Hitler.  She might have made it through this mini-storm if her colleagues had stuck by her but I don’t think any of them are willing to take a stand for her.  It has as such become increasingly likely that she may step down as Mayor Pro Tem, although I suspect that she will remain on the Santa Ana City Council.

This could happen at the next Santa Ana City Council meeting on Sep. 6.  Council Member David Benavides and his Republican amigo, Carlos Bustamante, have placed an 85A item on the Council Agenda, targeting Alvarez.   Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council will host a PBID Public Hearing on 8/24

Posted on by Posted in Business, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Entertainment, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 9 Comments

The Santa Ana City Council is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, August 24, at 5 pm.  The biggest item on the agenda is a public hearing regarding the controversial Downtown Santa Ana PBID – an annual assessment that has succeeded in cleaning up and marketing Downtown Santa Ana.

I have no idea how the Santa Ana City Council will approach the PBID, but I do know that Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has a real problem with Downtown, Inc., the organization that runs the PBID.  I think Downtown, Inc. can count on Mayor Miguel Pulido and Council Members Carlos Bustamante, Vince Sarmiento and David Benavides.  I am not sure where Council Members Sal Tinajero and Michele Martinez are on the PBID.  I think they are supportive of the proposed changes to the PBID’s boundaries, bit they may want even more changes.

Here are the details about the Public Hearing: Continue reading→

Will the soccer haters apologize now that the Chivas are not coming to town?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana, Soccer, Sports 12 Comments

Pictured: The Board of the Santa Ana Soccer and Business Association, with Miguel Pulido and Vince Sarmiento

The Voice of OC is reporting that we were right – the Chivas USA soccer team is NOT moving to Santa Ana after all.  Will Santa Ana’s soccer-hating Usual Suspects now apologize for creating mass hysteria about the proposed move – which was really never more than a pipe dream?

The Voice of OC’s Adam Elmahrek interviewed Edgar Vasquez of the Santa Ana Soccer and Business Association.  We first reported about Vasquez and his new organization way back in January of this year, when they met with Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido. Continue reading→

Perez should drop out now that Martinez is running for the 69th A.D.

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, california, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez made an interesting announcement this morning on her Facebook page, “Good Morning! I wanted to share some great news with all of you. In the next week or so I will officially declare my candidacy for the 69 Assembly District. Michele Martinez.”

I have been tracking this story for weeks.  For awhile it looked like Councilman Vince Sarmiento was going to run but his wife put the kibosh on that.  Then it looked like Councilman Sal Tinajero was going to run – but now it is Martinez who is going to run for Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s 69th Assembly District, when he terms out in 2012. Continue reading→

How and why I ended up helping Pulido to defeat Amezcua last year

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Ream, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Sean Mill, Vince Sarmiento 10 Comments

Former Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream was not a fan of the Orange Juice blog

I have taken a lot of heat over the past couple of years because I ended up supporting Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido for Mayor last year – and I was retained by his consultant to design his campaign blog. This left a few of my friends scratching their heads.

I fought Pulido and his allies for over fifteen years – and flayed them onthe political blog I created, the Orange Juice. The Orange Juice blog changed Santa Ana politics.  It broke down the barriers built up by now retired Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream.  We went after him and his allies with such a vengeance that they monitored our site all day long.   Continue reading→

Should the Santa Ana City Council hire Paul Walters as the new City Manager?

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 13 Comments

[poll id=”6″]

We broke the story that the Santa Ana City Council suspended the search for a new City Manager, and today the O.C. Register followed up with a new article indicating that SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters, who has been serving as the Interim Santa Ana City Manager, now wants to be considered as an applicant for the job on a permanent basis.

Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez told the Register that more than fifty candidates have applied for the City Manager job.  That is not surprising.  Santa Ana is the Orange County seat and the city has a lot going for it. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: Pulido regains control

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 21 Comments

Can’t let a rainy day go by without a new edition of Santa Ana Political Chismes, can we?  Church doesn’t start for another hour, so here goes…

  • The Voice of OC recently reported that “As the Santa Ana City Council goes about choosing a new city manager and city attorney — two decisions that will affect the city for years to come — it has become increasingly clear that Mayor Miguel Pulido is not controlling the process.”  Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has lost control of the Santa Ana City Council, however as it turns out he has actually regained control – in his usual fashion.  He has a solid troika, with Councilmen David Benavides and Carlos Bustamante – and now he can add a fourth vote pretty easily.  What changed?  Well, Sarmiento is getting cold feet about running for the Assembly.  One of the other Council Members is going to run for Solorio’s seat – who exactly is not yet known.  What we do know however is that they will have to play ball with Pulido in order to get the support they will need to proceed to Sacramento. Continue reading→

Has the City of Santa Ana suspended its city manager search?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Ream, David Benavides, Latinos, Lawyers, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Several sources in and around Santa Ana’s City Hall are reporting that the City of Santa Ana has suspended their search for a new city manager.  I am told that this was also conveyed to a reporter from the Voice of OC today.  However, another source reported that there is no suspension.  The truth is likely somewhere in between…

My sources said that an argument will be made that conducting a national search for a new city manager is too expensive and that we ought to just roll with interim City Manager Paul Walters, who also serves as our Chief of Police, to save money.

The downside of this however is that the defacto city manager is now none other than longtime assistant to the last city manager, Jill Arthur.  Apparently Walters is leaning on her a lot – and she is now effectively running the 8th floor. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Parks and Rec Director Mouet appointed to the O.C. Fair Board

Posted on by Posted in california, Costa Mesa, Democratic Party, Governor Jerry Brown, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Gerardo Mouet, 53, of Santa Ana, has been appointed to the 32nd District Agricultural Association, Orange County Fair Board, by California Governor Jerry Brown, according to the California Newswire.

Mouet has served in multiple positions with the City of Santa Ana since 1990, serving as executive director of Parks and Recreation since 2004.  In that position he oversees a number of city departments including the Santa Ana Zoo and the Santa Ana Library. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council at odds over next City Attorney

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Lawyers, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 9 Comments

I got a call earlier today from a fellow who is very tight with various elements at the Santa Ana City Hall, regarding the search for our next City Attorney. He gave me the name of the Latina he said was going to get the job, and I ran with it – only to get a call later from another City Hall insider saying that the candidate in question was not yet on board, and I needed to pull my post.

So I did. However, I am being told that we are down to two candidates – a Latina who works at a public entity in a very large city, and a Filipino candidate from Los Angeles. Continue reading→

Amezcua’s old pal Ojeda, of the Mexican Mafia, gets busted again

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Courts, Crime, Gangs, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 10 Comments

A chill must have gone up failed Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua’s spine this morning when he cracked open the newspaper and found out that “Federal and state authorities charged 99 alleged Orange County gang members with crimes including murder, drug trafficking and extortion, at least half or whom were associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang,” according to NPR. Continue reading→

Mayor Pulido tries to save historical trees at Santa Ana High School

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Education, Green, Historical, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 5 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido personally intervened to save three jacaranda trees at Santa Ana High School, after he found out that the SAUSD School Board had approved the destruction of those trees and a number of historical deodora pine trees to pave the way for a new drop-off and pick-up area, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Vincent Sarmiento to host an early 4th of July reception on June 30

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Latino Leaders, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Santa Ana Councilman Vincent Sarmiento is hosting an an early 4th of July Reception on Thursday June 30, 2011, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, along with Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Mayor Miguel Pulido and the entire Santa Ana City Council.

Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and fine wine at one of Santa Ana’s premier restaurants – South Coast Winery Restaurant & Tasting Room, located at 3608 South Bristol, in Santa Ana.

RSVP’s can be made at VSarmiento4Council@gmail.com or by calling (714) 245-9999.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Sarmiento is going to be running for Solorio’s 69th Assembly District seat in 2012.  Right now it looks like OC Labor political Director Julio Perez, a complete unknown, will be getting hammered by Sarmiento in the Democratic primary.