Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Miguel Pulido

Councilwoman Martinez says she won’t mind if she isn’t reelected in November

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Angelica Amezcua, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Mirna Velasquez, Orange County, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 27 Comments

Michele Martinez whining

Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez, told NBC News this week that she “will not mind if she isn’t reelected in November.”  She was interviewed after this week’s City Council meeting had to be canceled after a punk in a “F*ck the police” hat wouldn’t leave.

“As I sat here and listened to all the comments, it’s really disheartening. People want to come here and threaten us,” said Martinez. “At the end of the day let me tell you I can go to sleep at night, so I don’t care if you feel that I have not done a job that you’ve asked me to do.”

The sad reality for Martinez is that she has been pandering to the FTP crowd for some time – but as she saw on Tuesday night they are insatiable.  They are anarchists and nothing she or any other politician does is going to mollify them. Continue reading→

Why the Voice of OC keeps attacking Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, irvine, Joe Dunn, Labor, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Dunn and Chemerinsky

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Irvine School of Law, told the O.C. Register, regarding the young man who wore a profane “FTP” hat that resulted in the shut down of this week’s Santa Ana City Council meeting, that he didn’t know if the hat’s profanity, or Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s actions, violated any Santa Ana city law. But, he said, by closing a public meeting and urging police to arrest people for staying, Pulido “clearly overreacted.”

How can Chemerinsky say that when “a large knife left behind was found” in the Council Chambers after the punks in question were cleared out, according to ABC7.

Here’s the problem with the Register quoting Chemerinsky – he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Voice of OC, a non-profit online news source funded by the Orange County Employee’s Association.  And Chemerinsky as well as fellow VOC Board Member Joe Dunn, have a beef with Pulido that goes back a few years. Continue reading→

Young man’s rude protest results in the shut down of tonight’s City Council meeting

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Free Speech, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 83 Comments

Bijan and his ridiculous hat

Mayor Miguel Pulido canceled Tuesday night’s Santa Ana City Council meeting after a man refused to remove a cap with an anti-police expletive on it, according to the OC Register.

The young man in question, identified as “Bijan” is affiliated with Santa Ana CopWatch. They posted this message on their Facebook page after the City Council meeting was shut down, “The city council meeting got shut down. The mayor and the cops tried a bluff saying that if we didn’t leave that we would get arrested. Over a hat. The cops were even showing off their cuffs. We stayed and it got shut down. Media was there so expect it in the news. In solidarity with all survivors and victims of police violence. From Santa Ana to Ferguson to Palestine: F*ck the Police.”

These actions were clearly premeditated.  The ruckus actually began over a month ago at a previous Council meeting when Mayor Miguel Pulido was upset that while he was trying to give service awards to two Santa Ana police officers there were protestors seated in the Council Chambers holding “f*ck the police” signs.  No one on the City Council said or did anything about that and in fact they all ignored the police too.  Pulido was the only one who congratulated them on their awards.  The meeting left a very negative impression on the members of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association and their President, John Franks, later sent a stern letter to the City Council announcing that unless they could control what happened at their meetings he would not allow his officers to receive awards in Chambers but instead they would be given out at the SAPD headquarters. Continue reading→

Pulido endorsed by the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs’ PAC

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Miguel Pulido, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

AOCDS endorsement of Pulido

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has been endorsed by the Political Action Committee of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS) – his latest key public safety endorsement.  The Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA) has also endorsed Mayor Pulido as has the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association.

The AOCDS PAC wrote in their endorsement letter that Pulido’s re-election will “make our community safer.” Continue reading→

Team Santa Ana falls apart as Benavides declares war on Tinajero

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Alex Padilla, Angelica Amezcua, Gangs, John Palacio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Mirna Velasquez, Planning, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua 21 Comments

Team Santa Ana Broken

Team Santa Ana appears to be finished as Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides posted a snarky picture of the Team Santa Ana walk piece with Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero’s face covered up.  The picture was posted on Benavides’ Facebook page, Twitter account and Instragam account before he came to his senses and deleted the entries.   The damage however was already done.  The Santa Ana Spring is over.

What happened?  This all goes back to the ongoing ruckus on the Santa Ana Planning Commission where Commissioner Phil Bacerra has dug in his heels and steadfastly refused to turn in his communication disclosure forms.  All of the other Planning Commissioners have done so but Bacerra had to be threatened by the Santa Ana City Council’s Ethics Committee, which consists of Tinajero and Councilwoman Angie Amezcua, before he finally turned in what I am told are heavily redacted disclosure forms that may not in fact be all that accurate.

Why do these forms matter?  It all comes down to transparency.  The public deserves to know who the Planning Commissioners are talking to about city business.  Why did Bacerra drag his feet for so long before finally turning in the forms, after being threatened with removal from the Planning Commission?  That is the crux of the matter.  Has Bacerra been shaking down those who have business with the Planning Commission for donations to the Benavides reelection campaign?  Is this why Benavides has been running interference for Bacerra? Continue reading→

The OC Professional Firefighters Association is backing Mayor Pulido

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Labor, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Mayor Pulido, Fire Truck

The Orange County Professional Firefighters Association has announced that they are endorsing Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido in this year’s November General Election.

This is the second major public safety endorsement that Pulido has picked up this week.  He was endorsed yesterday by the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, as we reported. Continue reading→

Pulido and Velasquez endorsed by the Santa Ana Police Officers Association

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Mirna Velasquez, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Mirna Velasquez and Carlos Rojas

The Santa Ana Police Officers Association has announced their endorsements with regard to the upcoming November City Council election.  While it was not surprising to see them endorse incumbents David Benavides and Sal Tinajero, in Wards 4 and 6, it was refreshing to see them back a challenger, Mirna Velasquez, in Ward 2.

SAPOA also is backing Mayor Miguel Pulido instead of Roman Reyna. Continue reading→

The Feds grant Santa Ana $1.2M to hire ten more cops

Posted on by Posted in Miguel Pulido, Public Safety, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Pulido with the police

City of Santa Ana,  Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: CITY OF SANTA ANA AWARDED $1.2 MILLION TO HIRE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS – COPS GRANT FUNDING ANNOUNCED

SANTA ANA, CA (September 30, 2014) – The City of Santa Ana was awarded with over $1.2 Million for the hiring of ten additional police officers by the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The award represents the largest allocation in Southern California and will be used to meet the City’s public safety hiring goals.

“This is great news for the City of Santa Ana,” said Mayor Miguel Pulido. “Public safety is the community’s number one priority and with our new strengthened financial position we will be able to take advantage of this grant and hire much needed police officers. Having recently gone on a ride along with our officers I know first-hand how this funding will make an impact.” Continue reading→

Mayor Miguel Pulido to host a State of the City reception on 9/30

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Pulido breakfast

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is hosting a campaign breakfast reception that will include a “State of the City” update on September 30, 2014, from 7:30 am to 9:30 am at the Bowers Museum, in the John Lee Court, at 2002 N. Main St., in Santa Ana.

Tables are available for $2,000 and individual tickets are available for $200.  Please RSVP to Alisha Mendoza at (213) 891-2965 or via email here.

About Mayor Pulido

Since he was first elected to the Santa Ana City Council in 1986, Mayor Miguel Pulido has been a major force in the renaissance and economic revitalization of the City.  He is currently serving his sixth term as Mayor and has proven to be a leader, not only within the community, but regionally and nationally.  Mayor Pulido has focused his efforts on improving the quality of life for all Santa Ana residents.   During his tenure the City has experienced a 58 percent reduction in crime, an increase in home values, a rise in the number of business licenses, an enhancement of the economic opportunities for the private sector, an overall revitalization of the City’s infrastructure and an expansion in social and culture venues. Continue reading→

Republican who once promoted Prop. 187 is now backing Roman Reyna for Mayor

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, David Benavides, irvine, Lupe Moreno, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Republican Party, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 18 Comments

Rosario Marin and her GOP pals

Rosario Marin, who worked for Gov. Wilson during the Prop. 187 campaign, is now promoting Roman Reyna

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday that repeals unenforceable provisions of Proposition 187, the two-decade-old measure that sought to withhold public services from immigrants in the country illegally, according to the L.A. Times.

Ironically Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna announced today that Rosario Marin, a Republican who served as President George W. Bush’s U.S. Treasurer, would be the keynote speaker at a Reyna for Mayor campaign reception on Sep. 23.  Marin worked as Governor Pete Wilson’s chief of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Developmental Services starting in 1996 and in 1997, she was named deputy director of Govern Wilson’s Office of Community Relations. In that position Marin had to defend the administration’s support for Prop. 187, according to Wikipedia. Continue reading→

Ward 4 City Council candidate Padilla to host a campaign reception on Sep. 18

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Alex Padilla, David Benavides, Entertainment, Miguel Pulido, Mike Gonzalez, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Alex Padilla for City Council

Alex Padilla, our endorsed candidate for Ward 4 on the Santa Ana City Council, is hosting a campaign reception on Thursday, Sep. 18, 2014, from 6 to 8 pm, at his family’s home, at 2542 S. Rene Dr., in Santa Ana.  Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido will be speaking at this event.

Tacos and refreshments will be provided courtesy of Mexicanisimo Restaurant, which his owned by another of our endorsed Council candidates, Mike Gonzalez, who is running for Ward 6.  RSVP here or call 714-724-6114.

Continue reading→

Com Link to be honored at the next City Council meeting on 9/16

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Miguel Pulido, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana 5 Comments

2010-2011 Com-Link Board

City of Santa Ana

Advisory: MAYOR TO HONOR COMMUNICATION LINKAGE FORUM & CITY COUNCIL TO HONOR MANY MORE AT TUESDAY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING

SANTA ANA, CA (September 16, 2014) – The public is invited to attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 as the Mayor and City Council will recognize Communication Linkage Forum (also known as Com-Link) in honor of their 25th Anniversary.

Com-Link was founded in 1989 when a small group of residents met together with the idea that somehow there should be a way of strengthening communication and engagement among neighborhoods, residents, businesses and city departments. Continue reading→

Mayor Pulido to discuss mosquito spraying plans with city officials and Vector Control

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Disease, Health and Medical, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

West Nile Virus Map

Mayor Pulido to meet with city officials to discuss the OC Vector Control District’s spraying plan

By Mayor Miguel Pulido

SANTA ANA – Mayor Miguel Pulido will be meeting on Monday morning with Santa Ana city officials, including the City Manager, David Cavazos, to discuss the proposed spraying of an insecticide in Santa Ana’s neighborhoods by the Orange County Vector Control District.  The intent of the spraying program is to kill mosquitoes so as to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus transmission in Orange County.

Mayor Pulido is concerned about the short public notice about the spraying as the press release announcing the spraying was distributed last Friday and the Vector Control District was planning to start spraying as early as this Monday, September 8, 2014.

The spraying has since been called off temporarily due to unfavorable weather, as disclosed in an updated press release. Continue reading→

The OCDA slaps down the Santa Ana City Council and the City Attorney

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, OCDA, Sonia Carvalho 1 Comment

The Orange County District Attorney’s office slapped down the Santa Ana City Council and the Santa Ana City Attorney today after the City Council threatened to out a confidential report on their investigation into a real estate deal between Mayor Miguel Pulido and a city contractor, according to the Voice of OC.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Lubinski outlined the DA’s position in a letter sent today to City Attorney Sonia Carvalho. Lubinski claims Carvalho backtracked on her own confidentiality request regarding the city’s report, which was referred to the DA’s office over six months ago.

“I do not understand your change of position,” Lubinski writes. “The disclosure of confidential reports is premature and should not be released until our investigation has concluded to ensure justice.” Continue reading→

City Council’s ongoing attack on Mayor Pulido comes up empty again

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, OCDA, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Tinajero, Martinez and Benavides

Santa Ana City Council members voted Tuesday in closed session to release to the public the city attorney’s report on Mayor Miguel Pulido’s property swap case on Sept. 30 if District Attorney Tony Rackauckas or the state’s political watchdog don’t file criminal charges against the mayor by then, according to the Voice of OC.

What is this all about? In 2010, members of the Pulido family traded a parking lot they owned to Rupen James Akoubian, owner of NAPA Orange County Auto Parts, in exchange for a house in Westminster. According to the public assessor’s appraisals, the fair market value of the house was more than twice as much as the Pulidos’ lot, according to the Voice of OC.

The family later transferred the house solely into the mayor’s name, and he ultimately sold it for nearly $400,000, netting a $197,000 profit. Meanwhile, Akoubian’s store received a $1.35 million, no-bid city contract to supply auto parts to the municipal vehicle fleet.

So did Pulido break any laws?  Let’s look at this point by point: Continue reading→