New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Phil Bacerra

Why would two Planning Commissioners vote against transparency?

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Bruce T. Bauer, Eric Alderete, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Santa Ana, Sean Mill 39 Comments

Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Phil Bacerra

Why would two Santa Ana Planning Commissioners vote against transparency? That is what happened at tonight’s Santa Ana Planning Commission meeting when Planning Commissioners Phil Bacerra and Bruce Bauer voted against disclosure of communications by Planning Commissioners regarding agendized projects with third parties such as business owners and residents

Now why in the world would Bacerra and Bauer opt to hide in the shadows? This is particularly disturbing when you consider that Bacerra was appointed to the Santa Ana Planning Commission by Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides. You may recall that when Benavides ran for Mayor in 2012 he made transparency the cornerstone of his campaign. What happened? Continue reading→

Rogue Planning Commissioner refuses to fill out disclosure forms?

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Affordable Housing, Development, Eric Alderete, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Santa Ana, Sean Mill 25 Comments

Santa Ana’s Planning Commissioners were tasked this year with filling out disclosure forms when they talk to stakeholders about pending development projects. That is a reasonable request given how easy it would be for the Planning Commissioners to engage in monkey business.

The good news is almost all of the Planning Commissioners have acquiesced to this mandate. The bad news is that Phil Bacerra, the Planning Commissioner appointed by Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides, has reportedly refused to fill out the disclosure forms.

This came to light recently when Bacerra apparently worked both sides of the debate with regard to the upcoming Depot Affordable Housing units that will be located across from the Santa Ana Train Depot. Continue reading→

Aging adults still run Santa Ana even though the population is much younger

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Neighborhood Associations, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Santa Ana, Seniors 21 Comments

People over 65 make up only 6.8% of the City of Santa Ana, according to the U.S. Census – but they still rule this town.

Here’s how that works. Take a look at the Santa Ana Neighborhood Associations – they are mostly made up of adults over 45. The average member is closer to 65.

We live in the youngest city in Santa Ana. Over 30% of our population is under 30! There are 56,000 kids enrolled in the SAUSD’s K-12 schools (source – SAUSD)- and that does not include the Santa Ana schoolchildren who go to private schools or are in the Garden Grove Unified School District. Continue reading→

DTSA’s Memphis closes with a scare as a guy pulls a knife

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, David Benavides, Phil Bacerra, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Memphis at the Santora partied one last time last night, as they are closing down. But the night ended ominously as a suspect pulled a knife on David Hastie, a partner at the Memphis, which is located in Downtown Santa Ana (DTSA).

David wrote about this on his Facebook page – see the comments in the pictures below. Apparently David manned up and took the knife away from the suspect. David called the SAPD and he is pressing charges against the miscreant. And good news – David wasn’t hurt although I am sure his nerves were frazzled. Continue reading→

Benavides apparently wants to keep bars in town open until 4 a.m.

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Public Safety, Santa Ana 27 Comments

Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides is apparently pushing for a modification to the City of Santa Ana’s Proposed Alcohol and Entertainment Ordinance that I can at best call irresponsible and ridiculous. Click here to read what Benavides is proposing.

Benavides wants to allow after-hours alcohol sales up to 4 am. Currently bars in town have to close up at 2 am at the latest. Continue reading→