New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Politics

The empty bus terminal in Downtown Santa Ana may be used to help the homeless

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Andrew Do, homeless, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Many community activists in Santa Ana have openly wondered why the vacated OCTA bus terminal, at 405 W. 5th St., has not been used to provide temporary shelter for the many homeless who gather at the Civic Center every day. Now the County of Orange is finally in a position to make this happen as they are finalizing the purchase of the bus terminal, according to the O.C. Register.

The terminal will be purchased for $3.3 million dollars, which will include the terminal and a 473-space parking structure and a seven-story office building that will remain the headquarters of the Orange County Health Care Agency.

The OCTA opened the bus terminal in 1984 but stopped using it in 2008 instead of renovating it to fit the newly designed, natural-gas fueled buses that have become much of the OCTA’s fleet today. Continue reading→

Former Santa Ana Councilman Bustamante convicted of sexual assaults and theft of public funds

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 10 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1964

Date: December 18, 2015

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

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Santa Ana City Councilman and high-ranking executive for the County of Orange was convicted today of sexually assaulting subordinates and committing grand theft of public funds. Carlos Bustamante,50, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty today, Dec. 18, 2015, to one felony count of stalking, one felony count of attempted sexual battery by restraint, one felony count of grand theft by false pretense, two misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment, one misdemeanor count of assault, and one misdemeanor count of attempted sexual battery. He is expected to be sentenced to one year in jail, five years of formal probation, restitution, and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration in January 2016, in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The date and time are to be determined.

“I want to thank all victims and witnesses that bravely came forward in the face of fear and retaliation from a well-connected politician,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “No one is above the law, especially those who abuse their power of authority over their subordinates to sexually assault and harass them.” Continue reading→

Schatzle endorsed for OC Superior Court Judge by the Santa Ana Police Officers’ Association

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Courts, Crime, Lawyers, Orange County, Politics Leave a comment

SANTA ANA POA ENDORSEMENT BOLSTERS KAREN SCHATZLE’S CAMPAIGN FOR JUDGE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2015

Orange, CA – The Santa Ana Police Officers’ Association became the latest public safety organization to announce their enthusiastic endorsement of Karen Schatzle’s campaign for Superior Court Judge today.

In announcing their endorsement, Santa Ana POA President John Franks stated:

“Ethical, honest, and committed to justice, are just a few of the terms that can be used to describe Karen Schatzle. The Santa Ana Police Officers’ Association is proud to announce our enthusiastic endorsement of her campaign to restore integrity to this seat on the bench.” Continue reading→

David Benavides has married his Parks and Rec Commissioner, Erika Carranza

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Erika Carranza, Parks and Recreation, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Politics, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Santa Ana City Councilman David Benavides has married Erika Carranza, the girlfriend that he previously appointed to the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission.

The wedding, which took place this Saturday, appeared to be a political affair as Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Phil Bacerra was featured prominently in the wedding pictures. Continue reading→

Sen. Boxer praises the passage of an education bill that will strengthen afterschool programs

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Barbara Boxer, Education, Politics Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 9, 2015

Contact: Zachary Coile 202-224-8120

BOXER PRAISES FINAL PASSAGE OF EDUCATION BILL STRENGTHENING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

Legislation Modernizes and Protects Funding for Afterschool Programs that Benefit More Than 1 Million Children Each Year

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the chair of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, today praised the final passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which included provisions to modernize afterschool programs nationwide and protects federal investments that help more than 1 million children attend these programs each year. The measure now goes to President Obama for his signature.

“This legislation preserves a dedicated funding stream for afterschool programs so that more than 1 million children will continue to have a safe, enriching place to go when the school day ends,” Senator Boxer said. “The bill also helps states support high-quality afterschool programs, encourages parental engagement and ensures that afterschool activities complement the academic curriculum.” Continue reading→

Disgruntled marijuana dealers and a paralegal mount a recall campaign against Mayor Pulido

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Drugs, Marijuana, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

For Immediate Release: November 19, 2015

Contact: Jason Aula, 202-277-5737

Committee formed to organize campaign to recall Santa Ana mayor

(Santa, Ana) On Friday November 11th @ 4:20 PM the shot heard around the world in medical marijuana politics that is the time the Santa Ana City Clerk was presented the committee paperwork establishing “Committee to recall Mayor Miguel Pulido” in response to the pot wars being waged by Pulido against medical cannabis dispensaries by the committee’s political campaign strategist Jason Aula.

In documents sent to the city, the Committee to Recall Mayor Miguel Pulido lists longtime Law Office of Matthew Pappas Paralegal Sergio Sandoval as the treasurer. Continue reading→

Bustamante endorses Correa for Congress

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Democratic Party, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Cruz Bustamante

For Immediate Release: November 18, 2015

Contact: Dave Jacobson, (818) 943-2348, Shallman Communications

CORREA LOCKS UP ANOTHER PROMINENT ENDORSEMENT IN CA-46

California’s 45th Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante Backs Lou Correa for Congress

SANTA ANA, CA— Following his milestone endorsement from House Democratic Caucus Chair and Congressman Xavier Becerra, today former State Senator Lou Correa landed a significant endorsement from former California Lt. Governor and past State Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante in his campaign to represent California’s 46th Congressional district seat.

The first Latino elected statewide in California in over 120 years, Bustamante was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1993 and became Assembly Speaker in 1996. He was elected Lt. Governor in 1998. Continue reading→

County approves a year-round homeless shelter site in Anaheim

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, homeless, Orange County, Politics Leave a comment

County Approves Homeless Shelter Site in Anaheim

(Santa Ana, CA) — The Orange County Board of Supervisors will purchase an empty building in Anaheim as the site of a new 200-bed year-round emergency shelter and multi-service center to serve the homeless.

Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to purchase the building and land at 1000 N. Kraemer Place in Anaheim. OC Community Resources, the department in charge of County housing programs, will solicit proposals for the development and operation of the shelter under rigorous security guidelines adopted by the Board, including prohibiting walk-in clients and those with criminal backgrounds. Continue reading→

Loretta Sanchez appears to be backing Bao Nguyen for Congress

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Bao Nguyen, Democratic Party, Joe Dunn, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Politics 7 Comments

U.S. Rep. Linda Chavez endorsed former State Legislator Lou Correa’s congressional campaign back in September but it looks like her sister Loretta has other ideas as she showed up today at a major fundraiser in Hollywood for Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen’s congressional campaign.

Apparently Loretta convinced Nguyen to run – and while she has not come out publicly as his supporter it is pretty obvious that she has chosen a side in this race. Continue reading→

Special OC Board of Supervisors meeting on proposed homeless shelter site set for 11/17

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Entertainment, homeless, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Orange County Board of Supervisors are hosting a Special Meeting regarding the proposed Orange County homeless shelter at the Kraemer site in Anaheim on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at 11 a.m., to consider finalizing purchase of a site at 1000 N. Kraemer Place in Anaheim for use as multi-service facility to serve the homeless.

If you plan on attending this meeting plan to arrive by 9 a.m. Entrance to the Board Hearing Room will be restricted once all of the seats are filled. Anyone leaving the building after the meeting starts will not be allowed back in. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido will be back on the S.C.A.Q.M.D’s Board in a few weeks

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Curt Pringle, Democratic Party, Environment, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Sacramento Democrats are looking forward to punking the OC GOP

The OC GOP’s Chairman, Fred Whitaker celebrated the Republican takeover of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) that took place this week when Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, a moderate Democrat, was replaced by Lake Forest Councilman Dwight Robinson, a Republican.

But Whitaker’s celebration might be very short lived. A well-placed source told me today that the Democrats in Sacramento are livid about the GOP’s shenanigans – which were engineered, allegedly, by none other than former Anaheim Mayor, turned lobbyist, Curt Pringle , on behalf of the oil industry. Continue reading→

Marijuana dispensary threatens Mayor Pulido with a recall and defiantly reopens

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Marijuana, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Matthew Scott Pappas

For Immediate Release: November 6, 2015

Contact: Jason Aula, 202-277-5737

The Law Office of Matthew Pappa’s defies the illegal police raids at 9 a.m. by reopening dispensary

(Santa Ana, CA) Today the law office of Matthew Pappas declares war on illegal raids, corrupt politicians, and theft of collective property. We also call attention to the corrupt nature of the Santa Ana police department of which we have evidence of them consuming medical cannabis.

The City of Santa under the command by chief city executive, which is corrupt Mayor Pulido directs the Santa Ana PD to raid collectives even though it is common knowledge in the “MMJ” world Pulido allegedly has a stake in a collective inside Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Why Mayor Pulido was booted from the South Coast AQMD’s Board today

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Curt Pringle, Environment, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido used to be friendly with former Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle back in the day. The two of them often teamed up with former Irvine Mayor Larry Agran – and were referred to as the Tres Caballeros. Well Agran was booted off the Irvine City Council when the Republicans took over in Irvine and Pringle went on to become a lobbyist. And now Pringle has, as a lobbyist, turned on Pulido.

Pulido served on the Board of Governors of the South Coast Air Quality Management District for over a decade. That gig is over now as Pringle and several prominent Republican leaders led a movement to dump Pulido and replace him with a Republican – Lake Forest Councilman Dwight Robinson. Continue reading→

Man charged with with illegally reimbursing contributors for Janet Nguyen’s 2012 campaign

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Crime, Fountain Valley, Janet Nguyen, Little Saigon, OCDA, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CM11398

Date: November 3, 2015

MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY REIMBURSING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS OVER $13,000 TO BE ARRAIGNED

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) has charged a man with illegally reimbursing contributors for Janet Nguyen’s 2012 Orange County Board of Supervisors election campaign. Son Truong Nguyen, 38, Fountain Valley, is charged with 10 misdemeanor counts of unlawful contribution. If convicted on all counts, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of one year in Orange County jail and a $10,000 fine. Charges were filed Oct. 28, 2015, and an arraignment letter was sent out yesterday for Son Nguyen to appear in court on Nov. 24, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-54, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Between Nov. 2, 2011, and Jan. 30, 2012, Son Nguyen is accused of illegally reimbursing campaign contributors for Janet Nguyen’s 2012 Orange County Board of Supervisors election on 10 different occasions. He is accused of reimbursing a total of $13,300. Continue reading→

Santa Ana ranked almost last in Orange County in new jobs study

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, california, Economy, Jobs, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Six years ago California’s unemployment rate peaked at 12.2 percent. It is now done to a more reasonable 6.1%. California has created more than 1.5 million non-farm jobs since our last financial crisis, a growth driven primarily by the technology sector and other high-wage industries. But how is Santa Ana doing?

To help California residents and inbound migrants find the best cities for employment, WalletHub analysts compared 250 cities in the state across 16 key metrics to determine the best and worst California cities in which to find a new job.

Here are some of the key findings of the new WalletHub jobs study with regards to cities in Orange County (note that you will have to scroll down quite a bit to find how Santa Ana ranked): Continue reading→