New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Politics

SAUSD Board V.P. Hernandez endorses Rodriguez for the School Board

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Education, Jose Hernandez, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Dr. Rigo Rodriguez for the SAUSD School Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514

Santa Ana School Board Vice President José Alfredo Hernández Endorses Rigo Rodríguez for School Board

(Santa Ana) – Today, Santa Ana School Board Vice President José Alfredo Hernández joined School Board Clerk Rob Richardson and President Audrey Yamagata-Noji in endorsing Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for School Board.

Vice President Hernández was appointed to the School Board in January 2007. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Whittier Law School Trial Advocacy Honors Board and was a Fellow at the Center for Children’s Rights. In addition to serving on the School Board José Alfredo Hernández works as a criminal and immigration defense attorney for the Santa Ana community. Continue reading→

Sarmiento and Nguyen MIA as residents oppose a homeless shelter in Santa Ana

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Entertainment, homeless, Janet Nguyen, John Palacio, Neighborhood Associations, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

1217 Normandy Place, Santa Ana

Santa Ana is part of the First District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and our elected representative is Janet Nguyen, who currently is preoccupied with running for the 34th State Senate District. So preoccupied apparently that she has blown off, repeatedly, the Santa Ana residents and business owners who are fighting the O.C. Supervisors’ decision to open up a huge homeless shelter at 1217 Normandy Place, in Santa Ana.

Nguyen isn’t the only local politician who has been MIA on this issue. Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento represents that area and one of the ladies who is fighting the shelter, Dora Lopez, tells me that he too has refused to meet with local residents and business owners. This is the same useless Sarmiento that pulled papers to run for Mayor but thankfully withdrew from that race.

The OC Board of Supervisors approved the $3.6-million purchase of the 23,220-square-foot industrial warehouse at 1217 Normandy Place back on July 15,2014, according to the L.A. Times. Continue reading→

All the Santa Ana City Council incumbents will be opposed this November

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Alex Padilla, David Benavides, Elections, Gilad Salmon, Mark I. Lopez, Miguel Pulido, Mike Gonzalez, Mirna Velasquez, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido tells the Nicholas Academic Centers’ 4th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration that the NACs are profoundly changing education

Well the dust has finally cleared and we now know who is running for the Santa Ana City Council in this November’s General election.

The Mayor’s race lost many of the candidates who had pulled papers, including State Senator Lou Correa and Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento. The incumbent, Mayor Miguel Pulido, is running again and he will be facing off against first term Council Member Roman Reyna and a fellow named Mark I. Lopez, who is an entrepreneur/soldier, according to the Voice of OC. Continue reading→

Eight candidates now running for the SAUSD School Board

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Angie Rosario Cano, Cecilia Aguinaga, Education, Everlena Oliver, Mike Dalati, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, SAUSD, Shuntele Andrews Leave a comment

Mike Dalati

More candidates jumped into the crowded race for the SAUSD School Board today. One of them was Mike Dalati, a Democrat who ran in the June Primary Election this year for OC Auditor-Controller. He lost but got over 30,000 votes, according to Smart Voter. He says that he is a Tax & Accounting Professor with H&R Block in Santa Ana and an Adjunct Professor at ORT Jewish College in Los Angeles.

Valerie Amezcua finally filed her papers. She is running as a “Probation Officer/Parent.” She has lost twice in previous campaigns. You have to believe that the title of “Probation Officer” is a real problem for Amezcua given how many people in our city likely don’t like probation officers. Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez uses city funds to promote what looks like a campaign event

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez used the City of Santa Ana’s public relations department to send out a notice today about her “Annual Community Address” on August 27, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the Santa Ana Senior Center.

Martinez is up for re-election in November and she should not be using public resources to promote herself. This is quite obviously a campaign event for her. She ought to be paying for the event promotion herself!

Martinez claims she will use this event to talk about new projects in Santa Ana but you can rest assured it will be nothing more than a chance for Martinez to promote herself on our dime. Continue reading→

Early Solorio radio campaign ads highlight Nguyen’s questionable spending

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SOLORIO FOR SENATE CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF EARLY WITH RADIO ADS HIGHLIGHTING OPPONENT’S SPENDING HABITS

Two Different Radio Commercials Discuss Supervisor Janet Nguyen’s Use Of Taxpayer Dollars To Benefit Her Office and Inner Circle

SANTA ANA – The Solorio for State Senate Campaign kicked off their fall election effort this week with two different campaign commercials that are running in heavy rotation on local radio criticizing opponent Janet Nguyen for using her Orange County Supervisor county office budget to benefit herself and inner circle.

The radio commercials point out that Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen: Continue reading→

SAUSD Board President Yamagata-Noji endorses Rodríguez

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Audrey Noji, Education, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

Audrey Yamagata-Noji

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2014
Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514

Santa Ana School Board President Yamagata-Noji Endorses Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for School Board

(Santa Ana) – Current Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education President, Dr. Audrey Yamagata-Noji announced today that she is endorsing Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for the school board in the upcoming November election.

Dr. Yamagata-Noji stated, “Through my many years of service to the Santa Ana Unified School District, I am keenly aware of the need to have well-educated, community-based individuals to serve on the school board. We have a hard-working and responsive Board but there is still more that needs to be done. As the sixth-largest district in the state, we serve over 57,000 students, so we need Board Members who will be able to understand and address the needs of our students and teachers in the short and long-term.” Continue reading→

Why did Lou Correa pull out of the Santa Ana Mayor’s race?

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Editor Posted in 2014 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, George Collins, Lupe Moreno, Michele Martinez, Miguel Angel Briseno, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 9 Comments

State Senator Lou Correa has opted not to run for Mayor of Santa Ana. Why did he get cold feet?

“After a review of various factors, I have decided not to run for Mayor at this time,” Correa (D-Santa Ana) stated in an email to a Voice of OC reporter. “I was deeply touched by all of the calls of encouragement that I received from folks from all walks of life, and all across party lines. I thank you all,” according to the Voice of OC.

Well that statement tells us nothing at all. What I heard from several inside sources was that Correa didn’t think he could beat the longtime incumbent, Mayor Miguel Pulido. Correa has enough money in his vast campaign war chest that I would be willing to wager that he conducted a poll and the results were no bueno. Pulido, apparently, is still the man in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Victims of SAPD attack on marijuana colectives to speak out at the City Council meeting tonight

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Entertainment, Police Brutality, Politics 1 Comment

OC NORML is asking their supporters to attend tonight’s Santa Ana City Council meeting so that they may speak out against the “outrageous treatment that the medicinal marijuana collective operators, volunteers and patients endured during the most recent series of raids.”

Over 75 people associated with local medicinal marijuana collectives were arrested by the SAPD on July 31, as we previously reported.

Those arrested were locked up in a paddy wagon for hours and were not allowed to use the restroom, get anything to drink, and one patient was even denied the right to take his heart medication. All of them were eventually booked and released with a code enforcement ticket for $500 each. Continue reading→

Another retired teacher is running for the SAUSD School Board

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Audrey Noji, Education, Everlena Oliver, John Palacio, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

Everlena Oliver, a retired SAUSD teacher, has pulled papers to run for the SAUSD School Board in November. According to her Linkedin profile she graduated from Santa Ana College and CSUF, with degrees in nursing, and was a Mild Moderate Specialist Educator at the SAUSD for over 16 years. She retired with pay and benefits of $98K a year according to Transparent California.

Oliver’s experience could serve the district well as the SAUSD has repeatedly been caught screwing up on Special Education. Ironically one of the other candidates, longtime incumbent John Palacio, has a son who grew up in Special Education at the SAUSD.

Other SAUSD candidates thus far include: Continue reading→

Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento pulls papers to run for Mayor too

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Lou Correa, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento has reportedly pulled papers to run for Mayor of Santa Ana, hours after State Senator Lou Correa also pulled papers.

There is still no word as to whether or not longtime incumbent Mayor Miguel Pulido will in fact run again this November. Continue reading→

Correa pulls papers to run for Mayor of Santa Ana

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Lou Correa, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana Leave a comment

An inside source has tipped us off that State Senator Lou Correa has pulled papers today to run for Mayor of Santa Ana. Correa is terming out of his State Senate seat this year.

This likely means that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido will not be seeking re-election himself.

Other candidates for Mayor include first term Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna and Mark I. Lopez. Other candidates may jump in but will have a very hard time contending with Correa who has served the area in both the State Assembly and in the State Senate for many years. Continue reading→

City Council to honor Rep. Sanchez and Artists Village founders on 8/5

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Public Invited: Mayor & City Council to honor Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and others at Tuesday’s City Council Mtg.

SANTA ANA, CA (August 1, 2014) – The public is invited to attend the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 as the Mayor and City Council will recognize Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and the Founders of the Artists Village for their outstanding contributions to the City of Santa Ana.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez was born and raised in Orange County and in 1996 she became the first Hispanic woman ever elected to Congress from Orange County. Congresswoman Sanchez is the highest ranking female on the House Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. She is the leading voice in Congress for women in the military and is an active volunteer within her local community. Continue reading→

Jose Solorio’s campaign has $625K on hand to beat Janet Nguyen

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Democratic Party, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2014

For More Information Contact: Maria Unzueta – mobile: (657) 464-4742

JOSE SOLORIO FOR STATE SENATE CAMPAIGN STARTS GENERAL ELECTION WITH OVER $625,000 CASH-ON-HAND

Campaign Raises Additional $300,000 During Recent Primary Campaign

SANTA ANA – The Solorio for State Senate Campaign announced today that after raising more than $300,000 during the recent June Primary time period, it will report a total of $625,211.34 cash-on-hand on its semi-annual campaign finance report which is due on July 31. Former State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is running to replace outgoing State Senator Lou Correa in the 34th State Senate District.

“Our campaign’s momentum has grown dramatically over the last few months and I am very humbled to have a large and very diverse group of donors from business, labor, Democrats, and Republicans,” said Solorio, who presently serves as a President of the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees. “The response to our fundraising effort has been incredible and we are fully on track to fund our aggressive campaign plan in its entirety for this fall.” Continue reading→

Santa Ana Tea Party Patriots meeting set for August 12

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Tea Party Patriots (SATPP) are hosting a meeting on Tuesday August 12, 2014, from 6:30 to 8 pm at the Green Parrot Villa, located at 2035 N. Main St., across from the MainPlace Mall. (There is public parking on Main St. just south of the 5 Freeway, on the East Side of Main St., within easy walking distance of the Green Parrot Villa).

The Speaker will be Hon. Deborah Pauly, a City Councilwoman in Villa Park; a member of the Central Committee, and served in the US Air Force as a Public Affairs Specialist.

Deborah Pauly will answers these questions: Continue reading→