New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Politics

Will the Council try to find a better candidate than Reyna to oppose Pulido?

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 6 Comments

As I was driving to work today I heard the allegations against Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido on talk radio. Just like that the story has jumped from the Voice of OC to the L.A. Times to talk radio.

Is it any surprise then that now the local TV stations have picked up the story? Click here to check out the CBS version of the scandal.

Will this story stick? Will this damage Pulido in the long term? Who knows? November is many months away. But if this does become a major chink in Pulido’s armor, are his enemies on the Santa Ana City Council prepared to take him out? Continue reading→

Moveon.org targeting U.S. Rep. Sanchez over her lack of support for voting rights

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Garden Grove, Loretta Sanchez, Politics 2 Comments

Loretta Sanchez

The liberal political organization Moveon.org is targeting Orange County’s only Democratic Congresswoman, Loretta Sanchez, with a protest at her office in Garden Grove on Thursday, February 20, 2014.

What are these liberals upset about? Apparently Sanchez is not supporting revisions to the Voting Rights Act. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Elementary schools ranked low by the O.C. Register again

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, John Palacio, Politics, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD 6 Comments

The very best elementary school in the Santa Ana Unified School District, according to the O.C. Register’s latest rankings, is John Muir Fundamental Elementary, which was ranked #25 in the county. The only other SAUSD elementary school to rank over #50 was Jim Thorpe Fundamental Elementary, which was ranke84d #32. The other fundamental school in town, Greenville Elementary, was ranked #72.

The rest of the SAUSD Schools, with the exception of Carl Harvey Elementary at #84, are ranked below the top 100, with 13 of them ranked below the top 300 and six ranked in the 200’s.

This is terrible news as the failure to educate kids in our elementary schools bodes ill for their advancement to middle schools and high schools. Continue reading→

Are you ready to vote?

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

2014 Elections

Are You Ready to Vote?

By OC Supervisor Pat Bates

The upcoming Statewide Direct Primary Election, Tuesday, June 3 and the General Municipal Election, Tuesday, November 4 provide an opportunity to review your voter registration requirements and upcoming dates.

If you have moved since the last election, changed your name or political party affiliation, you will be required to re-register in order to be eligible to participate in the upcoming elections. If you are turning 18 on or before Election Day, you are eligible to vote.
Important upcoming dates: Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez tries desperately to sign OC residents up for ObamaCare

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Health and Medical, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 13, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: Barb Solish, 202-731-7627, Barb.Solish@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ FOCUSES ON GETTING OC COVERED WITH IN PERSON ENROLLMENT

Garden Grove, Calif. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46) today led a rally in Santa Ana launching “Countdown to Enroll OC,” her effort to connect Orange County residents with certified, in person bilingual health insurance enrollment services through Covered California.

“Covered California’s enrollment deadline, March 31st, is a big day that’s less than fifty days from now,” said Rep. Sanchez. “That’s why I’m launching the Countdown to Enroll OC. From now until March 31st, I will be doing everything I can to connect Orange County residents with in person, bilingual enrollment support. We are putting the emphasis on signing up in person, right here, right now.” Continue reading→

OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens endorses Jeff Ferguson for OC Judge 2014

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Courts, Orange County, Politics, Sandra Hutchens Leave a comment

Jeff Ferguson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 714-313-7824

OC SHERIFF SANDRA HUTCHENS ENDORSES JEFF FERGUSON FOR OC JUDGE 2014

Sandra Hutchens, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner, endorsed Jeff Ferguson for OC Judge this week. Ferguson is a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Orange County.

“I am deeply gratified by Sheriff Hutchens belief in my committment to public safety and the fair administration of justice,” said Ferguson. “Our safe streets has been my top priority as a prosecutor, and will remain my top priority as a judge.” Continue reading→

Why poverty and crime are so persistent in Santa Ana

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Drugs, Education, Gangs, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Working Families 13 Comments

You want to know why Santa Ana is such a mess? We reported this week about a young man who dropped out of a good high school, Godinez Fundamental, and was shot dead at the age of 18, at 1 am. While he was not a gang member he was a drug runner, according to my son James who went to school with Jeffrey “Jay Jay” Enriquez, the shooting victim.

Enriquez had seven brothers and sisters. I can’t tell from his Facebook page if he had a dad around. In that he was just like a lot of kids in Santa Ana, which is Orange County’s youngest city – we have more kids under 18 than any other city in our County. Continue reading→

State Senate leaders endorse Jose Solorio for the 34th Senate District

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2014

For More Information Contact: Maricela Taylor – mobile: (714) 794-8431

STATE SENATE PRO TEM DARRELL STEINBERG & SUCCESSOR SENATOR KEVIN DE LEON ENDORSE JOSE SOLORIO FOR STATE SENATE AND SAY THE 34TH DISTRICT RACE IS A “TOP CANDIDATE PRIORITY”

Sacramento, CA – State Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has endorsed Community College Trustee, and former State Assemblyman, Jose Solorio in his campaign bid for the open 34th State Senate district seat in Orange County and Long Beach. Steinberg plans to make the race a Senate Democratic Caucus top candidate priority for this 2014 election cycle. Continue reading→

CA Cannabis and Hemp Initiative campaign seeks donations and signatures

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, california, Marijuana, Politics 3 Comments

California Cannabis and Hemp Initiative Requests Donations to Place Initiative on 2014 Ballot

Grass Roots Organization Continues to Collect Donations, Signatures and Momentum

SANTA CRUZ, CA — The 2014 California Cannabis and Hemp Initiative (CCHI 2014), a grass roots organization endorsed by the California Green Party,

needs financial donations to pay for signature gathering and to promote the initiative. Volunteers are also needed. The California Cannabis and Hemp Initiative permits the use of marijuana by adults 21 and older and regulates, enforces and taxes recreational marijuana sales like beer and wine. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council to honor Judge Jim Gray and Doy Henley tonight

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Mayor and City Council Will Honor Two Community Members for Their Exemplary Service to the City at Tonight’s Meeting

SANTA ANA, CA (January 7, 2014) – The Santa Ana Mayor and City Council will recognize Judge James Gray (retired) and Doy Henley at tonight’s city council meeting for their distinguished service to the Santa Ana community. Each honoree has positively influenced our community and their accomplishments will be recognized at the beginning of the meeting. Continue reading→

Assemblyman wants to end at-large elections for large cities like Santa Ana

Posted on December 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Assemblyman Roger Hernandez

There is an effort underway to collect signatures to place a referendum on the ballot to change the way we elect Council Members here in Santa Ana from At Large to Ward Specific. But it may be that we won’t have to go to such lengths after all!

With the recent uptick in cities facing scrutiny over at-large elections, perhaps it’s no wonder that the issue has attracted the attention of the State Legislature. Assembly Member Roger Hernandez of West Covina announced today that he plans to introduce legislation requiring all non-charter cities that have a population of 100,000 or more to hold district-based elections, according to the California City News. Continue reading→

Assemblyman Mansoor to introduce legislation to stop toll lanes on the 405

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, OCTA, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Supervisorial candidate Allan Mansoor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 6, 2013

Contact: Saulo Londono, (714) 227-4009

MEDIA ADVISORY: ASM. MANSOOR PRESS CONFERENCE

Assemblyman Allan Mansoor To Introduce Legislation

Will hold press conference prior to Monday’s OCTA Board Meeting To Stop Toll Lanes On 405 Freeway

Costa Mesa – Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) announces that he will be holding a press conference on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. outside of the OCTA headquarters in Orange, announcing his intention to introduce legislation to stop toll lanes on the 405 freeway. Continue reading→

Santa Ana transplant Karina Onofre running for the 74th A.D.

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, irvine, Karina Onofre, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Karina Onofre

From the OC Politics Blog

Karina Onofre ran for Ward 5 on the Santa Ana City Council last year as the sole challenger to Roman Reyna, who beat her by over 12,000 votes according to Smart Voter.

Now Onofre, who recently announced on Facebook that she was going to law school, has instead decided to run for the 74th State Assembly District. And apparently she now lives in Irvine, according to her Facebook page. Continue reading→

OCTA Director “Election”: Good and Bad News

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, OCTA, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait wins OCTA Board seat
Graphic: saveanaheim.com

From the OC Politics Blog

Thursday last, the OCTA City Selection Committee (comprised of all 34 OC elected and appointed Mayors) was gathered by the UNelected Association of California Cities – Orange County (who’s membership do not include every city in the OC) to rule on the selection of new OCTA Board Directors, one for each Supervisorial District. Continue reading→

Exclusive – Mayor Pulido responds to latest unfair VOC slam on him

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 5 Comments

OCEA boss Nick Berardino has a grudge with Mayor Pulido

The Voice of OC is reporting that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido voted for a $1.35-million no-bid city contract with a local auto parts firm just over a year after he and members of his family purchased a home from the store owner for $230,000 less than its fair market value.

As usual when the VOC attacks Pulido you have to dig a little deeper to figure out how contrived these attacks are. I spoke to Mayor Pulido and he was happy to explain what happened. Continue reading→