Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Politics

Pulido opposes the Downtown Santa Ana PBID tax!

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Estela Amezcua, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Taxes, Vince Sarmiento 14 Comments

“Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido said Monday he opposed allowing a controversial downtown property tax to continue, the mayor’s first declaration on the issue since he was given the OK by the city attorney to vote on the tax district,” according to the Voice of OC.

Even worse for the corrupt PBID crew at Downtown, Inc., Pulido is now part of a 4-2 Council majority that opposes the PBID.  The only PBID supporters that I am aware of are Council Members David Benavides and his longtime pal Carlos Bustamante.  Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has been a solid leader against the PBID for some time, as has been Council Member Sal Tinajero.  Council Members Michele Martinez can’t vote on the PBID, as I understand it.  But if they could I think that if she could she would support it. Continue reading→

Who is Santa Ana’s most powerful politician?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, 2014 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Janet Nguyen, John Palacio, Jose Solorio, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Mark McLoughlin, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Rob Richardson, Robert Hammond, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Public OpinionPoll Results

Who is Santa Ana’s most powerful politician?  U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez certainly made her case this year by helping to elect Anaheim Council Candidate Jordan Brandman and Assembly Candidate Sharon Quirk-Silva.  But Assemblyman Jose Solorio also was a key factor in the successful re-election of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and the victory of Assembly Candidate Tom Daly.

But what about Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez?  Has there ever been a more powerful termed out local politician?  She beat out two candidates who were incumbents, for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees.  And she helped elect unknown and unfunded Santa Ana Council Candidate Angelica Amezcua, in Ward 3, while giving Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento a scare in Ward 1 with Amezcua’s sister, Estela. Continue reading→

Supervisor Janet Nguyen combats vehicle theft in Little Saigon

Posted on by Posted in automobiles, Crime, Garden Grove, Janet Nguyen, Little Saigon, Politics, Public Safety, Vietnamese, Westminster Leave a comment

Don’t you dare steal Janet Nguyen’s car!

County Supervisor and Local Law Enforcement Agencies Announce Vehicle Anti-Theft Crime Prevention Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2012

(Westminster) Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens,
Chief Probation Officer Steven Sentman, Garden Grove Police Chief Kevin Raney, and Westminster Police
Chief Kevin Baker, held a press conference on Thursday morning to announce the launch of a collaborative
crime prevention campaign. The campaign is designed to combat a drastic increase in burglaries and thefts from
vehicles in the Little Saigon retail centers within the Cities of Garden Grove, Westminster and the
unincorporated community of Midway City. Continue reading→

Blame John Lewis for the Democrats picking up an Assembly supermajority

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Cecilia Iglesias, Fullerton, Jose Moreno, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Tom Daly, Transportation 13 Comments

Former State Senator John Lewis has such a hold on the Republican Party of Orange County that he was able to force the withdrawal of Robert Hammond, their candidate for the 69th Assembly District, so as to pave the way for his Democratic pal Tom Daly. And Lewis also ran the failed campaign of Chris Norby, for the 65th Assembly District. With the loss of Norby’s seat, and the 69th, the California Republican Party ceded a supermajority in the State Assembly to the California Democratic Party.

But Lewis is not the only one to blame. OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh (a political consultant) and OC Supervisor Janet Nguyen were personally involved in pulling Hammond out of the race for the 69th. And neither of them helped Jose “Joe” Moreno, the Anaheim Republican who, at the last minute, filed for the 69th rather than concede the victory to Daly. Moreno was however undone by allegations that he violated an obscure Federal law – the Hatch Act. Moreno, an employee of the O.C. Health Agency, was accused of this by labor, even though he is a longtime union member. Continue reading→

Will the new City Council support finishing the Santiago Creek bike trail?

Posted on by Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Bicycles, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Health and Medical, Mark McLoughlin, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

How will the new Santa Ana City Council deal with the uncompleted Santiago Creek Bike Trail?  The trail is complete right now – except for a “missing link” – a 1/4-mile gap located in the Santiago Creek, between the 5 Freeway underpass and Flower Street.  The City of Santa Ana does not currently have a bike trail proposed in the missing link.

A grass-roots neighborhood organization, Neighbors for the Santiago Creek Bike Trail, was formed to further the goal of a bike path in the “missing link” along Santiago Creek. Once the bike trail is completed, our neighborhoods will have ready access to adjoining trails. The Neighbors for the Santiago Creek Bike Trail want open space and the ability to connect to these outlying bike trails, shopping centers and communities either by biking, jogging or hiking. Continue reading→

Pulido is beating Benavides by a larger margin than he beat Amezcua in 2010

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Angelica Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Charles Hart, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Education, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, George Collins, Lupe Moreno, Mark McLoughlin, Miguel Angel Briseno, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is currently leading his closes challenger, Santa Ana Council Member David Benavides, by over 12,000 votes. Pulido has 27,068 votes, or 48.2% of the ballots versus 14,982 votes, or 26.7% of the ballots for Benavides.  There were four other mayoral candidates this year, including George Collins, Roy Alvarado, Lupe Moreno and Miguel Angel Briseno. 

Pulido beat Alfredo “Al” Amezcua two years ago, in 2010, by just under ten thousand votes. Pulido got 21,588 votes, or 49.5% of the ballots, in 2010, versus 11,689 votes, or 26.8% of the ballots, for Amezcua, according to Smart Voter. There were three other mayoral candidates in 2010 – Alvarado, Collins and Charles Hart. Continue reading→

Can two Latinas in Santa Ana save the OC GOP from itself?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Brett Franklin, Cecilia Iglesias, Charles Hart, Democratic Party, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Lupe Moreno, Myriam Tinajero, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Now OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh is singing a different tune – in the wake of the overwhelming defeat of the Republican Presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, by President Barack Obama. I saw Baugh on Rick Reiff’s post-election TV show and he admitted that the GOP better figure out immigration. That is the message that both Iglesias and Onofre are now espousing as well.

Iglesias was victorious in her campaign for the SAUSD School Board. In fact she defeated two Democrats – Valerie Amezcua and Myriam Tinajero, who were supported by liberal SAUSD Trustee John Palacio and by the unions. Continue reading→

Who should replace Tom Daly as the O.C. Clerk-Recorder?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Hugh Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Tom Daly Leave a comment

Jordan Brandman has won a seat on the Anaheim City Council and now his colleagues on the Anaheim Union High School District’s Board of Education must decide whether to appoint someone to replace him or to hold a Special Election to fill his seat.

The last time the AUHSD School Board replaced a Trustee was this year when Trustee Jan Harp-Domene passed away suddenly earlier this year.  The Board replaced her with Annmarie Randle-Trejo who went on to win a permanent place on the AUHSD School Board in this year’s general election, according to Smart Voter. Continue reading→

Meet new Santa Ana Council Members at tonight’s Com Link meeting

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Entertainment, Miguel Pulido, Neighborhood Associations, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Thursday November 15, 2012, 3:55 PM
City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Please Join Us Tonight at Com-Link Forum Meeting to Welcome Newly Elected City Officials

SANTA ANA, CA (November 15, 2012) – The Communication Linkage (Com-Link) Forum Meeting is scheduled for this evening, Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 6:45 p.m. and will be held at the Santa Ana Police Department Community Room – 60 Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

What issues should our new Santa Ana City Council focus on?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 36 Comments

The new Santa Ana City Council Members – Angelica Amezcua and Roman Reyna, won’t be sworn in yet for a few weeks.  Once they are sworn in they are facing quite a few issues – and will have to get up to speed quickly.  Here is a rundown of some of the issues I think will need prompt attention:

  1. Who will be the new Mayor Pro Tem?  I think it should be Sal Tinajero.  Readers – what do you think?
  2. Negotiate a new contract with the Santa Ana Police Officers Association – and no I am not open to a citywide tax increase, or assessment, to pay for this.  I would rather explore outsourcing our police department to the SH
  3. Finish the Santiago Creek bike trail.  This is an embarrassment.  The City of Orange finished their side of the trail.  Why the hold-up in Santa Ana? Continue reading→

The new Santa Ana Council leader is incoming Mayor Pro Tem Tinajero

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

Santa Ana Council Member Sal Tinajero got out of the way when his colleague, Council Member Michele Martinez, wanted to run for the 69th Assembly District.  And he stepped aside when his colleague, Council Member David Benavides, wanted to run for Mayor this year.

Well, Martinez and Benavides were at the helm of the so-called “Santa Ana Spring,” even as it went into a death spiral.  Most of Team Benavides lost.  Now at last its Tinajero’s turn. Continue reading→

Palacio to blame for Amezcua’s loss in the SAUSD School Board race

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Cecilia Aguinaga, Cecilia Iglesias, David Benavides, Education, Estela Amezcua, John Palacio, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Republican Party, Rob Richardson, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Term Limits, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Valerie Amezcua

Regardless of whether or not you are a supporter of Valerie Amezcua, the daughter of failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua, you have to feel bad for her.  She almost won a seat on the SAUSD School Board four years ago, barely losing to Roman Reyna, who vacated that seat this year and is now moving on to Ward 5 on the Santa Ana City Council.

Two years ago Amezcua had a chance to run again, and to build on her success in the 2008 election.  But SAUSD Trustee John Palacio, who now considers himself to be a political consultant, got in the way.  He prevented her from running out of fear that she might beat him.  There were only two seats up in 2010, Palacio’s and that of his fellow incumbent, Audrey Noji.  Palacio ended up keeping everyone out of that race, except for me.  I was sickened to see that no Latinos were challenging Noji so I ran and lost by only 1,400 votes, with no campaign budget.  Palacio ended up endorsing Noji. Continue reading→

How Latino candidates fared in the O.C. Nov. 6 general election

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Angelica Amezcua, Cecilia Iglesias, Claudia Alvarez, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Hernandez, Jose Moreno, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Miguel Pulido, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Steve Chavez Lodge, Tom Daly 6 Comments

Two winners – U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez and Pres. Barack Obama

Fullerton residents are in shock today as they deal with the fact that Assemblyman Chris Norby now needs a job, having lost to Fullerton Mayor Sharon Quirk-Silva. She ran an aggressive campaign and made heavy use of social media. Norby, on the other hand, seemed to be trying to coast to victory.

While Quirk-Silva’s victory is a great one for Orange County’s Latino voters, I am saddened to see that the 69th Assembly District is now represented by Tom Daly. There is no way he will win re-election in two years, but for now we are stuck with him.

Here is a rundown of how the County’s other Latino candidates fared in the Nov. 6 general election: Continue reading→

Meet Angie Oliver – Santa Ana’s new Ward 3 Council Member

Posted on by Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Angie Oliver, Claudia Alvarez, Elections, Eric Alderete, Politics, Santa Ana 60 Comments

Angelica Amezcua – or Angie Oliver, courtesy of the OC Register

Surprise!  It turns out that Angelica Amezcua, the mystery candidate who somehow got elected to Ward 3 on the Santa Ana City Council this Tuesday, doesn’t go by that name.  She probably did years ago but she has been living in the Morrison Park neighborhood since 2011, as Angie Oliver, the wife of attorney Rob Oliver.

I am surmising that the Olivers are friends of Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, particularly as Rob is a shareholder at Alvarez ally Ruben Smith’s law office. Continue reading→

Benavides stews while Pulido extends an olive branch

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, David Benavides, Elections, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 7 Comments

It didn’t take long for losing Santa Ana mayoral candidate David Benavides to show his immaturity.  Check out these excerpts from the Voice of OC:

Benavides was defiant in defeat, saying wins by Vincent Sarmiento and Roman Reyna in their City Council races gives the Santa Ana Spring coalition a super majority that overrides Pulido’s landslide victory. Continue reading→