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Category Archives: Politics

Can Councilman David Benavides survive the Hatergate scandal?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, David Benavides, Elections, Politics, Racism, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Councilman David Benavides has been desperately trying to quell the firestorm that erupted when we broke the story that he honored a group of Minutemen and extremist Republicans who were recruited by Mexican-hater Lupe Moreno to take over this year’s Santa Ana Independence Day event.

Benavides has tried to argue that he didn’t know the Minutemen were involved but a new video has surfaced that clearly shows him bowing to Moreno and talking to her at the event.  He certainly did know what was going on.

Many people in the community are wondering why Benavides would get involved with racists who hate his constituents.  Now they will have a chance to ask him personally why he did this.

Benavides will be available the first Saturday of next month, August 7, for his “Community Office Hours,” from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Southwest Senior Center, located at 2201 W. McFadden Avenue.  The Senior Center is accessible by OCTA routes 66 and 145.  You may call the City Council office at (714) 647-5200 for more information.

For the record, Benavides has been involved with Republicans and Usual Suspects since he first ran for office.  Click here to see his past endorsements, which include:

  • OC GOP member Tim Whitacre, who ran the failed racist campaign of Mexican-basher Bill Hunt this year
  • Republican Councilman Carlos Bustamante, who was tossed off two State Commissions after his infamous “waterbra” comments
  • Former SAUSD Trustee Rosie Avila, a Republican and past member of the OC GOP Central Committee who challenged Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez – but lost to her fellow Mexican-hater, Tan Nguyen.  She ran again in a later race and Sanchez finished off her political career.  Whitacre managed her first Congressional campaign.
  • Current SAUSD Trustee Rob Richardson, a Republican who has helped to ruin the SAUSD.
  • Don Cribb, the father of the arts movement – and a major backer of gentrification schemes.  Benavides made him a city commissioner even though Cribb does not live in his ward.
  • Ousted City Commissioner Glen Stroud, a Republican
  • Glen’s wife Julie Stroud, who Benavides appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission even though she does not live in his ward
  • Debbie McEwen, the Mexican-hater who erected barricades in French Park, to keep Mexicans out, only to get sued by the ACLU.  The barricades came down!
  • Otto Bade, a Republican who once challenged Lou Correa – and lost
  • Art Lomeli, a Republican resident of Orange Park Acres who is working on Al Amezcua’s campaign

Can Benavides survive the Hatergate scandal?  That is hard to say.  If no one challenges him in November he will win another term on the City Council.  But my sources tell me that his aspirations to go to Sacramento to replace Jose Solorio in the 69th Assembly District when he terms out in 2012 are now dashed.

Will Benavides’ Hatergate scandal also bring down Republican City Council candidate Thomas Gordon and mayoral candidate Al Amezcua?  There are rumors that Benavides, Gordon and Amezcua are going to be campaigning together as the “BAG” team.  That is plausible as they share the same supporters.  Mayor Miguel Pulido and the other City Council members have already been warned not to share anything of importance with Benavides as he cannot be trusted to be loyal to them.

Lupe Moreno declares jihad on Mexican civil rights activist

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, David Benavides, Democratic Party, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Politics, Racism, Restaurants, Santa Ana 19 Comments

The Benavides Hatergate scandal blew up again today as Minuteman Lupe Moreno began a libelous jihad against Mexican civil rights activist Naui Huitzilopochtli.  Moreno forwarded a letter asking her hater supporters to attack Naui on the O.C. Register’s website.  The letter appears below.

Moreno filed a false police report with the SAPD claiming that Naui attacked a pastor at the Santa Ana Independence Day event that Moreno and her Minutemen friends took over.  Naui tells me that is a total lie and that he would be willing to go get a statement from the minister in question.

Here is the real question – what sort of minister hangs out with Minutemen?  Why does Lupe go all the way to Newport Beach to attend Liberty Baptist Church?  Does this church condone hatred of immigrants?  Click here to email the Pastor at Liberty Baptist.

Would Jesus have hated immigrants?  Did he not admonish us to look after the needy?  Shame on Moreno and Liberty Baptist for embracing an agenda worthy of Lucifer himself!

Here is Moreno’s hateful letter:

Dear friends,

As most of you know I have put an American Independence Day Event for the last 3 years in the city of Santa Ana with the help of most of you. We worked very hard and it was a great event. About 45 minutes before the event was over Naui showed up looking for me.

He did not find me right away and started problems with people attending. One of his videos even shows him filming while looking for me. He has spent the last 5 years hunting me down and shoving his camera in my face. He has made my grand children cry.

He verbally attacked someone at the event and he reacted and was filmed by Naui. It is on Utube now.

Naui also went after two pastors, but they spoke to him about Jesus Christ loving him and he left them alone. I had to call the police and they came out. By that time, Naui who is a coward took off.

It has made the local paper, only because one of the councilmen was going to give certificates to those on the committee including me. The whole Santa Ana city council walked out, because of my stand against illegal aliens.

I am asking to please read the article and send letters to the Santa Ana City Council and to the paper. There is a place on the Internet newspaper to leave comments on the most commented section. Please do not say anything that would cause more problems, counter Naui’s nasty comments.

Please, please pray for our cities and nation!!!

Thank you and blessings to all,

Lupe

VADPAC Luncheon Honoring Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Phu Nguyen

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, Elections, Entertainment, Labor, Loretta Sanchez, Orange, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Working Families Leave a comment

The IBEW is hosting a Vietnamese American Democratic PAC (VADPAC) luncheon honoring Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and 68th Assembly District candidate Phu Nguyen on August 27, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm.  The IBEW is located at 309 N Rampart, Suite M, in Orange.

Suggested Contributions:

  • VADPAC Members Current with VADPAC Dues – No Charge
  • Non-VADPAC Members – $25 in Advance – $30 Day of Event
  • Students and OC Young Democrats – $15
  • Table of 10 – $200

Click here to RSVP or RSVP via email – khinks@verizon.net or via telephone, 714-848-9395.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Republican Charles Hart announces his campaign for Mayor of Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Elections, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Have Santa Ana’s “Usual Suspects” found their candidate for Mayor of Santa Ana?  Charles Hart, a resident of the same Riverview Neighborhood where Julie and Glen Stroud live, has announced that he is running for Mayor of Santa Ana, against incumbent Miguel Pulido.  Here are a few excerpts from his press release, which he released on Facebook:

Hart, who lives in Santa Ana with his wife, three children, and mother, is running for office to improve the safety, quality of education, and economic climate of the city of Santa Ana. His mission is three-fold: shut down the gangs in Santa Ana, improve the area schools, and create a more business-friendly environment, thereby decreasing the unemployment rate in the city.

“I was born and raised in Santa Ana and I remember what Santa Ana was like when the streets were safe enough for kids to play on, our downtown was a fun place for families to visit and shop on the weekend, and the schools were considered a great place to get a good education,” Hart said. “I am running for Mayor to help restore Santa Ana to its greatness.”

But who really is Charles Hart?  Looking for answers I headed over to his personal Facebook page.  There I found that his friends include Latino basher Bill Hunt, who was royally defeated by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens in the recent primary election.  Hart is also friends with Mexican-basher Allan Mansoor, the Mayor of Costa Mesa and Republican candidate for the 68th Assembly District.

Yes, I did check Hart’s voter registration.  He is a Republican.  His wife Ronea is a member of the Reform Party, which I didn’t even know was still around!

Hart has a campaign blog, with one post, and a campaign website, plus a campaign Facebook page and a Twitter page.  But he also has another blog – which you can read by clicking here, called “Conservative HARTbeat.”  That blog is full of attacks on President Barack Obama.  Hart also attacked Republican Assemblyman Chris Norby, which is odd.

Hart’s wife Ronea also has a blog.  She is not a fan of Obama’s Health Care Reform.

As for Hart, he says he wants to create a business-friendly environment, but he is a government worker, at the County of Orange’s Health Care Agency.  He is also “active in the Orange County Health Care Labor Management Committee, where he serves as the chairperson of the Communications sub-committee.”  That means he is a labor guy, which is odd given that he is a Republican.

According to his bio, “Hart began his public service career seven years ago with the county at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department where he would work closely with law enforcement officers and agents in gathering confidential information, and acting as a liaison between the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and external organizations and the public by facilitating responses for internal and external requests and subpoenas for information.”  Not sure what the heck that all means!

And from his political blog bio, “Charles has been politically active since he was in high school, and is committed to promoting values and polices that build and protect the liberties that only Americans enjoy.”

Perhaps the funniest statements made by Hart are his “values,” as expressed on his website.  They include this gem – “The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.”  But this guy works for the government – which means he works for us, the taxpayers!

And Hart cites his 12 Values – but then goes on to note only 11 values.  Perhaps he is counting “Personal Responsibility” as two values as that phrase consists of two words?

Hart also has an “issues” page on his website.  There he offers the typical GOP party line about immigration, and he says that he is against the “Transit Line” because he opposes high speed rail.  Is he talking about Santa Ana’s proposed street car?  That certainly is no high speed rail!

Hart’s press release says he is not taking interviews until after August 1, as he is studying for the California Bar Exam.  Well I hope for his sake that he passes the exam.  Failing it would be a heck of a way to start his campaign for Mayor…

Hart’s campaign kickoff is scheduled on August 5, at 5:30 pm, at Jason’s Downtown, located at 416 W 4th street, Santa Ana.

To register by July 30 or learn more information about the event, go to http://www.hartformayor.com/email-formats.html.  Click here to email Hart.

The OC Weekly jumps on the Benavides hatergate story

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Claudia Alvarez, immigration, Latinos, Politics, Racism, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 6 Comments

R. Scott Moxley, of the OC Weekly, attended last night’s Santa Ana City Council meeting.  Now the OC Weekly has piled on Councilman David Benavides too.  Here are a few excerpts from Moxley’s post:

“Thank you for standing up for the community,” community activist Sean H. Mill told Pulido, Alvarez and Tinajero. “It’s time to stand up to evil.”

A red-faced Benavides stared down at his notes but was eventually defended by one of the Independence Day group participants who said patriotism–not bigotry–had been the group’s mission on the national holiday.

While Moxley didn’t credit us for breaking this story, he did include the now-famous video by our friend Naui Huitzilopochtli, which showed Minuteman Gary Hynds, whose wife Anita was honored by Benavides last night, calling Naui and his friends “effing webacks.”

Can this month get any worse for Benavides?

Whatever aspirations Benavides has to run for the 69th Assembly District are now toast.  And one has to wonder if his colleagues on the City Council are going to find someone else to back in November…

Amezcua says Pulido isn’t helping our youth – but is that really true?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Democratic Party, Education, Jobs, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 4 Comments

Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua finally offered a glimpse at one of his campaign ideas, with this comment that was posted today on Facebook ( I am posting it verbatim):

We are exchanging ideas wit voters concerned that the current mayor isn’t working with the school district to create greater opportunity for our youth.

What the heck is he talking about?  Why is Amezcua attacking Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido on education of all things?

Don’t forget that Amezcua QUIT the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education.  And, as we exposed here, it is likely that he quit because he broke the law by running for the RSCCD’s Area 1 even though he really lived in Area 3.

Our city is struggling to find ways to close our massive budget hole, and Amezcua now wants Pulido to expand his duties to include education?

And what does Amezcua mean by “greater opportunity for youth?”

The reality is that even though our city is broke, good things have indeed been happening that have had a positive impact on our youth.

Let’s take a walk through our city’s website and annotate some of these accomplishments:

  • The City has invested heavily in our community centers.  Click here to see a list of them.  Our community centers are currently hosting dozens of summer programs that you can read about by clicking here.  The Jerome Center was recently renovated.  You can read about the renovation by clicking here.  Our Parks and Rec Agency Director, Gerardo Mouet, took over control of our soccer fields and now youth have even more access to them.  Click here to read about that.  The Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Department is also offering a pretty amazing array of  “leisure classes.”  Click here to learn more about those.  And Mouet followed my advice and changed the Santa Ana Zoo’s free day to the third Sunday of the month.  Hundreds of Santa Ana’s kids got to see the Zoo for free today!  Click here to read about that.
  • How about our Public Libraries?  Mouet has acted swiftly to expand our library services since he took over management of our libraries.  Click here to see their new website.  Note that American History ebooks are now available for FREE to our residents.  Mouet also added an extensive online selection of books about animals.  And he added a virtual reference library!  Services also now include online book clubs!  And Mouet is offering a slew of summer programs that you can read about by clicking here.  Our libraries are also offering free computer workshops for kids, starting in August.  Click here to read about that.
  • And while the City has cut back on some City Commissions, the Youth Commission is still active.  Click here to read about that.
  • Did you know that the Santa Ana Police Department offers dozens of FREE programs, many of them youth-oriented?  Click here to read about them.  The Santa Ana Police Athletic League also has a vast summer activity program that you can read about by clicking here.
  • Our City also promotes events all over town on their Community Calendar, that you can access by clicking here.
  • And here is the clincher – our City even offers a “Youth Page” on their website – with dozens of links to all sorts of programs going on in our city.  Click here to access the Youth Page.
  • Our City also offers help to those looking for work.  Click here to see the City’s Work Center Page.

So is Pulido guilty of not offering enough “opportunities for youth?”  Not that I can tell.  If anything, Amezcua is guilty of slinging empty political B.S.  That is becoming the hallmark of his campaign.  It is most disturbing.

Benavides Hatergate: Will the Santa Ana City Council honor the Minutemen on Monday?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Politics, Racism, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana City Councilman David Benavides has chosen to give common sense and decency, not to mention his fellow councilmembers and the residents of the city, the middle finger.  The Ward 4 councilman has made the singleminded decision to go forward with the honoring of a group of people including at least one person who belongs to a recognized “hate group” and her supporters.

My sources inside city hall tell me that Benavides was contacted by at least three councilmembers and Mayor Miguel Pulido urging him not to go forward with the presentation of a certificate of recognition to the American Independence Day Planning Committee which includes Lupe Moreno, a member of CCIR which has been identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and her supporters Rosie Avila, Thomas Gordon, Anne Menaldo and Anita Hynds.  Hynds husband was videotaped at the event referring to Latino residents as “f*cking wetbacks”.

While not all of those being honored have direct ties to Moreno they all must surely be aware of her anti-immigrant activities and ties to racist individuals and organizations.  They could have chosen to not participate as long as Moreno was involved but they did not.  Their complicity with Moreno helps her try and legitimize her political activities and thus helps further her agenda.

Avila, Gordon and Menaldo’s signatures all appear on Moreno’s nomination papers for the 69th Assembly District Republican Central Committee (see below).  This shows that they are not only guilty of associating with a known hater like Moreno but they also endorse and support her.  I am quite sure that the overwhelming majority of Santa Ana residents would be disgusted and outraged to find out that Councilman Benavides is honoring folks like this.

If Councilman Benavides wants to honor these folks that is his right, but he should not drag the entire council into this madness.  He could simply award this certificate on his behalf at one of his townhall meetings.  By choosing the route he has he is putting a stain on the council as a whole.  You see the award being presented on Monday night will be done on behalf of the Mayor and the entire City Council and that is what the record will reflect.

Should opponents of Mayor Pulido or any of the councilmembers want to make an issue of this and state that they honored a member of a hate group and her supporters they would be correct in that assertion.  I can see the mailers come this election season tarring and feathering them for Benavides boneheaded move.  They must act now to save their own reputation.

I would encourage the rational thinking members of this council to refuse to go along with the awarding of these certificates Monday night.  As a result of my conversations with a number of those councilmembers it is clear to me that they are steadfastly opposed to this and have assured me Mayor Pulido is as well.  With that being the case they need to publicly rebuke Councilman Benavides and cancel this honor.

This council had no problem kicking Michele Martinez in the rear when they were upset with some of the things she was doing well perhaps it is about time Benavides gets a little taste of the same.  Benavides has his eyes on Jose Solorio’s assembly seat, well I certainly hope when it comes time to elect Jose’s successor people will remember how Benavides chose the bigots over his colleagues and the community.

New campaign reports show Sanchez has over one million cash on hand

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Congressional campaign finance reports were released today, and the news isn’t terribly good for some of Orange County’s challengers.

In the 47th Congressional District, Assemblyman Van Tran reported $347,914 cash on hand.  The incumbent, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, by comparison, reported $1,123,245 cash on hand.

That is really shocking as Tran has been planning to run for Congress for years.  He is already at a huge disadvantage, and the campaign is just getting started.

Click here to read the rest of this post.

More evidence emerges that Amezcua didn’t live in Area 1 while on the RSCCD Board

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Democratic Party, Elections, Latinos, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

I have received evidence that Al Amezcua, an attorney who is a candidate for Mayor of Santa Ana, did not live in Area 1, when he was serving on the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

Amezcua registered to vote, at the time, at his office address on Broadway, which is south of 17th, in Santa Ana.  That address is in Area 1.  However he was living at an address on Memory Lane, in Morrison Park, which is in Area 3, as see in the above graphic.

Nativo Lopez, a former SAUSD Trustee who Amezcua helped to recall, is in jail right now for registering to vote at his office in Los Angeles while he was still living, and voting, in Orange County.

When Amezcua abruptly quit the RSCCD Board we all wondered why.  Now we know.  Someone must have found out what he was doing.

Amezcua is now registered to vote, again, out of his office address, as we disclosed in a previous post this week.  And it looks like his son is a registered Republican!  How odd.

For whatever reason the mainstream media is ignoring this story, even though I emailed it to reporters at the L.A. Times and the O.C. Register.  I also sent it to a friend at the O.C. Weekly.  No response.

I think it was summarily dishonest for Amezcua to play this shell game, and to keep on doing it now.  Should he drop out of the mayoral race?  I think so.  We’ll see where this goes.  City Hall insiders tell me that the FPCC and the Secretary of State will be looking into this.

Amezcua has not yet pulled his papers although several other candidates have, including Mayor Pulido.

Why is Alfredo Amezcua registered to vote at his law office instead of his home?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Democratic Party, Elections, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

An anonymous tipster told me a few weeks ago that Al Amezcua, the local attorney who is running for Mayor of Santa Ana, was registered to vote at his law office, located on 1319 N. Broadway.  I could not believe it but today I verified this with the Orange County Voter Registrar’s office.

Amezcua changed his registration to that address from a previous address in Santa Ana’s Morrison Park area on July 21, 2008.  On the surface though that doesn’t make sense as when I looked at the map of Area 1 of the Rancho Santiago Community College District I found that Amezcua, who served in that Area as a Trustee, apparently didn’t live in the Area.  Check out the graphic above.

It certainly looks like Amezcua didn’t live in Area 1.

Former SAUSD Trustee Nativo Lopez is in jail right now for registering to vote in Los Angeles, at his office address, while living in Orange County.  It looks like Amezcua has been playing the same game here in Santa Ana.

I am told that Amezcua does have some living space behind his office, but I am also told that there are plenty of witnesses who will testify that he actually lives in Santa Ana’s Morrison Park, just north of the famous Floral Park neighborhood, where his opponent, Mayor Miguel Pulido, lives.

I cannot imagine this will end well for Amezcua, to be honest.  In fact in light of this startling information I have to wonder if he will stay in the mayoral race?

The irony in all this is that Amezcua has been flinging charges of corruption at Pulido, which haven’t stuck, rather than talk about how he plans to improve our city.  How does that saying about “people who live in glass houses” go?

Councilmember Michele Martinez Elected to the NALEO Board of Directors

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Councilwoman Michele Martinez pictured with Brea Mayor Ron Garcia and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido

Councilmember Michele Martinez Elected to the NALEO Board of Directors

The NALEO Board of Directors continues to represent the political, cultural, and regional diversity of the Latino community.

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) announced the election of seven new board members, including the re-election of Harris County Commissioner Sylvia R. García for a second one-year term as NALEO President. The board members were elected at the organization’s Board of Directors Meeting on June 27 in Denver, Colorado, following the group’s 27th Annual Conference.

The new members elected to the NALEO Board of Directors include: Maryland State Delegate Ana Sol Gutiérrez; Councilmember Michelle Martínez, City of Santa Ana, CA; California State Senator Alex Padilla; Councilmember Justin Rodríguez, City of San Antonio, TX; Utah State Senator Ross Romero; New Mexico State Senator John Sapien; Mayor Fernando Shipley, City of Globe, AZ.

The Board of Directors unanimously re-elected Harris County Commissioner Sylvia R. García to serve as President of the organization. Additionally, New Mexico Deputy Secretary of State Don Francisco Trujillo was elected

Vice President; Wisconsin State Representative Pedro Colón was re-elected Treasurer; and East Chicago School Board Member Fernando Treviño was elected Secretary.

“I am proud that this board of directors continues to reflect the diversity and high caliber of individuals who serve our nation as Latino elected and appointed officials,” said NALEO President Sylvia García. “I look forward to working with our members across the country as we continue to empower and advocate for strong, healthy communities for our constituents.”

Republicans totally dominated the Santa Ana Independence Day committee

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Democratic Party, immigration, Latinos, Politics, Racism, Republican Party, Santa Ana 8 Comments

The big scandal in town this week was Councilman David Benavides’ attempt to honor the folks who put on last week’s Santa Ana Independence Day event – which blew up in his face when several of them turned out to be Latino-hating Minutemen.

Others in the local blogosphere have taken pains to try to absolve these people, and Benavides, so I decided to do additional research and find out how many of these folks are Republicans.  Here are my findings:

  • Lupe Moreno, Committee Chair, registered Republican, Past Member of the OC GOP Central Committee, Member of the Minutemen and the California Coalition for Immigration Reform.  Moreno resides in Santa Ana.
  • Rosie Avila, also a registered Republican, former SAUSD Trustee – not a Latina by the way.  Her parents were Germans who settled in Guatemala.  Avila resides in Santa Ana.
  • Anne Menaldo, registered Republican, resident of Santa Ana.
  • Thomas Gordon, registered Republican, Member of the OC GOP Central Committee.  Gordon resides in Santa Ana.
  • Stand and Marva Zubas, residents of Anaheim.  Past donors to Rosie Avila’s campaigns.  I could not identify their party registration.
  • Ann Coil, registered Republican.  She resides in Santa Ana.
  • Fred Bella, registered Democrat.  Resides in Santa Ana.
  • Pastor Doug McMains.  Does not reside in Santa Ana, as far as I can tell.  Not sure as to his party affiliation.  Appears to be a minister at Liberty Baptist in Newport Beach.
  • Pastor Noe Granados.  He does not appear to live in Santa Ana, as far as I can tell.  Not sure as to his party affiliation.  He, like McMains, appears to be a minister at Liberty Baptist in Newport Beach.
  • Frank Bostrom, registered Republican.  Past donor to GOP candidates.  He does appear to live in Santa Ana.
  • Kathy Goddard.  Not sure as to party affiliation.  Does not appear to live in town but may be an SAUSD teacher.
  • Melanie Cole-Gomez.  Does not appear to live in town.  I could not find any information on her.  Update: a reader says she owns a business and has some affiliation with the NAACP.
  • Steve McGuigan, registered as a Decline to State voter.  His mother, Pat, is a registered Republican and a former Santa Ana Council Member.  They are registered at the same address in Santa Ana.
  • Kathy McDonald.  I could not find evidence that she lives in town.  Nor could I find any party affiliation.  I did find someone by that name who graduated from Santa Ana College.
  • Anita and Gary Hynds – Minutemen who live in Yorba Linda.  Most likely they are Republicans.
  • Millie Lugo.  I could not find any information on her. Update: a reader says she works at the library. 

So what is the end result of this research?  This event appears to have had one Democrat on its committee and one Decline to State voter.  No other third party members.  Most of the committee members were Republicans and many don’t live in Santa Ana.

Was this committee reflective of the people of Santa Ana?  There were few Latinos on the commitee and no Asians.  Most of the people who live in our town are Democrats or Decline to State voters.  No.  This committee did not, in fact, reflect our people at all.

Whose idea was this event?  As far as we can tell, this was Lupe Moreno’s show.  She brought in Minutemen and stacked the committee with Republicans.  An insider at City Hall tells us that her early event fliers even mentioned the Republican Party.

Should such groups be using public property to hold their events?  Should our Council be recognizing them?  No and no.

I recommend that if we are going to have an event like this next year it should be either run by the City of Santa Ana, or run by a non-profit that is non-partisan.  No members of hate groups should be involved, period.

Or hold an event but make it available to all parties.  A good example to look at is the Annual 4th of July parade in Huntington Beach, which features elected officials and representatives of both the Democratic Party and the GOP.

What will come out of this scandal?  Well, Gordon is running for the Santa Ana City Council.  This mess surely won’t help him.  And Benavides is up for reelection.  He also is said to be interested in running for the 69th Assembly District in 2012.  I am guessing that he might get reelected, as he has no opponent, but his Assembly run is now heavily in doubt.

Benavides Hatergate: Santa Ana Councilman claims he did not know who he was honoring

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Democratic Party, Elections, Politics, Racism, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

The fallout from Councilman David Benavides ill-fated attempt to honor folks associated with known hate groups at Monday evenings city council meeting continues.  According to my sources within city hall when Benavides was confronted by felow councilmembers angry about his decision to honor individuals with ties to anti-immigrant groups and the “birther” movement he claimed that he was not aware that those people were being honored.

I am told the Benavides said he was only planning on honoring Anne Menaldo with a certificate of recognition at Monday’s meeting and that city staff was to blame for the others being included.  So does that mean that Benavides had plan to snub neighborhood activists like Steve McGuigan, Ann Coil and Fred Bella who were involved in the planning of the event? 

Like a petulant child taking his ball and going home, Benavides left the council meeting before the business calendar began because he was angry that the rest of the council would not go along with his honoring of folks like known “hater” Lupe Moreno and “birther” Anita Hynds who on her Facebook page calls President Barack Obama an “illegal alien”.

All of this raises questions as to Benavides competence to serve the residents of this city.  If he cannot get things in order in regards to the awarding of a simple certificate of recognition can we really trust him to be prepared to make the important decisions facing the city council?  And if he is going to sulk and walk out of meetings when he doesn’t get his way and thus leave the residents of Ward 4 without any representation does he deserve to be there at all?

It is rumored that Benavides wants to run for the 69th Assembly District seat when Jose Solorio is termed out in two years however this latest misstep surely will not help him in that bid.  The residents of the 69th need a leader in Sacramento that we can count on to be informed and who is willing to take responsibility for their mistakes.  This week Councilman Benavides has shown us that he is not that person.

Santa Ana 8 released without bail, and with no charges!

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Courts, Dream Act, Federal Government, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Politics, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Here is an update on the brave students, known as the “Santa Ana Eight,” who protested the Arizona racial profiling law, S.B. 1070, here in Santa Ana, at the federal building, courtesy of their Facbook page entitled “Todos Somos Arizona:”

Thanks everyone for their support. Today the Santa Ana 8 appeared in court for their arraignment hearing. First victory, we as a community were able to successfully complete this action. Second victory, the Santa Ana 8 were released without paying bail and released under OR thanks to the community support. Third victory, Orange County D.A. refused to press charges, thanks to all those who called and wrote letters. Fourth victory, all the misdemeanors were dropped and we were charged with 1 infraction by the City of Santa Ana, thanks once again to all. Total amount charged $211 each, due October (211*8=$1688).

The Santa Ana 8 will be having fundraisers in order to raise the funds needed; once again we need the community support, if anyone can contribute please contact anyone from the Santa Ana 8 Collective. I am honored to have been born and raised in Santa Ana, thank you everyone for making Santa Ana so beautiful and standing as a community.

“DE ARIZONA A COSTA MESA, LAS LEYES RACISTAS TERMINAN AQUI, PUEBLO AGUANTA, SANTA ANA SE LEVANTA!!!

Memo to Mayor Miguel Pulido and our City Council – please break out the checkbooks and help these students pay their City of Santa Ana infractions!

Assemblyman Solorio comes out against legalizing and taxing cannabis

Posted on by Posted in california, Crime, Democratic Party, Drugs, Elections, Gangs, Jose Solorio, Latinos, mexico, Politics, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 2 Comments

Say it ain’t so Jose!  I came across an item on Facebook tonight, which you can see in the graphic above, indicating that our favorite Assemblyman, Jose Solorio, is supporting the campaign against Prop. 19, called Public Safety First, which proposes to regulate and tax cannabis sales.

Prop. 19 would pour millions into California’s empty coffers.  More importantly, it would be a first step in ending the drug war that has killed over 23,000 people in Mexico and put so many minorities in jails here in the U.S.

Check out this quote from the Drug Policy Alliance:

Although African Americans comprise only 12.2 percent of the population and 13 percent of drug users, they make up 38 percent of those arrested for drug offenses and 59 percent of those convicted of drug offenses causing critics to call the war on drugs the “New Jim Crow.” The higher arrest rates for African Americans and Latinos do not reflect a higher abuse rate in these communities but rather a law enforcement emphasis on inner city areas where drug use and sales are more likely to take place in open-air drug markets where treatment resources are scarce.

And check out these excerpts, from the L.A. Times:

Saying that prohibition takes a heavy toll on minorities, leaders of the NAACP’s California chapter announced Monday that they are backing passage of a marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot.

The war on drugs is a failure and disproportionately targets young men and women of color, particularly African-American males, said Alice Huffman, president of the NAACP’s state conference.

Here is a damning fact – the Facebook page in support of Prop. 19 currently has 110,741 fans, while the Facebook page that Solorio likes, which is against Prop. 19, has only 68 fans!  No bueno!

According to a new column by my friend Judge Jim Gray:

People are beginning to understand that many of the problems with youth gangs, such as shootings, drug sales, and even the recruitment of young people to that dead-end lifestyle, are directly traced to drug prohibition. Police can disrupt the drug trafficking of gangs only to a limited degree, but, they like Al Capone and other such thugs in the alcohol distribution business before them, can only really be put out of that lucrative business by a pronounced change in policy.

Should Solorio be opposing a law that will help the people of California, and especially the people in his 69th Assembly District?  I don’t think so.  If you agree, please click here to send a message to Solorio.

And click here to donate to Prop. 19.