New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Santa Ana

Sarmiento praised Measure PP and voted to place the Council pay raise measure on the ballot

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

Vincent Sarmiento

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Vince Sarmiento, in typical fashion, now wants us to believe that he is opposed to the ridiculous Measure PP – the lame ballot measure that is designed to give the Santa Ana City Council Members a 700% raise. The measure was born out of a desire by the Council majority to help Council Member Roman Reyna pay his bills, as he can’t hold a steady job. And as a high school dropout with no discernible skills, Reyna can’t find a good job to begin with.

The problem with Sarmiento’s flip-flopping is that we have a public record to turn to – the minutes of the July 5, 2016 City Council meeting where Sarmiento not only voted to place Measure PP on the ballot – he also praised the measure.

Here is the city’s transcript of what Sarmiento said and did at the July 5 meeting: Continue reading→

The SAUSD will host a novice classic speech and debate tournament on Oct. 7

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Santa Ana Unified School District Intermediate Students Fall Novice Class Speech and Debate Tournament

Producing Our Leaders of Tomorrow through the Art of Speech and Debate

SANTA ANA, CA (October 3, 2016) – More than 300 intermediate students in the Santa Ana Unified School District will demonstrate their leadership and oratorical skills during the district’s Fall Novice Classic Speech and Debate tournament to be held October 7, 2016, from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at McFadden Intermediate School, located at 2701 South Raitt Street in Santa Ana. “This is a great opportunity for our students to learn, be mentored, and to be supported by members of the community that have a keen interest in our students, leaders of tomorrow, succeeding,” said, Stefanie P. Phillips, Ed.D., Superintendent. Supported with the help of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana, students will have the opportunity to write and memorize speeches and perform them in front of an audience to bolster their confidence and academic success while creating a path toward college. Continue reading→

RSCCD Trustee candidate Schauer endorsed by two education associations

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Education, Labor, Matthew Schauer, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2016

Contact: Matt Schauer, (714) 486-9037

Matthew Schauer Endorsed By Coalition of Organizations In Race For Rancho Santiago Community College District

Santa Ana, CA –Candidate for Rancho Santiago Community College District, Trustee Area 1, Matthew Schauer, has earned the endorsement from both the Faculty Association of the Rancho Santiago Community College District and the California School Employees Association 579. Schauer is the only candidate running in Trustee Area 1 with support from multiple education associations.

“To be endorsed by the people who are the backbone of the district is more important to me than seeking the endorsements of career politicians,” Schauer said. “I look forward to being a representative of the community when on the board and helping to bring needed reform to the district.” Continue reading→

Firefighters quickly knocked out a Santa Ana apartment building fire today

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Fires, OCFA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

firemen-at-1400-block-of-south-sycamore-street-in-santa-ana

Picture courtesy of the OCFA

A fire at an apartment in the 1400 block of South Sycamore Street began at around 12:20 a.m. today, but was quickly knocked down by O.C. Fire Authority firefighters, according to the OC Register.

The fire reportedly began in a second floor apartment. It was knocked down in about 15 minutes and did not spread to the rest of the building, according to the OCFA. Continue reading→

A homeless woman attacked a college student at the DTSA 2nd St. Promenade last week

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana 3 Comments

DTSA 2nd Street Promenade

The homeless problem in Santa Ana is beginning to impact our local schools. In the latest incident, which occurred last Monday at around 6 a.m. in the morning, a female student at the CSUF Grand Central Arts Center was leaving the building, which is in DTSA at the 2nd Street Plaza, when a female homeless person immediately confront the student in an aggressive manner.

The victim asked that the individual leave her alone, but the individual got more aggressive to the point of hitting the student. The student then fled to the parking structure area, in hopes that security at the structure might assist, with the attacking individual still in pursuit. As police were called, the suspect fled before police could arrive and was of course not found once they did finally show up on the scene. Continue reading→

Why are the Rancho Santiago Community College Trustees still supporting their bad deal with Saudi Arabia?

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Arianna Barrios, Cecilia Aguinaga, Claudia Alvarez, Education, Politics, Santa Ana, Thomas Gordon, Tony Tapia, Zeke Hernandez Leave a comment

Saudi mistreatment of women

Why in the world would the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) get involved in a consulting contract to help run two technical schools in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia? It is a crazy idea – and it is wrong on so many levels. Yet the scheme, which was hatched by the RSCCD Foundation, is moving forward – but not as was expected.

The potential profit from the deal has also been reduced from $8 million to $2 million after negotiations with Saudi Arabian officials finished, according to the Santa Ana College Newspaper, El Don. Continue reading→

A man crashed his car into a wall and died at East Edinger and Cedar this morning

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Pheach Phath, a 66-year-old man died in a one-car collision on Sunday morning, after hitting a brick wall at the corner of East Edinger Avenue and Cedar Street, in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

The SAPD heard about the crash early on Sunday morning, at 5:54 a.m. They reported that no other car was involved in this incident. Continue reading→

Over 800 crimes were reported in Santa Ana this week

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Crime, Jessica Byulnim Cha, Juan Villegas, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

crimes-in-santa-ana-for-the-week-of-9-25-16

Santa Ana crime summary for the week of 9/25/16, courtesy of Crimemapping.com

The elections are upon us and the Santa Ana City Council incumbents who are up for re-election – Vince Sarmiento and Roman Reyna, want you to believe that crime is going down in our city. However even though the SAPD does not report their crime log (unlike many other cities including Anaheim, Irvine and Fountain Valley), we can take a look at the crimes occurring in our city on Crimemapping.com.

Crimemapping.com reports that there were over 800 crimes committed in Santa Ana during the past week, from last Sunday through yesterday. These crimes included: Continue reading→

SAUSD School Board candidates forum set for Oct. 6 at Latino Health Access

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 4 Comments

The Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education candidates will be appearing at a candidates forum on Oct. 6, 2016, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Latino Health Access, located at 450 W 4th St., in Santa Ana.

Learn how they will:

– Invest in youth
– Use local control and accountability plan (LCAP) funds
– Improve school climate
– Support restorative justice Continue reading→

Peace and Unity food distribution and rally set for Oct. 15 in Santa Ana

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Food, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Local community organizers are hosting a Peace and Unity event in Santa Ana on Oct. 15, 2016, with the theme “Stop the Violence.” This event is taking place on S. Shelton St. between Bishop and Richland.

The event organizers ask that volunteers come at 8 a.m. for packaging of food at 928 S. Cypress Ave., in Santa Ana. The rally will begin at 1 p.m. Continue reading→

Meet the Santa Ana City Council and School Board candidates today at the Assistance League of Santa Ana

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

The Flower Park and Artesia Pilar Neighborhood Associations are hosting a meet and greet with the Santa Ana City Council and SAUSD candidates today, Oct. 1, 2016, at 10 a.m., at the Assistance League of Santa Ana.

Free Coffee & Refreshments will be provided. This is your opportunity to personally ask candidates questions that are important to you. Continue reading→

The SAUSD’s 2016 Walk to School Day is set for Oct. 5

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Fitness and Safety Promoted at Walk-to-School Day – October 5, 2016

Kennedy Elementary School

Join the Santa Ana Unified School District, the Orange County Health Care Agency, the Santa Ana School Police and Santa Ana Police Department as they participate in the Annual International Walk to School Day. Students, parents, and community members will take part in this global event to bring awareness to the importance of practicing safe walking, biking, traffic skills, and physical activity on October 5, 2016. Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a training exercise in the Civic Center this morning

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, homeless, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Photo by Igmar Rodas

If you saw the caution tape around Santa Ana’s Civic Center this morning please don’t panic. It is just an SAPD training exercise, according to my sources.

The Civic Center has become a real problem over the past year as the homeless population has exploded. Just a few weeks ago an altercation between SAPD police officers and a homeless man led to a police shooting. The homeless man died as a result of his injuries. Continue reading→

A man tried to murder an SAUSD school police officer today after invading a home

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Vince Sarmiento 6 Comments

We have written quite a bit this year about the massive increase in violent crime in Santa Ana – and how shorthanded our police department is. What we don’t often talk about is how much our SAUSD School Police do to keep our community safe.

Today, for example, there was an outrageous episode that started just before 3 p.m., when the SAUSD School Police Dispatch got a call from SAUSD employees who were accosted by a male suspect while they were in a parked vehicle in the parking lot between one of our local elementary schools and one of our city parks. I am withholding their identity to protect my source – but I can tell you that this happened in Councilman Roman Reyna’s Ward. Continue reading→

Orange County older adult profile released by the O.C. Healthy Aging Initiative

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Orange County, Santa Ana, Seniors Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: September 29, 2016

Contact: Jessica Good, Public Information Officer, Media Line: (714) 834-2178, Email: JGood@ochca.com

Orange County Healthy Aging Initiative Releases Orange County Older Adult Profile

(Santa Ana, CA) – This week, the Orange County Healthy Aging Initiative (OCHAI) released the Orange County Older Adult Profile, 2016. The report was funded by the Orange County Health Care Agency and highlights key health, social and economic indicators impacting the health and well-being of Orange County older adults.

“This is the first comprehensive look at seniors that the County has led in collaboration with public, private and nonprofit partners who serve this population, in nearly 15 years,” said Dr. Helene Calvet, Deputy County Health Officer and OCHAI Co-Chair. “We hope this report raises awareness in the community of the needs of this growing population, so that we can work together to provide better resources and services to meet their needs.” Continue reading→