Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Santa Ana

Leading 69th A.D. candidate Martinez endorsed by S.A. police managers

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

For Immediate Release: February 28, 2012
Contact: Lupe De La Cruz, Cell: (714) 564-0130

Michele Martinez Receives Endorsement from Key Law Enforcement Leaders

Santa Ana, CA – Santa Ana City Councilwoman Michele Martinez received the endorsement of the Santa Ana Police Management Association (SAPMA) today. The endorsement was announced by Jim Schnabl (Police Commander and Secretary/Treasurer of the SAPMA), on behalf of the association that represents the Command Staff of the Santa Ana Police Department. Continue reading→

Will sex tape prod force SAUSD Trustee Nadia Lockyer out of politics?

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, california, Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Good grief.  Just when you thought the Nadia Lockyer affair and rehab scandal could not get any worse, a sex tape has allegedly emerged, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which reported that Nadia’s husband, California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, “believed that the man, who has a history of arrests for alleged methamphetamine use, might make the tape public if forced to break off a romantic relationship with the supervisor.”

Bill accused Nadia’s “ex-lover” of beating her up after she met him at a motel.  “Stephen Chikhani (pictured above), the man Nadia Lockyer is accusing of attacking her, denied her account. He told the Oakland Tribune that the only truths were “that I have a record and that they were separated. … Pretty much everything else was made up by her husband.” The 35-year-old San Jose man has not been charged,” according to the Oakland Tribune, which refused to endorse Nadia when she ran for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in 2010. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s LA Fitness to host a Member Appreciation day this Wednesday

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Sports Leave a comment

If you are a member of Santa Ana’s LA Fitness, located on Tustin Ave., just south of 17th, you can bring family or friends with you for free this Wednesday, Feb. 29, as they are hosting a “Member Appreciation Day.”

And if you are not a member, they do have a great deal right now.  Click here to contact Martin, he will hook you up with zero down and $29.99 a month – no contract and everything is month to month, with access to everything at the gym! Continue reading→

Get a free Metrolink pass to the Dana Point Festival of Whales on 3/3

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Nature, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

The Dana Point Festival of Whales attracts nearly 100,000 visitors each year. With a parade, whale watching excursions, contests, a block party, shopping and more, the festival is a great way to celebrate the annual return of the migrating gray whales.

Join us in Orange for a FREE Metrolink ticket and more!

OCTA is kicking off the Festival of Whales with a celebration at the Orange Station on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. The event will feature: Continue reading→

CA Dept. of Education considers the SAUSD to be in financial jeopardy

Posted on by Posted in california, Education, Fiscal Sustainability, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities 7 Comments

 
The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) is one of nine Orange County school districts that “have filed preliminary spending plans indicating they might not be able to meet their financial obligations over the next two years, part of a group of 137 districts statewide that the state considers to be in “financial jeopardy,”” according to the O.C. Register.

Although many districts have plans in place to absorb this worst-case scenario, nine of the county’s 28 districts don’t know yet where they’ll achieve the necessary savings, and thus filed interim budget plans in December with a “qualified” certification. The state Department of Education characterized these districts Thursday as being in “financial jeopardy.” Continue reading→

CA Supreme Court punts the Usual Suspects’ One Broadway Plaza lawsuit

Posted on by Posted in Business, Courts, Development, Jobs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

“The California Supreme Court has declined to hear an activist group’s lawsuit to block construction of One Broadway Plaza, a planned 37-story office tower near downtown Santa Ana,” according to the Voice of OC. 

The Coalition for Accountable Government Ethics (CAGE) had sued to stop developer Mile Harrah from proceeding with the project, arguing that the Santa Ana City Council illegally removed a condition that Harrah lease 50 percent of the building before beginning construction. Continue reading→

SAPD to conduct a DUI checkpoint tonight, at 3000 W. Edinger

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Advisory: The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, February 24th,

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, February 24th, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 3000 W. Edinger Avenue, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

69th A.D. candidate Martinez gets bipartisan & Vietnamese support at event

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Little Saigon, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Sean Mill, Vietnamese, Vince Sarmiento, Westminster 8 Comments

I expected a good turnout at Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez’ fundraising event tonight, which was hosted at the home of Council Member Vince Sarmiento and his wife Eva.  And sure enough, the place was packed – but that was not the entire story.

For one thing, a lot of Republicans were there tonight, including past CRP Vice Chair Mario Rodriguez, who was a high-ranking official in Governor Schwarzenegger’s administration; Break Mayor Ron Garcia, who works with Martinez in NALEO (the National Association of Latino Elected Officials); MWD Trustee Brett Barbre; developer and consultant Steve Sheldon; and Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante. Continue reading→

Martinez fundraising event tonight, at Sarmiento’s home

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 5 Comments

Santa Ana Council Member Vince Sarmiento, who is widely respected by both Democrats and Republicans, sent out a letter via email yesterday encouraging his supporters to back his colleague, Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez, for the 69th Assembly District.  Sarmiento and his wife are hosting a fundraiser for her on Thursday, Feb. 23.  Here is Sarmiento’s eloquent letter:

I am writing to urge you to join my wife and I in supporting Councilwoman Michele Martinez for election to the California Legislature. As a friend and colleague, Councilwoman Martinez has demonstrated that she is the best candidate for the 69th Assembly district. The district is currently represented by Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who is termed-out and has already endorsed Michele for his seat in the Assembly. Continue reading→

Disaster strikes as the SAUSD has apparently lost their QEIA funding

Posted on by Posted in california, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities 11 Comments

What will SAUSD Superintendent Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana do now?

Update: Fresno Unified is losing their QEIA funding too, due to low test scores, and San Bernardino Unified is losing 7 million in QEIA funding.

The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has apparently lost their Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) funding, which will result in a huge excess of teachers – and no money to pay for them, according to a district insider who has asked to remain anonymous.  To make matters worse, the district did not “RIF,” (Reduction in Force) or lay off teachers, meaning they are now stuck paying the teachers.

I am hearing that the district is in complete scramble mode – and they are coming up with some truly ridiculous schemes.  They will say anything to avoid fessing up to screwing up royally.  Rumor has it that they are going to change to a six period day based on the premise that everyone should have an elective. Most of the students have an elective already in the current seven period day and the rest of them don’t have one because the district forced the schools to put them in two periods of math despite the objections of some teachers. Continue reading→

Get there greener – ride the bus with the ENC and the OCTA

Posted on by Posted in Energy, Entertainment, Environment, Nature, Newport Beach, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

GET THERE, GREENER – RIDE THE BUS WITH THE ENC AND OCTA

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., February 22, 2012 – As the cost of gas steadily rises throughout Orange County, reaching an average of $4.12 per gallon according to www.orangecountygasprices.com as of February 22, the Environmental Nature Center has partnered with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to put together a program focusing on greener alternatives to driving personal vehicles.

On Thursday, March 1 at 6 p.m., the ENC will host its “Getting there, Greener” program, alongside OCTA representatives, in an effort to get people out of their cars and onto a bus, train, bicycle, or into a ridesharing program. Continue reading→

Downtown Santa Ana partners with CSP, Inc. to increase community safety

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2012

Downtown Santa Ana Partners with CSP to Increase Community Safety
Local Businesses Launch TIPS Training to Educate About Responsible Alcohol Sales

[Santa Ana, CA] – CSP, an organization funded by the County of Orange Health Care Agency, and the Downtown Santa Ana Restaurant Association have joined together to create a safer, more responsible environment for residents, visitors and customers by offering TIPS training and educational courses to local restaurant and bar staff. Continue reading→

SAPD Chief Paul Walters to receive Media Champion Award

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Costa Mesa, Health and Medical, Media Links, Paul Walters, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Community: 18th Annual Mental Health Community Event Honors Chiefs Paul Walters and Robert Gustafson

The Santa Ana Police Department is pleased to announce that Chief PAUL M. WALTERS, along with Chief ROBERT GUSTAFSON, Orange Police Department, will receive the Media Champion Award during the 18th Annual Mental Health Community Events Luncheon. This award, presented by the Mental Health Association of Orange County, is in recognition of their departments’ involvement in producing and distributing training about persons with mental illness for law enforcement. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council to vote on outsourcing Fire Department on Tuesday

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Labor, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana Leave a comment

UPDATE: “Santa Ana’s nearly 130-year-old fire department is history come April — but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going away. The Santa Ana City Council has unanimously voted to have the Orange County Fire Authority take over fire services in the city,” according to KPCC.

The Santa Ana City Council is set to vote to outsource the Santa Ana Fire Department to the Orange County Fire Authority, at Tuesday night’s Council meeting.

Agenda Item 60C states: Continue reading→