Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Santa Ana

Alfredo Amezcua pulls together a coalition to help guide Santa Ana redevelopment

Posted on by Posted in Redevelopment, Santa Ana 6 Comments

CIMG0095

Alfredo Amezcua pulled together an amazing coalition at tonight’s community meeting

I attended a community meeting tonight at the Santa Ana Public Law Center.  The meeting was moderated by Alfredo Amezcua, a local attorney and former college education board member, who also prepared the agenda.  The organization he heads up is called the “Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development.”

The main focus of this organization is the pending Station District development, which involved properties acquired by the City of Santa Ana over by the Train Station.  How those properties get developed is this group’s main concern.

We heard tonight from Eric Altman of OCCORD and his colleague Becky Dennison.  They told us about what they did with the Grand Ave. Project in Los Angeles.  They met with the developer regularly and were able to work on what is called a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). Continue reading→

Things to do and places to go in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Santa Ana, Uncategorized, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Bowers Museum

If you live in Santa Ana, you can visit the Bowers Museum for FREE this Sunday!

Bored?  You don’t have to leave Santa Ana to have a good time!  Here is a list of places you can go to, sometimes for FREE, right here in Santa Ana:

Bowers Museum
2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Kidseum
1802 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Tuesday-Friday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Saturday-Sunday: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm Continue reading→

Check Out Lola Gaspar

Posted on by Posted in Restaurants, Santa Ana 6 Comments

lola gaspar

After our last Planning Commission meeting myself and a couple of my fellow commissioners wanted to grab a bite to eat.  Selecting a restaurant is always a task considering our different tastes and diets.  Commissioner Jim Gartner is a voracious carnivore who loves a nice steak, while I myself am a vegetarian…stop laughing…no really I am, so Commissioner Eric Alderete suggested we try Lola Gaspar in the Artist Village, he said they have something for all of us.

Eric was right on about the place.  Lola Gaspar has a diverse menu that caters to everyone’s taste and desires and a full service bar if you want to enjoy a cocktail or two.  I had the potato and mushroom tacos with the habanero sauce and they were absolutely delicious.  Everyone’s food looked absolutely incredible and we all left quite satified with our dining experience there.

Monday thru Friday they have “Siesta Hour” $3 drinks and Sunday thru Thursday they have late night taco specials after 10PM.  The atmosphere is more geared for adults than families with children and you can enjoy your dining experience at the bar, inside at one of the indoor tables our enjoy the ambiance in their outdoor seating area.  You can even get your food to go if you are in a hurry. Continue reading→

Should we allow more garage sales in Santa Ana?

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana 13 Comments

Santa Ana garage sale

One of my readers suggested recently that we need to take a second look at the City of Santa Ana’s garage sale policy.  As he pointed out, we went from 52 possible garage sale weekends to only 4, when the ordinance was changed awhile back.

I think he has a point.  He also had this to say, “Especially in light of the economy, with foreclosures and job losses our 4 garage sale policy is OUT-OF-TOUCH with reality. Garage sales are a good source for people who are struggling to buy clothes, toys, appliances etc. It’s also an extra hardship on those who have to move, if they miss the “approved week-end” they are forced to give their stuff away.”

We have a garage sale weekend coming up this weekend in fact, on September 5 and 6.  But who would schedule this on a holiday weekend?  That too seems misguided.

You can read the City’s official garage sale policy at this link. Continue reading→

What would you do to improve Santa Ana if you were the Mayor?

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana 8 Comments

King for a day

What would you do to improve Santa Ana if you were the Mayor?

I had lunch today with a couple of friends over at Las Brisas in downtown Santa Ana.  One of them asked me what I would do if I was Mayor of Santa Ana.  That’s a darn good question!  What would YOU do to improve our city if YOU were the Mayor of Santa Ana?

Regardless of what you may think of our current Mayor, Miguel Pulido, it is obvious that our city has some major issues to contend with.  Where would you start?

I invite you to post a comment here with your top three action items.  Here are mine: Continue reading→

First Friday night campfire at Santiago Park

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Santa Ana Campfire

How would you like to enjoy a campfire right here in Santa Ana?  Well, this Friday, on September 4, is your chance!

Join the good folks from Naturalist for You from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, for an evening around the campfire with storytelling, music, or a natural history presentation.

Who: All ages (Minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian.)

Where: Meet at Santiago Creek Wildlife & Watershed Center parking lot within the Santiago Park Nature Reserve, E Memory Ln, Santa Ana, CA 92705, (714) 647-6902. Where E Memory Lane curves north to Parker St, look for the small driveway with large boulders and a green nature center building on the east side. Parking is free. Continue reading→

OC Labor Day Celebration on September 5, at the Santa Ana Zoo

Posted on by Posted in Labor, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Labor_Day_Celebration.psf

Join the Orange County Labor Federation on September 5, at the Santa Ana Zoo in Celebration of Labor Day.

FREE admission to the Santa Ana Zoo courtesy of the Orange County Labor Federation.  Pick up your tickets at the picnic area, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Fun and Games: 10:00AM-3:00PM

Lunch and Special Guests: 12PM-1:30PM

Where: Santa Ana Zoo Amphitheatre Park Area, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., in Santa Ana.

Community meeting regarding Santa Ana’s Station District this Wednesday

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

There will be a meeting of various Santa Ana Community groups concerning the Santa Ana “Station District” – described by Santa Ana officials as a part of the Santa Ana Renaissance Specific Plan, this Wednesday, September 2, at 7 pm, at the Public Law Center, located at 601 W. Civic Center Dr., in Santa Ana.  There is parking in back of the building.

You can read the RFQ for this development by clicking here.

Free Latin Leaders Toastmasters meeting tonight in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Latin Leaders Toastmasters

The Bilingual Toastmasters Club is meeting tonight, from 6:15pm-7:45pm at the Xerox building, located at 1851 E. First Street, Suite 1100 (11th floor), Santa Ana 92705.

The Club meets every Tuesday. You can develop your Leadership & Public Speaking skills in an encouraging & supportive environment.

The 1st Tuesday of the month the meeting is in Spanish. Entry fee: $FREE. Info, RSVP: 714-352-0312. Visit their website: www.latinleaders.org.

Relampago del Cielo folklorico holding a drawing to raise funds

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Relampago del Cielo

“Orange County’s long-established Relampago del Cielo folklorico dance group is holding a drawing to raise funds,” according to the O.C. Register.

Tickets are $10 each, and prizes of $700, $200 and $100 will be awarded. For information, see rdcgf.org or call Javier Garcia at 714-924-2343. The drawing takes place Sept. 19.

The organization announced that they will ” be collecting raffle ticket sales on the following dates:” Continue reading→

Delhi Center to celebrate 40th Anniversary on September 12

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Delhi Center

“Delhi Community Center in Santa Ana is making plans to celebrate its 40th anniversary of providing a variety of services to Latino families,” according to the O.C. Register.

On Saturday, Sept. 12 from 6-9 p.m. Delhi Center will hold a dinner and honor community leaders who have helped it along the way.

The event will be held at Delhi Center at 505 E. Central Ave. in Santa Ana. The dinner will honor the memory of the late Manuel Esqueda, who was active in the Delhi community. Continue reading→

Welcome to the New Santa Ana blog!

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana 3 Comments

Alex Flores saves SAC Summer Session

When Alex Flores raised money to save summer classes at Santa Ana College, he was building a New Santa Ana!

And now for something completely different…this is Santa Ana’s new blog.  It is a place to talk about how we can make this city a better place to live.

This won’t be a political blog – or a website to throw tantrums and yell at each other.  This is going to be something new – and something positive.

If you live here in Santa Ana, or work here or own a business here, this blog is for you.  If you are involved in public affairs or a non profit organization that serves the people of Santa Ana, this blog is for you.  This is YOUR blog.  If you want to get involved, click here and let me know.  I will be happy to set you up with an account so you can blog here too. Continue reading→