New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Vietnamese

Death penalty sentence for murderer who was a Vietnamese criminal street gang member upheld

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Little Saigon, OCDA, Stanton, Vietnamese, Westminster 4 Comments

Lam Thanh Nguyen

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 95WF0682

MEDIA ADVISORY: August 13, 2015

WHO: Supreme Court of California

WHAT: Affirmed the death penalty sentence of Lam Thanh Nguyen who was found guilty by a jury on July 6, 1998, of two felony counts of murder with special circumstances for committing multiple murders, two felony counts of attempted murder, three felony counts of street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury, using a firearm in the commission of murder and attempted murder, and vicariously armed with a firearm in committing an attempted murder.

In 1994 and 1995, Nguyen was a member of a Vietnamese criminal street gang and was involved in several shootings and violent crimes against a rival Vietnamese criminal street gang. On July 21, 1994, Nguyen was involved in a drive-by shooting where a rival gang member was shot, paralyzing him from the neck down. Continue reading→

Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Fountain Valley suspects arrested in fraud and identity theft ring

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Little Saigon, Orange County, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Keeta Thilauan, Santa Ana

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Suspects Arrested in Fraud and Identity Theft Ring

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (August 14, 2015) – On Thursday, August 13, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested Nhan Hoang Pham, 29, Fountain Valley; Lam Thanh Bui, 30, Garden Grove; Chieu Bach Nguyen, 29, Santa Ana; Duynam MinhHoang Dao, 23, Fountain Valley; and Keeta Thilauan, 25, Santa Ana; in connection with several burglaries and thefts that have occurred over the last several months.

On the morning of August 13, 2015, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team and Orange County Probation Officers, Sheriff’s investigators executed a search warrant at a location in Santa Ana, as well as three probation/parole searches in the cities of Santa Ana and Westminster. The search warrant service and probation/parole searches were the result of an ongoing investigation into several thefts and burglaries that occurred throughout Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction in North Orange County. Continue reading→

Why Supervisor Do has doubled down against restaurant letter health grades

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Andrew Do, Disease, Food, Health and Medical, Orange County, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Andrew Do

Why has Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, who represents the First District (which includes much of Little Saigon and Santa Ana) refused to promote the new app that allows his constituents to review restaurant health inspection records on their smart phones? Look for yourself. There is no mention of the app on Do’s official website.

Today the O.C. Register published an editorial column by Do where he once again argues against letter grade health ratings and he dredges up a bunch of lame excuses against letter grades. Continue reading→

O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s lunch with U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Andrew Do, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: Contact: Brian Probolsky

July 15, 2015 Cell: 949-533-4254

SUPERVISOR ANDREW DO TALKS TRADE, HUMAN RIGHTS WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM

On first trip to Little Saigon, Ambassador Ted Osius stops for lunch with Supervisor Andrew Do

Santa Ana, California — Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do welcomed U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius to town on Monday, hosting a private lunch meeting with the diplomat during his first trip to Little Saigon.

The two leaders discussed trade, human rights and other ways to strengthen ties between the Southeast Asian nation and Orange County, which is home to the largest Vietnamese population outside Vietnam. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez to host a town hall meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam on 7/12

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alan Lowenthal, Dana Rohrabacher, Entertainment, Little Saigon, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Westminster 1 Comment

Reps. Loretta Sanchez and Alan Lowenthal

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Morris, Emily.Morris@mail.house.gov, 202-225-2965

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ TO CO-HOST COMMUNITY TOWN HALL IN WESTMINSTER WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, will co-host a community town hall, featuring United States Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, this Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. PST. The town hall will focus on Vietnam’s deteriorating human rights record and development of democracy as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez speaks out against President Obama hosting the leader of Vietnam

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Little Saigon, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Morris, 202-226-2965, Emily.Morris@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ SPEAKS OUT AGAINST WHITE HOUSE HOSTING VIETNAM LEADER

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, today released a statement criticizing the White House for hosting General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, who does not hold an official government position, despite Vietnam’s well documented human rights abuses that continue under his regime:

“I am disappointed that the administration has chosen to host Nguyen Phu Trong, the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party. There continue to be egregious and systemic human rights abuses in Vietnam, including religious and political persecutions. As an advocate for human rights in Vietnam I cannot ignore the dismal state of freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Little Saigon Business District sign is finally going to be restored

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Editor Posted in Little Saigon, Santa Ana, Sean Mill, Vietnamese 1 Comment

Do you remember the brouhaha that broke out more than a decade ago when a sign was erected on Santa Ana’s west side that welcomed drivers to the “Little Saigon Business District?” The Usual Suspects were upset about the sign – calling it divisive and worse. (Ironically these same people are now upset about the proposed DTSA Wellness District).

Well bad news for the Usual Suspects – the Santa Ana City Council has unanimously approved restoring the monument near First Street and Harbor Boulevard that was wrecked by a vehicle in 2008, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

OCDA to host a booth at the upcoming O.C. Tet Festival

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Asians, OCDA, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Date: February 20, 2015

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO HOST BOOTH AT 34TH ANNUAL TET FESTIVAL “YEAR OF THE GOAT”

*OCDA will host booth NW-28 with English and Vietnamese resources

COSTA MESA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is proud to participate in the 34th Annual Tet Festival this weekend, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. The 2015 Tet Festival is a celebration of the Vietnamese New Year, “Year of the Goat”, and will feature entertainment, games and prizes, food, art and culture vendors, and exhibitors from local businesses, government, and law enforcement agencies. The Tet Festival attracts over 100,000 guests each year in the span of a 3-day weekend event. This event will take place at the OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Continue reading→

2015 Tet Festival set for 2/20 – 2/22 at the OC Fairgrounds

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Asians, Costa Mesa, Family, Vietnamese Leave a comment

The UVSA Tet Festival is set for Feb 20, 2015 – Feb 22, 2015 at the OC Fair & Event Center, located at Los Alamitos Building & Lot I (Enter at Gate 8 off Arlington Drive. Sat & Sun: Additional Entry at Gate 3 off Fairview Rd.), in Costa Mesa.

Each year, those of Vietnamese descent celebrate the coming lunar year with Tet Nguyen Dan, their most celebrated and significant holiday. It celebrates the Lunar New Year, the beginning of Spring, and a way to start fresh. Continue reading→

Lunar New Year Celebration at the MainPlace Mall this Sunday

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Asians, Entertainment, Family, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

The Westfield MainPlace Mall is hosting a Lunar New Year Celebration to ring in the year of the Goat on Sunday, Feb 15 from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm.

1:00pm-3:00pm, Macy’s and Nordstrom Courts:

Enjoy LNY activities including a Lucky Wishing Tree, Children’s Games & Crafts, Calligraphy Painting, Asian Dough Art, Red Envelope Distribution, and interactive Zodiac Display.

3:00 pm-5:00 pm, Macy’s Court: Continue reading→

Orange County now has a majority Asian-American Board of Supervisors

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Asians, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 5 Comments

Andrew Do’s defeat of former State Senator Lou Correa in the Jan. 27 First District Special Election has made history by creating a majority Asian Board of Supervisors here in Orange County.

Other Asian County Supervisors include Michelle Steel, a Korean-American who replaced John Moorlach after moving into Orange County from Los Angeles County, and Lisa Barlett, a Japanese-American who replaced Pat Bates. Both Moorlach and Bates termed out. Continue reading→

Vietnamese suspected molester arrested

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Westminster 2 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives request media and public’s assistance in identifying additional victims in child molestation case.

On 1/13/15, detectives from the Santa Ana Police Family Crimes Unit arrested Hai Truong Vo, also known as “Joseph,” age 39, of Garden Grove, for Child Molest. Vo is suspected of molesting a seven-year-old female in Westminster in 2011, and a six-year-old female in Santa Ana in 2013. Both victims are of Vietnamese decent.

Vo is a heating/air conditioner repairman and plumber. In both the 2011 and 2013 incidents, Vo entered the victim’s home after he was hired to perform repairs. Once inside the home, Vo was able to find an opportunity to be alone with the victims. Continue reading→

O.C. Clerk-Recorder’s Swearing in Ceremony set for Jan. 2

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Hugh Nguyen, OC Clerk-Recorder, Orange County, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Hugh Nguyen was reelected as the Orange County Clerk-Recorder in the November General Election. Nguyen is the first Vietnamese American to be elected to the Clerk-Recorder office in United States. He will serve over 3.1 million residents in Orange County. Nguyen, a longtime resident of Santa Ana, was previously appointed by the O.C. Board of Supervisors to complete the term of his predecessor, Tom Daly, who moved on to the 69th Assembly District.

Nguyen will be sworn in at the County of Orange Hall of Administration, located at 333 W Santa Ana Blvd, in Santa Ana, on January 2, 2015. The swearing will start promptly at 10:00 A.M. and after the swearing refreshments will be served at the Clerk-Recorder’s office. Continue reading→

How does Janet Nguyen really feel about Latinos?

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Garden Grove, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Westminster 9 Comments

When Supervisor Janet Nguyen was first elected to represent the First District I advised her to be non-partisan and to reach out to her Latino constituents. She started a Hispanic Committee to advise her but I was shocked to find out that all of the committee’s members were Hispanic Republicans – and none of them lived in the First District.

A couple years ago Nguyen gerrymandered the First District to include more Vietnamese voters – and less Latino voters.

This year Nguyen not only voted to put a homeless shelter right in the middle of one of Santa Ana’s poorest neighborhoods, on Normandy Street (over on the east side of the city), she also refused to meet with the residents when they wanted to talk to her about the shelter, which they feel is too close to schools, parks and hundreds of apartments and homes.

Will Nguyen work with Latinos? Sure. But only if they are Republicans. This stands in stark contrast to the record of the man she is trying to replace in the 34th State Senate District – Lou Correa. His record shows that he will work with anyone in his district. He has been a true moderate. That is not what Nguyen is going to be. Continue reading→

Vietnamese community blasts Janet Nguyen for poverty wages

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Health and Medical, Janet Nguyen, Labor, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Westminster 1 Comment

MEDIA ADVISORY: October 28, 2014

Contact: Lynn Nguyen, 714-488-6506

Vietnamese community blasts Janet Nguyen for poverty wages

Caregivers who make just $9.30/hour will hold street demonstration in Westminster on Thursday

On October 30th, the Vietnamese community along with other members of the homecare community, are coming together to demand that Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen help local caregivers, seniors, and people with disabilities. Nearly 200 Vietnamese community members will gather to protest poverty wages for caregivers and demand better from our elected leaders.

In Orange County there are as many as 18,000 caregivers through the state’s In-Home Supportive Service program (IHSS), 4,000 of whom are Asian women, many are Vietnamese. Homecare workers provide care to our county’s most vulnerable residents, yet they are only paid $9.30/hour and haven’t seen a raise in over five years. Caregivers are asking the county for a seventy-five cent raise, which would be reimbursed by the state of California. Continue reading→