Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana’s playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts to close
March 31, 2020 - Civic Affairs, Disease, Emergencies, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is closing its playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts beginning Wednesday, April 1, in order to prevent gatherings and protect the public from COVID-19. The City has already shuttered its enclosed parks, recreation and other facilities and canceled all programs and classes except the take-out senior meals program. Those include:…

Read More…
The County of Orange has launched an Economic & Business Recovery Call Center
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Orange County, Santa Ana - No Comments

Effective March 30, Orange County Community Services has implemented a call center to meet the needs of businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Economic & Business Recovery Call Center will offer information and resources to help Orange County businesses navigate the current economic climate. These resources will support businesses with challenges such…

Read More…
Santa Ana businesses can get help from a Small Business Incentive Grant
March 31, 2020 - Business, Civic Affairs, Emergencies, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is offering a grant of $2,500 to $5,000 for Santa Ana-based microenterprises through the Santa Ana Small Business Incentive Program. Applicants must qualify for the Small Business Incentive Grant. Details are available at www.santa-ana.org/SBIP. Eligibility Qualifications The program provides a reimbursement grant for eligible businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. Grant…

Read More…
Understanding Santa Ana’s moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Housing, Real Estate, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana has created webpages in English, Spanish and Vietnamese to help residential and commercial tenants understand the City and State moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webpages include frequently asked questions, a sample letter that renters can use to advise their landlord of their inability to pay…

Read More…

Google Ad

Thai Viet Phan for the Santa Ana City Council

Help stop COVID-19!

The MainPlace Mall is now highlighting local artists

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture Leave a comment

MAINPLACE MALL INTRODUCES “ART AT MAINPLACE” SHOWCASING LOCAL ARTISTS

Series Features Vibrant Murals Throughout the Mall and a Monthly Art Walk Event

SANTA ANA, California – MainPlace Mall, Santa Ana’s premiere shopping destination, is proud to introduce its “Art at MainPlace” series, showcasing the work of local artists throughout the mall. Guests will see colorful and imaginative art on exhibit around the property, each reflecting the unique style and individuality of the artists who designed them. “Art at MainPlace” is at the heart of the mall’s ongoing initiative to support the work of Santa Ana’s flourishing artist community.

To provide an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy the beautiful art pieces, MainPlace will host an “Art Walk” throughout the shopping center from 2-5 pm on the second Saturday of each month, May through September. The MainPlace “Art Walk” will be a family-friendly event where guests will be able to interact with the local artists, enjoy live music, as well as participate in hands-on workshops hosted by local artists that are perfect for all ages! Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council majority will try to change our ward maps before they term out

Posted on by Posted in Ballot Measures, Civic Affairs, Elections, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The Santa Ana City Council majority

The Santa Ana City Council majority has voted to start drawing up plans to place a measure on the November ballot to change our City Council elections to a ward-specific model.

But that’s not all. Most of the Santa Ana City Council majority is going to term out in November. But now they want to change our ward maps before they leave City Hall. The last time they did this Councilman Sal Tinajero made sure to remove Asian voters from his Ward. What shenanigans will they be up to this time? Continue reading→

The SAPD will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint this Saturday night

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Saturday April 21st, in the area of 3500 W. 5th Street.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Saturday April 21st, 2018. It will begin at 9:00 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00 AM. It will be conducted in the area of 3500 W 5th Street, in the City of Santa Ana.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver. Continue reading→

The SAPD is investigating a claim that a CHP officer groped a woman at a traffic stop and then at her home

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana 1 Comment

The SAPD is investigating a claim by a resident, Ruth Chavez, who said that a California Highway Patrol officer sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop in Santa Ana, according to ABC News.

Not only does Sanchez say that the CHP officer groped her during a traffic stop, she also claims that the same officer showed up at her home to do that again, according to CBS News. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council decides to sue the County and several cities over the homeless issue

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Courts, Housing, Huntington Beach, irvine, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Santa Ana Council Calls for Legal Action on Homelessness. City to Sue County of Orange, Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach

SANTA ANA, CA – On Tuesday night, Santa Ana City Council directed the City’s legal counsel to move forward with a lawsuit against the County of Orange and the cities of Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach for their opposition to sheltering the homeless on available County land. A County plan to locate three temporary homeless shelters in each homeless services region of the County had been adopted earlier in March but was subsequently rescinded by the County Board of Supervisors following opposition from those cities. The City’s legal action seeks to compel the parties to take action rather than merely say “no” to being part of the solution. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Zoo will unveil their new 20-year master plan this Saturday

Posted on by Posted in Family, Nature, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Zoo, Youth Activities Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: GRAND UNVEILING OF THE NEW VISION FOR THE SANTA ANA ZOO

We are pleased to announce the Grand Unveiling of the Santa Ana Zoo’s new twenty-year Master Plan to the General Public. A reception will be held on Saturday, April 21 from 2-3 PM in the Crean Family Farm Barn Classroom.

CLR Design Group, the design team behind the Master Plan, will be on hand to detail the exciting plans for the Zoo’s future with concept drawings and colorful photos of how the Zoo will transform in the next twenty years. Take a peek at the planned new additions and upgrades to current habitats as the Zoo approaches its 75th anniversary. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council majority is going to try to redraw our wards to remove their opponents

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

The Santa Ana City Council Majority

The Santa Ana City Council meeting set for this Tuesday night, April 17, at 5:45 pm, will finally reveal what our City Council majority really intended by trying so desperately to change our election system from an at-large system to a ward-specific one.

Council members David Benavides and Vince Sarmiento have placed an 85 A item on the agenda to “Proceed with Ward Re-boundary process to be prepared for adoption before the start of the 2018 Candidate Nomination Period.” Continue reading→

New OC Clerk-Recorder pilot program will make it easier to get marriage certificates

Posted on by Posted in Family, Hugh Nguyen, OC Clerk-Recorder, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC Clerk Recorder Hugh Nguyen officiating at a wedding

ORANGE COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP EXPEDITE THE ORDERING OF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES

(Santa Ana, Calif.) — Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen is launching a pilot program that will allow couples to pre-pay for their marriage certificates upon completion of their marriage ceremony. This program will only be implemented at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana and will only apply to couples who have a ceremony performed by one of the department’s deputy commissioners of marriage on site.

The program’s goals are to help eliminate confusion as to when a couple’s marriage certificate is available for purchase, eliminate the need for couples to return to the office to purchase their certificate or request it via mail, reduce the number of phone calls to the department’s information line and help shorten lines at the department offices. It will also help eliminate the need for couples to mail in a notarized application. Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Santa Ana Healthcare and Wellness Center and a Corner Bakery Cafe

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, OC Health Care, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of April 6 – April 13. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

Continue reading→

The missing 13-year-old Santa Ana girl has been found and is with her family

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Update- Critical Missing 13 Year-Old Female has been located

Update- Critical Missing 13 Year-Old Female has been located and reunited with her family.

Missing Juvenile: Yvonne Paredes-Orozco (13)

On 4/13/18 at approximately 2:15 pm, Paredes-Orozco left school for the day but failed to get on the school bus to be dropped off with a parent. Paredes-Orozco was last seen running eastbound from McFadden Intermediate School towards Thorton Park in Santa Ana. Paredes-Orozco is Bipolar and in need of medication. The above photographs depict Paredes-Orozco’s school photo and a school surveillance photo showing what she was wearing at the time she ran away. Continue reading→

OC Health Care Agency completes assessments of the Civic Center’s homeless

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Mental Health, OC Health Care, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC Health Care Agency Completes Assessments of Homeless Individuals in Civic Center

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 13, 2018) – As of April 10, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), in partnership with the City of Santa Ana Police Department, completed all assessments of homeless individuals residing in the Civic Center. The Civic Center area is bounded by Civic Center Drive to the north, Santa Ana Boulevard/Fourth Street to the south, Flower Street to the west and Sycamore Street to
the east.

As of April 12, the Plaza of the Flags area in the Civic Center was cleared of any encampments. Continue reading→

A 13-year-old Santa Ana girl has been missing since Friday afternoon

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

Yvonne Paredes-Orozco

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Currently Looking For Critical Missing 13 Year-Old Female

Missing Juvenile: Yvonne Paredes-Orozco (13)

On 4/13/18 at approximately 2:15pm, Yvonne Paredes-Orozco left school for the day but failed to get on the school bus to be dropped off with a parent. Paredes-Orozco was last seen running eastbound from McFadden Intermediate School towards Thorton Park in Santa Ana. Paredes-Orozco is Bipolar and in need of medication. The above photographs depict Paredes-Orozco’s school photo and a school surveillance photo showing what she was wearing at the time she ran away. Continue reading→

Disneyland is hosting a culinary job fair on April 16

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Jobs, Restaurants Leave a comment

Combine your culinary knowledge with creativity and create magical meals for guests as a part of the Disneyland Resort culinary team!

We invite you to visit our upcoming culinary job fair on April 16th to learn more about these exciting roles and our dynamic teams that provide unparalleled dining experiences. You will also have the chance to explore what it takes to excel in these roles through possible interviews from our recruiters and talented chefs. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council majority confirms that they are still trying to illegally extend their term limits

Posted on by Posted in Ballot Measures, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Update on Santa Ana Special Municipal Elections for June 5, 2018

On March 1, 2018, an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council met to discuss Ward Boundaries and Ward Based Elections, otherwise known as by-district elections. The Ad Hoc Committee recommended that staff prepare the required resolutions for placing a Charter Amendment on the June 5, 2018 Statewide Primary Election for consideration by the City Council at the next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting of March 6, 2018. Continue reading→