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:…
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…
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…
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…
Santa Ana Police Department
SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT
The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, November 11th, 2016. It will begin at 9:30 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30 AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1500 E. McFadden Ave., in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading
While the Democrats are completely stunned this morning by the loss of the White House to Donald Trump here in Santa Ana another big upset has occurred as our embattled Mayor, Miguel Pulido, has not only won his reelection campaign – he now has regained control of the Santa Ana City Council.
The election last night of Jose Solorio in Ward 3 and Juan Villegas in Ward 5 has given Pulido a firm City Council majority as he can now count on Mayor Pro Tem Vince Sarmiento in Ward 1 as well. Sarmiento owes Pulido a huge debt as there is no doubt that Sarmiento only survived his battle against Jessica Cha because of Pulido’s support. Continue reading
The voters in Santa Ana unfortunately approved a 700% pay raise for our City Council last night as Measure PP passed with over 67% of the vote.
However the man that this measure was designed to benefit, high school dropout and Councilman Roman Reyna, got the boot as he lost to Juan Villegas, a member of the O.C. Sheriff’s Department for over 25 years. Continue reading
The early 2016 General Election results are in and as we predicted Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is cruising to an easy victory over his ultra-liberal opponent Ben Vazquez. And we are very excited to report that Santa Ana City Councilman and high school dropout Roman Reyna is losing right now to his opponent, Juan Villegas, in Ward 5, by about 1,600 votes. Meanwhile over in Ward 3 Jose Solorio is leading a large pack of candidates with over 44% of the vote and in Ward 1 the incumbent, Vince Sarmiento, is barely edging out his challenger, Jessica Cha, by about 1,300 votes.
The bad news is that Measure PP, which will hand the City Council a 700% pay raise, is easily winning, by a margin of two to one. The good news is that if Reyna loses he won’t be getting this money. Continue reading
A Latino in his 30s was shot dead by Santa Ana police during a Sunday night altercation that also injured an officer, according to the O.C. Register.
SAPD police officers in a patrol car found the man in a parked, white truck in the parking lot of a strip mall on Edinger Avenue and Sullivan Street at about 11:30 Sunday night, according to the SAPD. Continue reading
You are probably as sick of this year’s general election as I am. The last few weeks have given us all plenty to dislike about the top two presidential nominees – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And here in Santa Ana several candidates aligned with the Democratic Party have tried to use Trump against Republicans running for non-partisan offices, in one of the most underhanded schemes I have ever seen in my over 20 years of covering Orange County politics.
These candidates, including Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Claudia Alvarez and the slate of SAUSD School Board candidates sponsored by the Santa Ana Educators’ Association (the teachers’ union) – including Rigo Rodriguez, Mark McLoughlin and Alfonso Alvarez, have forgotten that Santa Ana is not quite as Democratic as they think it is. Continue reading
Photo by Igmar Rodas
Homeless Man hit by vehicle
This morning a homeless man crossing the street intersection was struck by a vehicle going east bound on Civic Center Dr and Sycamore St.
A witness named Manny reported that he saw the man get hit by the vehicle and he also said that the victim had minor injuries and complained of pain in his torso. Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SAPD Detectives Investigating Woman’s Death As A Homicide
Victim: Julie Nguyen (33) Santa Ana
On Sunday, November 6, 2016, at 3:30pm officers responded to the 800 block of North Louise Street for a welfare check. Upon arrival, they found a deceased female, 33-years of age, in her residence. Continue reading
While many of us are getting ready to fill out our absentee ballots, the violence continues unabated in Santa Ana. This afternoon a man was shot twice in his upper chest, but he survived by hopping over a nearby wall, escaping from the shooter, according to the O.C. Register.
How did the victim jump over a five foot wall? According to the SAPD it was pure adrenaline that saved the man’s life. He is now recovering at a local hospital and he is expected survive. Continue reading
Michael Sebreros, a 47-year old man, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of making a false bomb threat using Santa Ana’s newly installed Code Blue Help Points emergency phone line just after being released from jail, according to the O.C. Register.
Sebreros walked up to an emergency pole across the street from the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse, sometime after 7 p.m. on Thursday, then he pushed a 911 button and he said that there was a bomb in the area, according to the SAPD. Continue reading
The Sarmiento Family’s failed Bobkin Sports Bar
Has the Sarmiento family opened an illegal marijuana dispensary in Santa Ana on South Main St?
As we reported a few weeks ago, the 2531 S. Main St. property was owned by Daisy Sarmiento, sister of city councilmember Vincent Sarmiento, under the name Daisyland Corp. who operated the now closed Bobkin Sports Bar at this location until the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control closed it down over 2 years ago. Continue reading
There is no update yet regarding the young man who was struck by two vehicles on Saturday just past midnight, while he was walking across the street at 3500 W. MacArthur, in Santa Ana.
The boy was from out of town, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading
Advisory: SAPD Detectives Asking For Media and Public’s Assistance In Locating Wanted Robbery Suspect
– 3rd UPDATE –
Wanted Suspect: Matthew Vinnie Vuyna Salazar (21) LKA –Moreno Valley, CA
After doing news stories on this case SAPD Detectives received several tips as to the identity of the suspect in this case. Additionally Detectives received information from a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Crime Analyst that provided them with the identity of the suspect.
Based on the information obtained during their investigation Detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for suspect Salazar. Detectives have information that Salazar drifts from location to location throughout Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles Counties and believe the suspect knows that he is wanted by police. Continue reading
Picture by Igmar Rodas
Issues at The Courtyard Transitional Center
By Igmar Rodas, Community Activist
I walked this homeless young man, Kyle from Indiana, out on the streets to the New Homeless Shelter ” The Courtyard Transitional Center” only to be chewed out by a Main Staff member regarding some photography issues that I have since resolved with The Main Person in Charge.
According to this man I’ve been taking photos inside the shelter. Of course the man had not seen me taking any photos but when asked when and what time I took the alleged pictures, he refused to answer. The unprofessionalism of The Los Angeles Midnight Mission Staff that runs the Courtyard is getting to be questionable as this is not the first time I’ve witnessed people being harassed by them. Continue reading
FREE LEGAL FAIR
On October 22, the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) will be hosting a legal fair from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at The Courtyard Transitional Center (also known as the bus transit terminal located across the street from the County Executive Office which is located at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana.
The OCBA wants to help you with your legal problems so you can get access to jobs and housing. They will be interviewing Civic Center residents to discuss their legal issues such as: Continue reading