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!

Anaheim man arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a Santa Ana 12-year-old

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Make An Arrest Of A Sexual Assault Suspect – Victim 12 Year-Old Female

Arrestee: Sean Rickard (21) Anaheim

On February 27, 2019, Santa Ana Police responded to a charter school where a 12-year-old student was reported to have been sexually assaulted by an adult male she met on the Tinder dating app. The victim posed as a 19-year-old female and met Sean Rickard, a 21-year-old resident of Anaheim. The victim and Rickard communicated for eight months before she disclosed her true age a few weeks ago. The victim did not attend school on Monday and was reported to have been picked up by Rickard and taken to a parking lot in Santa Ana where he sexually assaulted her.

Santa Ana Police Special Crimes detectives responded to investigate. After learning that Rickard communicated with the victim through Snapchat, detectives posed as the victim and began communicating with him.

Rickard believed he was communicating with the victim and sent a video of himself masturbating. He also agreed to meet the victim later that evening for the purposes of engaging in sexual activity. Detectives set up a sting operation and waited for Rickard as he parked behind a clothing store in Anaheim. Rickard was arrested and interviewed by detectives.

Suspect In Custody:

Rickard admitted to knowing the victim was 12-years-old and to picking her up from school and engaging in sex acts. Rickard also admitted to driving to the clothing store in order to meet the victim for the purposes of engaging in sex acts. Rickard was booked at the Orange County Jail for multiple counts of child abuse. His bail has been set at $100,000.00.

The Santa Ana Police Department would like to remind parents to closely monitor their child’s social media activity for any inappropriate content.

Santa Ana Police Department Detectives believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Nick Vega at 714-245-8368, nvega@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

The SAPD is looking for a burglary suspect who is a transient

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Advisory:#MostWantedWednesday – SAPD Detectives Requesting Media & Public Assistance In Locating Wanted Burglary Suspect

Wanted Suspect: Albert Sierra (34) Transient

Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’8, 165 lbs, black hair and brown eyes.

During the months of May – September 2016, Albert Sierra was involved in the commercial burglaries of 13 businesses throughout the City of Santa Ana, including the Mexican Consulate located at 2100 E. 4th Street. Sierra was identifies and arrested for these crimes.

Surveillance Video (Mexican Consulate):

Based on DNA evidence Sierra has been identified as the suspect in four additional commercial burglaries during the time of July – September 2016. He currently has outstanding warrants for these new cases and SAPD Detectives are requesting assistance in locating the wanted suspect. Albert Sierra is a transient and his whereabouts are currently unknown. Anyone with information on Sierra’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Alfredo Castro at (714) 245-8345 or ACastro@santa-ana.org

Santa Ana bookkeeper arrested for embezzling from her employer

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Business Bookkeeper For Forgery, Possession of Items With Intent to Defraud

Arrestee: Martha Jean Czerkawski (56) Orange

On 10/21/2017, a Santa Ana business, J. Miller Canvas, Inc. contacted SAPD Economic Crimes Detectives to report that they believed their office manager of six years Martha Jean Czerkawski, was embezzling money from the company.

Based on the information provided by the business owners, a criminal investigation was opened by the SAPD Economic Crimes Section. The evidence provided by the victim resulted in several search warrants being obtained into the criminal activity of the suspect. With the assistance of the Orange County District Attorney’s Major Fraud Unit, a forensic accounting audit was completed on the business’ finances and bookkeeping records. The audit revealed that from the years 2014-2017 the suspect, Martha Jean Czerkawski, had embezzled $352,997.33 from her employer.

SAPD Detectives submitted their case to the O.C. District Attorney for filing, based on their investigation the District Attorney has filed 109 counts of PC 475(c) – Forgery, Possession of items with intent to defraud. An arrest warrant was issued for suspect Czerkawski, on 2/26/2019, SAPD detectives took the suspect into custody at her residence in the city of Orange. Czerkawski was booked into the SAPD Jail and is being held on a bail amount of $352,997.33.

UCI sex assault suspect arrested as he tried to flee to China

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2019) – Irvine Police Department Detectives have arrested a sexual assault suspect who was caught trying to flee the country. Gaoyang “Gary” Li, 20, was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, February 22. Detectives believe he was attempting to return to China.

The case against Li began on January 29, when a 16-year-old victim reported a sexual assault. The victim reported that on September 9, 2018, she met Li on the Chinese dating app Tan Tan. They had further communication on the WeChat app and agreed to meet. The victim reported that Li forced her to perform oral sex. On January 29, Li again contacted the victim via Tan Tan and demanded money under the threat that he would post a video of the sexual assault on social media and send it to the victim’s friends and family. Li is also suspected in another sexual battery case in Irvine.

On February 6, 2019, Li was located on the UCI campus and arrested. He was subsequently released from custody while further investigative follow-up was conducted. When Detectives learned of his plans to travel out of the country on February 22, they located and arrested him. He is being held at Orange County Jail on $1 million bail.

Irvine Police Detectives believe there may be other victims in this case. Anyone who believes they have been a victim is urged to contact Detective Gavin Hudson at 949-724-7168 or ghudson@cityofirvine.org. Victim identities will be kept confidential. IPD will provide translation services upon request.

Five injured after suspect crashed his vehicle during an SAPD police pursuit

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

Advisory: SAPD Investigates Pursuit and Traffic Collision – Intersection of Westminster and Euclid Avenue

Arrestee: Luis Enrique Ortiz (31) Whittier

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at approximately 4:08 AM, SAPD Officers initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle for observed vehicle code violations. Upon initiating the traffic stop, the suspect vehicle failed to yield and a short vehicle pursuit ensued westbound on Westminster Avenue toward the City of Garden Grove. As the suspect vehicle approached the intersection of Westminster and Euclid Avenues, it failed to stop for the red signal light and entered the intersection where it broadsided another vehicle which was headed south on Euclid.

As a result of the collision, the driver and three occupants of the suspect vehicle and the driver of the other involved vehicle were injured. The injured parties were briefly treated at the scene by both Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and Garden Grove Fire Departments (GGFD) before being transported by CARE Ambulance to local hospitals. The injuries of the involved parties ranged from complaint of pain to critical.

The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) requested the assistance of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) – Santa Ana Office to conduct an independent investigation of the collision assisted by SAPD’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU).

The initial investigation revealed the suspect vehicle, registered out of Whittier, CA, was being operated by Luis Enrique Ortiz. A record check revealed Ortiz had an outstanding “No Bail” felony warrant for a previous incident where he attempted to evade authorities by fleeing in a vehicle and an expired license. Once Ortiz is released from the hospital, he will be booked into jail for a violation of 2800.3(a) CVC, (Felony) Evading causing Injury, and other charges. Additionally, there was drug paraphernalia located inside the suspect’s vehicle. The female driver of the other involved vehicle received critical injuries and remains hospitalized.

The CHP, assisted by the SAPD CIU, handled the investigation of this traffic collision. SAPD will handle the criminal investigation of this incident. Any witnesses or other persons that may have information pertinent or related to this incident are asked to contact the SAPD CIU – Corporal Brett Nelson at (714) 245-8208.

Free Fishing Derby this Saturday at Mile Square Park

Posted on by Posted in Fountain Valley, Nature, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Join in this FREE family-friendly Fishing Derby this weekend!

The North Lake at Mile Square Park will be stocked with more than 1,000 pounds of trout or catfish for the annual Kids’ Fishing Derby. Kids 6 to 15 years old can fish for free and attempt to win prizes and trophies for different age groups. The kid with the overall winning catch will get his or her name inscribed on the legendary Mile Square Fishing Derby Trophy.

Fishing clinics will be held on-site and a limited quantity of fishing rods will be available for loan. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Rain will not cancel event. Food will be available for purchase.
Parking is free.

Saturday, March 2, 2019
Registration: 7:30am-8:30am
Fishing Derby: 9am-12pm

Mile Square Regional Park
16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708

For more information: (714) 973-6600 or email milesquare@ocparks.com.

The Boca De Oro “Mouth of Gold” Festival of Literary Arts & Culture Return’s to Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Literature, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Bringing Authors, Poets, The Power of Words and Amazing Visual and Performing Art to Downtown Santa Ana

“Mouth of Gold” annual literary, art and cultural festival returns with FREE EVENTS open to the public

Santa Ana, CA (February 18, 2019) – Boca De Oro Festival of Literary Arts & Culture returns for its third year bringing a day of free workshops, panel discussions, author talks and performances throughout Downtown Santa Ana from 10 am till 10 p.m., Saturday, March 2, 2019. For a complete listing of events, authors and a map please visit www.BocadeOro.org.

“Join us for a day and immerse yourself in the literary pleasures and delight of amazing authors, art and all the cultural treasures your will only find in Downtown Santa Ana,” said Madeleine Spencer, Executive Director of Santa Ana Business Council and the Co-founder of Orange County’s growing literary festival. “We are so profoundly grateful to every one of our excellent local businesses, galleries and restaurants who annually open their doors to host authors, panels, performances, and interactive workshops for emerging writers, authors, families and lovers of all things art and literature.”

This year’s keynote speaker, Award Winning Puerto Rican American Author Justin Torres will open Boca de Oro with his book and film, We Are Animals starting at noon at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art.

“Every year the enthusiasm from authors, poets and workshop leaders is spectacular,” said Marcus Omari, founder of the Poetry Reform Society and lead curator of the Boca de Oro Festival. “We not only give our Orange County writers and poets a platform to share their work, but also a place for the public to experience and interact with each one another to create something new and exciting.”

Lead by Visual and Performing Arts Administrator Robyn MacNair, Boca de Oro also features the brilliant showcase of Almas Sonadoras-Dreaming Souls: Youth Elevating the Arts, a day of visual and performing arts events created through this collaboration between Downtown Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD). The celebration features more than 500 SAUSD students, teachers and faculty showcasing local young talent and the district’s innovative and inspiring arts education programs within the district. This year’s highlight will include readings by the finalists from SAUSD’s first annual 2019 #LITCON a Literary Arts Competition within the district’s intermediate and high schools. The winners will be performing for the first time at Boca de Oro festival.

Highlights from 2019 Boca de Oro include:

  • Dancing With the Sun with Jakov Velasco at the California Center for Digital Media Arts in the Santora Arts Building
  • Women: a tapestry of words between Syria and Iran at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
  • Writers ‘Block Live on The Rocks! In Chapter One’s Red Room
  • Chapman/UCI MFA Showcase at Good Beer Co.
  • Buena Gente…The Untold Story about the artists and authors who began Orange County’s Chicano Arts Movement in the OC Fine Arts Exhibition Gallery in the Santora Arts Building
  • The Parable: Arts & Literary Experience“at the Gypsy Den in the Artists Village
  • Wicked Plants & Venus Flytrap Mystery at Makara Center for the Arts
  • Reading the Resistance at The Good Beer Company
  • Political Poetry of Our Moment Led by Brian Glaser at The Gypsy Den
  • Women’s Voices, a panel of authors across multiple genres led by Diana Giovinazzo Tierney, co-creator and producer of the literary podcast, Wine, Women and Words at Alta Baja Market
  • My name is Also Freedom with Author & Human Trafficking Survivor Shari Ho at Santa Ana Public Library

For a complete list and schedule, please visit www.BocadeOro.org.

The finale of Boca de Oro is a showcase of performances by the Poetic Reform Party and a celebratory performance by Banda Magda, brought to us by Santa Ana Sites.

Don’t miss this annual day filled with books, poetry, writing, art, music, dance and more. All events are free and open to the public.

Plan your 2019 Boca de Oro experience at www.bocadeoro.org or join our community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bocadeorofest.

ABOUT BOCA DE ORO FESTIVAL OF LITERARY ARTS & CULTURE

Boca De Oro Festival of Literary Arts & Culture, “mouth of gold” curates diverse and evocative writers, poets, storytellers and artists who present their work through literary readings, workshops, panel discussions, poetry slams, spoken word styles and visual art experiences. The sister component event, Almas Sonadoras is an arts and performance fest featuring young artists, faculty and staff from Santa Ana Unified School District. A Fringe of the March Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk, Boca de Oro is a gift from Community Engagement with Santa Ana’s small businesses through the Santa Ana Business Council in partnership with Santa Ana Unified School District and the City of Santa Ana.

For more information please visit www.bocadeoro.org.

Man the SAPD pursued and helped catch convicted of stabbing and killing his wife and infant son

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 15NF1732

MAN CONVICTED OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES STABBING-MURDER OF WIFE AND THEIR INFANT SON

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted today of the special circumstances stabbing-murder of his wife and their infant son. Kwame Adom Carpenter, 27, Anaheim, was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 26, 2019, of two felony counts of murder with special circumstances for committing multiple murders and a sentencing enhancement allegation for the personal use of a deadly weapon. He faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Carpenter is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., in Department C-45, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Carpenter and 24-year-old Moureen Gathua-Carpenter were living together with their 6-month-old son, Kyan Gathua-Carpenter, in an Anaheim apartment.

At approximately 12:00 p.m. on June 22, 2015, Carpenter got into a verbal argument with Moureen in their apartment. During the course of the argument, Moureen picked up Kyan, and the defendant stabbed both of the victims with a butcher knife. The defendant is accused of fleeing the scene in a relative’s car.

The Anaheim Police Department (APD), who investigated this case, responded to a 911 call and found both victims suffering from stab wounds.

Moureen was pronounced dead at the scene. Kyan was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on June 23, 2015, Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers located the defendant sleeping in the back seat of the car in the parking lot of Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. The defendant drove away from SAPD officers. An SAPD officer fired a single shot, but did not hit the defendant. Carpenter led SAPD and Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD) officers on a vehicle pursuit.

He crashed the vehicle in Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley and jumped into a nearby lake. APD arrived at the scene and arrested the defendant, and he was then transported to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries sustained from an FVPD K-9 bite during his arrest.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County’s dead homeless tallied in two new reports

Posted on by Posted in Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 25, 2019) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division publicly released two reports today concerning reported deaths of individuals experiencing homelessness in Orange County in 2018.

The OCSD Coroner Division is responsible for investigating deaths that occur within the county of Orange. This includes unnatural deaths such as homicides, suicides, accidents and/or suspicious or unexplained deaths. In Orange County in 2018, there were 5,858 deaths reported to the Coroner Division. Of those, 210 decedents were considered homeless as they had “no fixed abode” at the time of death.

The first report, titled “Coroner Division Homeless Mortality Report,” provides data categorized by the cause of death and the geographic location of where the death occurred. The information is provided for each calendar year 2014 to present, in addition to statistical graphs by mode of death. The Coroner Division has been working to compile this data since January 2019 to study these cases and identify changing patterns important to public health and safety.

The second report was prepared pursuant to a request from the Honorable David O. Carter, Judge in the United States District Court to provide the causes of death of homeless individuals who passed away in 2018 and 2019. The report lists the 210 decedents from 2018, and 25 reported deaths from Jan. 1 to Feb. 19, 2019.

2018 data shows that of the 210 homeless decedents, 75 individuals died of natural causes, with overdose as the second highest cause of death claiming the lives of 44. Thirty-two are still pending an official cause of death awaiting toxicology results.

“Examining this data allows us to observe causal factors that might assist in preventing the deaths of individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “As a member of the Commission to End Homelessness, I will be presenting this data to the commission for further discussion and action aimed at reducing the number of deaths of homeless individuals.”

This week’s Cochino List includes Hopper & Burr, Victoria’s Bakery and Fresh Donuts

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Insects, OC Health Care, Orange County, 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 Feb. 14 to Feb. 22, 2019. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Hopper & Burr, 202 W. Fourth St., Santa Ana, Closed: Feb. 19, Reason: Operating without a valid health permit, Reopened: Feb. 19.
  • Victoria Bakery, 709 N. Bristol St., Suite J, Santa Ana, Closed: Feb. 21, Reason: Cockroach infestation.
  • Fresh Donuts, 940 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, Closed: Feb. 19, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Nam Giao Restaurant, 10145 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, Closed: Feb. 22, Reason: Cockroach infestation.
  • Water & Ice, 1125 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite B, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 20, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Costless, 1403 E. Lambert Road, Suite F, La Habra, Closed: Feb. 20, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Mini market at Santa Ana River Lakes, 4060 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 20, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Culinary arts room at Aliso Niguel High School, 28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo, Closed: Feb. 19, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 20.
  • Del Taco, 1720 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • George’s Best Burgers, 1475 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 19.
  • Restaurant at Shorecliffs Golf Club, 501 Avenida Vaquero, San Clemente, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Big Chopsticks, 1089 Baker St., Suite C, Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Insufficient hot water, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Circle K, 33541 Del Obispo St., Dana Point, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Sinofusion, 5555 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 14.
  • DonerG, 2139 E. Ball Road, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Mamma Cozza’s, 2170 W. Ball Road, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Update: Nam Giao Restaurant at 10145 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, closed Feb. 14 because of a cockroach infestation, reopened Feb. 15.
  • Update: Citrus Cafe at 1481 Edinger Ave., Tustin, closed Feb. 13 because of a cockroach infestation, reopened Feb. 15.

Two SAPD police horses were assaulted when a huge fight broke out in DTSA early this morning

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 8 Comments

Six people were arrested after a large fight broke out in Santa Ana early Sunday morning as bars were closing, with more than 200 people spilling into the streets, according to KTLA.

Six people were arrested, one of them after striking a police horse named Chex, who was punched or slapped but was unfazed. The horse continued to do his job, according to the O.C. Register.

Wilma the SAPD Police Horse

Another SAPD police horse named Willa was also assaulted, according to KTLA.

This latest DTSA embarrassment began at around 2 a.m. when a large fight broke out and then quickly grew.

Picture from a reader

The SAPD’s mounted police unit, which often patrols DTSA, called for backup when they came across the scrum.

Even when additional police showed up, the crowd did not immediately disperse.

The SAPD does not know what started the fight or the ensuing near-riot. Somehow no injuries were reported.

Five suspects were arrested on charges of public drunkenness, resisting arrest and committing an unlawful act against a police animal. None of the suspects were identified by the SAPD.

While the SAPD referred to the incident as a fluke, as such large fights have not been common in DTSA, the reality is that this is just the latest in a long series of awful crimes that have happened since DTSA was gentrified.

The gentrifiers cleared the Mexican bars out of Downtown Santa Ana and replaced them with hipster bars. But DTSA has still been a train wreck over the past few years with multiple horrible murders, including a young Vietnamese American woman who was literally stomped to death by two local Latinas, a Korean man from Irvine who was robbed and shot in a DTSA parking structure and a woman who was raped in a bar’s stairwell.

Compare this mess to what happened in Downtown Brea when it was redeveloped – that area has family establishments including not one but two first-run movie theaters and a great variety of family restaurants. What you won’t find in Downtown Brea is a ton of bars.

Is DTSA better off now? Is it?

Help plant trees at Centennial Park this Saturday

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

The People and Trees organization is inviting Santa Ana residents to participate in a tree planting event this Saturday, Feb. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The goal is to plant ten more Weeping Willow trees at Centennial Lake, on the side opposite to Centennial Park’s main entrance.

This planting was rescheduled from two weeks ago because of rain.
Forecast for this weekend promises no rain and mostly sunny sky. However bring a light jacket as mornings can be cool.

Please forward this information to your friends, family and neighbors!

If you who are going to come to plant trees this Saturday, please RSVP to PeopleAndTreesOC@gmail.com with your name and the names of your family members or friends who are coming with you. Or text a message to (949) 856-9926.

Directions to Planting Site for February 23, 2019:

Enter Centennial Park through is main entrance (from Edinger Ave) and park in the first parking lot on its left, close to the lake.
From there, walk around the lake on the sidewalk on its left to the planting site on the opposite side of the lake.
On the map below, this path is shown blue, solid for driving and dashed for walking, and planting spots are circled red.

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday night

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, February 22, 2019 in the area of 1000 N. Harbor Blvd.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, February 22, 2019. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1000 N. Harbor Blvd, 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 is.

The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.

All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2525 Main St. apartment development has been sent back to Planning

Posted on by Posted in Development, Planning, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Last night’s Public Hearing for the proposed luxury apartment development at 2525 Main St., in north Santa Ana, dragged on until midnight.

As was the case at the last public hearing for this project, two weeks ago, the speakers, for or against, pretty much mirrored each other’s comments – for hours.

Those against the project kept insisting that the project is too large, even though the project’s EIR says otherwise.

In the end Mayor Miguel Pulido firmly voiced his opposition to the project, which was no surprise since he has had a bone to pick with the project’s developer. Pulido believes, wrongly or rightly, that the developer backed his opponent, Sal Tinajero, in last year’s General Election. Pulido won, but it was too close for comfort.

Mayor Pro Tem Juan Villegas followed suit – and that too was no surprise. He too was upset because the developer allegedly supported Roman Reyna, in Ward 4. While Reyna won he later had to resign from the City Council, effective March 1, because he fudged his campaign paperwork and got caught. Reyna never should have been on the ballot in the first place!

The rest of the City Council was able to salvage the project by sending it back to the Planning Agency.

Near the end of the meeting, the developer proposed “significant changes” such as reducing the project from 476 apartments to about 385 to 395 units and lowering the tallest part of the project by up to 40 feet, according to the O.C. Register.

I don’t think the NIMBY’s in the adjacent Park Santiago neighborhood will settle for anything above 200 units.

This has to be a nightmare for the developer. It could take a long time to resolve.

I don’t think the developer will consider building single family homes. He generally develops apartments. I also don’t know if he can afford to cut the density as much as the NIMBYs would like.

As for Pulido, he is terming out in two years but he really seems to be rejuvenated. He has been at this a long time but he has not lost a step.

The rest of the City Council still has to sort out who they will appoint to replace Reyna – and then the jockeying to replace Pulido in two years will begin in earnest.

The SAPD is still looking for an armed robbery suspect from 2017

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

Advisory: Santa Ana PD is bringing back our #MostWantedWednesday series!

On October 18, 2017 Santa Ana PD detectives released pictures and video surveillance footage of an armed robbery that occurred at 617 E. 17th Street – Santiago Food Mart-76 Gas Station. This armed robbery suspect remains unidentified and we are requesting media and public assistance to get suspect identified.

  • ORIGINAL MESSAGE –

Location: 617 East 17th Street. Santiago Food Mart-76 Gas Station

Suspect: Male White, 40-45, 5’7” to 5’9” tall, 170-190 lbs., was wearing a black hoodie with “CALIFORNIA” on the front, blue jeans, beige baseball cap and a blue/white bandana around his neck.

On 10/17/17, at 9:50pm, the suspect entered the store and approached the two cashiers. The suspect quickly pulled out a silver and gray semi-auto handgun and a pink tote bag. The suspect pointed the firearm at the female cashier and ordered her to put the money from the registers into the bag. The cashiers complied with the suspects demands. The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction with the bag containing the money.

Surveillance Video:

Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective Greaver at (714) 245-8362 or DGreaver@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.