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:…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Thai Viet Phan for the Santa Ana City Council

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Low income seniors or disabled taxpayers can now postpone their O.C. property taxes

Posted on by Posted in Education, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2018

Property Tax Postponement Program Accepting Applications on October 1, 2018!

Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich announces that the California Property Tax Postponement Program (PTP) application period opens October 1, 2018. Information is available on the Office of the State Controller’s website, by calling 800-952-5661 or by emailing the state at postponement@sco.ca.gov. Funding under the program is limited and available to applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The PTP, which has been reinstated after being suspended by the Governor in 2009, offers housing security for seniors and homeowners with disabilities. The program allows eligible homeowners who are blind, disabled or at least 62 years of age to defer Fiscal Year 2018-19 property taxes on their principal residence if they meet certain established criteria. Continue reading→

There are 626 registered sex offenders currently living in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in california, Cochino Alert, Crime, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Did you know that there are currently 626 registered sex offenders listed in Santa Ana, according to the California Megan’s Law website? This list includes transient offenders.

At the federal level, Megan’s Law requires persons convicted of sex crimes against children to notify local law enforcement of any change of address or employment after release from custody (prison or psychiatric facility). The notification requirement may be imposed for a fixed period of time—usually at least ten years—or permanently. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man on probation indicted for possession of large quantities of illegal drugs and a gun

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Federal Government, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Man Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges that Allege Possession of Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Fentanyl

SANTA ANA, California – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment that charges a Santa Ana man with possessing significant quantities of narcotics – including the extremely potent synthetic opioid fentanyl – that he intended to distribute.

Guillermo Ernesto Sanchez Hermosillo, 41, of Santa Ana, who is currently in custody in an Orange County jail on state charges, was named in a five-count indictment. Continue reading→

Are Santa Ana’s voters ready to elect an openly gay City Council Member?

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Crime, Elections, Irma Macias, Michele Martinez, Mike Gonzalez, Paul Gonzales, Sandra Pena, Santa Ana 4 Comments

There are no less than a half dozen candidates running for the Santa Ana City Council’s Ward 2 this November. But only one of them is openly gay – Paul Gonzales.

Just a few decades ago Santa Ana was a majority white city with City Councils full of Republicans. Today Republicans and white residents are the minority in this city. But is Santa Ana ready to embrace an openly gay City Councilman? Continue reading→

A Santa Ana man suffered an acid attack on Tuesday night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCFA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Crime in Santa Ana reached a new low on Tuesday night as an unidentified 43-year-old employee of a Santa Ana store sustained second-degree burns to his face, chest, an arm and a leg after a suspect threw acid at him in the store’s parking lot, according to the O.C. Register.

OCFA firefighters responded to the scene and hosed off the victim as he was standing next to his car at the 700 block of East Fourth St., after 9 p.m. This incident happened a few blocks east of the DTSA East End Promenade. Continue reading→

I-405 set to close overnight this Saturday in Fountain Valley

Posted on by Posted in Fountain Valley, OCTA, Traffic, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 26, 2018

I-405 set to Close Overnight Saturday in Fountain Valley

I-405 is slated to shut down in both directions from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 between Brookhurst and Magnolia streets

ORANGE – Interstate 405 through Fountain Valley is scheduled to fully close from approximately 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, and again on Saturday, Oct. 6, as part of the I-405 Improvement Project.

The full freeway closures are necessary to safely demolish the Slater Avenue bridge. The bridge is the second of more than 18 bridges to be built, widened or replaced as part of the project, which will speed up travel times on I-405 between Costa Mesa and the Los Angeles County line, an area traveled by more than 370,000 vehicles a day. The McFadden Avenue bridge was demolished last month. Continue reading→

The County of Orange will host a Career Expo and Open House on Sep. 29

Posted on by Posted in irvine, Jobs, Orange County Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

County of Orange to Host Career Expo and Open House

Santa Ana, Calif. (September 25, 2018) – Join the County of Orange for its first Career Expo and Open House – a free, family-friendly event open to all.

11 O.C. defendants charged in a multi-million dollar, large scale fraudulent drug treatment scheme

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Courts, Crime, Drugs, Health and Medical, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

Thuy “Tina” Rucks

Case # 18CF2703, 18CF2704, 18CF2706-18CF2710, 18CF2712, 18CF2713, 18CF2717

Date: September 26, 2018

FIVE DOCTORS, TWO ADMINISTRATORS, AND FOUR BODY BROKERS CHARGED WITH INSURANCE FRAUD FOR EXPLOITING DRUG ADDICTS TO BILL INSURANCE FOR NON-FDA APPROVED AND DANGEROUS SURGERIES

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas recently formed the Sober Living-home Investigation and Prosecution (SLIP) task force to stop large scale insurance fraud and to address citizen and community complaints and concerns about criminal activities occurring within the addiction treatment industry. SLIP netted 11 defendants in a multi-million dollar, large scale insurance fraud scheme. Five doctors, two administrators, and four body brokers were charged with participating in this scheme.

The OCDA set out to find and stop unscrupulous addiction treatment operators and medical professionals who are reaping financial gains off the backs of this vulnerable population seeking recovery (Public Hearing on Rehabilitation Exploitation and Health Care Trafficking in Costa Mesa). Continue reading→

New FBI annual crime data report shows Santa Ana has the most crime in the O.C.

Posted on by Posted in Crime, FBI, Orange County, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

The new FBI 2017 crime statistics have been released. Their shows that the country’s estimated number of violent crimes decreased by 0.2 percent in 2017 when compared with the data from the year before. However Santa Ana’s crime numbers don’t look great – and our city is leading in many crime categories in Orange County.

Here are a few high, or perhaps low, lights from Santa Ana’s latest FBI data: Continue reading→

Today is National Voter Registration Day

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Elections, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY: SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 “Don’t speak the change, make the change. Register & Vote!

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Join the City of Santa Ana in celebrating our democracy by making sure every eligible voter is registered to vote. The deadline for the November 6, 2018 Statewide and General Election is Monday, October 22, 2018.

On-line Voter Registration available through the California Secretary of State’s website at: https://registertovote.ca.gov/. Continue reading→

The SAPD has arrested two suspects wanted for a series of armed robberies

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Patrol Officers arrest suspect wanted in connection to a series of armed robberies in the city of Santa Ana

SAPD Patrol Officers arrest suspect wanted in connection to a series of armed robberies in the city of Santa Ana. Detectives believe the suspects may be responsible for additional robberies in the Orange County area.

SAPD Robbery Detectives were able to identify suspect Fernando Velasquez as the suspect in a series of four armed robberies in the city occurring from September 19th to the 23rd. Continue reading→

OC Vector Control will be spraying chemicals in Santa Ana on Sep. 26 and 27

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Insects, Orange County Vector Control District, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A Message from the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD):

Based on mosquito trapping counts collected on September 18 and 20, OCMVCD staff has identified high mosquito abundance and West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in areas of Santa Ana and Orange. The District’s current treatment criteria states that adult mosquito control is initiated when 75 or more female mosquitoes are identified in a mosquito trap per trap night or when mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus, and all the areas have met one or both of this criteria.

The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) will be conducting adult mosquito control applications via backpack and truck on the dates and times indicated below. Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Gourmet Caterers, Pizza Hut and Mariscos Puerto Nuevo

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 Sept. 14 to Sept. 21, 2018: Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Gourmet Caterers, 2217 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 20, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Sept. 20
  • Mariscos Puerto Nuevo, 1515 E. First St., Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 19, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Sept. 20
  • Asia Cafeteria, 715 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 106, Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 17, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Sept. 17
  • Pizza Hut, 715 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 104, Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 17, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Sept. 17

Continue reading→

Two Santa Ana area gas stations were robbed by an armed suspect last night

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

Two Santa Ana area gas stations were the victims of armed robberies last night. And it is possible that the same suspects were behind both of those incidents as well as another robbery at a Placentia area gas station, according to ABC.

A male suspect took an unknown quantity of cash from the Shell gas station located at the 2600 block of S. Bristol St., just before 11 p.m. He sped off in a dark-colored car. Continue reading→

There has been a line at Harvey’s Seatbelt bags since yesterday for a Nightmare Before Christmas release party

Posted on by Posted in Business, Santa Ana, Traffic Leave a comment

Pandemonium has broken out at Harvey’s Original Seatbelt Bags as fans are lining up outside their Santa Ana location for an event that won’t even take place until tomorrow, Sep. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harvey’s is apparently going to host a  Nightmare Before Christmas release party on tomorrow at their retail store. These goods will also be available online on Monday, 9/24 at 8 a.m. PST. Continue reading→