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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Carlos Bustamante

Carlos Bustamante’s last stand was an epic fail

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Does Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante realize he is up for reelection next year?  He sure isn’t acting like it.  He went off on the Latino residents and businessmen who showed up to yesterday’s City Council meeting.  But that wasn’t all.  Here is a review of Bustamante’s strange utterances at the Council meeting:

  • He said taxes put his father out of business.  Then he said that he supports the PBID – a tax that may yet put more fathers out of business.
  • He said we need to not perpetuate the racial issue.  Then he said that he has experienced racism and that his parents were born in Mexico.
  • He also threatened to raise taxes if the PBID goes away. Continue reading→

Councilmember Benavides handled situation with dignity

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Before I get to the point of this post I would like to thank the administrator here at New Santa Ana for allowing me to pen this post and share it with the readers.  Despite what our good friend from Irvine says, I am not blogging again here or anywhere else.  However I felt what I am about to write needed to be said.

The last couple of weeks have been quite tumultuous here in Santa Ana and it culminated last evening with the city council’s action regarding the unfortunate comments made by Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.  I know from speaking to a number of the councilmembers just how tough it has been on them personally as they have dealt with this emotionally charged issue.  It has not been a fun time for anyone of them, not Claudia and not David or Carlos either. Continue reading→

Benavides and Bustamante thwarted by the Santa Ana City Council

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 11 Comments

The Santa Ana City Council just voted on the 85 A item that was put on the agenda tonight, by Council Members Carlos Bustamante and David Benavides.  They said they weren’t trying to punish Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, but that is precisely what they were trying to do.

The Council voted 4-3 for an alternate motion submitted by Council Member Vince Sarmiento, condemning Alvarez’ comments last week, when she used a Hitler analogy in talking about Jewish property owner and developer Irv Chase.

Surprisingly, Council Member Michele Martinez sided with the “B-Boys.”  However they could not get four votes.  Indeed, they got punked.  Council Members Pulido, Sarmiento, Tinajero and Alvarez voted for the substitute motion. Continue reading→

Live blogging – Alvarez vs. Bustamante and Benavides at the Council meeting

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 12 Comments

I am covering tonight’s Santa Ana City Council meeting – which figures to be an epic confrontation between Republican Council Member Carlos Bustamante and his sidekick, David Benavides vs. Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.  The “B Boys” have put an 85 A item on the agenda to punish and maybe even ask Alvarez to resign from the Council.

This all came about as a result of an analogy made by Alvarez at the last Council meeting, when she compared developer and property owner Irv Chase to Adolf Hitler.  She has since apologized. Continue reading→

Benavides and Bustamante to attack Alvarez at the 9/6 City Council meeting

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 66 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has faced a withering attack this week, even though she has already apologized for her ill-chosen analogy, comparing developer and landlord Irv Chase, who it turns out is Jewish, to Adolf Hitler.  She might have made it through this mini-storm if her colleagues had stuck by her but I don’t think any of them are willing to take a stand for her.  It has as such become increasingly likely that she may step down as Mayor Pro Tem, although I suspect that she will remain on the Santa Ana City Council.

This could happen at the next Santa Ana City Council meeting on Sep. 6.  Council Member David Benavides and his Republican amigo, Carlos Bustamante, have placed an 85A item on the Council Agenda, targeting Alvarez.   Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: Pulido regains control

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 21 Comments

Can’t let a rainy day go by without a new edition of Santa Ana Political Chismes, can we?  Church doesn’t start for another hour, so here goes…

  • The Voice of OC recently reported that “As the Santa Ana City Council goes about choosing a new city manager and city attorney — two decisions that will affect the city for years to come — it has become increasingly clear that Mayor Miguel Pulido is not controlling the process.”  Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has lost control of the Santa Ana City Council, however as it turns out he has actually regained control – in his usual fashion.  He has a solid troika, with Councilmen David Benavides and Carlos Bustamante – and now he can add a fourth vote pretty easily.  What changed?  Well, Sarmiento is getting cold feet about running for the Assembly.  One of the other Council Members is going to run for Solorio’s seat – who exactly is not yet known.  What we do know however is that they will have to play ball with Pulido in order to get the support they will need to proceed to Sacramento. Continue reading→

Republicans Bustamante and Richardson get caught ripping off O.C.’s taxpayers

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Jose Solorio, Labor, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Orange County Performance Auditor Steve Danley has made headlines by exposing the corruption at the County of Orange – where pay raises are handed out like treats, many times without justification.  That this is happening while workings are being laid off and families are losing their homes makes this graft even more disgusting.

And perhaps the worst detail of Danley’s recent report is that Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante and SAUSD Trustee Rob Richardson are amongst the overpaid County employees who have received raise after raise without justification.  Santa Ana is home to the most foreclosures in Orange County.  These two greedy public servants aren’t serving the working families of Santa Ana – instead they are grabbing as much taxpayer money as they can.

The O.C. Register reported that “Auditors disagree that the rules were followed. Mismanagement by the county’s Human Resources has made the county more expensive to run and less productive, according to the report. Auditors said $149.3 million can be saved by changing the way Human Resources does business. Correcting those problems could be the answer to solving many, if not all, of the county’s financial woes.”

“Assistant CEO Rob Richardson was promoted from assistant to the CEO in January 2006 and given a 27.4 percent raise. That same day, he got a 2 percent countywide merit increase. Six months later, auditors noted he got a 4.5 percent salary hike “with no justification provided.” Then in April 2008, Richardson got another 8.3 percent salary adjustment,” according to the Voice of OC blog.

“Carlos Bustamante was the OC Public Works administrative director when he was promoted to executive manager to also oversee OC Facilities. OC Public Works Director Jess Carbajal told auditors in December that Bustamante could not do the entire job because of potential conflicts with his City Council position. Santa Ana pays for half of the Civic Center maintenance costs; the county the other half. Carbajal said the assignment was temporary; the CEO said it was permanent. Bustamante was the Republican establishment’s preferred candidate for an open seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2007. He finished fourth in the contest. The county paid him $156,178 last year,” according to the O.C. Register.

The annual median household income in Santa Ana is $43, 412, according to the City of Santa Ana.  Bustamante pulls down almost four times that income, and Richardson earned $194,489.60 last year – almost five times the household median income in Santa Ana.

Bustamante and Richardson are Republicans, in a town that is overwhelmingly Democratic.  They don’t appear to be tea party Republicans!

Assemblyman Jose Solorio supported both of them in their last elections – as did Supervisor Janet Nguyen.

Both Bustamante and Richardson face reelection in 2012.  I hope the voters and our politicians remember how these two ripped off Orange County’s taxpayers!

Don’t let the Minutemen take over this year’s Santa Ana 4th of July event!

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, David Benavides, Entertainment, Historical, Latinos, Liberty, Neighborhood Associations, Parks and Recreation, Patriotism, Politics, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Do you recall that last year the Minutemen took over the Santa Ana 4th of July event?  We raised a stink after one of them got caught on video calling a Mexican-American Santa Ana resident a “wetback.” That whole scandal ended up being called “Hatergate,” after Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides honored Minuteman Lupe Moreno and the rest of her committee, while the rest of the City Council walked out of Chambers in protest.

Now Benavides and Republican Councilman Carlos Bustamante are working with Gerardo Mouet-Executive Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency – on plans for the City’s July 4th event this year.

You will have an opportunity to provide input on the 2011 July 4th event.  This is very important as last year the 4th of July committee was totally dominated by Republicans.

This meeting is scheduled as follows:

Date: Thursday, April 7, 2011
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: SAPD Community Room (60 Civic Center Plaza)

Info: Santa Ana Neighborhood Improvement – (714) 667-2260

I think it is worth reminding folks that Mexican-Americans love the idea of independence too.  Mexican patriots defeated both the Spanish and the French, on their soil.  And they have remained proudly independent ever since.  They in fact celebrated 200 years of independence last year.

What few Americans remember today is that Spain, and its Mexican and New World territories, helped the American patriots to defeat England.  In fact I would say that without their help we would be living in a British satellite today.  Here are a few facts to consider, from this online source:

Spain helped the Patriots in four ways, but not openly: money loaned, money given; a clandestine world trading company to provide war materiel and to bring European military leaders to America; opening literally a second front; and sending Spanish observers to America.

The first recorded moneys were two million livres in hard currency and war materiel. Thus, the United States currency, the Continental, was secured by Spanish silver dollars. Two additional sums were noted: the first, $74,087.00, was loaned to Patriots Oliver Pollock and Thomas Willing and, second, $174,011.00 to John Jay, United States Emissary to Spain. Another source was King Carlos III’s August 17, 1780 Royal Order asking Spanish and Indian males in the Americas to donate two dollars and one dollar respectively in equivalent goods, the records of which were sent to Mexico City for distribution — a mystery of history not quite solved, although rumors abound. Fr. Serra, Father President of Alta California, called this a “war tax.” The government of Alta California sent $4,216.00.

This project provided war material and brought European military leaders to the Patriots through a “dummy” world trading company — Roderique Hortalez et Cie. Based in Paris, but operated out of St. Eustatius in the Lesser Antilles, the Bourbon Kings of Spain and France each provided one million livres to start the company in May of 1776, six weeks before the Declaration of Independence. The materiel and leaders were sent via ships from St. Eustatius to Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Charleston, South Carolina and New Orleans in the Spanish Province of Louisiana, then up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and across the Braddock and Bedford roads. For example, Patriots received this support for the Battle of Saratoga and during the Northwest campaigns led by George Rogers Clark. Baron F. W. Augustus von Steuben was brought to Valley Forge with these funds as were Casimir Pulaski, Thaddeus Kosciuszko et al for other Patriot activities.

Spain literally started another military front against the British as soon as war was declared in 1779. Governor of Louisiana, Count Bernardo de Galvez, received orders to take back forts the Spanish had lost to the British in 1763. September 6, 1779, Galvez took Ft. Bute at Manchas in the Mississippi River Valley with no losses to Spain. Taking the fort at Baton Rouge was a more formidable task, but the Spanish captured it September 20. Galvez next secured the peaceful surrender of Natchez October 5. The next year, Galvez led his forces to capture Mobile, West Florida. The attack on Pensacola in 1781 was on land and sea with Galvez Commander-in-Chief; however, Joseph Calvo de Irazabel led the fleet from Havana. Pensacola proved to be the most difficult of the three-year campaign, although, again Spain triumphed. There was one more battle between Spain and Britain May 8, 1782 when Spain regained the Bahamas from England. Although more military action was planned, negotiations for the Treaty of Paris 1783 had begun, and hostilities ceased in the Atlantic and along its seaboard. Protection of Spanish treasure ships from British pirates continued from the Spanish Main (Cartegena and Bilboa to Havana to Cadiz) and from Manila to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) to Acapulco.

Much less is known about major military actions in the Pacific. Since 1768, Spain had a major port and shipbuilding center at San Blas on the west coast of Mexico in addition to Acapulco. More than 20 ships plus treasure galleons operated on a regular schedule supplying Pacific Coast missions, presidios and pueblos as well as trading up and down the coast, across the Pacific and in the Far East. Skirmishes were reported between Spanish and British ships during the American Revolution. Explorations of the northern Pacific also took place in what is known today as Vancouver Island, Glacier Bay, Prince William Sound and Unalaska where lands were claimed and lookouts established for Russian and English ships.

One of the greatest impacts of the Spanish navy was keeping the English in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico from reinforcing Cornwallis at Yorktown October 1781.

These were sent to United States in much the same way that the Patriots sent Commissioners to Europe. The first and best known was Juan de Miralles who became a partner in the trading firm of Robert Morris and Thomas Willing. Miralles and George Washington also became personal friends and professional correspondents.

Click here to read the rest of this article about how Spain helped the American Patriots to defeat the British.

Given this rich history of Spanish and Mexican contributions to the American victory over the British in our Revolutionary War, perhaps we should have a children’s choir, maybe from El Sol, sing the Star Spangled Banner in Español?

Recap of Larry Mantle’s “Santa Ana Gentrification Wars” radio show on KPCC

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Michele Martinez, Politics, Redevelopment, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Photo: Karen X. Fritsche/KPCC

So you missed Larry Mantle’s “Santa Ana Gentrification Wars” radio show, that taped on Tuesday, March 29, at Libreria Martinez?  Not to worry.  Click here to hear the show, which was part of Mantle’s Air Talk program.

Guests included:

  • Eric Altman, Executive Director of OCCORD, Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development, a labor-funded non-profit organization that is headed up by two white male executives.
  • Michele Martinez, Santa Ana City Councilwoman – Ward 2; Human Resources and Education Foundation Director
  • Carlos Bustamante, Santa Ana Councilman – Ward 3; Director of Administration at Orange County Public Works
  • Carolina Sarmiento, member of the Centro Cultural de Mexico, a longtime Santa Ana nonprofit that figures into the gentrification game
  • Art Lomeli, a dentist who lives in Orange Park Acres and who heads up the Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government

Reviews were mixed.  Apparently little was accomplished on this show.

The Voice of OC blog provided a recap, which indicated that a lot of the discussion on the show was about the failed attempt to force a so-called “Community Benefit Agreement” on the Station District redevelopment project, which was going to include affordable housing but was derailed by a lawsuit.

These “Community Benefit Agreements” are nothing more than extortion.  They are attempts by folks who do not own property to force their will on developers.  They usually fail as developers and city governments have no reason to sign on to their demands, which do not respect property rights.

Furthermore, these agreements are advanced by non-elected busy-bodies who have no mandate and really should have no say in what happens in our community.  We already have an elected City Council.  It is their job, along with our City Planning Commission and our Planning Department, to resolve these issues.

Here is what our reader Cook had to say about the program: “The book store was packed, must have been more than the 100 people limit.  Nothing ground breaking happened, but there was a lot of exchanging ideas and talking points.”

And here is what our reader Junior had to say about it: “There were no NEW ideas – it was regurgitated talking points – from all sides.”

What did other folks think?  Well, the comments left on Mantle’s blog are interesting, to wit:

From David: Thanks again for hosting such a great event. I was fortunately to be part of the crowd when AirTalk was being recorded.

A believe that the core question was not answered directly and that was whether these businesses are displacing the natives in the Downtown Santa Ana area. Granted the redevelopment is supposedly be bringing in affordable housing but economically, how many natives can afford housing even when it’s affordable?

When Larry Mantle had asked as to whether they couldn’t compare this project to other cities such as Santa Monica, I think a better example would have been a local city, such as Westminster.

Asian Americans have a strong community in the City of Westminster and have a strong ties to the local businesses in the area. There has been development projects in Westminster as well but they are definitely helping the community by allowing more local businesses to be developed without having to worry for big corporations. I don’t see why Santa Ana can’t follow this business plan.

From Delores: As a Heinz 57 mutt, I love the culture here in Santa Ana. I think most Anglos do. Sadly last night it sounded like Carolina was an apologist for her family’s weath and for living in Floral Park. She has the luxury of being a rich kid who never purchases in downtown and yet cries foul for the community. The truth is, the 80,000 people who live in the sphere of influence of downtown do not shop downtown they head to Target, WalMart and Main Place. Downtown no longer has the 2nd place tax base that Art referenced. That was 7 years ago. As Carlos stated; the whites didn’t want the browns in the 70’s and the browns do not want the whites in 2011. It wasn’t right then, and it’s not right now! Change is afoot. Not unlike Borders, it is survival of the fittest. If you offer good service, value and quality; bridal shop, jewelry store, clothing store, tax preparation, etc., you have nothing to worry about. If your business is being pushed out by the worldwide web (travel, CD’s, movies) you should change your product. The color of downtown is not red, yellow, black, brown or white; it is green Carolina. If it’s not green, who will pay for what you ask for? Who will pay for affordable housing, green space, community centers, healthcare, and on and on????? Developers aren’t standing in line waiting to get a project in Santa Ana. It’s the contrary, the City is courting these developers to please take a look at Santa Ana.

From Holly: As a former longtime resident, I have seen the city of Santa Ana persistently navigate major redevelopment projects over the last 25 years. I’m thinking of the Bristol Corridor Project, the Delhi Community Center Redevelopment and all of the Santa Ana Schools that have been built on former business locations throughout Santa Ana. There were many of these same concerns expressed very actively & effectively from the community then, too and the City heard them and incorporated their concerns. The desire for accessible shopping and parks, open space, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods and a good community center are not unique to just Ward 2 in Santa Ana. Which leads me to believe that perhaps, in these very trying economic times – that the community’s desire for the labor to be ‘only from Santa Ana’ and that it be ‘Union’ only, is one of the true sticking points. To which I would say: only the attorneys for and against the lawsuit will benefit. The community of Ward 2 of Santa Ana will continue to struggle and the Station Area redevelopment project will languish, not improving the situation for anyone. Anyone except the attorneys on both sides of the pending lawsuit, that is.

From Michael: Perhaps the close minded people who want to fight something thing that is met for the betterment of all the community, had better step back and think a little. Breaking the law has consequences, regardless of peoples national origin, race or creed. I was appaled at the comment of one Hispanic woman who said what about the undocumented people who don’t have a voice in this matter. Well the truth is they shouldn’t have any voice period. Break the laws of our country and pay the price without complaining. The second issue is what is called the right of imminant domain. Just remember the courts have always upheld this issue and if people do not want to move forward with a community betterment project, this law can be imposed on them. I am a native of Los Angeles and have watched as the once great and beautiful city of Santa Ana going down to where it has become like a third world city. I congratulate the city council in their vision to bring Santa Ana back to its rightful place in So Cal. It is a total waste of money and time as well as increases a projects cost immensily to bring a lawsuit and with the state of our economy, is there money to waste? I think not. The council and developer get my vote.

KPCC’s Larry Mantle to host a radio show about Santa Ana, on March 28

Posted on by Posted in Affordable Housing, Carlos Bustamante, Development, Entertainment, Michele Martinez, Real Estate, Redevelopment, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Click here for an audio link to Larry Mantle’s “Santa Ana Gentrification Wars” segment of Air Talk.

KPCC’s Larry Mantle is hosting a radio show about Santa Ana on March 28, at 6:30 p.m. You can get a free ticket by clicking here.  Mantle’s program is entitled “Santa Ana’s Gentrification Wars.”  KPCC Radio 89.3 is also known as National Public Radio NPR.

The show will run from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., at Libreria Martinez, which is located at 216 North Broadway, in Santa Ana .

Here is how Mantle is describing the show on his website:

Does downtown Santa Ana need a face lift? The Santa Ana City Council has proposed multiple projects to upgrade housing and bring new business activity to the area. But some very vocal and active groups oppose this redevelopment. They argue that these changes will push out family owned businesses and negatively transform the character of downtown Santa Ana.

On March 15, AirTalk goes “on the road” to Libreria Martinez in Santa Ana to debate the pros and cons of that city’s revitalization process. Will the refurbishing of downtown Santa Ana improve or hurt the quality of life and well-being of residents there? Join Larry Mantle and guests for an in depth discussion about Santa Ana’s gentrification wars.

The public is invited to attend. ADMISSION IS FREE. But RSVPs are required.

Guests:

  • Eric Altman, Executive Director of OCCORD, Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development a community-based non-profit organization that advocates for the rights of Orange County’s working families
  • Michele Martinez, Santa Ana City Councilwoman – Ward 2; Human Resources and Education Foundation Director
  • Carlos Bustamante, Santa Ana Councilman – Ward 3; Director of Administration at Orange County Public Works
  • Carolina Sarmiento, member of the Centro Cultural de Mexico, a longtime Santa Ana nonprofit that figures into the gentrification game

Sponsor: AirTalk

Editor’s Notes:

It is obvious that Mantle has no clue about Santa Ana.  Our Downtown has already had a face lift!  The project he is thinking of is likely the Station District, which has been derailed by a lawsuit.  The land the city bought in that area was bought with grants for affordable housing.  In fact the Station District included a lot of affordable housing.

OCCORD is a union-backed organization that is funded in part by Alfredo Amezcua, who lost badly last year when he challenged Mayor Miguel Pulido.  It is ironic that they are focusing on gentrification when their top two executives are white males.

The reality is that our city has seen a huge influx in the last few years of Vietnamese Americans.  At the same time many white residents have died or moved out.  We are the most diverse city in Orange County – so arguing about gentrification seems rather silly.

Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream retires at last

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Longtime Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream has at long last decided to retire, according to the O.C. Register.  He will remain as a consultant through May – and make another $25K in the process, but then he will be, at last, gone – without a severance check.

Ream told the Register that his “proudest achievements included the redevelopment of Fashion Square into MainPlace Mall, the construction of more than a dozen public schools, the creation of a network of neighborhood associations to foster communication between residents and city departments, the building of a new police facility and the continuing Bristol Street widening.”

I wonder if the current City Council majority will continue to fund the neighborhood associations, given the red ink at city hall?

What else has Ream accomplished over the years?  His “accomplishments” include:

  • Medians along 17th St. that we did not want and did not need.  These medians will keep costing our city, and our taxpayers, a fortune, in perpetuity, to maintain.  However, they do serve as a moat for the folks who live in Floral Park, so I guess there is an upside for them.
  • A widened Bristol St. that primarily serves Mater Dei High School.  It is not done yet.  It may not be done in Ream’s lifetime.  A whole lot of money has been spent here.  Most definitely questionable!
  • The Artists Village.  Ream, along with the City Council and Mayor Miguel Pulido, made this happen.  It has worked to a great extent, to change our downtown, but now many of the artists are feeling the squeeze.  This chapter is far from over.
  • A very nice city yard – that cost a bundle.  Some say the costs for this yard were buried in our public works budget.
  • New developments that focused on fairly high-cost townhomes, lofts and towers, such as the CityPlace and the Santiago Lofts.
  • A nice soccer complex at Centennial Park.
  • Repaved streets – but that too took awhile.
  • The highest water prices in Orange County.
  • We kept the U.S. Court of Appeals.
  • We lost a lot of big retailers to other nearby cities.

Our City Council majority surely needs to get a lot of credit for moving Ream along – as well as most of his crew.  The only one left is Jill Arthur.

I am hoping that our Public Works Director, Raoul Godinez, will be tabbed to replace Ream.  Godinez worked for Jerry Brown, in Oakland.  He brings a lot of experience as both a former elected official and a city administrator to the table.

The Liberal OC blog reported tonight that Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante “has volunteered to put together a ”Roast” to recognize Ream’s 32 years of service to Santa Ana.”  If that comes to pass we will be sure to pass that information along to our readers.

Santa Ana’s progressive City Council majority may not be in charge for long

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 21 Comments

A few folks in Santa Ana have been mighty perplexed about the current City Council majority.  I would definitely include failed Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua in that number, along with former Mayoral candidate Thomas Gordon, and many former Santa Ana City Commissioners – who were give the boot by the current City Council majority.

You need four votes on the City Council in order to get anything done.  Currently the majority on the City Council is made up of Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, along with Council Members Michele Martinez, Vincent Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero.  Mayor Miguel Pulido primarily goes along with the majority, although at times they differ.  Council Members David Benavides and Carlos Bustamante are sitting at the little kids’ table – utterly bereft of power and influence at City Hall.

But that could change in 2012.  Alvarez will be terming out.  I am not sure what she intends to do at that point.  She could run for Mayor, or for the SAUSD School Board.  Or she could walk away and concentrate on her job as a O.C. Deputy District Attorney.

Current SAUSD Trustee Romany Reyna is an ally of Benavides.  Reyna previously ran for the Council seat held by Alvarez and now all he has to do is wait for her to term out and run again.

I have however heard that Reyna is having second thoughts, as well he should.  If he runs for the Council in 2012, he will vacate his School Board seat.  If he loses his Council race he will be done in local politics.  I don’t know that he is willing to take that chance.  It depends on who ends up running against him for Alvarez’ seat on the City Council.

If Reyna does run for the Council, and he wins, and Bustamante is re-elected, they will surely team up with Benavides and likely with Mayor Pulido – and the new City Council majority will be quite different from the current majority.

Both Reyna and Benavides are religious conservatives.  Bustamante is a Republican.  Pulido is more moderate than that bunch, but he has been pulled to the left by the current Council majority.  There is no telling what this new right-leaning majority might do, once empowered.

Pulido will also face a few challengers in 2012, including the aforementioned Amezcua.  Past Republican Assembly candidate Otto Bade also told me recently that he intends to run for Mayor in 2012.  Bade lost his concession this year at the Santa Ana Zoo, where his La Perla restaurant will be replaced by a Knowlwood’s restaurant.

I think Amezcua and Bade would ally with the new, conservative faction if either one of them were to prevail against Pulido.

I also think that failed Mayoral candidate Charles Hart intends to run again in 2012.  Hart was recently appointed to the Republican Party of Orange County’s Central Committee, representing the  69th Assembly Caucus.  If he were to somehow win in 2012, perhaps as a result of a Latino vote split, I think he too would end up allying with the new, conservative faction.

To make matters worse for Alvarez and company, Councilman Sarmiento is likely to be running for Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s seat in the 69th Assembly District.  Sarmiento will be tough to beat.  As such, he will be vacating his City Council seat – and the Council majority will have to find someone to fill that spot.  That will happen after the November election, so if the new faction takes over, guess who will be appointing Sarmiento’s replacement?

And that’s not all.  I fully expect at least one or more of the other Council Members to run against O.C. Supervisor Janet Nguyen.  Either Sal Tinajero or Michele Martinez would have good odds of beating Nguyen, unless she redistricts her seat and adds more Vietnamese voters to it, while weakening the Latino vote, which she just might do.

So where does all this leave the people of Santa Ana?  It leaves us two years for our Council majority to get the job done, before they dissolve and/or get replaced.  That is a small window and it is closing fast.

If the majority fails to replace itself, the fact is that many of the ousted and bitter former City Commissioners will be back and business as usual will return to City Hall.  Imagine that – in two short years our progress might well be stopped and reversed.  That is a chilling thought.

Stroud and Betancourt to be replaced as Santa Ana City Commissioners on Tuesday

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Development, Miguel Pulido, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Women 10 Comments

Longtime Santa Ana City Commissioners Julie Stroud and Vicky Betancourt are out – both are being replaced this Tuesday night, at the next Santa Ana City Council meeting, according to the posted meeting agenda.

Stroud served on the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission.  She was one of two Commissioners on that board who opposed my suggestion that the City of Santa Ana look into creating a dog park.  The other, Tish Leon, was dismissed a few months ago after she joined with Stroud in bullying a teenage Commissioner, who then quit the Commission, but outed them in the process.

Stroud was seen by many supporters of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, when she was leaving the election night party of failed Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua.  I knew then it was unlikely she would be re-appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board.

Stroud is being replaced by Ava Steaffens, the President of Kidworks, a non-profit that serves needy children in Santa Ana.  That is a great choice!  Steaffens is being appointed by Councilman David Benavides.

Roman Reyna, who is now a member of the SAUSD School Board, was also replaced, on the Housing and Redevelopment Commission, by Laura Morfin, who chaired the now defunct EPIC Commission.  Morfin is being appointed by Benavides.  And Mayor Pulido is appointing Wendy Tobiska to the Parks and Recreation Board.

Benavides also re-appointed Mario Turner to the Santa Ana Planning Commission, but the big news is Betancourt’s departure from that same body.  Betancourt was perhaps the most controversial member of the Santa Ana Planning Commission.  Her decisions were often overturned by the Santa Ana City Council.  Betancourt is allegedly an atheist, and she reportedly was very tough on any church that had business with the Planning Commission.  She is also a major supporter of the Artists Village.  None of the current Planning Commissioners are known supporters of the arts, although that doesn’t mean they won’t be supportive of the Artists Village.

Betancourt is one of the owners of Coneybeare, a local temp agency firm.  She was also on the board of directors of the Santa Ana Business Bank, which sold its assets at a loss of about 40%, to a bank in Los Angeles, about a year ago.

Sandy Nalle will be replacing Betancourt on the Planning Commission.  Nalle works for CB Richard Ellis, a commercial real estate company.  He has a Juris Doctorate and he ran against Bustamante back in 2004, when he got over 40% of the vote.  Bustamante won that election, with 59% of the vote.  Nalle was supported by Pulido, and it is Pulido who is now putting him on the Planning Commission.

According to his company’s website, Nalle is an expert in large property sales and governmental relations, Mr. Nalle’s transactions vary from 400,000 square foot industrial leases to 100 acre land acquisitions and development projects. Additionally, he has thirty years of extensive experience with Mexican commercial, legal and real estate matters including fideicomiso organization.

Nalle was also a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps.

With Betancourt’s exit there are now no women on the Planning Commission.  She is also an environmentalist – and again, to my knowledge, none of the remaining Planning Commissioners are environmental extremists.

It should be noted that Nalle lives in Ward 3 – as do all of the Planning Commissioners except for Sean Mill, who lives in Ward 6.

Council installation ceremony quite upbeat

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Last evenings city council installation ceremony was great success that had a very upbeat vibe about it.  Mayor Miguel Pulido and Councilmembers Michele Martinez, David Benavides and Sal Tinajero all reaffirmed their oath’s of office and the 2010-2012 Santa Ana City Council was seated joining their colleagues Claudia Alvarez, Carlos Bustamante and Vince Sarmiento.

Despite a small gathering of protesters organized by the failed Amezcua campaign the evening went off without a hitch and each of the councilmembers and the mayor offered up encouraging words for our city’s future.  It looks like all seven members of the council are committed to moving forward with an agenda that will help improve the quality of life for all of our residents and not let the naysayers and malcontents hold us back.

The highlights of the evening had to have been Councilmember Benavides daughter holding Benavides late father’s Bible during his swearing in and the moving tribute to Councilmember Martinez late mother.  Benavides father passed away last year and Martinez mother died the day before the election this year.

It was great to see the families of all of our elected officials and many of our city staff.  Sometimes in the brutal battles that take place in the political arena we lose sight of the fact that these folks are human like the rest of us and have families that love them very much.  Last night allowed us all to see that very human side of our leaders.  Mayor Pulido’s son Miguelito even helped entertain the crowd at the Bowers Museum reception by playing classical guitar along with his classmates from the Orange County High School of the Arts.

There was one matter of business before the council last night and that was the selection of Mayor Pro Tem.  The council unanimously selected the current Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez to continue on in that position.  The solid support from her colleagues is a testament to the leadership shown by Alvarez durin her tenure on the council.

Last night’s event left me feeling very good about the future of our city and I am excited to watch what our city leaders do to move our city forward over the next two years.  Lets hope the malcontents and the naysayers will get on board and help make Santa Ana a better place.

Who will run for the Santa Ana City Council in 2012?

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

This year’s Santa Ana City Council elections were a mixed bag.  On the one hand, mayoral challenger Alfredo Amezcua proved he could run a serious campaign – but he lost badly to Mayor Miguel Pulido, despite spending a quarter million, from what I hear.

The Council incumbents won handily.  Michele Martinez and David Benavides ran unopposed.  Sal Tinajero was challenged by Nam Pham and Helen Martinez.  They were not competitive.

But 2012 will be a different bag altogether.  Vice Mayor Claudia Alvarez is termed out.  Councilman Carlos Bustamante will be running for his third term – but this time he figures to draw heavy competition, after he was caught campaigning for Republican Assemblyman Van Tran, who challenged Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.  And Councilman Vince Sarmiento might leave the Council and run for Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s seat in the 69th A.D., creating an open seat on the Council.

Amezcua could run for Mayor again, but he ought to consider challenging Bustamante, who has been in cruise control for a few years.  If Amezcua does that, he might pick up support from folks who support Pullido but want Bustamante, who is the last Republican on the Santa Ana City Council, off the Council.

Who else might challenge Bustamante?  Well, how about past Assembly candidate Armando de la Libertad, who lives in the new CityPlace center?  He is very popular and he is very well connected in the O.C. business community.

Guess who else lives in Bustamante’s ward?  Popular SAUSD Trustee John Palacio, an ally of Amezcua.  Palacio just won a new term on the SAUSD School Board.  He would have a free shot at Bustamante’s seat.

What about Alvarez’ Ward?  The obvious leading candidate would have to be SAUSD Trustee Roman Reyna, who ran for the City Council before.  He works at the new Santa Ana YMCA and previously worked at the Boys and Girls Club.  He knows a lot of families in town, and he is also popular in the faith community.  He would be a formidable challenger, if he could raise enough money.

But it is unlikely that Tinajero, Martinez and Councilman Vince Sarmiento would back Reyna.  The danger for the progressive Council majority would be that Reyna would team up with Benavides, Pulido and Bustamante (if Bustamante won reelection) and form a new conservative Council majority.

Then again, who knows?  It is still very early in the game.  Alvarez’ ward includes the Artesia-Pilar and Washington Square Neighborhood Associations.  Both are full of activists and community leaders, including past SAUSD candidates Gloria Alvarado, Cecilia Aguinaga, Oscar Garza and Irene Ibarra, and past Rancho Santiago CCD candidate Lynette Verino, as well as former Councilman Tom Lutz and his wife Nancy, who lost to Alvarez many years ago.  And I think that Amezcua’s daughter Valerie might live in this Ward too.  She also ran for the SAUSD Board a couple years ago.

If Sarmiento leaves the Council to run for Solorio’s seat he might well end up running against AUHSD Trustee Jordan Brandman – and Solorio may go with Brandman instead of backing Sarmiento.  Of course Solorio will have to be careful as he may end up running against Supervisor Janet Nguyen in 2012.

So who might run for Sarmiento’s seat?  Community leader Jim Walker did pretty well in 2008, when he challenged Sarmiento.  He might run again.  But most likely we will see a number of Commissioners and Neighborhood leaders run for this Ward.

What about Pulido?  He won handily, again, this year.  I doubt anyone will challenge him this time, except for perhaps Amezcua.  Oh, you might see a few underdog candidates arise, but no one is going to defeat Pulido.  And don’t forget that 2012 will be a presidential election year.  Pulido will be helping Obama – and that means Obama will be helping him.  Game over for anyone who wants to take on Pulido…