Join us every First Saturday of the Month for the Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk
Arts, crafts and live entertainment centrally located at: Second Street Promenade (2nd & Broadway) & East End (3rd & Spurgeon)
There is always something new to see ! Continue reading
Com Link’s next General Meeting is set for Thursday, September 22. Here is their Agenda:
Connecting to a Vibrant Downtown Santa Ana!
Speaker: Vicky Baxter, Executive Director of Downtown Inc. Continue reading
Twin devils of deception
Embattled Ward 3 City Councilman Carlos Bustamante likes to portray himself as an anti-tax crusading small government Republican, but is he?
At last evenings Santa Ana City Council meeting Bustamante, who is currently on paid leave from his county job due to sex allegations, played to the crowd of “Usual Suspects” and anti-Chivas NIMBY’s by saying that he would fight any attempt to use tax dollars or raising of taxes to help bring Chivas USA to Santa Ana. A few hours later, at the same meeting, Bustamante sat with a disgusted look on his face as Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez spoke out against PBID, a tax, which many call unfair and illegal, on downtown business owners.
Have you been wondering what all the fuss is about the Santa Ana PBID? Well, wonder no more. I got a hold of all the city documents related to the PBID, and you can view them by clicking here. This link will take you to a Google Documents folder with numerous documents related to the PBID, including:
So what is the PBID? Continue reading
The Santa Ana City Council is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, August 24, at 5 pm. The biggest item on the agenda is a public hearing regarding the controversial Downtown Santa Ana PBID – an annual assessment that has succeeded in cleaning up and marketing Downtown Santa Ana.
I have no idea how the Santa Ana City Council will approach the PBID, but I do know that Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez has a real problem with Downtown, Inc., the organization that runs the PBID. I think Downtown, Inc. can count on Mayor Miguel Pulido and Council Members Carlos Bustamante, Vince Sarmiento and David Benavides. I am not sure where Council Members Sal Tinajero and Michele Martinez are on the PBID. I think they are supportive of the proposed changes to the PBID’s boundaries, bit they may want even more changes.
Here are the details about the Public Hearing: Continue reading
Downtown Inc’s Summer Concert Series launched on Friday, July 22, from 5 pm to 9 pm, at the plaza located at French and Fourth Streets, in Downtown Santa Ana’s East End. The event drew a diverse crowd and featured beer and wine sales as well as snacks and offerings from local vendors.
Admission was free and all ages were welcome.
This series features 10 weeks of Friday night concerts with over 48 different music and entertainment groups.
Free entertainment on July 22 included: Continue reading
The next Downtown Santa Ana First Saturdays Art Walk will be held on July 2nd, from 6 – 10 PM.
Enjoy four blocks of new and established galleries, studios, and artists lofts. Continue reading
For Immediate Release:
Summer Concert Series Introduction Mixer
June 23, 2011 6:30pm-8:00pm
The Copper Door
225 ½ N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Downtown Inc. is having a mixer and reception to introduce Santa Ana’s first Summer Concert Series. Downtown Santa Ana merchants, Summer Concert Series musicians and potential sponsors will mix and mingle while “The Budrows”, local indie-rock band, entertain. Summer Concert Series Producer, Archer Altstaetter, will present everyone with the highlights of what Friday evenings in Santa Ana will offer. The Copper Door is hosting the mixer with Chapter One, The Crosby, Las Brisas #2, Original Mike’s, Memphis, Bistro 400 and several other Downtown restaurants providing a fantastic spread of food. The Copper Door’s fantastic selection of beers will be available for purchase.
“10 weeks of outdoor concerts with 48 bands and entertainers, interactive action games, The Kid’s Corner and a beer and wine garden!” was Archer’s excited response when asked for details.
Downtown Inc’s Summer Concert Mixer begins at 6:30 and is open to everyone and attendance is free. The Copper Door is located at 225 ½ N. Broadway, Santa Ana 92701. R.S.V.P. to Admin@Downtown-Inc.com or call Downtown Inc at 714-547-6100. Admission is free. Click here to download the event flier.
Downtown Inc. tendrá una recepción para presentar la primera serie de conciertos de verano en Santa Ana. Comerciantes de la ciudad de Santa Ana, músicos y potenciales patrocinadores se reunirán mientras, “The Budrows”, banda local de indie rock, amenizara el convivio. El productor de la serie de conciertos, Archer Altstaetter, presentará a todos los participantes lo que ofrecerá los viernes por la noche en Santa Ana. La Copper Door está proporcionando el lugar y habrá bocadillos patrocinados por Chapter One , The Crosby, Las Brisas # 2, Original Mike ’s, Memphis, Bistró 400 y varios otros restaurantes locales.
Habrá gran variedad de cervezas disponible para su compra en the Copper Door. “10 semanas de conciertos al aire libre con 48 bandas y artistas, interactivos juegos de acción , esquina de niños y un jardín de cerveza y vino!” fue la respuesta emocionada por Archer cuando se le preguntó por más detalles.
La reunión del concierto de veranos por Downtown Inc comienza a las 6: 30 p.m. y está abierto a todos y la asistencia es gratuita. The Copper Door se encuentra en 225 ½ N. Broadway, Santa Ana 92701. R.S.V.P. a Admin@Downtown-Inc.com o llame al Downtown Inc al 714-547-6100. La entrada es gratuita.
The Chivas will be at the Santa Ana Fiesta Marketplace Promenade from 4-7 pm all week selling “two for $8 tickets” for this Saturday’s “SuperClasico” Chivas vs. Galaxy game at the Home Depot Center. This is a $40 value!
Or buy one adult ticket for $8 and get two kids’ tickets for free! This is an $80 value!
The biggest match of the year is almost here. Chivas USA hosts the LA Galaxy in a challenge for Los Angeles bragging rights on Saturday, May 21st at 7 p.m. here at The Home Depot Center! Reserve your seats today and be here live and in person for Major League Soccer’s biggest rivalry match! Catch world class Chivas USA soccer as they host Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel and the LA Galaxy in a match representing “Real Passion” and “Real Action”. Be here as a real life David vs. Goliath storyline unfurls itself when the underdog Goats face the glitz and glamour of the LA Galaxy.
Galaxy face a confident Chivas USA
Chivas USA brimming with confidence ahead of SuperClasico
CARSON, Calif. – As far as bitter rivalries go, the SuperClasico between the Galaxy and Chivas USA lately has left something to be desired.
The Galaxy leads the all-time series 12-3-5, including 5-0-3 in the last eight matches, and haven’t lost to their co-tenants since a 3-0 loss on Sept. 13, 2007. The Galaxy have had a decided edge almost from the moment the series began in 2005.
But that may be about to change Saturday at The Home Depot Center (7 p.m., ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes) in this season’s first leg of the series. Chivas, under first-year coach Robin Fraser, has a 3-3-3 record that includes a stunning 3-2 victory over the Red Bulls last weekend in New York.
“They’re probably full of confidence,” Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall said. “We see them every day and speak to a couple of their players, and from what (Chivas defender Ante) Jazic said to me is they’re feeling more of a team every weekend.
“That’s good. We want to play any team when they’re at their best. At the moment Chivas is playing really well and it should be a great game and hopefully a lot of fans will turn out.”
The Galaxy’s Todd Dunivant, who counts Chivas’ Simon Elliott – “He’s a Stanford guy,” Dunivant joked – and Heath Pearce among his closest friends, said the proximity with their Chivas rivals makes it difficult for him and his Galaxy teammates not to keep track of them during the season.
“We talk to each other every day, we park next to them in the parking lot … it’s a unique situation in this league, probably any league,” Dunivant said. “They have a lot of confidence right now, they have a new direction and they’re buying into it.
“That makes for a dangerous team.”
This weekend’s game marks a reunion of sorts for Fraser and Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. Arena coached Fraser from 1999-2001 with the U.S. National Team and always was impressed with Fraser’s approach to the game.
If there was someone who had coaching potential, Arena said, it was Fraser.
“What always impressed me about Robin was the kind of character he had,” Arena said. “He wasn’t one of those players where you had to measure every word when you spoke to him. He wasn’t a guy with a major ego or attitude about him.
“I think because the way he always conducted himself you would expect that he could become a good coach. The biggest mistake people make is saying a former player could be a good coach. Most people don’t realize they’re players, not coaches, and to be a coach is a whole different mindset.
“I think he was one of the few that you would say if he wanted to be a coach that he would do a good job.”
The Galaxy’s Mike Magee said Fraser and Chivas certainly have the Galaxy’s attention with their progress to date.
“They’re definitely good. Even when they weren’t getting results, they were playing really well,” Magee said. “Things just weren’t going their way, but they’re one of the hottest teams in the west.
“It’s a tough time to be playing them right now.”
The Galaxy face Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. on ESPN 2/Deportes. Fans that can’t make it to the match can join other supporters at Galaxy viewing parties at ESPN Zone at LA Live or Bier Academy in Santa Clarita. MORE INFO
The City of Santa Ana is offering a FREE course, by Mi Empresa Exitosa, in Spanish, on “How to grow a successful business,” in Spanish, for Santa Ana business owners. There are only 20 scholarships left for this course, which is worth over twelve hundred dollars.
The course starts on March 17, from 5:30 to 9 pm, at 305 E 4th St. Suite 200, in Santa Ana, and it will run 10 weeks covering the following topics:
Requirements:
Complete and submit your grant application – download it here, and a copy of the current business license from the City of Santa Ana.
The course includes all materials and food! Click here to see the course calendar. Click here to see the course flyer.
Remember, this course will be taught entirely in Spanish.
For more info call 714 516-1111 or email: eduardo@miempresaexitosa.com.
Sponsors include: the City of Santa Ana Workforce Investment Board; Downtown, Inc.; Recovery.org; La Opinion; the Small Business Financial Development Corp. of Orange County; the Hispanic Business Consultants; the Camara de Empresarios Latinoamericanos, and Todo Synergy.
Curso Completo de Negocios. “CRECIENDO MI EMPRESA EXITOSA.”
Becas disponibles al 100% y Parciales.
Llama al (714) 516-111 y averigua para cual calificas.
10 semanas que cubrirá los siguientes temas:
Curso inicia: Marzo 17 2011 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Lugar a ser determinado en la ciudad de Santa Ana, Ca.
Dueños de negocios en Santa Ana
Becas del 100% para Dueños de negocio en Santa Ana
Requisitos:
Llene y enviar su aplicacion de beca – descargue la aplicación aqui y una copia de la licencia de negocios vigente de la Ciudad de Santa Ana. El curso Incluye materiales y alimentos.
Mas informacion: 714 516-1111 o email: eduardo@miempresaexitosa.com
Downtown, Inc. is proud to support the OC Fashion Association in hosting the First OC FASHION WEEK, May 18-22, 2011!
Unlike most FASHION WEEKs events, where only industry professionals are invited, OC FASHION WEEK will celebrate its OC fashion talent with the general public, students, fashion industry members and media in a series of events spanning five days in May, 2011.
The Schedule of Events includes 3 different fashion shows, 3 lecture series, 1 mixer, and 2 after-parties. (Stay tuned for more details…) Check out www.downtown-santaana.com for updates on this event.
*If you would like to get involved with, or sponsor this project, please contact OC Fashion Association at: info@ocfashionassociation.com.
OC Fashion Association is a new non-profit organization that connects the OC Fashion Industry, supports emerging OC designers and brings OC Fashion into spotlight. Please, visit their website www.ocfashionassociation.com and Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/OCFashionAssociation) for more information on their upcoming fashion related events including OC FASHION WEEK.
There has been a lot of dissent in the Santa Ana Artists Village of late, which has been fanned by the local media. The good news is that the folks who run Downtown, Inc., the non-profit that operates the Santa Ana PBID are holding a town hall meeting this week, on January 6, at 6:30 pm, at the CSUF Grand Central Art Center, which is located at 125 Broadway, in Downtown Santa Ana.
According to Vicky Baxter, the Executive Director, in an email sent today, the meeting is a follow-up to the previous meeting on Oct. 12, which focused on safety and security in the downtown area.
Amongst the issues that I am sure will be discussed are:
And I am sure many other issues will come up as well.
Kudos to Baxter, at Downtown, Inc., for taking the initiative to launch this meeting. At this point, all of the stakeholders in the Artists Village will be better served by meeting and airing their views than by launching more pointless attacks in the local press.
The problems that are being incurred by the downtown businesses can’t be blamed on Downtown Inc., the restaurant association, Mike Harrah or the PBID. The problems they are incurring are being caused by a lack of consumers shopping in their businesses. The downturn in the economy plays a role in this as does many of these shops lack of a proper business model. Another major factor is the redevelopment of the Lacy Neighborhood and the surrounding area.
The removal of the residents from this area in order to proceed with the agressive redevelopment plans that the city leaders have envisioned took a huge chunk of the consumer base right out of the downtown area. Many of those folks that were within walking distance of the Fiesta Marketplace and Calle Cuatro are no longer there and that has most definately had a major impact on consumer activity in the area.
The redevelopment plans by the city have been scaled down some but they are still moving forward with a terrific project called the “Station District” which will bring in new residents to the area and build up a consumer base for the businesses in the area. The project would be much further along already and we would be closer to a revitalization of the downtown were it not for a lawsuit brought by the “Coalition of No” calling itself Friends of Lacy.
The downtown businesses should be out in full support of the “Station District” and put pressure on these litigious folks to get out of the way of progress. Oddly some of the same downtown businessmen who are now protesting the PBID and blaming it for the economic problems facing the area are also closely allingned with those standing in the way of moving the “Station District” forward. They are essentially acting as their own worst enemies.
There is no reason why our downtown area can’t become a thriving economic success in the same fashion that Old Pasadena has. Old Pasadena and our downtown area both have such incredible charm, beautiful architecture and unlimited potential. Pasadena is achieving that potential because the businesses are buying into the plan set forth there, one that is not that much different than that of Downtown Inc’s.
Now I am not saying that we should replace our current businesses with a bunch of trendy corporate one’s, but we do need to help these folks create a business plan that will attract a wide consumer base rather than one targeting a small nitch. We have businesses that fit this model already, Calacas is a prime example of this.
However the best medicine for the downtown is consumer growth and we can definately get that by increasing the number of consumers living near and around the downtown area. That starts by supporting the “Station District” and the residential development that comes with it. This will be a winner for the business owners and for the city’s tax base in general.
Free rides are being offered on the Lunch Express Trolley Bus in Santa Ana on Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00am to 2:00pm, with trolleys running every twenty minutes. The Trolley Bus will be available this week on December 23-34, 2010.
Hop on the free Trolley and head to Downtown for an express lunch! That’s right, from the Civic Center to the Artist Village, Original Mike’s and more, the trolley is heading to all your favorite establishments.
For more information, click here.
I received a phone call today from Sam Romero, a longtime community leader who used to head up SANO, an organization of 13 Santa Ana Neighborhood Organizations. He has run a Catholic curio store called St. Teresa’s Gifts, in the historic 4th Street marketplace, in Santa Ana, for 35 years.
Romero wanted to talk about the Santa Ana PBID – an annual assessment that affects all the businesses in the downtown area. Romero, as it turns out, is one of the businessmen who spearheaded the effort to collect signatures asking the Santa Ana City Council to rescind the PBID.
I wrote a post about the uprising against the PBID a few days ago. In that post I identified Dr. Art Lomeli, a dentist in the downtown area, as one of the leaders of the PBID rebellion. Romero however said that Lomeli was late to jump on this issue. Both Romero and Lomeli supported failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua.
I told Romero that his support for Amezcua is going to make it tough for him to get much attention from City Hall. Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido won easily in November – and he knows full well who opposed him. Romero said he goes way back with Pulido, having been there when Pulido was first elected. Romero said he pined for years for an all-Latino City Council. We have that Council now, but Romero, like Lomeli and Amezcua, has nothing good to say about them.
Romero helped Pulido’s family to save their muffler shop, which is now known as Ace Auto Care, many years ago, when the City Council at that time was trying to destroy it in the name of redevelopment. Romero admitted that Pulido has never forgotten that favor and that he has always been cordial to Romero and his fellow businessmen in the Fiesta Marketplace.
The problem for Romero is that now he is watching his friends go out of business, and he is not happy about that at all. He blames the PBID, which drains thousands of dollars from every business in the area. The problem, says Romero, is that he and his associates get no benefit from the PBID, which is managed by Downtown, Inc., a non-profit marketing association.
Romero points to the recent Downtown Santa Ana Christmas Event, which he said ran from 4 pm to 10 pm. Most of the shops in the Fiesta Marketplace closed at 5 pm that day. “This only benefited the restaurants in the Artists Village,” said Romero.
Romero says that the businesses in the Fiesta Marketplace also have their own assessment, which amounts to a nickel per square foot. They use that money to promote their shopping area. Romero claims that he and his fellow businessmen started the annual Santa Ana Cinco de Mayo event, “but the city took it away from us.”
The Cinco de Mayo event is still held in the 4th St. area. Pulido met with the merchants in that area this year, in advance of the event, as was widely reported in the local Spanish language newspapers. (See a picture of that meeting above this paragraph).
Romero said the City of Santa Ana also took the annual Noche de Altares (Day of the Dead) event away from them. It was a huge event this year – over by the Artists Village.
I took a look at the Fiesta Marketplace website, which includes a list of the businesses in that area. These shops include:
As you can see, the merchants include quite a few clothing stores, as well as a few eateries and jewelry stores. Their biggest challenge is that the locals can buy similar products, for less, at Wal Mart and Target.
The Fiesta Marketplace website states that “Fiesta Marketplace strives to accurately represent Mexico down to the smallest detail. The restaurants serve delicacies made from traditional, Hispanic recipes, and its stores sell a wide array of foods, toys, clothes, and other goods imported directly from Mexico. A playhouse regularly presents plays and readings in Spanish, and a cinema plays the latest films from Mexico and South America.”
The harsh reality is that many of the immigrants who shopped at the Fiesta Marketplace for years have gone back home, to Mexico and Central America, and some have moved to other States in the U.S., in an attempt to find work and to flee from California’s high cost of living.
Downtown, Inc., has in fact produced many events that were targeted to Latinos, but I don’t know if they succeeded. I do know that they are trying to do the best they can, but it has been a tough year for everyone.
Romero is convinced that the PBID’s ulterior motive is to gentrify 4th St. and to drive the businesses in the Fiesta Marketplace bankrupt.
Romero said he plans to speak at upcoming Santa Ana City Council meetings and that he has asked State Senator Lou Correa to intervene. Correa previously held a public town hall meetings when many local businessmen were upset about the now-defunct Santa Ana Renaissance redevelopment plan.
I have already suggested, in my previous post, that the City Council bring everyone together and rework the PBID. And put it to a new vote. Romero wants it gone, period. I don’t see that happening, to be honest.
Romero cited several examples of businesses losing their shirts, including a parking lot that is not making any money, but is losing thousands to the PBID, every year.
It is worth noting that Pulido’s own family, which still runs their auto shop, also signed Romero’s petition against the PBID.
I don’t know what will become of the Fiesta Marketplace, but they do have an event coming up on January 6. From their website: The first event celebrated in Fiesta Marketplace is the Dia de los Reyes on January 6. The highlight of the event is when the “Reyes Magos” arrive in Fiesta Marketplace. The Reyes Magos give presents to children and in the morning, bread and hot chocolate are given to the public. In the afternoon typical meals from Mexico such as pozole, mole and tamales are given free of charge to the people enjoying the event.
Here is map of the Fiesta Marketplace:
