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Tag Archives: jill arthur

Updated: Adios Jill Arthur

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Dave Ream, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Jill Arthur

UPDATED: The Voice of OC is now reporting that Jill Arthur is possibly working in a volunteer capacity for Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.  We have no problem with that.  Who the Mayor opts to work with is up to him and apparently the taxpayers are not on the hook.  That sounds like a good deal for the people of Santa Ana.

Jill Arthur, Santa Ana’s former deputy city manager accused of wrongdoing at the city’s unemployment office, is no longer employed at City Hall after a city investigation into the incident, Voice of OC has confirmed.

We might never know why in the world Arthur offered to use her influence at the city’s work center to help a young man named Marcel Alvarez to find a job after she backed her vehicle into his car but apparently that is what she did. Continue reading→

Arthur reportedly out at City Hall, but why is Martinez talking about this?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Jill Arthur

Jill Arthur, one of the most powerful behind-the-scenes figures at Santa Ana City Hall in recent years, is leaving the city’s employ in the wake of an investigation into her actions following a traffic accident, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation, according to the Voice of OC.

The Voice of OC admitted that “Council members have been kept in the dark because the issue is a personnel matter,” so why did Councilwoman Michele Martinez talk about this with the Voice of OC?  Her response should have been “no comment.” Continue reading→

Deputy City Manager Jill Arthur being investigated for misconduct

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Kevin O'Rourke, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 12 Comments

Jill Arthur

Santa Ana Deputy City Manager Jill Arthur was placed on administrative leave this week pending a city-commissioned investigation into allegations that she engaged in misconduct following a traffic accident, according to the Voice of OC.

The Voice of OC reported that “According to sources familiar with the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity, Arthur was involved in a car accident with Marcel Alvarez, a 22-year-old Buena Park resident. Rather than exchange insurance information, Arthur offered to get Alvarez a job by leveraging her influence at the Santa Ana Work Center, a city office that assists residents in finding employment, sources said.” Continue reading→

Council Member Martinez’ hysterical stance on CDBG funds is self serving

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Michele Martinez speaking

Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez had a total fit at this week’s City Council meeting, regarding the CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) funding that the city is applying for.  These federal funds last year totalled $5.7 million.  These funds are supposed to be used “to improve low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and eliminate blight,” according to the O.C. Register.

The irony is that Martinez has always voted for the CDBG funds as they have been presented to the Council – but now she is going off about past funding, including funding for a police helicopter that would have otherwise been grounded. Continue reading→

Has the City of Santa Ana suspended its city manager search?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Ream, David Benavides, Latinos, Lawyers, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Several sources in and around Santa Ana’s City Hall are reporting that the City of Santa Ana has suspended their search for a new city manager.  I am told that this was also conveyed to a reporter from the Voice of OC today.  However, another source reported that there is no suspension.  The truth is likely somewhere in between…

My sources said that an argument will be made that conducting a national search for a new city manager is too expensive and that we ought to just roll with interim City Manager Paul Walters, who also serves as our Chief of Police, to save money.

The downside of this however is that the defacto city manager is now none other than longtime assistant to the last city manager, Jill Arthur.  Apparently Walters is leaning on her a lot – and she is now effectively running the 8th floor. Continue reading→

Who will be the next Santa Ana City Manager?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 23 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and Santa Ana Parks and Rec Director Gerardo Mouet

It is early yet, but I am hearing that several candidates to replace retiring Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream are emerging from City Hall, including Public Works Director Raul Godinez II and Parks and Recreation Director Gerardo Mouet, as well as Jill Arthur, who has been an assistant to Ream.

Godinez is being pursued by several other cities with City Manager vacancies.  He previously worked in Oakland, for then Mayor Jerry Brown.  He has also held elective office before.

Mouet has worked hard to provide Parks and Recreation services while constantly having to cut his budget.

Raul Godinez II

Arthur is thought to be favored by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, but it is unlikely she will garner enough support from the rest of the City Council to get the job.

There is also supposed to be a national search to replace Ream, but I have not verified that.

I am told that Mouet has the support of Ream, but he will need four votes from the City Council in order to replace Ream.  I am told that most if not all of them are seeking to appoint a Latino to replace Ream.

The City Council will be served by an interim City Manager, under contract, for the time being.

Update

I forgot to mention that SAPD Police Chief Paul Walters is also apparently in the mix to replace Ream, either on an interim basis or permanently.  Walters, like Mouet and Godinez II, is a very capable administrator.

A day in the life of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 4 Comments

I met with Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido today at noon, and we had a chance to discuss the Artists Village, amongst other topics.  In the course of our conversation Mayor Pulido shared his schedule with me and gave me permission to discuss it here.  Remember that Mayor Pulido is a part-time Mayor.  Here is how he spent this morning:

  • 8:30 am: Met with City Staff to discuss the Go Local Project
  • 9 am: Met with Roy Alvarado and George Collins to discuss the Harbor Blvd. Corridor
  • 9:20 am: Met with Shirley Grindle to discuss the Bike Trail near the Discovery Science Center and Santiago Park
  • 10 am: Met with Dennis Lluy, David Leon, Ryan Chase, Gil Marrero, Irv Chase and Councilwoman Michele Martinez to discuss the direction of nightlife in the Downtown, and the dance ordinance
  • 10:20 am: Met with Gary Kutscher, Angie Rowe, and Scott Baugh to discuss the O.C. Marathon
  • 10:40 am: Met with Ray Estrella and Robert Maniaci to discuss a Veteran housing project
  • 11 am: Met with Jody Johansen and Chris Roelle to meet and greet the new FBA President
  • 11:20 am: Met with Armando de la Libertad to be introduced to a Santa Ana resident who is a CAD designer who designs skateboard parks
  • 11:40 am: Met with Carlos Benitez to discuss projects related to the Federacion de Clubs Guerrenses
  • and 12:20 pm – Spoke on the phone with Charmayne Bacon and Ken Brown re Climate Communities and USCM

Many city staffers were involved in these meetings, including Jill Arthur, SAPD Chief Paul Walters, Gerardo Mouet, Mark Lawrence, Jay Trevino and Lt. Mike McCoy.

What a day!  And Pulido still has an afternoon full of additional appointments to work through.

We are fortunate to have a Mayor who can spend so much time on city business.  Mayor Pulido made it clear that he is available to talk to anyone who wants to meet with him with regard to city business.  If you want to meet with him contact Becky Magallon, at City Hall, at BMagallon@santa-ana.org.  She is an Executive Assistant to City Manager Dave Ream.

Jill Arthur’s son receives a $25K donation for college, from Judge Jim Gray

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Chase Arthur

Chase Arthur, Picture Courtesy of the O.C. Register

Santa Ana External Affairs Director Jill Arthur was in the news today as the O.C. Register revealed that an anonymous donor stepped up to help pay for her son Chase Arthur’s first year of college, at the exclusive Santa Clara University.

The donor’s name was revealed when Jill had to file paperwork with the state FPPC (Fair Political Practices Commission) due to her job and that of her husband, Craig Arthur, an Orange County Superior Court Commissioner (that means he is essentially a judge).

The donor is my good friend Jim Gray – a retired Orange County Superior Court Judge who is well known for his books about legalizing drugs.  He is also a Libertarian and he has run for Congress.  Today he writes a column for a local newspaper. Continue reading→