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Tag Archives: miguel pulido

Poll closes tonight: Who was Santa Ana’s Man of the Year in 2011?

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Arts and Culture, David Benavides, Jose Solorio, Miguel Pulido, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 22 Comments

Santa Ana Youth Commissioner Jonathan Espinoza is leading the vote for “Man of the Year”

We started the tradition of asking our readers to vote for the “Santa Ana Man of the Year” last year, when my friend Naui Huitzilopochtli won easily.  I believe he now lives in Costa Mesa, so he won’t be repeating – but we do have some great choices in the poll below.

As 2011 draws to a close, it is time one more to ponder, who was Santa Ana’s Man of the Year?  Vote below – and yes you can vote for up to three choices (if I missed someone you think should be on the list, please let us know by commenting!): Continue reading→

Construction begins on Santa Ana’s Diamond Park water improvements

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Jose Solorio, Miguel Pulido, public works, Santa Ana, Water 2 Comments

Assemblyman Solorio (center) joins (from left) Diamond Park Mutual Water Company President Jose Espinoza, Interim City Manager and Police Chief Paul Walters, Mayor Miguel Pulido, Public Works Director Raul Godinez and Santa Ana City Councilmember David Benavides at a groundbreaking ceremony in Diamond Park celebrating infrastructure improvements to bring clean drinking water to the neighborhood.

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2011
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – office: (916) 319-2069, mobile: (916) 804-5355

Construction to Improve Water Quality for Santa Ana’s Diamond Park Neighborhood Begins
Community leaders gather to launch long-awaited water pipeline improvements to Santa Ana’s Diamond Park neighborhood Continue reading→

Team Pulido and Solorio publicly endorse Michele Martinez at her fundraiser

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 43 Comments

When OC Labor Political wannabe Julio (Wholio?) Perez held his fundraiser this month it turned into a reunion of the sad sacks who failed to elect Alfredo Amezcua last year, when he got thoroughly trounced by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.  In stunning contrast tonight, Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez was ringed by the entire Pulido political machine – including Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who enthusiastically endorsed Martinez.  So what do you think?  Will the failed Team Amezcua beat Team Pulido?  LOL!  Not in our lifetime…

Martinez and her supporters met at Chapter One: the Modern Local, a newish restaurant over on Broadway and 3rd.  Santa Ana Council Members David Benavides, Vince Sarmiento, and Sal Tinajero showed up to publicly announce their support for Martinez – and so did several Santa Ana Planning Commissioners, including Eric Alderete, Sean Mill and Mario Turner. 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→

Will the soccer haters apologize now that the Chivas are not coming to town?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana, Soccer, Sports 12 Comments

Pictured: The Board of the Santa Ana Soccer and Business Association, with Miguel Pulido and Vince Sarmiento

The Voice of OC is reporting that we were right – the Chivas USA soccer team is NOT moving to Santa Ana after all.  Will Santa Ana’s soccer-hating Usual Suspects now apologize for creating mass hysteria about the proposed move – which was really never more than a pipe dream?

The Voice of OC’s Adam Elmahrek interviewed Edgar Vasquez of the Santa Ana Soccer and Business Association.  We first reported about Vasquez and his new organization way back in January of this year, when they met with Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido. Continue reading→

How and why I ended up helping Pulido to defeat Amezcua last year

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, Dave Ream, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Sean Mill, Vince Sarmiento 10 Comments

Former Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream was not a fan of the Orange Juice blog

I have taken a lot of heat over the past couple of years because I ended up supporting Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido for Mayor last year – and I was retained by his consultant to design his campaign blog. This left a few of my friends scratching their heads.

I fought Pulido and his allies for over fifteen years – and flayed them onthe political blog I created, the Orange Juice. The Orange Juice blog changed Santa Ana politics.  It broke down the barriers built up by now retired Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream.  We went after him and his allies with such a vengeance that they monitored our site all day long.   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→

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→

Santa Ana City Council at odds over next City Attorney

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Lawyers, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 9 Comments

I got a call earlier today from a fellow who is very tight with various elements at the Santa Ana City Hall, regarding the search for our next City Attorney. He gave me the name of the Latina he said was going to get the job, and I ran with it – only to get a call later from another City Hall insider saying that the candidate in question was not yet on board, and I needed to pull my post.

So I did. However, I am being told that we are down to two candidates – a Latina who works at a public entity in a very large city, and a Filipino candidate from Los Angeles. Continue reading→

Mayor Pulido tries to save historical trees at Santa Ana High School

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Education, Green, Historical, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 5 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido personally intervened to save three jacaranda trees at Santa Ana High School, after he found out that the SAUSD School Board had approved the destruction of those trees and a number of historical deodora pine trees to pave the way for a new drop-off and pick-up area, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Vincent Sarmiento to host an early 4th of July reception on June 30

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Latino Leaders, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Santa Ana Councilman Vincent Sarmiento is hosting an an early 4th of July Reception on Thursday June 30, 2011, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, along with Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Mayor Miguel Pulido and the entire Santa Ana City Council.

Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and fine wine at one of Santa Ana’s premier restaurants – South Coast Winery Restaurant & Tasting Room, located at 3608 South Bristol, in Santa Ana.

RSVP’s can be made at VSarmiento4Council@gmail.com or by calling (714) 245-9999.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Sarmiento is going to be running for Solorio’s 69th Assembly District seat in 2012.  Right now it looks like OC Labor political Director Julio Perez, a complete unknown, will be getting hammered by Sarmiento in the Democratic primary.

Santa Ana Mayor is Director of a bank that just sold at a profit

Posted on by Posted in Banking, Fullerton, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has served on the Board of Directors of the Fullerton Community Bank for many years.  He told me last year how proud he was of their long record of success.  Fullerton Community Bank has made money while other banks have lost money.

Just consider what happened to the Santa Ana Business Bank, which was founded by Alfredo Amezcua, a criminal defense lawyer who ran unsuccessfully against Pulido last year.  Amezcua ended up selling the bank at a huge loss to their investors.  He sold the bank for six million, and investors only got about six dollars a share.  The investors initially put in about ten dollars a share, and it bottomed out at $3.50 a share.

Fullerton Community Bank’s mother company, RMG Capital Corporation, on the other hand, has been sold for $50 million dollars – a substantial profit to Opus Bank.  “The boards of directors for Opus and RMG have approved the transaction, which values RMG common stock at $17.47 a share,” according to the O.C. Register.

I reviewed RMG’s stock, and found that it has jumped to a high of $16.65, according to Businessweek, after averaging about $5 for quite awhile.  The RMG investors are going to make out quite well in the sale of their bank.

The news gets even better as “Additionally, concurrent with the close of the transaction, the Opus Community Foundation intends to award grants to local non-profit organizations in the communities served by Fullerton Community Bank,” according to an RMG press release.

In related news, the Voice of OC blog once again proved to be anything but objective, with a ridiculous post that fails to mention that Fullerton Community Bank sold at a profit and that their non-profits are going to be supported by their new owner. Once again the Voice of OC has proved to be just another blog with a chip on their shoulders, not a legitimate news site.

Why the Chivas Soccer Stadium should be built at the Willowick Golf Course

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Development, Latinos, Miguel Pulido, Real Estate, Redevelopment, Santa Ana, Sports 52 Comments

To understand the true genius that is the idea behind putting the Chivas Soccer Stadium complex at the site of the Willowick Golf Course, you have to look at the Google satellite map of the area.  You see that diagonal grey line that abuts the north side of Willowick and runs from Garden Grove to Santa Ana Blvd.?  That is the old P&E Santa Ana line.  It is an abandoned rail line.  And it is where Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido wants to run a new street car system.

Now it all makes sense.  I thought the street car idea was pretty lame until I connected the dots – this new light rail system will begin at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, where the Metrolink trains currently stop, over on the east of Downtown Santa Ana, and stretch all the way to downtown Garden Grove.  And it will bring Chivas fans to the new Stadium complex.

Take a look at the neighborhoods surrounding Willowick.  This is a very blue collar area.  The new light rail/street car will transform all of the neighborhoods lining the old P&E line.  And the new Chivas Soccer Stadium Complex will be a game changer.  I am told that it will include recreational facilities for our youth.

Think about the big picture.  The Chivas U.S. soccer club is a professional sports franchise.  It will be Santa Ana’s first pro team.  It will put us on the map – and soccer is the most popular game in the world.  Here in the U.S. it is the most popular youth sport.

The street car to Garden Grove will also give our residents direct access to a cluster of colleges, including Cal State Fullerton’s Extension campus.

What is the downside?  I don’t see it.  The street car system would be funded by Measure M and federal grants.

There is already a precedent for this in San Diego, where a light rail system delivers fans to the San Diego Chargers Stadium.

The opposition to this project is comprised of a cluster of mostly white Republicans – none of whom live near the Willowick Golf Course.  The Voice of OC recently provided us with a list of some of these malcontents:

  • Tim Rush – not married, no kids, lives in south Santa Ana.  Registered Republican.
  • Tom Lutz – married but retired, lives by Santa Ana College.  Registered Republican.
  • Don Cribb – lives in the Park Santiago neighborhood, in north Santa Ana.  Not married, no kids.
  • Alfredo Amezcua – lives in Morrison Park.  Divorced.  Kids are grown up.  Registered Democrat.
  • Thomas Gordon – lives in south Santa Ana.  Not married.  No kids.  Registered Republican.
  • Dave Brandt – lives in south Santa Ana.  Retired.  Registered Republican.
  • Debbie McEwen – lives in French Park, where she once tried to keep Mexicans out with traffic barriers, which had to be torn out after the ACLU won a lawsuit against the City.  Not married.  No kids.

A friend of mine recently attended a meeting of these malcontent “Usual Suspects.  I asked my friend what they talked about.  The response was just as I figured, “they talked about how Mexicans always leave trash and diapers behind.”

As usual, the opposition to the Chivas soccer team and soccer complex is rooted in overt racism.  That should not come as a surprise given the folks who are involved and given that most of them are Republicans.  I don’t know what possessed Amezcua to join hands with these xenophobic haters.  Bad move Al!

These folks are crying about traffic and noise – and are saying that the Chivas will push Santa Ana High School and Santa Ana College football games out of Eddie West Stadium.  The truth is that the Chivas will play at that facility but only until the new complex at Willowick is built.  The Santa  Ana City Council will work with the SAUSD School Board and the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education to make sure that the school football teams are accomodated.  Pulido has allies on both of those elected bodies.  The City of Santa Ana has good relationships with both school districts.

As for traffic, the fact is that many Santa Ana residents will get to Eddie West field on foot, by bike and on the bus.  Eddie West Stadium has limited capacity.  I expect each Chivas game to be a total sell-out.

The good news for the school districts is that there will be improvements made to Eddie West Stadium that will benefit the school teams, at no cost to them.

It has been suggested that the Chivas soccer complex be built in east Santa Ana.  But when you consider the implications of the proposed street car system, it is obvious that Willowick is a slam dunk.

Will the City of Garden Grove, which owns Willowick, play ball?  You bet.  The street car system will bring new customers to their downtown, revitalizing that area too.  You think the restaurant owners in their downtown will be opposed to that?  No way!

The Usual Suspects return, to try to stop the Chivas from coming to Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Latinos, Miguel Pulido, Neighborhood Associations, Politics, Redevelopment, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Sports 14 Comments

Pictured above: Debbie McEwen, a member of the Usual Suspects’ coalition against the Chivas Soccer team

They’re back…the folks I used to refer to as the “Usual Suspects” have come together again. This time they are ticked off about Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s ongoing attempts to bring the Chivas soccer team to Santa Ana.
Here is what the Voice of OC has reported about the resurgence of the “Usual Suspects:”

With rumors swirling about a potential pro soccer expansion into Santa Ana, some 50 residents gathered Wednesday night to complain about potential traffic, noise and other problems that soccer games could create.

Residents opposed to the move appear to be circulating a protest petition. They are particularly incensed over rumors that Mayor Miguel Pulido is holding private meetings aimed at bringing the team to the city while avoiding any input from residents.

Tom Lutz, a former council member, hosted the residents at his home. He said he found out about the negotiations and possible move only because of old contacts he has at City Hall.

Lutz said he understands that if the soccer team comes to the city, its first home would be Santa Ana Stadium. If true, that would displace football teams of local high schools like Mater Dei and Century, according to Lutz. The move also would mean Santa Ana College’s football team could lose access to the stadium, he said.

At the end of the meeting, residents formed a committee to prevent the team from coming to the city. The committee includes Rush, Lutz, Don Cribb, Alfredo Amezcua, Thomas Gordon, Dave Brandt, and Debbie McEwen.

Note that failed Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua is now a full-fledged member of the Usual Suspects. Latino voters will remember this when Amezcua comes begging for votes the next time he runs for Mayor.

I am not buying the silly argument about the school sports programs getting kicked out of Eddie West Stadium. Note that none of the new Usual Suspects are on the SAUSD School board – and not one of them has any children enrolled in our SAUSD schools. In fact most of them aren’t even married, or are too old to have kids.

What these NIMBYs don’t realize is the tremendous economic impact that the Chivas will have on our city. Nor do they care that the majority of our residents will be thrilled to welcome the Chivas to town.

I also don’t buy the open space argument. The Willowick golf course is not of any use to the thousands of residents in Santa Ana who don’t play golf, or cannot afford to do so. But the proposed Chivas complex will include new soccer fields that will be a huge boon to the young people of our city.

If the Usual Suspects want more open space they should join the dying lawn bowling league at Santiago Park, or go jog in our cemeteries.

Correa, Martinez and Pulido to speak at health summit at CSUF on May 26

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Fullerton, Health and Medical, Lou Correa, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Fighting Obesity: ‘Making Connections: Move More, Eat Healthy OC Summit’ May 26

What:

Defeating obesity is the aim of the May 26 “Making Connections: Move More, Eat Healthy OC Summit” at Cal State Fullerton. The program will feature presentations by health care providers, elected officials, and business, education and community leaders.

When:

Thursday, May 26
8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Where:

Portola Pavilion, Titan Student Union
Cal State Fullerton,
 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton 92831

Why:

The summit aims to make connections among education, government, business and community groups to identify best practices in promoting healthy eating and increasing physical activity, and to kick off a campaign aimed at reducing obesity and improving health. Stakeholders and policymakers representing education, government, business and community groups are encouraged to attend.

Highlights:

  • 8:30 a.m. Opening remarks from CSUF President Milton A. Gordon; CSUF alumnus and state Sen. Lou Correa (B.A. economics ’80), chair of the Orange County Nutrition and Physical Activity Collaborative Advisory Council (NuPAC); David Riley (B.A. business administration ’77), director of the Orange County Health Care Agency; CSUF alumna and Santa Ana City Councilwoman Michelle Martinez (B.A. criminal justice ’09), summit chair.
  • 9 a.m. Adam Hurtado, a contestant on season 10 of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” will share his experience.
  • 9:30 a.m. Panel discussion on “Innovative Approaches to Prevention and Intervention,” with Al Zelinka, Fullerton’s director of community development; CSUF alumna Pam Keller (B.S. child development ’86, multiple subject credential ’92), director of the Fullerton Collaborative; CSUF alumnus and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido (B.S. engineering-mechanical ’80); Cathie Olsky, deputy superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District; Soo Kang, Stanton’s program coordinator; and Theresa Wyles, principal of St. Polycarp Elementary School. Amy Buch, health promotion division manager for the Orange County Health Care Agency, will serve as moderator.
  • 11:30 a.m. Keynote address: James F. Sallis, professor of psychology at San Diego State University and soon-to-be vice president of the American College of Sports Medicine who Time Magazine called an “obesity warrior,” will speak on the process of building a healthy environment through policies and best practices in the 21st century.
  • 1:30 p.m. Panel discussion on “Best Practices and Program Evaluation,” with Stanley Bassin, clinical professor at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine; Alberto Geddisman, owner and director of the Wellness Center in Santa Ana; Jie Weiss, CSUF associate professor of health science and associate director of the university’s Center for Healthy Lifestyles and Obesity Prevention; and Dee Eastman, director of Saddleback Church’s Daniel Plan. Jeannie Kim-Han, director of CSUF’s Office of University Research, Initiatives and Partnerships and the Center for Internships and Community Engagement, will moderate.
  • 3 p.m. Closing remarks by Barry Ross, vice president of St. Jude Medical Center’s Healthy Communities and NuPAC chair, and Shari McMahan, acting dean of Cal State Fullerton’s College of Health and Human Development.

Partners:

Cal State Fullerton, Orange County NuPAC, County of Orange and Health Funders Partnership of Orange County

Website:

www.makingconnectionsoc.org

Parking:

$2 per hour or $8 for a daily permit. Details available online.

Media Contacts:

Frances Teves, Government Relations, 657-278-5876 or fteves@fullerton.edu

Mimi Ko Cruz, Public Affairs, 657-278-7586 or mkocruz@fullerton.edu