Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Orange County

Santa Ana residents urged to speak at tomorrow’s Board of Supervisor meeting regarding the homeless

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, homeless, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Urgent Call to Action: Santa Ana we need to stand up and say no more…. Enough is enough!

By: Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez

Santa Ana has provided the largest share of assistance by any city in the county.

The Civic Center is the living room of Orange County but unfortunately, it has become ground zero for the homeless population. This regional crisis is impacting the quality of life for all residents, employees and visitors of Santa Ana.

I want to encourage all Santa Ana residents to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting this coming Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at 9am and ask the board to adopt a comprehensive homeless policy that states, “The County supports the equitable distribution of facilities and services throughout the Region, so that no one jurisdiction or community is impacted by providing more than its fair share of facilities and services”. Continue reading→

O.C. Supervisor Nelson aims to put the homeless at the Fairview Developmental Center

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, homeless, Orange County, Shawn Nelson 1 Comment

Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson Joins California State Senator John Moorlach In Call to Open Fairview Developmental Center For Emergency Homeless Shelter

SANTA ANA, CA— In response to Federal Judge David O. Carter’s demand to immediately identify
a plan for emergency homeless shelters in Orange County, Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson is working with California State Senator John Moorlach to request he ask the State of California to take emergency action to open Fairview Developmental Center as an emergency homeless shelter.

The Fairview Developmental Center (FDC) occupies 114 acres of state-owned land and is centrally
located in Costa Mesa. The facility opened in 1959 and was originally designed to serve individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Utilizing infrastructure already in place will help expedite the transition of homeless from area motels to an improved triage center while satisfying the judge’s order to present a swift, realistic plan. Continue reading→

The County of Orange will spend $70M to set up more homeless housing outside of Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, homeless, Mental Health, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Homelessness Update

By O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do

On Monday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors directed staff to use $70.5 million of Mental Health Services Act funds for supportive housing and shelter for our homeless.

The Board also directed staff to enter into contract with American Family Housing for a 12-unit unrestricted site that can accommodate homeless couples. Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Inka Mama’s, 7-Eleven and the kitchen at Nova Academy

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries they inspected and shut down for the week of March 9-16. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

Continue reading→

Santa Ana College will host an O.C.D.A. candidates forum on March 21

Posted on by Posted in Brett Murdock, Crime, Lawyers, Lenore Albert-Sheridan, OCDA, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas 2 Comments

An OC District Attorney Candidates Forum will be hosted at Phillips Hall Theatre at Santa Ana College on Wednesday, March 21 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Phillips Hall Theatre is located at 1530 W 17th St., in Santa Ana.

OCDA Candidates who will be at this forum include O.C. Supervisor Todd Spitzer, OCDA Tony Rackauckas, Lenore Albert-Sheridan and Brett Murdock. Continue reading→

Senior Asst. O.C. District Attorney Jaime Coulter to retire after 29 years at the OCDA

Posted on by Posted in Lawyers, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

https://www.facebook.com/OCDATony/videos/1728529263859268/

Date: March 15, 2018

SENIOR ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY JAIME COULTER RETIRES AFTER 29 YEARS WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Senior Assistant District Attorney Jaime Coulter is retiring today after 29 years as a prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA).

Coulter grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He graduated from the University of Southern California (USC), where he received his bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. While attending USC, he played for the University’s Rugby Club. Coulter then attended Pepperdine University School of Law. During law school, he was a published member of the Pepperdine Law Review and clerked for the Compton Branch of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Continue reading→

Orange County to audit $219M in mental health spending

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Mental Health, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 15, 2018) – Orange County will audit more than $219 million in mental health spending in an effort to improve programs and better coordinate services with the county’s homeless response.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a performance audit to identify and review all county mental health programs funded through the Mental Health Services Act. In approving the audit, the County intends to streamline hundreds of mental health programs that serve residents, including the estimated 52,500 Orange County teenagers living with a mental health condition. Continue reading→

Free health fair set for March 18 in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Chairman Do Sponsors Health Fair in Santa Ana

Representing the largest population of CalOptima recipients, Chairman Andrew Do championed CalOptima, our county organized health system, to conduct the most extensive member health needs assessment in the agency’s 22-year history.

That assessment revealed areas in need of improvement. The results found that 41% didn’t see a dentist because of cost, 25% didn’t have or know of a dentist, 28% said it takes too long to get an appointment, among other findings. Continue reading→

Two dead bodies were found at a home in unincorporated Santa Ana this afternoon

Posted on by Posted in OC Coroner, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is investigating after two bodies were found in a residence in unincorporated Santa Ana on Monday afternoon, at about 3 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.

The bodies, of a man and a woman, were found by responding O.C. Sheriff’s Deputies at a home at 13452 Winthrope. Continue reading→

Amazing video of the Santa Ana River Trail before and after the homeless were removed

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, homeless, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Chairman’s Homelessness Update: After Clearing the Riverbed, Orange County Invests in Long-Term Solutions for Homelessness

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 2, 2018) – Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do provides the sixth edition of his weekly update on the continuous and consistent progress in addressing homelessness.

SANTA ANA RIVERBED: BEFORE AND AFTER

The County delivered on its promise to motel-shelter all those living on the riverbed. Here is an aerial view of the riverbed before and after sheltering over 700 homeless individuals: Continue reading→

Orange County extends the availability of 400 emergency shelter beds for the homeless

Posted on by Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 1, 2018) —Orange County will be extending the availability of 400 emergency shelter beds for the homeless.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved funding to keep the Mercy House Living Centers, Inc. Armory Emergency Shelters open through April 15, 2018. Continue reading→

Candidates may sign up now for the 2018 O.C. Election Academy workshop

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Orange County Elections Invites Applications for Upcoming Election Academy

In 2010 the Registrar of Voters launched the Orange County Election Academy, an academic program designed to teach participants about elections in Orange County, California. This award winning, one-of-a-kind elections education program, is open to the public at no cost. The comprehensive curriculum is particularly beneficial to those individuals interested in voting, running for office, and the elections process in general.

The Registrar of Voters is currently accepting applications for the 2018 session, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. The program will be conducted at the Registrar of Voters, 1300 South Grand Avenue, Santa Ana. The curriculum will encompass all election management functions including candidate filing, campaign finance, ballot creation, election security, communications and more. Continue reading→

The new O.C. mental health facility will be located in Orange

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Crime, Drugs, homeless, Orange, Orange County, Public Safety Leave a comment

Homeless Response: In 24 months, Orange County will open $26 million mental health facility

O.C.’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 28, 2018) — With its largest homeless encampment now dismantled, Orange County is moving forward with a $26 million investment in the county’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility, to be located at 265 S. Anita Drive, in Orange, CA.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of an office building in Orange that will be renovated into a treatment center for people with mental health and substance abuse problems. Continue reading→

The O.C. Auto Theft Task Force recovered 224 stolen vehicles last year valued at over $4M

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 27, 2018

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY RACKAUCKAS HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESS OF OC AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE IN PRESENTATION TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – At the request of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas delivered a presentation to the Board today highlighting the success of the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force (OCATT).

OCATT is a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement program that works to investigate, arrest, and prosecute criminals in Orange County responsible for professional-level auto theft rings. The task force has operated in Orange County since 1993 and has successfully contributed to a 55 percent decrease in auto theft across the county since its creation. Continue reading→

Orange County paid $26M for property for a new mental health facility for the homeless

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Mental Health, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Homelessness: Orange County buys property for $26 million mental health facility

Orange County purchased a property that will become the county’s first publicly-owned mental health facility.

As part of its long-term response to homelessness through the county-wide System of Care, the County of Orange is building a $26 million mental health facility that will provide emergency mental health crisis stabilization, drug abuse treatment, and long-term residential psychiatric care. Continue reading→