Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Orange County

OC taxpayers paid to house 700 homeless people in local motels

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

700 Homeless Individuals Along Santa Ana Riverbed Are Motel-Sheltered

The County has linked approximately 700 homeless individuals encamped on the riverbed to motels or shelters; clearing the Riverbed of all encampments.

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 26, 2018) — As of Monday, February 26, 2018, the individuals homeless individuals encampment on the Santa Ana Riverbed Trail has officially been cleared. This announcement comes after the County has ensured temporary shelter in the form of motel vouchers, shelter beds, and alternative housing placement for all individuals who were previously encamped along the riverbed. Continue reading→

LA/OC rehab center owner convicted of sexually assaulting seven female patients

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Drugs, Los Angeles County, Orange County Leave a comment

Rehab Center Owner Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Seven Female Patients

The founder of a Los Angeles drug and alcohol treatment facility was convicted today of sexually assaulting seven women, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

A jury deliberated for about a day before finding 56-year-old Christopher Bathum guilty of 31 counts, including forcible rape, sexual penetration by foreign object, forcible oral copulation and sexual exploitation. Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Crepe Maker and Cinnabon at the MainPlace Mall

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, 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 Feb. 16-23. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Crepe Maker aka Le Crepe at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana; sewage overflow; closed Feb. 22.
  • Cinnabon at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana; insufficient hot water; closed Feb. 22, reopened Feb. 22.

Continue reading→

Orange County Property Tax Auction set for March 21

Posted on by Posted in OC Treasurer, Orange County, Real Estate, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

PRESS RELEASE: February 22, 2018

TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR SHARI L. FREIDENRICH

Property Tax Auction on Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Orange County Treasurer Shari L. Freidenrich announced that the next tax auction is at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Building 10 in Santa Ana. “We currently have 15 improved parcels and six unimproved parcels to auction, and expect to actually auction off between five and 10 parcels,” stated Treasurer Freidenrich. The Treasurer will not auction off properties that have paid all delinquent taxes and penalties in full by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 or are otherwise ineligible for sale. The current list of parcels, a link directly to the parcel on a GIS map and other information on our upcoming tax auction are available at ocgov.com/taxauction. The list of parcels is updated every week. A GIS map of all parcels is available at ocgov.com/octaxmap or by scanning the QR code below. Continue reading→

A public court hearing regarding the Santa Ana River Trail cleanup is set for 2/13

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Public court hearing on Feb 13th in Santa Ana, please attend or send an email

O.C Residents United

Tuesday, February 13 is vital for re-claiming the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) for use and enjoyment by the public.

County of Orange enforcement efforts have reduced the number of tents in the SART homeless camp by 41% since January 22. Radical homeless advocates are suing in federal court to stop that effort and prevent the County and the cities of Anaheim, Orange and Costa Mesa from enforcing anti-camping and loitering laws on the SART and in city parks. Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes the Frida Cinema, La Union Market and Majesty Restaurant

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, 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 Feb. 2-Feb. 9. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; rodent infestation; closed Feb. 6, reopened Feb. 7.
  • La Union Market, 1432 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana; rodent infestation; closed Feb. 7, reopened Feb. 9.
  • Majesty Restaurant, 5015 W. Edinger Ave., Santa Ana; rodent infestation; closed Feb. 7, reopened Feb. 8.

Continue reading→

Boarding OCTA buses is even easier now if you use their mobile pay app

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Mobile Readers Make OCTA Bus Boarding Easier

Bus service changes go into effect Sunday to provide improved service through OC Bus 360°

ORANGE – Boarding a bus in Orange County will get easier starting Sunday, Feb. 11 when the Orange County Transportation Authority fully implements mobile ticketing on its fleet systemwide.
Riders who purchase bus fares via the OC Bus app on their smartphone or other mobile device will now be able to call up a QR code and quickly scan it on the onboard reader. Previously, coach operators had to review the screen and validate each boarding, which could slow down the boarding process. Continue reading→

Update regarding the removal of the homeless from the Santa Ana River Trail

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Environmental Remediation Project Update: February 9, 2018

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 9, 2018) – Below please find updates on the environmental remediation project that required the County of Orange to temporarily close a portion of the Santa Ana River Trail from Memory Lane/Garden Grove Boulevard in Orange to Taft Avenue/Ball Road in Anaheim beginning January 22.

Project Status Updates: Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Mixabowl, Hopper & Burr and Jugos Victoria

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, 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 Jan. 26-Feb. 2. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Mixabowl at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana; operating without a valid health permit; closed Jan. 31, reopened Feb. 1.
  • Hopper & Burr, 202 W. 4th St., Santa Ana; operating without a valid health permit; closed Jan. 31, reopened Jan. 31.

Continue reading→

EBT card users will be able to purchase meals from participating O.C. restaurants as of 2/1

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Pilot Phase of Restaurant Meals Program Starts February 1st in Orange County

The pilot phase of the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) will officially launch in Orange County on February 1, 2018 in participating restaurants in the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana. Upon launch, Orange County will become the ninth county in California to offer this program to eligible participants. Continue reading→

O.C. Deputy District Attorney Cazares named chair of the OC Bar’s Criminal Law Section

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 25, 2018

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CRAIG CAZARES OF OCDA NAMED CHAIR OF ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CRIMINAL LAW SECTION

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Deputy District Attorney Craig Cazares of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) was named Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s (OCBA) Criminal Law section for 2018.

The OCDA is the largest law firm in Orange County and employs over 250 attorneys who review and prosecute cases ranging from misdemeanor DUIs to special circumstances murders in over 34 cities in Orange County. The OCBA is one of the largest voluntary bar associations in California, with over 9,000 memberswho meet regularly in sections and committees dedicated to discussing several areas of law. The OCBA Criminal Law section serves as a forum for open discussions, networking, and continuing legal education for the practice of criminal law. Continue reading→

Orange County establishes a newly restructured commission to end homelessness

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On January 23, 2018, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of the newly restructured Commission to End Homelessness, representing a transition to a regional, systems-based approach to solving homelessness.

The Board approved a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in 2012, and the previously existing commission, community partners and governmental agencies have made several strides in the implementation of the plan’s goals. Continue reading→

$1.9B I-405 improvement project to kick off on Jan. 26

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$1.9 Billion I-405 Improvement Project Kicks Off

The largest highway project under construction in the state to deliver relief on busiest stretch of highway in the nation

The Orange County Transportation Authority, in cooperation with Caltrans, is leading the I-405 Improvement Project between State Route 73 in Costa Mesa and Interstate 605 at the Orange County border with Los Angeles County.
The $1.9 billion project, funded with a combination of local, state and federal funds, will be the largest highway project under construction in California. Continue reading→

The OC Supervisors direct $15M for mental health housing to aid the homeless

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

Chairman Andrew Do and Vice Chairman Shawn Nelson directed the Orange County Health Care Agency to use $15 million of available unspent Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds for mental health housing projects. This funding is aimed at increasing the number of mental health housing units available in Orange County to house chronically homeless individuals with severe mental illnesses.

The directive was introduced by Chairman Andrew Do and seconded by Vice Chairman Shawn Nelson, both of whom have worked collaboratively to bring this to the Board of Supervisors. The Board approved the motion unanimously. This additional funding will be critical in completing future projects for MHSA Housing. Continue reading→