New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Orange County

Shouldn’t Daly be investigated for alleged Bustamante-like behavior?

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Editor Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Crime, Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly, Women Leave a comment

Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante’s arrest is a tragic situation that should have been resolved many years earlier.

I am deeply disappointed by our County government’s inability to quickly identify and take swift action against all those who didn’t do their job – upholding a workplace that is free from sexual harassment, abuse of authority and abuse of women.

It is a tragedy that many in our County government choose not to listen or turned a blind eye, possibly thinking an investigation would be too embarrassing, too financially costly or as seemingly apparent, a way to protect one of their own, regardless of the potential for serious criminal charges. Continue reading→

New O.C. Health report shows how health is affected by where you live

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Editor Posted in Economy, Education, Health and Medical, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Working Families Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: July 10, 2012

Contact: Nicole Stanfield, (714) 834-2178, nstanfield@ochca.com

Where We Live Affects How We Live

(Santa Ana) – A new report by the Health Care Agency and its partners demonstrates how health is affected by where we live, work, learn, and play. The ‘Healthy Places, Healthy People’ report provides subcounty (e.g., city, school district, census track) data on economic, educational, and community factors that influence physical health and well-being. Continue reading→

Leading sex crime defense attorney thinks Bustamante could be innocent

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, David Benavides, Lawyers, Orange County, Santa Ana 14 Comments

Sex Crime Defense Attorney Paul J. Wallin thinks Carlos Bustamante could mount a good defense

Can Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante mount a successful defense and defeat the sex crime charges he is facing? Paul J. Wallin, a local attorney who is a leading expert in defending those accuse of sex crimes thinks he can.

I know Wallin quite well. I used to work for him many years ago, as a marketing director for his firm, Wallin & Klarich. This firm defends many professionals, including teachers and other government employees, who are charged with sex crimes. They also handle all sorts of other criminal defense matters.

Wallin submitted a comment over at the Voice of OC, outlining why he thinks Bustamante isn’t getting a fair shake – and may indeed have a decent defense. Here is Wallin’s comment: Continue reading→

O.C. Church of Scientology hosts Latino fashion show in Santa Ana

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Churches and Religion, Fashion, Latinos, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF ORANGE COUNTY WELCOMES THE SANTA ANA COMMUNITY TO FASHION SHOW – SANTA ANA:
For the first time since the Church of Scientology opened its doors on June 2, 2012, this past weekend, it held its first community event – a Fashion Show in honor of The Way to Happiness. 178 people participated in and attended the first event.

The Fashion Show by Carlos Saran Hernandez was accompanied with live entertainment from Bolivian Dance Group Llajtamasis to Tango dance by Brett and Jenny to amazing Tekila Six and to solo singer song-writer Ashley Rose. Continue reading→

Bustamante’s last hurrah was the Usual Suspects’ 2012 4th of July event

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Editor Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, David Benavides, Francisco Barragan, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 5 Comments

It turns out that Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante’s last hurrah was the 2nd Annual Santa Ana Independence Day event at Centennial Park, which was held last Sunday. He was arrested the very next day, after parking his car in a parking structure at City Hall, on charges of sex crimes and public theft.

One of the things that always bothered me about Bustamante was his overstated patriotism and gung ho attitude towards public safety. It always felt fake to me. He once compared himself to movie character Forrest Gump, a pretty dumb guy who made out over time by being in the right place at the right time. That is the story of Bustamante’s life. Continue reading→

Supervisor Moorlach addresses Bustamante arrest in email update

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, John Moorlach, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Subject: MOORLACH UPDATE — Carlos Bustamante — July 3, 2012
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 21:45:01 +0000
From: Moorlach, John

To refresh your memory, you may want to reread MOORLACH UPDATE — Closed Sessions — March 14, 2012, which I am providing below. The reason I refer to this UPDATE is that I was unable to comment publicly on this issue until a thorough investigation had been concluded. The District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, and his staff completed their investigation and arrested Santa Ana Councilman and former Orange County employee Carlos Bustamante yesterday evening. Continue reading→

Remarks by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas regarding Bustamante charges

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Courts, Crime, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Remarks by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas
Charges Against Carlos Bustamante

July 3, 2012

When a person is elected to public office, or accepts a taxpayer-funded high-ranking executive position, that person owes a duty of trust to the public to protect the powers of that position.

One holds such a position not as an owner, but as a steward for a limited time. Holding such a position is a privilege bestowed by the public, and we must do all we can to safeguard the public’s trust. Continue reading→

Councilman Bustamante charged with sexual assaults and theft of public funds

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Orange County District Attorney
Press Release, For Immediate Release: July 3, 2012
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

SANTA ANA CITY COUNCILMAN AND FORMER HIGH-RANKING EXECUTIVE FOR COUNTY OF ORANGE CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

SANTA ANA – A Santa Ana City Councilman who was a former high-ranking executive for the County of Orange until recent allegations related to this case surfaced has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting seven subordinates and committing grand theft of public funds. Continue reading→

Alvarez gets the last laugh as Bustamante gets arrested

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Courts, Crime, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Orange County, Politics, Republican Party, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Alvarez couldn’t help but smile at tonight’s City Council meeting…

Remember when Santa Ana Council Member Carlos Bustamante went after his colleague, Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, after she compared landlord and developer Irv Chases’s business practices to Adolf Hitler’s ethnic cleansing? Well, last week the Orange County Grand Jury found that Alvarez was right about Chase and his friends at Downtown, Inc. – in a report that slammed the Santa Ana PBID tax. And Bustamante? Well he is now rotting in jail after being arrested today on multiple felony and misdemeanor counts.

When Bustamante raises bail he will have quite a few decisions to make – like hiring a lawyer, but eventually he will also have to write his formal letter of resignation. His time on the Santa Ana City Council is done.

I expect that one of our City Commissioners will be named to replace him – perhaps one of the many Planning Commissioners who live in Ward 3. Bustamante’s seat will be available this November in the General Election and his replacement will have a leg up on the rest of the competition. Continue reading→

Councilman Carlos Bustamante arrested on multiple felony counts

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, Republican Party, Santa Ana 10 Comments

For Immediate Release: July 2, 2012
Case # 12CF1964
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO: Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas

WHAT: Will hold a press conference to discuss the criminal charges against Santa Ana City Councilman and former administration manager for Orange County Public Works Carlos Bustamante. Continue reading→

Free 4th of July summer concert at Fountain Valley’s Mile Square Park

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Editor Posted in Entertainment, Fountain Valley, music, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Free Summer Concert Series – July 4 – 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley, an Orange County Park, will kick off the summer concert series with four free Wednesday concerts. Mile Square wraps up its concerts with a special July 4 show by Barela. All concert events are from 6:30 to 8 p.m., free and open to the public of all ages. Friends and families are invited to come out and enjoy fantastic live music under the stars at OC Parks this summer season. Continue reading→

The O.C. Grand Jury agrees with Claudia Alvarez – the PBID must go!

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Editor Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Courts, Development, Santa Ana 8 Comments

The city of Santa Ana “appears to be in violation of state law” in the way it formed its downtown business improvement district, says a report released Thursday by the Orange County Grand Jury, according to the O.C. Register.

“Monies collected from the improvement district appear to have only benefited a few and have not resulted in a direct benefit to the assessed property as required by California law,” the grand jury said.

“The primary influences promoting the changes to this consistently historical area were the developer on the one hand with resistance by the cultural traditionalists on the other, with the latter being forced to pay for the changes which they vigorously opposed,” the report said. Continue reading→

John Wayne Airport offers 4th of July holiday travel tips

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Editor Posted in Airplanes, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2012
Contact: Jenny Wedge, Office: (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT OFFERS IMPORTANT TIPS FOR FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY TRAVEL

SANTA ANA, Calif. – John Wayne Airport (JWA) anticipates a busier-than-normal travel period from Friday, June 29 through Sunday, July 8 during the Fourth of July holiday. Visitors to JWA during this time should be aware of ongoing construction at the Airport and adhere to all posted speed limits to ensure a safe holiday weekend. Passengers are reminded that fireworks are prohibited and should be left at home. A list of additional tips and prohibited items can be found at www.ocair.com/traveltips. Continue reading→

DUI driver charged with murdering 5-year-old girl and injuring her family

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Editor Posted in Alcohol, Courts, Crime, Latinos, Marijuana, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Jessicah Louise Cowan, Booking Photo

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2012
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

DRUNKEN DRIVER CHARGED WITH MURDERING 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND INJURING SISTER AND MOTHER BY DRIVING THROUGH RED LIGHT AND CRASHING IN CROSSWALK

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was charged today with murdering a 5-year-old girl and severely injuring the child’s sister and mother by crashing into them in a crosswalk after driving through a red light. Jessicah Louise Cowan, 33, Lake Hughes, is charged with one felony count each of murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with a blood alcohol level over .08 percent causing bodily injury, hit and run causing injury, an infraction for possession of marijuana while driving, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for having a blood alcohol level over .20 percent and causing bodily injury. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting Cowan be held on $1 million bail at her arraignment today, Tuesday, June 26, 2012, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined. Continue reading→

O.C. native Angela Pham to star on Bravo’s “Gallery Girls,” on 8/13

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Editor Posted in Arts and Culture, Asians, Orange County, Vietnamese Leave a comment

BRAVO UNVEILS ITS LATEST MASTERPIECE –

NEW DOCU-SERIES “GALLERY GIRLS” PREMIERES MONDAY, AUGUST 13 AT 10PM ET/PT

NEW YORK – June 26, 2012 – Bravo paints a new picture with the launch of its latest docu-series “Gallery Girls,” premiering Monday, August 13 at 10PM ET/PT. The show follows the lives of seven dynamic and ambitious young women in New York City who tackle the cutthroat environment of the art world while vying for their dream jobs. From gallery openings and art shows to the hottest events in the city, the women share a passion for art but are divided between their Manhattan and Brooklyn lifestyles with vastly different views and tastes towards fashion, art and men. Attempting to juggle a chic and fabulous standard of living, the ladies tackle financial struggles, family issues and the pressures of jumpstarting their lives in the city that never sleeps. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR. Continue reading→