New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: patrick yrarrazaval

Planning Commission approves ordinance to keep alcohol away from youth

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Eric Alderete, Planning, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Sean Mill 29 Comments

UPDATE: The Santa Ana Planning Commision voted 4-2 to approve the ordinance discussed below. Eric Alderete and Patrick Yrarrazaval were opposed. Sean Mill and Frank Acosta made and seconded the successful motion.

Santa Ana’s Planning Commission will be considering a proposed ordinance tonight, No. 2012-03, which will establish an Entertainment Permit that will be issued by the Santa Ana Police Department to local businesses that provide entertainment while also serving alcohol.

The main concern, as I understand it, is ensuring that nightclubs and restaurants in town are not allowing minors, 18 and under, in their establishments when alcohol is being served. Some of these venues, such as the Velvet Lounge, aggressively advertise the presense of 18 year old youngsters, ostensibly as a way to market to older clients who are trolling for youthful partners. The Yost Theater does this as well. Continue reading→

Why did two Latino Planning Commissioners reject Mariscos Zamora’s appeal?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Civic Affairs, Planning, Restaurants, Santa Ana 8 Comments

An employee at Mariscos Zamora

Mariscos Zamora has been around for twelve years, but when their owner asked the Santa Ana Planning Agency for permission to serve alcohol until 2 am, they rejected his request. They cited the usual reasons, which you can read in the Planning Commission agenda for tonight’s meeting. But what really struck me was the chart (see below) showing that out of 15 competitors, three are not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages after midnight – but the rest of them have no limits at all.

How is Mariscos Zamora supposed to compete with restaurants that can stay open later and serve alcohol later? And why is it that new restaurants, with bars, in Downtown Santa Ana, have gotten pretty much everything they wanted? Continue reading→

Who will replace beleaguered Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante?

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, David Benavides, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 25 Comments

UPDATE: Bustamante has resigned from his job at the County of Orange. It is only a matter of time now before he is pressured off the Santa Ana City Council. It is time to speculate as to who might replace him on the City Council when that happens…

I am hearing that beleaguered Republican Carlos Bustamante, who has been “put on paid administrative leave (from his job at the County of Orange) following anonymous allegations of a sexual nature,” according to ABC News, may dig in his heels and refuse to quit the Santa Ana City Council, which is meeting this Monday night.

Bustamante would be well-advised to leave the City Council. He needs to focus on trying to save his job at the County, which pays him over $170,000 a year – and on saving his family. He ought to just quit tomorrow before the City Council meeting, to save him what will surely be an embarrassing night. Continue reading→