Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: sacramento

Councilwoman Martinez participated in a statewide policy committee meeting in Sacramento

Posted on by Posted in Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Councilwoman Michele Martinez Represents the City of Santa Ana at League of California Cities’ Policy Committee Meetings in Sacramento

This week, Councilwoman Michele Martinez was in Sacramento at the League of California Cities’ first policy committee meetings of 2016. Martinez serves on the Transportation, Communication and Public Works Committee which is integral to the League’s policy-making process. She also serves on the League’s Board of Directors and the Orange County Division Board.

“The League’s policy committees enable us to weigh in on issues that will affect our budgets and shape future policies from the perspective of local government. Without these meetings our influence on the state’s decisions would be greatly diminished,” said Martinez. Continue reading→

Santa Ana officials beg Sacramento’s Democrats to save Enterprise Zones

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Taxes 2 Comments

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Advisory: CITY OFFICIALS URGE SANTA ANA COMMUNITY TO OPPOSE ASSEMBLY BILL 93 – ELIMINATION OF ENTERPRISE ZONES

SANTA ANA, CA (June 24, 2013) – City officials are urging the entire Santa Ana community to write to your legislators TODAY and tell them you support Enterprise Zones! Assembly Bill 93 will essentially eliminate Enterprise Zones if it is passed at tomorrow’s vote. It is CRITICAL that your legislators know you oppose the measure and here are the reasons why: Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: Will Michele Martinez take a job in Sacramento?

Posted on by Posted in Al Mijares, Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Education, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Orange County, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Vince Sarmiento 11 Comments

Michele Martinez whining

Adios Martinez?

Inside sources tell me that Santa Ana Council Woman Michele Martinez, who lost badly last June in her bid for the 69th Assembly District, is considering a job in Sacramento, so she might end up there after all.  I am told that she will resign from the City Council if she gets this unknown job.

Martinez is actively involved in SCAG, the Southern California Association of Governments, and NALEO, the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.  It is as such feasible that she might be leaving our city for a job in the state capitol. Continue reading→

Solorio gives Daly $2K, but Martinez leads in fundraising in the 69th A.D.

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Julio Perez, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 21 Comments

The campaign finance reports are in, and the top fundraiser, of the four Democrats running for the 69th Assembly District, is Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez.  You can read her report here.

Ultra-liberal union shill Julio Perez came in at 117K and 70K cash at-hand.  If you subtract the $23K which he reported in the last reporting period, which was from Jan to June 2011, the he only raised $90K.  Click here to read his campaign finance report.

O.C. Clerk-Recorder Tom Daly only raised $54K.  It looks like his past supporters are realizing he isn’t running much of a campaign – and he still has no campaign website!  Click here to read his campaign finance report.  Note that Assemblyman Jose Solorio has sold out the people of Santa Ana by donating $2K to Daly!  (But in fairness he also donated $2K to Martinez – we may not agree on Daly but at least we agree that Perez is an awful fit for the district). Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez’ Assembly campaign eclipses $100,000 in fundraising

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, california, Democratic Party, Elections, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 8 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2012

Contact: Lupe De La Cruz, Office: (714) 564-0130

Councilwoman Martinez Eclipses $100,000 Fundraising Mark

Santa Ana, California – Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez raised over $100,000 between announcing her campaign in September 2011 and December 31, 2011. The figure includes $15,700 in loans from Martinez.

“Michele has gained the early support of people from all walks of life and throughout Orange County,” said Campaign Manager Lupe De La Cruz. “We have focused on raising money locally and our grassroots campaign is gaining momentum with each passing day.” Continue reading→

Assemblyman Solorio honors Lucy Santana-Ornelas, Exec. Director of Girls Inc.

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Assemblyman Solorio Honors Advocate for Girls at Woman of the Year Ceremony

Lucy Santana-Ornelas, Executive Director for Girls Inc., receives award on Assembly floor

SACRAMENTO – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s (D-Anaheim) choice for the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District’s Woman of the Year is Executive Director for Girls Inc. Orange County, Lucy Santana-Ornelas. She traveled to Sacramento today to receive the honor at a recognition ceremony held on the Assembly floor.

“Lucy has dedicated her heart, soul, time and talent to the girls and young women in our community,” says Solorio. “She exemplifies the mission of her organization, ‘inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold.’”

Born in Santa Ana, Lucy Santana-Ornelas is a graduate of Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana College and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). Santana-Ornelas frequently tells her story of overcoming the advice of a high school counselor who told her to not bother pursuing college. Thankfully, she didn’t listen. In 2008, she was highlighted as one of 50 distinguished Latino graduates of CSUF at the university’s 50th Anniversary.

Santana-Ornelas’s entire career and adult life have been spent in public service. She has an extensive awareness of Orange County community issues and needs and is passionate about creating opportunities for underserved youth, especially girls age 4-1/2 to 18.

“We are seeing girls experience low self-esteem and body image issues at a younger age than ever before,” Santana-Ornelas says. “Girls Inc. can help break the barriers to success for those girls by providing girl-focused programs, adult role models and exposure to the world beyond their neighborhoods.”

Santana-Ornelas is particularly proud of integrated projects that increase girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and math by involving students in solving authentic problems, working with others, and building real solutions. Last year, Girls Inc. served 4,700 girls in Orange County. In an age of shrinking social services, Girls Inc.’s budget is projected to grow from $1.7 million to $ 2.5 million.

“We are so fortunate that our funding has increased during these tough economic times. Our proven success in helping girls achieve their potential and the recognition of the growing need for our services are huge factors in our growth,” says Santana-Ornelas. The agency is scheduled to serve over 54 outreach program locations this year. Girls Inc. is funded mainly by public/private foundation grants, corporate giving and individual donations.

“This honor is the California Assembly’s way of saying thank you for your dedication,” said Solorio. “And thank you for changing the lives of thousands of Orange County’s young women.”

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and also serves on the Assembly Appropriations and Transportation committees. He represents the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. For more information about Assemblyman Solorio, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.

Sanchez TV ad rips Van Tran for using tax money to buy a home in Sacramento

Posted on by Posted in Elections, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has launched her first TV ad against her Republican challenger, Assemblyman Van Tran.

In the spot she rips Tran for taking over $136,000 in living expenses that are given, tax-free, to legislators. Tran has apparently used the money to buy a home in a gated community in Sacramento.

That Tran and the other legislators are taking all this per diem money, while also accepting cars paid for by taxpayers, is especially egregious given that our state budget is deeply in the red, and is late, and the Governor is continuing to furlough state workers.

Tran also told the Register, in a separate article, that “As a state assemblyman I have worked to make it easier for small businesses to hire, gotten rid of regulations and fee structures. … That is what I would do at the federal level.”

Tran’s only legislative accomplishment appears to be a bill that allows Vietnamese restaurant to sell rotten moon cakes. Click here to read about that.

The Register failed to note that Tran’s wife was once arrested.  “His wife, Cyndi Nguyen, pleaded no contest to three misdemeanors in 2004 and was sentenced to three years’ probation for helping to concoct bogus medical bills at her paralegal office in Sacramento,” according to the L.A. Times.

The bills charged for services that were never rendered by her brother, Dennis Nguyen, a Sacramento chiropractor. He pleaded no contest to the felony conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 120 days in jail and five years’ probation. He also lost his chiropractor’s license.

The Tran campaigns response to the Sanchez campaign’s allegations was typically lame – “The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. says Van accepts the normal per diem,” said Tran spokesman George Andrews. “Van’s given his last two legislative pay increases to charity. This just shows Loretta Sanchez knows she’s in trouble. She’s obviously threatened by our campaign,” according to the L.A. Times.

Note that Andrews did NOT address the per diem issue in his response.  But Andrews is right about Sanchez being threatened.  She has reason to be.  Congressional race watcher Charlie Cook recently moved the race from “likely Democratic” to “leans Democratic” in his Cook Political Report, according to the L.A. Times.

Solorio’s bill to curtail the high price of college textbooks goes to Governor

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, california, Education, Jose Solorio, Literature, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 2 Comments

FILE: Students show Assemblyman Solorio their college bookstore receipts as proof that textbooks are too expensive.

For Immediate Release: August 20, 2010
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069, Cell: (916) 804-5355

Solorio Bill to Curtail the High Price of Community College Textbooks Goes to Governor

College Students Urged to Call the Governor’s Office

SACRAMENTO, CA – AB 2203, authored by Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim), received overwhelming bipartisan support in the California Legislature this week, and is now on its way to the Governor. For the approximately three million, cash-strapped community college students in California, that’s good news, as textbook cost relief may be on the way.

AB 2203 requires the California State University (CSU), and requests the University of California Regents (UC) to review their transfer policies to ensure that textbooks selected at the community college level can be used for as long as the information contained is current.

“Textbooks that may cost $100 at the beginning of the semester are sometimes worth very little by the end of the semester because a book turns six-years old,” Assemblyman Solorio says. “As textbook prices continue to skyrocket, students need all the help they can get. This legislation will extend the value of a textbook, and therefore extend a student’s opportunity to sell it at a good price or trade it in.”

Assemblyman Solorio is encouraging community college students and their parents to call the Governor at 916-445-2841, or email him at www.gov.ca.gov/interact and ask him to sign AB 2203.

“I am encouraged by the rapid progress of digital textbooks and the many online options becoming available to buy new and used books,” Solorio says. “But this legislation will help students now. I hope the Governor sees the urgency in this measure and signs it into law.”

Assemblyman Solorio has a record of accomplishment as an advocate for reducing the rising costs of textbooks. In 2007, he authored the College Textbook Transparency Act. The law requires publishers, college bookstores and professors to disclose more cost information to students and keep book affordability in mind.

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee and serves on the Assembly Appropriations, Local Government and Transportation Committees. He represents the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. For more information about Assemblyman Solorio, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.
________________________________________
Capitol Office: State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 • Sacramento, CA 94249-0069
Phone: (916) 319-2069 • Fax:(916) 319-2169
District Office: 2400 East Katella Avenue, Suite 640 • Anaheim, CA 92806
Phone: (714) 939-8469 • Fax:(714) 939-8986
E-Mail: Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio

Assemblyman Solorio announces Orange County will receive Gang Prevention Grant

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, california, Crime, Democratic Party, Gangs, Jose Solorio, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

(May 2007) Assemblyman Solorio and Governor Schwarzenegger announce CalGRIP program.

For Immediate Release: July 2, 2010

For more information contact: Carol Chamberlain – office – (916) 319-2069, cell – (916) 804-5355

Assemblyman Solorio Announces Orange County Will Receive Gang Prevention Grant

Competitive CalGRIP Grant Totals $490,213

SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) congratulated Orange County for receiving $490,213 in funding from California’s competitive Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Grant Program (CalGRIP).

“This is a real compliment to Orange County’s application,” says Assemblyman Solorio. “I joined the Governor to roll out CalGRIP in 2007, and have seen the program evolve and make a real difference in many communities.”

The Governor announced in May the state would make new grants available to expand education, job training and placement programs for at-risk youth as part of the Governor’s CalGRIP initiative. This latest round of grants awarded will fund projects for job training, supportive services, education and placement for youth ages 14 to 24 that are either at risk of gang involvement or a current gang member.

“The best way to curb the rise of gang membership is to offer an alternative lifestyle,” Solorio added. “Orange County is doing just that with its job training expansion for at-risk youth. This latest CalGRIP grant will go a long way to keeping kids from joining gangs in the first place.”

The Orange County project will provide training for entry-level careers for which there is local demand. These include occupations in several industries including construction, healthcare, cabling/fiber optics, and environmental sanitation/water resources management. More than two dozen partner agencies will provide services and support.

Key partners include the county probation and sheriff’s departments, local education agencies and community-based training providers, the Orange County Workforce Investment Board’s (WIB) network of youth-service providers, the Anaheim and Santa Ana WIBs, economic development and business services agencies, which will recruit employers, and many public and nonprofit agencies that provide social services, healthcare and other forms of support. For more information, contact OCWIB Executive Director, Andrew Munoz via telephone at (714) 567-7370, or email ocwib@occr.ocgov.com.

CalGRIP combines funding from different programs and directs it towards local anti-gang efforts focused on intervention, suppression and prevention. Since CalGRIP’s inception, grants totaling more than $14 million have been awarded to provide job training and education programs targeting youth who are seeking to leave gangs, or are at risk of joining them. In addition, more than $27.6 million in competitive grants for fighting gang violence have been awarded to several cities throughout the state.

In spite of an overall decrease in crime in most California cities since the 1990s, rates of gang-related violent crime have remained steady or increased in many California communities.

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio is the Chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee, and serves on the Assembly Appropriations, Local Government and Transporation committees. He represents the Sixty-Ninth Assembly District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana. For more information about Assemblyman Solorio, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio.

Capitol Office: State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 • Sacramento, CA 94249-0069
Phone: (916) 319-2069 • Fax:(916) 319-2169
District Office: 2400 East Katella Avenue, Suite 640 • Anaheim, CA 92806
Phone: (714) 939-8469 • Fax:(714) 939-8986
E-Mail: Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov
Web Site: www.assembly.ca.gov/solorio

Correa supports Senate Committee passage of measures to help returning Veterans

Posted on by Posted in california, Democratic Party, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Senator Lou Correa,­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ­ 34th Senate District

For Immediate Release: June 15, 2010
Contact: Lina Hamilton, (916) 651-4034

Correa Supports Senate Committee Passage of Measures to Assist Returning Veterans

PHOTO FROM ARCHIVE: California State Senator Lou Correa delivering his remarks in early June during the Orange County first annual fair and conference “A Celebration of Service – Providing Answers to Veterans Issues”

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the Senate Public Employment and Retirement Committee, chaired by Senator Lou Correa, approved two bills to assist veterans returning from active duty fighting the War on Terror. Assembly Bill 1729 (AB 1729) will help returning veterans to obtain state jobs or promotions. Assembly Bill 1739 will ensure that when Los Angeles County employees serving on active duty are killed or disabled, those employees and their families will receive their county death and disability benefits.

Senator Correa, co-author on the two bills, stated, “These brave men and women are far from home, fighting to make sure that we are safe. We need to help our soldiers who return home to get back to their jobs and families, and care for the needs of those who come back hurt or who pay the ultimate sacrifice.”

On June 5, 2010, Senator Correa organized in Orange County the “1st Annual Fair and Conference to Address Veterans Issues” at the Santa Ana Community College. During this conference Orange County veterans learned and heard from local, state officials and agencies about answers to current veterans’ issues, as well as the benefits and opportunities available to them.

AB 1729 will be hard by the Senate Committee on Veterans affairs next week. AB 1739 will be considered by the Senate Floor in the next few weeks.

Senator Lou Correa represents the 34th District which includes the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster.

# # #

Lina Hamilton
Legislative Aide
Office of Senator Lou Correa, 34th District
(916) 651-4034
lina.hamilton@sen.ca.gov

Senator Correa Supports Relief Drive at Capitol to Aid Homeless Women and Children

Posted on by Posted in california, homeless, Lou Correa, Santa Ana, Women, Working Families Leave a comment

PHOTO: Left to right: Kerrin West, HomeAid Sacramento Board President; Assemblywoman Alyson Huber (AD 10 – Lodi); State Senator Lou Correa (SD 34 -Orange County); and Scott Larson, Executive Director, HomeAid Orange County

NEWS RELEASE

Senator­­,­­­­­­­ ­34th Senate District

For Immediate Release: April 27, 2010

Contact: Lina Hamilton (916) 651-4034

Senator Correa Supports Relief Drive at Capitol to Aid Homeless Women and Children

SACRAMENTO, CA – State Senator Lou Correa, together with other legislators, participated yesterday in the kick-off of the “Essentials for Young Lives” campaign at State Capitol. The purpose of this campaign is to collect baby items for homeless mothers and their small children. Laundry baskets will be placed in legislator’s offices throughout the Capitol building during two weeks to collect essential baby items. Items collected will be delivered to programs and shelters that serve homeless women and children. Continue reading→

Correa’s Bill on Teen Dating Violence Education and Prevention Passes Senate Committee

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, california, Crime, Democratic Party, Lou Correa, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Women 2 Comments

Photo: State Senator Lou Correa addressing Sexual Assault Awareness Month supporters outside the California State Capitol

NEWS RELEASE

State, Senator,­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ­ 34th Senate District

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2010
Contact: Lina Hamilton (916) 651-4034

Correa’s Bill on Teen Dating Violence Education and Prevention Passes Senate Committee

SACRAMENTO, CA- Proposed legislation by Senator Lou Correa (Orange County) to teach teen students about teen dating violence awareness and prevention was approved today by the Senate Committee on Education. SB 1300 will require the State Board of Education to incorporate, at its next revision, teen dating violence and sexual violence instruction into health curriculum framework for pupils in 7 to 12 grades. This bill will also authorize a school district to provide teen dating violence prevention education consisting of age-appropriate instruction. Continue reading→

Solorio bill to fund after school ESL programs clears Assembly Education Committee

Posted on by Posted in california, Education, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: April 22, 2010
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – Office: (916) 319-2069 Cell: (916) 804-5355

Solorio Legislation to Provide Opportunities for Students to Learn English in After School Programs Clears Assembly Education Committee

Assembly Bill 1831 Would Update Prop 49 to Include English Language Acquisition Strategies

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bill 1831, legislation authored by Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim), to enhance opportunities for children to learn English in after school programs, received the endorsement of the Assembly Committee on Education yesterday on a 6-2 vote. The bill will now proceed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Continue reading→

6.9 earthquake hits Mexicali and is felt throughout So. California

Posted on by Posted in california, mexico, Santa Ana 3 Comments

A 6.9 earthquake struck Mexicali, Mexico, a few minutes ago.  We felt it here in Santa Ana for what seemed an entirety.  It felt like a series of rolls here.  Reports indicate that it was a lot stronger in Mexico and my relatives in Riverside said it felt much stronger there as well.

A 4.4 earthquake also just hit Sacramento moments ago, according to this source.

A number of aftershocks are being reported both in Northern and Southern California.

A lot of our residents here in Santa Ana have relatives in Mexico and are no doubt worried about them.  If you cannot reach them by phone try sending them a text message with your cell phone. Continue reading→