Over the last few days two major crimes occurred in Santa Ana that were not reported by the media. In one case a man stole a car in Anaheim and led police on a pursuit that ended when he crashed into Santa Ana’s Walmart. And in another a security guard at Original Mike’s was shot.
While it is true that the O.C. Register is hurting and probably not well-staffed one has to wonder if the under-reporting of crime in Santa Ana is an election year tactic. Continue reading
People over 65 make up only 6.8% of the City of Santa Ana, according to the U.S. Census – but they still rule this town.
Here’s how that works. Take a look at the Santa Ana Neighborhood Associations – they are mostly made up of adults over 45. The average member is closer to 65.
We live in the youngest city in Santa Ana. Over 30% of our population is under 30! There are 56,000 kids enrolled in the SAUSD’s K-12 schools (source – SAUSD)- and that does not include the Santa Ana schoolchildren who go to private schools or are in the Garden Grove Unified School District. Continue reading
You have probably been hearing quite a bit of talk in Santa Ana lately about the “Sunshine Ordinance” proposed by a group that calls itself “The Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development,” otherwise known as SACReD.
You might be wondering, who are these people? Good question. Unfortunately they do not have a website, although they do have a Facebook page. On that Facebook page they do list their current members, as follows: Continue reading
I paid for the Voice of the OCEA!
When the Voice of OC started reporting on Orange County politics we all hoped they were serious about their mission. However they were funded by the Orange County Employees Association, a union, and now it is more obvious than ever that they are less about reporting objectively and more about doing what their union masters bid them to do. Case in point – their latest attack by Voice of OC reporter Adam Elmahrek on Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez, the leading Hispanic candidate for the 69th Assembly District. Elmahrek reported that “The Santa Ana City Council is scheduled to vote May 7 on striking down one of the strictest campaign finance laws in Orange County, apparently to help Councilwoman Michele Martinez in her race for the state Assembly.” How is that reporting? The last part of that sentence is clearly his opinion, masquerading as journalism! Continue reading
The Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development, otherwise known as SACReD, held a meeting last night at the offices of Latino Health Access, where they proceeded to bash property rights and argue for more “transparancy” in Santa Ana.
If this group is so into transparency why don’t they have their own Facebook page – or even a website? They don’t even list their members anywhere!
Check out what they are demanding: Continue reading
“The California Supreme Court has declined to hear an activist group’s lawsuit to block construction of One Broadway Plaza, a planned 37-story office tower near downtown Santa Ana,” according to the Voice of OC.
The Coalition for Accountable Government Ethics (CAGE) had sued to stop developer Mile Harrah from proceeding with the project, arguing that the Santa Ana City Council illegally removed a condition that Harrah lease 50 percent of the building before beginning construction. Continue reading
The Santa Ana City Council voted unanimously tonight to approve the Transit Zone project.
Council Members Michele Martinez, David Benavides, Carlos Bustamante and Sal Tinajero voted in the affirmative. Miguel Pulido, Claudia Alvarez and Vince Sarmiento did not vote, due to conflicts of interest. Sarmiento and Alvarez were there, but left the room for the vote. Pulido did not come to the meeting.
The SACReD folks and a few Usual Suspects showed up to oppose the project. They broke into sarcastic clapping as the meeting drew to a close.
Martinez was very passionate in her comments. She said if the vote cost her reelection, so be it. She also said, “Have faith that we will stay committed to what we are voting for tonight.” Continue reading
The community group called SACReD met with several Santa Ana City Council Members last night at a Community Meeting, to discuss a proposed CBA (Community Benefit Agreement).
The premise behind CBAs is that community leaders will work with developers and city planning agencies to assure services for local residents, when massive developments are planned in their areas.
Such is the case with the proposed Santa Ana Transit Zone. However, the effort in this case seems somewhat misguided since the Transit Zone development already includes affordable housing elements.
I was on the Santa Ana Redevelopment Commission when the properties the city acquired in the Lacy neighborhood area were first being abated. Many of them were filthy with asbestos and lead paint.
The city planners told us that the properties were acquired with redevelopment money. At the time they planned to build affordable housing on the west side, and then use the Lacy properties to build townhomes and lofts. Continue reading
The community has united and organized under a coalition called SACReD, Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development, and asks the City to sign a Community Benefits Agreement which will give the community the security and guarantee that the development projects of the Station District and Transit Zoning Code will in fact benefit the community.
SPREAD THE WORD!
The SaCReD Community Day of Action, which was held this Saturday at Garfield Elementary School, was marred when a 16-year old on a bicyle was struck by a car, according to the OC Weekly.
I took this photo last May, in downtown Santa Ana
The accident happened in Ward 2, which is represented by Councilwoman Michele Martinez, not far from the proposed Transit District.
Pedestrian accidents are common in Santa Ana. I saw one last year when I was walking in the downtown area. A woman who looked like a transient was struck by a pickup truck. It was as awful as it sounds.
The City of Santa Ana actually has a City Commission devoted to traffic issues, called the Environmental & Transportation Advisory Committee, or ETAC. Here are the current members of that Commission, according to the Santa Ana City Clerk’s web page: Continue reading
Join SACReD for a Community Day of Action, where hundreds of Santa Ana residents and community members will come together to celebrate community pride, culture, history, and neighborhood roots.
Event: Community Day of Action in Santa Ana
What: Festival
Start Time: Sunday, March 28 at 11:00am
End Time: Sunday, March 28 at 5:00pm
Where: Garfield Elementary School
Santa Ana residents want a healthy community, a good future for children and families, where they are a part of building that future. Proposed plans about the neighborhood will be highlighted all day: cultural and historic preservation, open space, affordable housing, protection for small businesses and all workers, safety, but most importantly being at the table when important decisions are being made about their future. Continue reading
Alfredo Amezcua wants you to get involved in local development issues in Santa Ana
The Santa Ana Collaborative for Responsible Development (SACRED) Community Coalition is meeting again this Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Public Law Center, located at 601 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA (office phone#: 714/541-1010).
The theme and agenda for the meeting will further spell out the strategy to work with the developers, Related California and Griffin Realty, according to the group’s moderator, former RSCCD Trustee Alfredo Amezcua.
Amezcua asks that those interested “please come ready to propose Community Benefits, including: affordable housing, open space, recreation & educational opportunities, housing for working families of low and extremely low incomes, preferential construction jobs, apprenticeship programs, and compatible neighborhood housing, among others.” Continue reading