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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Santa Ana

SAUSD School Board Clerk Rob Richardson endorses Rigo Rodríguez for the School Board

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Education, Rigo Rodriguez, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD 6 Comments

Rob Richardson at the Fiestas Patrias Parade

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 12th, 2014

Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514

Santa Ana School Board Clerk Rob Richardson Endorses Rigo Rodríguez for School Board

(Santa Ana) – Santa Ana School Board Clerk Rob Richardson announced his endorsement of Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for Santa Ana School Board today.

Richardson stated: “As an educator and active community member, Rigo Rodríguez has dedicated his career to strengthening the Santa Ana community through education. As a School Board member, Dr. Rodríguez will continue to lead efforts to improve schools for our children. He will fight for what is best for our students, I have confidence in him to lead our District forward.”

Rob Richardson has been a longtime leader in the Santa Ana community. He served on the Santa Ana School Board from 1987-1990, after which he served as a Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem for eight years. In 2003, Richardson returned to the School Board where he served another five years as President working to improve the quality of education in Santa Ana and he continues on the Board. He currently serves as an administrator for the County of Orange. Continue reading→

Robbery suspects caught as they fled the scene

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment
Victor Esteves

Victor Esteves

SAPD Advisory: Santa Ana patrol officers apprehend suspects as they flee scene of robbery

Grand Gas Mini Mart
2231 North Grand Friday, 8/8/14, 11:50PM

Summary: Two patrol officers were responding to a call for service when they encountered, what initially appeared to be, two suspects running toward an awaiting vehicle after a beer run. The officers soon realized the two suspects committed an armed robbery. As the officers ordered the suspects to stop one of the suspects dropped a replica firearm and the other a kitchen knife.

The two suspects and a female driver were taken into custody without incident. Officers recovered several hundred dollars from the suspects. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Annual Fiestas Parade set for Sunday, September 14

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, mexico, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Fiestas patrias

City of Santa Ana

Community: Thousands Expected at City of Santa Ana’s Annual Fiestas Parade on Sunday, September 14

SANTA ANA, CA (August 12, 2014) – Thousands of spectators are expected to line the streets of the City of Santa Ana to enjoy the annual Fiestas Parade on Sunday, September 14 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Over 100 parade entries will be showcased in this year’s special theme “Our Pride That Unites Us.” The Fiestas Parade will wind through Civic Center Drive and Main Street in Downtown Santa Ana and will be a celebration of art and culture for all ages. Continue reading→

Sarmiento and Nguyen MIA as residents oppose a homeless shelter in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Entertainment, homeless, Janet Nguyen, John Palacio, Neighborhood Associations, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

1217 Normandy Place, Santa Ana

Santa Ana is part of the First District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and our elected representative is Janet Nguyen, who currently is preoccupied with running for the 34th State Senate District.  So preoccupied apparently that she has blown off, repeatedly, the Santa Ana residents and business owners who are fighting the O.C. Supervisors’ decision to open up a huge homeless shelter at 1217 Normandy Place, in Santa Ana.

Nguyen isn’t the only local politician who has been MIA on this issue.  Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento represents that area and one of the ladies who is fighting the shelter, Dora Lopez, tells me that he too has refused to meet with local residents and business owners.  This is the same useless Sarmiento that pulled papers to run for Mayor but thankfully withdrew from that race.

The OC Board of Supervisors approved the $3.6-million purchase of the 23,220-square-foot industrial warehouse at 1217 Normandy Place back on July 15,2014, according to the L.A. Times. Continue reading→

OC Clerk-Recorder and Tax Assessor to speak at Santa Ana Partners meeting on 8/13

Posted on by Posted in Business, Entertainment, Real Estate, Santa Ana, Sean Mill Leave a comment

Hugh Nguyen

Partners for Santa Ana presents Orange County Tax Assessor Webster Guillory and Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen

The Partners for Santa Ana are hosting their next meeting on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at 10 am, with registration at 9:45 am, at the offices of the Orange County Register, located at 625 N. Grand Avenue, in Santa Ana.  The guest speakers will be Orange County Tax Assessor Webster Guillory and Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen, who were both reelected in the June Primary Election.

This is an excellent opportunity to come meet and hear from two of the people who play such an important role in all of our transactions and find out what their offices are doing and how that may effect you and your clients.

This event is FREE to Realtors. Continue reading→

All the Santa Ana City Council incumbents will be opposed this November

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Alex Padilla, David Benavides, Elections, Gilad Salmon, Mark I. Lopez, Miguel Pulido, Mike Gonzalez, Mirna Velasquez, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido tells the Nicholas Academic Centers’ 4th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration that the NACs are profoundly changing education

Well the dust has finally cleared and we now know who is running for the Santa Ana City Council in this November’s General election.

The Mayor’s race lost many of the candidates who had pulled papers, including State Senator Lou Correa and Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento.  The incumbent, Mayor Miguel Pulido, is running again and he will be facing off against first term Council Member Roman Reyna and a fellow named Mark I. Lopez, who is an entrepreneur/soldier, according to the Voice of OC. Continue reading→

Judge approves Santa Ana’s second gang injunction

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana Gangs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2014

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: JUDGE ENJOINS 13TH ORANGE COUNTY VIOLENT STREET GANG FROM TERRORIZING NEIGHBORHOOD IN SANTA ANA

*This is the second gang injunction in the City of Santa Ana

SANTA ANA – A violent Santa Ana criminal street gang have been preliminarily enjoined from terrorizing the community and acting as a public nuisance, marking the 13th injunction to be brought against Orange County gangs and the second in the City of Santa Ana. This injunction is in response to decades of violent crime by this gang and numerous residents pleading with law enforcement to eliminate the gang presence so that they no longer have to live in fear.

Deputy District Attorney Susan Eckermann prepared the injunction on behalf of the Gang Unit of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Continue reading→

RIP John Muir Fundamental Elementary GATE teacher Deanna Rodriguez

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment
Deanna Rodriguez

Deanna Rodriguez and Jacob Pedroza

The John Muir Fundamental Elementary School student body and their parents were shocked this week to hear that popular fifth grade GATE teacher Deanna Rodriguez had suddenly passed away. Reportedly she had a fatal heart attack while undergoing an angioplasty procedure.

Rodriguez taught three of my children, including my son Joey who graduated with the highest GPA in the SAUSD – and who is now finishing his final year at UCLA with degrees in English and Film, and my son Jacob who received a Presidential Award this year as he finished his time at Muir and is now headed for Columbus Tustin Magnet School.  Joey earned a Presidential Award too, with Rodriguez’ help! Continue reading→

Two men suffer electrical burns after allegedly trying to steal from a power box

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana dumb thieves

Two pretty stupid guys in their early 30’s suffered electrical burns throughout their bodies when they allegedly tried to steal something from an electrical power box at Edinger Avenue and Auto Mall Drive, at 1:25 p.m. Thursday, according to the O.C. Register.

Apparently one of the thieves had burns over half of his body, and the other man appeared to have suffered mild to moderate burns. Continue reading→

Eight candidates now running for the SAUSD School Board

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Angie Rosario Cano, Cecilia Aguinaga, Education, Everlena Oliver, Mike Dalati, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, SAUSD, Shuntele Andrews Leave a comment
Mike Dalati School Board campaign

Mike Dalati

More candidates jumped into the crowded race for the SAUSD School Board today.  One of them was Mike Dalati, a Democrat who ran in the June Primary Election this year for OC Auditor-Controller.  He lost but got over 30,000 votes, according to Smart Voter.  He says that he is a Tax & Accounting Professor with H&R Block in Santa Ana and an Adjunct Professor at ORT Jewish College in Los Angeles.

Valerie Amezcua finally filed her papers.  She is running as a “Probation Officer/Parent.”  She has lost twice in previous campaigns. You have to believe that the title of “Probation Officer” is a real problem for Amezcua given how many people in our city likely don’t like probation officers. Continue reading→

Savanna Monitor Lizard found in the Park Santiago Neighborhood

Posted on by Posted in Pets, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Lost Santa Ana lizard

A Savannah Monitor Lizard was found basking in the sun and eating tomatoes in a backyard in Santa Ana’s Park Santiago Neighborhood, which is north of the 5 Freeway and not far from the MainPlace Mall.

He seems to be well taken care of aside from a minor injury on his head. Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez uses city funds to promote what looks like a campaign event

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Michele Martinez whining

Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez used the City of Santa Ana’s public relations department to send out a notice today about her “Annual Community Address” on August 27, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the Santa Ana Senior Center.

Martinez is up for re-election in November and she should not be using public resources to promote herself.  This is quite obviously a campaign event for her.  She ought to be paying for the event promotion herself!

Martinez claims she will use this event to talk about new projects in Santa Ana but you can rest assured it will be nothing more than a chance for Martinez to promote herself on our dime. Continue reading→

SAUSD Board President Yamagata-Noji endorses Rodríguez

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Audrey Noji, Education, Politics, Rigo Rodriguez, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments
Audrey Yamagata-Noji

Audrey Yamagata-Noji

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2014
Contact: Eric Hogensen, 323-761-9514

Santa Ana School Board President Yamagata-Noji Endorses Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for School Board

(Santa Ana) – Current Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education President, Dr. Audrey Yamagata-Noji announced today that she is endorsing Dr. Rigo Rodríguez for the school board in the upcoming November election.

Dr. Yamagata-Noji stated, “Through my many years of service to the Santa Ana Unified School District, I am keenly aware of the need to have well-educated, community-based individuals to serve on the school board. We have a hard-working and responsive Board but there is still more that needs to be done. As the sixth-largest district in the state, we serve over 57,000 students, so we need Board Members who will be able to understand and address the needs of our students and teachers in the short and long-term.” Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Streetcar will travel along Santa Ana Blvd. and 4th St.

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Planning, public works, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment
Simulation of Streetcar in Santa Ana

Simulation of Streetcar in Santa Ana

Santa Ana City Council Tuesday night decided on Fourth Street as their preferred route for a streetcar system envisioned to begin transforming the transit landscape in Orange County, despite a signed letter of opposition from businesses along the iconic Latino shopping corridor, according to the Voice of OC.

In a unanimous 4-0 vote, the City Council approved a $238 million streetcar option that would travel along Santa Ana Boulevard and Fourth Street. Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero and council members Vincent Sarmiento and Roman Reyna were absent, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→