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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Santa Ana

UPDATED: Orange County Open Primary Election, June 3, 2014 Voter Guide

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

From: The OC Politics Blog

This voter guide addresses the Orange County local and legislative races as well as the State and Local ballot measures.

Open Primary Election, June, 2014:

State Elections

Attorney General:

OC Politics Blog Endorsement: Jonathan Jaech

Other candidates include: Phil Wyman, Kamala Harris

Editor’s Note: There is no way anyone should vote to re-elect Kamala Harris, the Democratic incumbent. She is far too cozy with the police establishment and the police unions. Our endorsed candidate, Jonathan Jaech, is a Libertarian who says that he “will strive to eliminate the exercise of police power against any person charged with a crime that cannot harm another.” Continue reading→

Paroled pimp on GPS monitoring charged with pimping a young woman in Santa Ana

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

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF1712: May 23, 2014

PAROLEE SEX OFFENDER ON GPS MONITORING ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF PIMPING AND PANDERING 18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN

SANTA ANA – A parolee sex offender on GPS monitoring was arraigned today on charges of pimping and pandering an 18-year-old woman. Eddie Bridges, 36, Compton, was charged today with one felony count each of pimping and pandering by procuring and sentencing enhancements for serving separate prison terms and not remaining free for five years: two prior convictions in 1996 and 1998 in King County, WA, for possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, one prior conviction for possession of marijuana in Maricopa County, Ariz., one prior conviction in Los Angeles County in 2007 for pandering of a minor, and one prior conviction in Los Angeles County in 2011 for attempted pandering. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. Bridges was arraigned today and is scheduled for pre-trial on June 3, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Rogue Planning Commissioner refuses to fill out disclosure forms?

Posted on by Posted in Affordable Housing, Development, Eric Alderete, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Santa Ana, Sean Mill 25 Comments

The Depot Affordable Housing in Santa Ana

Santa Ana’s Planning Commissioners were tasked this year with filling out disclosure forms when they talk to stakeholders about pending development projects. That is a reasonable request given how easy it would be for the Planning Commissioners to engage in monkey business.

The good news is almost all of the Planning Commissioners have acquiesced to this mandate. The bad news is that Phil Bacerra, the Planning Commissioner appointed by Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides, has reportedly refused to fill out the disclosure forms.

This came to light recently when Bacerra apparently worked both sides of the debate with regard to the upcoming Depot Affordable Housing units that will be located across from the Santa Ana Train Depot. Continue reading→

Memorial Day Service at Fairhaven Memorial Park set for 5/26

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The Story of our Flag at Fairhaven Memorial

Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary is hosting a Memorial Day Service: “The Story of Our Flag,” on May26, 2014, at 10:30 am, at 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, in Santa Ana.

This Memorial Day event is a special service to remember our nation’s servicemen and women. It’s a tribute to those who gave their lives in service to our country and a celebration of those who currently serve or have served our nation. Featuring live entertainment and patriotic speakers, the Memorial Day Service is a wonderful reminder of what it means to be an American. Continue reading→

SAPD Traffic Safety Fair set for 5/31 at Pio Pico Elementary School

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Education, Entertainment, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Pio Pico Traffic Safety Fair

The Santa Ana Police Department is hosting a Traffic Safety Fair on Saturday, May 31, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 pm at Pio Pico Elementary, located at 931 W Highland St., in Santa Ana.

Highlights of the event:

  • Interactive safety stations focusing on Pedestrian Safety;
  • Bicycle Helmet Giveaway & Free Bicycle Registration
  • Test your bicycle skills in the Obstacle Course
  • Interactive games and Informational booths

Continue reading→

More homebuyer info meetings set for down-payment assistance program

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Housing, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa-Ana-City-Logo

City of Santa Ana

Community REMINDER: CITY ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL HOMEBUYER INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE LOAN PROGRAM

SANTA ANA, CA (March 27, 2014) – Are you looking to purchase your own home in the City of Santa Ana? If you are first-time homebuyer or have not owned property in the last 3 years, you may be eligible for a down payment assistance loan up to $40,000.

The minimum down payment assistance requirements are:

– Must be pre-qualified for a 1st Mortgage
– Must be a first time homebuyer
– 3% down payment of own funds
– Must complete the Homebuyer Counseling program
– Home must be located in Santa Ana
– Borrowers must have acceptable credit history
– Meet income requirements Continue reading→

The SAUSD honors the top 100 scholars from the Class of 2014

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

sausd logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2014

Contact: Josie Amador, (714) 558-5555

SAUSD Honors Top 100 Scholars from Class of 2014

Santa Ana, CA – Some of Santa Ana Unified School District’s highest performing students will be honored Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the District’s Annual 100 Top Scholars celebration. With acceptance letters from some of the most competitive universities in the country ranging from Stanford to MIT and Brown to UC Irvine, UCLA and UC Berkeley, this bright group of students exemplifies success through hard work and dedication despite the challenges and hardships that one may have endured along the way. “Being in the top 100 feels great; it is one of my biggest accomplishments. I have been motivated ever since I was aware that Santa Ana is a community where poverty and challenges exist. I am pursuing a college education to thrive and eventually give back to my community,” said Daisy Andres, a student at Santa Ana High School, who received a college acceptance letter from UCLA. Continue reading→

Santa Ana woman emerges from 10 years of captivity

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Isidro Garcia

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives locate missing person after 10 years victim of kidnap and sexual assault

In August of 2004, a 15-year-old was reported missing to the Santa Ana Police Department by her mother. The mother reported that her daughter went missing along with her cohabitant boyfriend, Isidro Garcia, after a domestic violence incident. At the time, the mother suspected Garcia of sexually abusing her daughter; however she had no evidence to support this belief.

On 5-20-14, the Victim, now 25-years-old, disclosed the circumstances of her disappearance to law enforcement. Continue reading→

Will you vote to pay the City Council more and let them raise more campaign $?

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Santa Ana City Council

The Santa Ana City Council voted 7-0 last night to place a measure on the November General Election ballot that will give them a pay raise and allow them to raise more money from companies and contractors who do business with or in our city.  This means they want to be able to vote on matters that affect local businesses then hit them up right away for campaign cash.  Some might call that pay to play.

Several Council Members are up for re-election in November including David Benavides, Michele Martinez and Sal Tinajero.  Do they really think that advancing a self-serving measure like this will incline the voters to vote for them again? Continue reading→

Council to cavort with a Telemundo host on 5/21 despite citywide crime wave

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Santa Ana 3 Comments

José Díaz-Balart of Telemundo

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: PUBLIC INVITED TO LIVE TELECAST OF TELEMUNDO’S NATIONAL NEWS WITH JOSÉ DÍAZ-BALART ON WED. IN DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA (May 19,2014) – The public is invited to join the City Manager, Mayor and members of City Council for a special live telecast of Telemundo’s National News Program “Noticiero Telemundo” with host José Díaz-Balart, one of the most respected voices in Hispanic journalism in the United States. The live taping will occur on Wednesday, May 21 at 3:30pm in Downtown Santa Ana’s Second Street Promenade near Lola Gaspar and the Gypsy Den. The public is encouraged to come out early by 3:00pm, before the 3:30pm live newscast, for a chance to appear live on-camera during the background & crowd shots, receive a Telemundo goodie bag and also enjoy Downtown Santa Ana’s restaurants and food specials.

About José Díaz-Balart: Continue reading→

Crime is increasing but our City Council Members say it’s an anomaly

Posted on by Posted in Crime, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Santa Ana City Council

Santa Ana’s City Council Members are finally reacting to the increasing violence and crime in our city – but their reaction is not what anyone might have expected. In a city where the Council Members have in the past led marches against violence and conducted town hall meetings to discuss the issue, our elected officials are now ducking and covering.

Consider what several of the Council Members told the O.C. Register after five shootings and three fatalities in the past month: Continue reading→

MacArthur’s music students win a $5K prize package from Yamaha

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, music, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Yamaha's Quest for Music Education contest

On Monday, May 19 at 10 a.m., MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School in Santa Ana will host a special assembly with Buena Park-based Yamaha Corp. of America, to celebrate the school’s recent win of a $5,000 musical instrument prize package in Yamaha’s Quest for Music Education online contest. MacArthur is one of eight schools to win the contest nationwide out of 1,600 that entered.

MacArthur is a high-achieving school despite the fact that many of its students come from underprivileged homes. Indeed, the school community marshaled an impressive degree of student, teacher and parent involvement to succeed in the Quest for Music Education contest, which awarded prizes based on the level of participation by each school.

Educators at MacArthur chose a viola, a cello and a euphonium to enhance the school’s musical offerings. (A euphonium is the second-lowest pitched brass instrument after the tuba.) The Quest for Music Education contest consisted of a series of online quests undertaken at usa.yamaha.com that covered a variety of music and education topics. Continue reading→

Santa Ana resident Leonicio Banuelos killed in drive by shooting this morning

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Leonicio Banuelos and his family

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Homicide Detectives investigating shooting death 200 block South Newhope

Details: On 5-18-14 at approximately 0235 a.m. officers responded to the 300 block of south Newhope regarding a shooting victim. Upon arrival, they located the victim a 22 year old male who had been shot in the upper torso.  He has been identified as 22-year-old Leonicio Banuelos.

Orange County Fire Authority and paramedics responded to the scene and transported the victim to UCI Medical where he later died from his injuries. Continue reading→

Lupe Moreno and her sidekick Rosie Avila put Sherry Walker on the 69th A.D. ballot

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Lupe Moreno, Politics, Santa Ana, Sherry Walker, Thomas Gordon, Tim Whitacre, Tom Daly Leave a comment
Lupe Moreno

Lupe Moreno

We have been wondering for a few weeks now how it is that an unknown former Democrat from Lake Forest named Sherry Walker ended up on the ballot as a Republican nominee for the 69th Assembly District in this June’s Open Primary Election. Now we know. A reader forwarded us the nomination signatures that Walker turned in to the Orange County Registrar of Voters. You can check out the signatures for yourself by clicking here.

Popular SAUSD Trustee Ceci Iglesias, a Republican as well, should have no problem advancing to the November Runoff Election but nevertheless putting Walker on the ballot was a dirty trick and now we know who did it.

Two names jumped out from the list of voters who signed Walker’s nomination papers – former SAUSD Trustee Rosie Avila and crazed Minuteman Lupe Moreno. Now isn’t that interesting? These two ladies like to pretend that they are Christian stalwarts but here they are trying to undermine the campaign of a fellow believer, Iglesias. What gives? Continue reading→

The SAPD is investigating the shooting death of Janet Jimenez

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Janet Jimenez

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Homicide Detectives investigating shooting death

On 5-16-14, at approximately 11:55 p.m. Officers responded to the gas station located at 1913 W. Edinger regarding a woman who was seated inside a car who had been shot. Upon arrival, they found a woman, possibly in her teens that had been shot in the upper torso. Orange County Fire Authority and paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced the woman deceased. Homicide detectives responded to the scene and are currently investigating the incident.

Homicide Detectives have identified victim as Janet Jimenez (17) of Santa Ana. There is currently no photo available. Continue reading→