New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Vince Sarmiento

Yes, we paid to send three Councilmen to Portland to look at streetcars

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Planning, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Transportation, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Can you believe it? Our city is broke but on August 28, 2013, “officials from Santa Ana conducted a one-day site visit to learn more about the highly successful transit and streetcar system in Portland, Oregon.”

That’s right. We paid to send a bunch of Council Members and city staffers to Portland, Oregon, to look at their light rail system. Now why in the world would our city leaders do this? Well, they allege that “Out of the 15 systems currently operating and the 40 under design or construction throughout the country, Portland’s has been seen as a model that reflects the Transit Vision for Santa Ana’s proposed streetcar system.”

But is that true? Does Portland really have anything in common with Santa Ana? Continue reading→

Poll – Who is the worst Santa Ana City Council Member?

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

We recently took a look at the official City Calendars of each of our Santa Ana City Council Members. Now it is time to vote! Which one of our Council Members is the very worst of the bunch?

Continue reading→

Councilman Sarmiento’s calendar shows that he keeps a very full schedule

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

We have been looking this week at the publicly posted official calendars of our City Council Members, for the month of June, 2013. So far we have determined that Council Members David Benavides and Angie Amezcua are barely present in their own Wards, while Council Member Michele Martinez is staying pretty active in her own Ward. And we were disappointed by Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero, who was only active on ten days in June, and by Roman Reyna, who was totally absent from his Ward in June. Now we turn to the calendar of Council Member Vincent Sarmiento, who represents Ward 1.

On June 1, Sarmiento was at the SA Health & Fitness Fair, at Rosita Park, which lies on the boarder of Wards 3 and 5.
On June 3, he was at the Triada Court at The Station District Grand Opening, in Ward 2. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes – Sarmiento for Supervisor?

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Term Limits, Tom Daly, Vince Sarmiento 9 Comments

I had a long talk this afernoon with a Santa Ana insider who had some amazing chismes for me. I was expecting that perhaps Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido would run for the Orange County Supervisorial seat that is currently held by Janet Nguyen, but apparently Councilman Vincent Sarmiento has decided to run, and Pulido is not going to oppose him.

But the biggest shocker was that Measure D may be in trouble – and that it could be reversed if it is challenged in court. That was the measure that extended the term limits of the Santa Ana Council Members by four years, from 8 years to 12. That measure was on the ballot in a special election but apparently it should have been put in front of the voters in a general election. What this means, if it does get wiped out, is that several Santa Ana Council Members will be termed out – including Michele Martinez and Sal Tinajero. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes – is a new City Manager on the way?

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Tom Daly, Vince Sarmiento 6 Comments

So many chismes! The big one I am hearing is that the Santa Ana City Council is preparing to hire a new City Manager at a special meeting next week, perhaps on Tuesday, and that they are continuing to accept job applications through this Friday. But who would want to work for this bunch?

Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez is up for re-election in 2014. But this time she won’t be getting a free pass. I hear a very well-connected Latina is preparing to challenge her! Considering how poorly Martinez fared in last June’s Open Primary, when she came in almost last in her campaign for the 69th Assembly District, she better be worried about this. She blew some $200K on that race. Who will donate money to her now? Continue reading→

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

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Art Pedroza 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→

The Council praised former City Manager Ream but back-stabbed Walters

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Dave Ream, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Dave Ream

The same Santa Ana City Council Members who just fired our City Manager, Paul Walters, heaped praise on his predecessor, Dave Ream, when he finally retired, as noted in the minutes of the May 16, 2011 City Council meeting.

Council Member Michele Martinez, who went ballistic, according to insider reports, when Walters was offered the chance to stay on as our Chief of Police, had this to say about Ream, who wrecked our city budget: Continue reading→

Council to meet behind closed doors again tonight regarding dismissal of Walters

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Paul Walters, Politics, Santa Ana 17 Comments

Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters

The Santa Ana City Council has agendized a clsoed door session to take place tonight at 5 pm. The topic? Dismissing City Manager Paul Walters. Details below.

This is a chance to show up and let them have it again – if they allow for any public comments. If not, at least we can bring signs and picket. This Council needs to know that we are not happy with their dismissal of our great City Manager, Paul Walters.

Meeting details: Continue reading→

Is the Council secretly coordinating their attack on Walters?

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 98 Comments

Have Benavides and Sarmiento been secretly coordinating their attack on Walters?

Apparently Council Member David Benavides called the Santa Ana City Clerk, Maria Huizar, this Friday, in the morning at about 10 am, to instruct her to add an item to the agenda for the Council meeting set for this coming Tuesday, regarding the review of Santa Ana’s City Manager Paul Walters. Click here to contact Huizar if you would like to confirm this. You may also call her at 714.647.6520.

About a half hour later his colleague, according to my sources, Council Member Vince Sarmiento, made the same call, using the same language, to Huizar. Continue reading→

Poll: Should any of our Council members be recalled over the Walters flap?

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2013 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 41 Comments

What to do? Our Santa Ana City Council majority has lost it. Now Council Member David Benavides is back from his travels – apparently he flew to India with his church. And so they are ready to resume their horrible attack on our City Manager, Paul Walters. What is driving this? Who knows? Hatred of our popular Mayor, Miguel Pulido? Pressure from the police union, which wants a big contract? Apartment developers who want to build high density units that Pulido won’t allow? Who knows?

What we do know is that it might well be time to strike back. And one way to do that would be to start a recall – and remove these miscreants from our Council. But who to recall? Michele Martinez? That would be a good start. She certainly has been the vortex of the Walter attacks. Benavides? He allowed his supporters to attack Pulido’s kids during his failed mayoral campaign. Vincent Sarmiento? He almost lost in November to a total unknown. Sal Tinajero? He already survived the recall of his pal Nativo Lopez, from the SAUSD School Board, back in the day. Can he survive another one? Roman Reyna? He seems to be going along with the Walters lynch mob…

Here is your chance to be heard! I have set up the poll below so that you may vote to recall one of the Council Members, or more, or all of them, or perhaps none of them. You decide! Continue reading→

Has the Council forgotten that they voted unanimously to hire Walters?

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 40 Comments

The lame Santa Ana City Council Majority want us to believe that Mayor Miguel Pulido forced them to hire current City Manager Paul Walters, but they were all there at the City Council meeting on May 21, according to the meeting minutes, when they discussed the appointment of Paul Walters, who at the time was the Acting City Manager, in closed session. It should be noted that three Council Members were late to that meeting – Vince Sarmiento, David Benavides and Michele Martinez.

Those Council Members are now accusing Mayor Miguel Pulido of violating the Brown Act, but what were they doing arriving late to that May meeting – and walking in together to boot? Did they have an illegal “pre-meeting?” Continue reading→

Stand up for our City Manager at the Council meeting set for this Monday

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Politics, Public Safety, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 52 Comments

Supporters of Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters are expected to turn out in large numbers at this Monday’s City Council meeting, on Jan. 7, 2013, at 5:45 pm, at the Council Chambers, at 22 Civic Center Plaza, in Santa Ana.

Walters has come under fire as the current Santa Ana City Council majority has decided to come after him even though he saved our city from a budget fiasco last year and is even now our best hope to resolve the State of California’s demand for the return of some $56 million dollars in redevelopment funds. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Political Chismes: is the Benavides Council cabal out of control?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Taxes, Tom Daly, Vince Sarmiento 15 Comments

SARMIENTO WANTS TO CREATE A COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS DISSOLVING OTHER COMMITTEES

“The City Council has taken another step toward reducing the mayor’s authority by voting to give the council, rather than the mayor alone, the power to appoint members to council committees,” according to the O.C. Register.

I have no problem with that – in fact the Council Members hate serving on most of these committees and often run away from these assignments. Now they have no excuse.

But here is the funny part: Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Attorney to resign if the Council fires Walters?

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Lawyers, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Sonia Carvalho, Vince Sarmiento 31 Comments

Santa Ana City Attorney Sonia R. Carvalho has apparently had enough of the amateurs on the Santa Ana City Council and she is allegedly planning to resign – if the Council fires City Manager Paul Walters, according to my sources at City Hall.

Carvalho, a partner in the Municipal Law practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP, currently serves as the city attorney for the City of Claremont as well. She previously served as city attorney of Azusa (1998-2012), Colton (1998-2001) and Yorba Linda (2001-2010). Ms. Carvalho is also the co-chair of her law firm’s Public Policy and Ethics sub-practice group. Continue reading→

Update: When will the Benavides Council dump Griset from the MWD Board?

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Dan Griset, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, John Palacio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento, Water 52 Comments

Update: So now that the Benavides cartel is running the Santa Ana City Council, are they really going to be all about change? If so when are they dumping Dan Griset from the Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors? Don’t hold your breath – they already cut a deal with him. Here is what we had to say on the subject back on Sep. 21, of this year:

Do you remember Dan Griset? His father Lorin was the Mayor of Santa Ana from 1969 – 1973. Dan followed suit, serving on the Santa Ana City Council from 1979-1992. He was our Mayor for a time too.

Why am I bringing him up? Well he can’t get elected to anything in Santa Ana anymore, but for many years he has been our city’s appointed representative to the Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors. Griset was appointed years ago by Mayor Miguel Pulido back in February of 2005, and even though some of our current Council Members have groused about it, he has stayed put for some time. Continue reading→