New Santa Ana

Tax Day Tea Party Rally to be held in Santa Ana on April 15

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Federal Government, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 5 Comments

The Orange County Tea Party Patriots 2010 will be holding a Tax Day Tea Party Rally on April 15, in Santa Ana, at the Plaza Of The Flag, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West.

Here is a message from the rally organizers:

Come let your voice be heard. Our exciting guests will be encouraging and empowering you in restoring America to its roots in Liberty, Constitution and our inherent Rights. Bring your signs, your friends, your family and your love of country. Our event will be respectful and plans to leave the Plaza cleaner than we found it, so please be prepared to take home anything you bring. See you in the Plaza! Continue reading→

Centro Cultural de Mexico Open Mic, Hip Hop and Spoken Word

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Culture, Entertainment, mexico, music, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Support Autonomous Youth! UMER- Un Mundo En Resistencia, an all grassroots OC youth group will be selling “taquitos dorados” food plates to fundraise for a santa ana youth conference in early summer…..please bring a couple bucks to support santa ana youth!

Start Time: Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 8:00pm
End Time: Monday, March 29, 2010 at 11:30am
Location: El Centro Cultural de Mexico, Santa Ana , Ca

MC’s and performers: Continue reading→

Behind the scenes pictures at Santa Ana’s Cesar Chavez day celebration

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Culture, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Labor, Latinos, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento, Working Families, Youth Activities 6 Comments

Dozens of Americorps volunteers descended on Santa Ana’s Jerome Park yesterday morning, to set up the festivities for the Cesar Chavez Day celebration organized by Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Santa Ana Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento , SOLEVAR Executive Director Seferino Garcia , and several community leaders.

It was terribly windy, but the vendors who were setting up the canopies over the exibit tables compensated by adding more support to the temporary structures.

Santa Ana residents were already showing up in droves to check out the books on display and the wonderful community garden run by the folks at the Grain Project. Continue reading→

U.S. Census Festival today at Bishop Manor in Santa Ana

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Cambodians, Civic Affairs, Federal Government, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Indo-Chinese Muslim Association, in partnership with the Cambodian Family and Team Property Management, will be hosting a U.S. Census Festival today, from 12 noon to 4 pm, at Biship Manor, located at 1001 E. Grant St., in Santa Ana.

There will be games, raffles and prizes. Bring your family and friends to enjoy lots of fun activities and learn more about the U.S. Census.

Bring your Census form for any help in filling it out.

Half of Councilman Benavides’ Commission appointees don’t live in his ward

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Half of Councilman David Benavides’ Commission appointees live in Ward 3. He represents Ward 4.

David Benavides is one of three Santa Ana Council members up for re-election this November. He represents Ward 4, which is highlighted in red in the Ward Map shown above. I found it shocking that he appointed Julie Stroud to the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission, given her longstanding animus for immigrants, so I thought I would review who else he has appointed to our City Commissions.

Housing and Redevelopment Commission – Benavides has not appointed anyone to this important commission. There are two other vacancies as well.
Environmental and Traffic Advisory Committee – Benavides appointed Don Cribb, who lives in Park Santiago, which is not in Benavides’ ward. Cribb lives in Ward 3.
Planning Commission – Benavides appointed Mario Turner. He does not live in Benavides’ ward, but he is a good choice for this Commission, having previously served on the Housing and Redevelopment Commission. He lives in the Park Santiago Neighborhood, which is in Ward 3.
Parks and Rec Commission – as mentioned above, Benavides appointed Julie Stroud. She does not live in his ward. Like Cribb and Turner, she lives in Ward 3, which is represented by Councilman Carlos Bustamante. Continue reading→

Yanez family hosting a fundraiser for mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Democratic Party, Elections, Latinos, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 8 Comments

When Nelida Yanez ran for the Santa Ana City Council in 2006, she enjoyed the support of Santa Ana Council Members Sal Tinajero and Claudia Alvarez. Yanez lost, with 34% of the vote, according to Smart Voter.

Now Nelida, and her husband Joe, have turned on their former allies and are supporting the mayoral campaign of Alfredo Amezcua, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Miguel Pulido.

The Yanez family is hosting a fundraiser for Amezcua on March 27, from 3-5 pm, at 1125 South Sullivan, in Santa Ana. See the graphic above for RSVP info.

To further convolute things, the supporters of the guy who beat Yanez in 2006, David Benavides, are now supporting Amezcua as well. These supporters include Thomas Gordon, who is also running for the Santa Ana City Council this year. Continue reading→

Assemblyman Solorio to host a Cesar Chavez celebration and an Open House

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Latinos, Orange County, Santa Ana, Working Families 1 Comment

California State Assemblyman Jose Solorio cordially invites you to attend TWO upcoming events:

Saturday, March 27th: Chavez State Holiday Celebration
Friday, April 16th: District Office Open House

Below is more information regarding each event:

10th Annual Cesar E. Chavez State Holiday Celebration

Please join Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Santa Ana Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento , SOLEVAR Executive Director Seferino Garcia , and community leaders to celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar E. Chavez. Continue reading→

SACReD announces Community Day of Action in Santa Ana, on March 28

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Culture, Education, Entertainment, Housing, Latinos, Redevelopment, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

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→

Santa Ana council candidate Thomas Gordon rejects dog park feasibility study

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Pets, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 3 Comments

If cost is the issue, the City of Santa Ana could turn the little-used Lawn Bowling Center into a dog park for less than $10K

I was invited to attend tonight’s Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, by the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Agency’s director, Gerardo Mouet. His staff unveiled their dog park feasibility study tonight, to the Commissioners. The results were a mixed bag.

Mind you that the proposal tonight was merely to study the idea of a dog park – not to actually commit to building one. Nevertheless, at least two of the Commissioners already had their minds made up to oppose the feasibility study.

Commissioner Julie Stroud was the first one to attack the idea. She said it was too expensive – even though my own research found that the City of Costa Mesa dog park is in the black, to the tune of $24,000, and it is run by a non-profit board. Stroud cited the $258,000 spent by the City of Mission Viejo on their dog park. That information was sent to the Commissioners by part-time Santa Ana resident and government worker Thomas Gordon, who announced this week that he is running for Ward 6 on the Santa Ana City Council. Click here to read Gordon’s email message to the Parks and Rec Agency.

Gordon and Stroud failed to note that the City of Mission Viejo is known for wasting tax money in ridiculous fashion. They also spent $300,000 on a Rose Parade float! Their last Mayor, Lance MacLean, was in fact recalled this year, in part because of his wastesful ways. Red County, the blog Gordon writes for, supported MacLean. Continue reading→

“Good Jobs Now Rally” Tell Bank of America and Chase to PAY UP!

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Labor, Santa Ana, Working Families Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: March 23, 2010
Contact: Priscilla Luviano Cell: (714) 488-3860

“Good Jobs Now Rally” Tell Bank of America and Chase to PAY UP!

Who: Orange County Labor Federation and angry working men and women

What: The reckless greed of big Wall Street banks such as Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase helped wreck the American economy and kill American jobs. While working families lost jobs, homes, retirement savings and hope, Wall Street took $700
billion in taxpayer bailouts and went right back to business as usual. They choked up credit, handed about $145 billion in pay and bonuses to their executives who tanked our economy and hired an army of lobbyists to fight financial reform. Our nation is 11 million jobs in the hole. Hard working Americans are angry, frustrated and fed up! We need good jobs now. It’s time to make the big Wall Street banks pay. Continue reading→

Correa’s bill to strengthen sentences for sex offenders

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, california, Lou Correa, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Photo from file: State Senator Lou Correa addressing National Victims Rights during march to the State Capitol last year

For Immediate Release: March 23, 2010

Contact: Lina Hamilton (916) 651-4034

Correa’s Bill to Strengthen Sentences for Sex Offenders

SB 1037 will give courts discretionary sentencing ability, particularly in cases of high risk sex offenders and sexually violent predators.

SACRAMENTO, CA- State Senator Lou Correa (Orange County) has introduced Senate Bill 1037 (SB 1037) to allow courts the ability to order full term sentences, particularly in certain aggravated cases involving violent sexual offenders.

“A crime against a child is despicable, especially sex violent crimes in which young victims’ lives are lost or change beyond repair, are morally reprehensible,” said Senator Lou Correa. “We need to make sure that we do everything we can to keep violent child predators off the streets and enable our justice and law enforcement systems with laws that will serve justice to victims and their families.” Continue reading→

Dog Park feasibility study proposal to be presented at S.A. Parks and Rec meeting on Wednesday

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Nature, Pets, Santa Ana 1 Comment

My dog Sparky wants to know if we are getting a dog park in Santa Ana

The Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Agency will be presenting a proposal to conduct a dog park feasibility study at the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission meeting this Wednesday, March 24, at 5:30 pm, at the Santa Ana Senior Center, located at 424 W. Third St.

Click here to read the agenda for the meeting. The dog park feasibility memo is included after the agenda.

The study will include: Potential Sites; Operation Options/Models; a Communications Plan; Potential Costs; and a Timeline.

What is attractive about the dog park concept is that it does not cost much to establish one. And other dog parks in Orange County have been able to raise all of their operating costs from local businesses and dog advocates. Dog Parks also offer folks somewhere to go with their dogs – and we have over 11,000 licensed dogs in town. And our surrounding cities all have very successful dog parks.

Some of the sites that the study is exploring include Santiago Park; Centennial Park; Thornton Park; Heritage Park and Delhi Park.

Santa Ana’s Park and Recreation Commissioners include: Continue reading→

Senator Correa honored by the OCTA for securing 6,000 O.C. transportation jobs

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Labor, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Transportation, Working Families Leave a comment

Photo: From left to right: Jerry Amante, OCTA Chairman of the Board of Directors; Nadia Villafana, Field Representative for Assemblyman Jose Solorio; Senator Bob Haff ( Diamond Bar); Senator Lou Correa (Orange County); and Will Kempton OCTA Chief Executive Officer

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2010

Contact: Tammy Tran (714) 558-4400

SANTA ANA – Senator Lou Correa, Senator Bob Huff, and Assemblyman Jose Solorio were recognized today for their work on protecting $102 million in transportation funding for the county by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors. Senator Correa was a key advocate for Assembly Bill (AB) X8-11 signed by the Governor on March 8, 2010, to allow local agencies flexibility to use local funds for a project approved for funding by Proposition 116.

Jerry Amante, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Will Kempton, Chief Executive Officer, presented the resolution in honor of Senator Correa’s time, effort, and dedication in steering AB X8-11 through a difficult special session, achieving broad consensus and defusing opposition.

“And I have a lot sleepless nights over the prospect that a large chunk of money was hanging out there during this time of difficult budget decisions in Sacramento,” said Kempton. Continue reading→

An introduction to Santa Ana’s private and charter schools

Posted on March 21, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 7 Comments

A reader asked us to compile a list of Santa Ana’s private schools. But let’s start with Santa Ana’s charter schools, which are publicly funded but are run independently.

The Santa Ana Unified School District’s website does include a list of the local charter schools, which include:

Albor Charter School – This is a K-12 school that appears to offer instruction in a bilingual format. They don’t have a website and it is almost impossible to find out much about them online. I did find news articles that indicated that a former director allegedly misappropriated millions of public dollars back in 2007. Phone: 714-560-1568.
The Orange County Educational Arts Academy – K-8. They offer English only and Two-way Language Immersion (Spanish/English).
The Edward B. Cole Academy – K-5. They don’t have a website. I did find a letter they submitted to the City of Santa Ana where they indicated that they serve poor families with English fluency issues. Continue reading→

How can we save our Santa Ana public schools?

Posted on March 21, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Latinos, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 16 Comments

The SAUSD is in denial about the persistently low performing public schools in Santa Ana

If you glance at the Santa Ana Unified School District’s website, you might come away thinking everything in the district is great. Headlines include: “Academic Achievement Abounds;” “Measure G Facility Improvements;” and “SAUSD Congratulates its Top Educators of the Year.”

There is no mention of the fact that four of the seven Santa Ana High Schools have been placed on the State of California’s “Persistently Low Performing” list, necessitating massive changes which might include transferring teachers, replacing administrators and even the possibility of becoming charter schools.

But check out what overmatched SAUSD Superintendent Jane Russo has to say on her website, under the headline, “Success is the Standard:”

We are dedicated to high academic achievement, in a scholarly and supportive environment, ensuring that all students are prepared to accomplish their goals in life. Failure is Unacceptable! Success is the Standard…It’s Up to Us All!

Is it just me or is Russo in complete denial? Continue reading→

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Tax Day Tea Party Rally to be held in Santa Ana on April 15

Centro Cultural de Mexico Open Mic, Hip Hop and Spoken Word

Behind the scenes pictures at Santa Ana’s Cesar Chavez day celebration

U.S. Census Festival today at Bishop Manor in Santa Ana

Half of Councilman Benavides’ Commission appointees don’t live in his ward

Yanez family hosting a fundraiser for mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua

Assemblyman Solorio to host a Cesar Chavez celebration and an Open House

SACReD announces Community Day of Action in Santa Ana, on March 28

Santa Ana council candidate Thomas Gordon rejects dog park feasibility study

“Good Jobs Now Rally” Tell Bank of America and Chase to PAY UP!

Correa’s bill to strengthen sentences for sex offenders

Dog Park feasibility study proposal to be presented at S.A. Parks and Rec meeting on Wednesday

Senator Correa honored by the OCTA for securing 6,000 O.C. transportation jobs

An introduction to Santa Ana’s private and charter schools

How can we save our Santa Ana public schools?