New Santa Ana

Pictures from the 2010 Cesar Chavez Day celebration in Santa Ana

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Culture, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Labor, Latinos Leave a comment

Local attorney and mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua is pictured on the left, holding the United Farm Workers flag. The man in the middle, on the microphone, is Councilman Vincent Sarmiento. Solorio is pictured on the right. Next to him is Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido. Picture courtesy of Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s office.

Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s office sent us a few pictures taken at last Saturday’s Cesar Chavez celebration, at Jerome Park, in Santa Ana. Reportedly over three hundred Santa Ana residents showed up to the festivities.

Below are additional pictures. You can also see the pictures I took, as the event was being set up, at this link. Continue reading→

New Chief Probation Officer appointed by O.C. Board of Supervisors

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

New Chief Probation Officer Steven J. Sentman, Supervisor Bill Campbell, and Chief Deputy Probation Officer Tom Wright

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 30, 2010
Contact: Howard Sutter 714.834.6203 office

New Chief Probation Officer Appointed by Board of Supervisors

(Santa Ana, CA) — The Orange County Board of Supervisors today appointed Steven J. Sentman to serve as the County’s Chief Probation Officer, effective April 23, 2010.

Sentman currently serves as the Chief Deputy Probation Officer for the Field Operations Bureau. In his new position he will replace Colleene Preciado, who is retiring in April after 35 years with the County of Orange. The Chief Probation Officer is appointed by the Board of Supervisors with the concurrence of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. Continue reading→

OC Animal Care offers pet owners amnesty for delinquent or unlicensed dogs

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Orange County, Pets, Public Safety Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 29, 2010

Contact: Ryan Drabek (714) 935-7107 or Katie Ingram (714) 935-6194

OC Animal Care Offers Pet Owners Amnesty for Delinquent or Unlicensed Dogs

(Orange, – CA) On March 2nd, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a Dog License Amnesty program. From April 1st – May 15th, dog owners will be able to renew their expired licenses, or obtain new licenses, with no worry of late fees or extra charges. This program will be offered to dog owners living in the 17 cities and unincorporated areas served by OC Animal Care. Not only will this program help relieve some of the burden on pocketbooks; it will also help more animals find their way back home if they are lost. By placing a license tag on their dog, owners will help OC Animal Care get in touch with them if their pet is brought into the shelter.

“OC Animal Care wants to be sensitive to dog owners experiencing financial hardship,” said Ryan Drabek, Interim Director for OC Animal Care. He added, “It is our goal, through this program, to ensure more pets are returned to their owners when the unfortunate happens. Approximately 97% of the animals impounded by OC Animal Care that are wearing a tag are returned to their owners. We believe that licensing is a great benefit for our pet owners in Orange County.” Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Police Department already has a dog park!

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Pets, Santa Ana 4 Comments

I didn’t like the idea of converting the Santa Ana Police Department’s (SAPD) police dog training center into a dog park for Santa Ana residents until I spoke today to a former City of Santa Ana employee, who shared with me the history of this beautiful, fenced in field.

According to my friend, the area used to be a public park, until the SAPD convinced the City Council to let them have it. They promised at the time to share the field with the public. However, you can see in the pictures above that the field is gated and locked.

I have never seen the police using the field. My friend says they hardly ever use it. And he says that the Chief of Police, Paul Walters, often brings his own dogs to the field on Saturday mornings. The field is, essentially, a private dog park for Chief Walters. Continue reading→

Is the City of Santa Ana doing enough to keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe?

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

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→

Beloved family dog lost in Park Santiago Neighborhood

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Pets, Santa Ana Leave a comment

One of my neighbors in the Santa Ana’s Park Santiago Neighborhood sent me a note yesterday to let me know that his dog has been lost. Below is his note. Please keep an eye out for her!

On Sunday nite between 5-7pm, we lost our dog. We were away and she was not home when we returned. She is a black, tan and grey terrior mix and weights ~30lbs. Her face is mostly grey. She has been with us for 8 years. Her name is Marlow. If anyone has any information, please call 714.953.6836, please leave a message if we are not home.

Thanks,

Graham

Mexican President Benito Juarez’s birthday anniversary celebrated in Santa Ana

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Art Pedroza Posted in Culture, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, mexico, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Apparently there was a celebration recently in Santa Ana in honor of Benito Juarez, the famed Mexican President who was indigenous. He was born on March 21, 1806.

In the picture above, which is courtesy of Miniondas, you can see some of the folks who were at the event, including Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua, who is pictured on the left. He is standing next to Mike Gonzalez, who ran for the SAUSD School Board last year. They are standing near Alejandra Garcia Williams, the new Consul of Mexico, in Santa Ana.

In case you are wondering what they are doing with their hands, that is how Mexicans salute their flag. Continue reading→

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→

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