Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

The SAPD raided an illegal gaming house this morning
February 27, 2020 - Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD - No Comments

After receiving complaints regarding an illegal gaming house the SAPD’s Metropolitan Division & Vice Unit executed a search warrant at 1400 S. Rita Way this morning, according to the SAPD’s Twitter account. The gaming house was located just north of the Salvation Army, between S. Bristol and S. Raitt St. Six subjects were detained and…

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The O.C. Board of Supervisors is joining the fight against Covid-19 patient quarantining in Costa Mesa
February 26, 2020 - Costa Mesa, Disease, Orange County, Santa Ana - No Comments

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 25, 2020) – Today the County of Orange Board of Supervisors unanimously directed the Office of County Counsel to file an Amicus brief with the United States District Court regarding pending federal litigation in the City of Costa Mesa, et. al v. United States of America, et. al. regarding the use…

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County of Orange declares emergency in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus
February 26, 2020 - Disease, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, Orange County, Santa Ana - No Comments

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 26, 2020) – The County of Orange has declared a local emergency and a local health emergency to prepare for COVID-19, commonly known as novel coronavirus. “The County of Orange and our County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick have declared a local emergency. We have issued these declarations in light of…

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Public invited to share their vision for Santa Ana’s future at a workshop on 3/5
February 26, 2020 - Civic Affairs, Planning, Santa Ana - No Comments

SANTA ANA, CA – The City of Santa Ana is kicking off the environmental review process for the comprehensive update of its General Plan, bringing the City another step closer to completing this long-range policy and planning document that is to be considered for adoption later this year. Today, Feb. 26, the City released a…

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Senator Lou Correa announces informational townhall on veterans issues

Posted on by Posted in Lou Correa, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Lou Correa and U.S. Veterans

State Senator Lou Correa is hosting an information townhall meeting this Friday, Oct. 16, about Veterans Issues, at the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Building Boardroom located at 2323 N. Broadway in Santa Ana.

Participating offices and organizations include the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Orange County Veterans Services Office, Veterans First, Orange County Community Services Agency, Orange County Health Care Agency, Disabled American Veterans, Orange County Veterans Court, California Employment Development Department and California Small Business Development Center.  

Veterans and the public are invited to participate and learn more about issues facing veterans and their family members.  For additional information or to RSVP, please call Senator Correa’s district office at (714) 558-4400. 

Here is the press release for this event: Continue reading→

State Senator Correa applauds approval of legislation to prevent loan modifications scams

Posted on by Posted in Lou Correa, Real Estate, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Lou Correa at work

State Senator Lou Correa, who represents Santa Ana and Anaheim, is quite pleased about the passage this week of SB 94, which “will protect vulnerable and distressed home owners from becoming victims of predatory mortgage scams,” according to a press release which I am enclosing below.

“The bill abolishes the common practice in the loan modification sector of collecting advance fees prior to completing any loan modification services,” according to PR Web.

The merican Mitigation Law Group has established a California SB 94 fact page designed to educate homeowners. The information can be reached via the company’s home loan modification website at http://www.amlawgroup.net. Click “Resources” and then select “California SB 94” from the drop down. Continue reading→

Kogi BBQ trucks coming to Santa Ana this week!

Posted on by Posted in Business, Koreans, Latinos, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Kogi Korean Short Rib Taco

The famous Kogi Korean Short Rib Taco

The popular and beloved Kogi BBQ food trucks are coming to Santa Ana!

“Kogi said it would soon start making five nightly stops a week in Orange County. With the birth of Naranja truck (the Los Angeles trucks are called Verde and Azul), regular food stops begin this week in the cities of Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Anaheim and Orange,” according to the O.C. Register.

Kogi is a fusion of Mexican, American and Korean foods, spun into tantalizing creations, such as their incredible Korean Short Rib Tacos.  “These signature tacos include the best trimmings of short ribs in their own special marinade, chopped up nice and small so the flavors dance on your taste buds. On the grill, the fat melts off & the sugars caramelize to create that soft tender texture and deep savory flavor. This is the Kogi crowd favorite,” according to the Kogi website. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana votes to organize and produce 2010 Fiestas Patrias

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Latinos, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Lou Correa interviewed at the Fiestas Parade

State Senator Lou Correa and friends walk in the Fiestas Parade

“The City Council voted last week to organize and produce official Fiestas Patrias gatherings in town next year, including a signature two-day festival that draws more than 200,000 visitors to the downtown area every September,” according to the O.C. Register.

The Fiestas Patrias will be quite special next year – “Fall 2010 marks two important milestones for our neighbor to the south: 200 years of independence from Spain and the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.”

While the City of Santa Ana won’t be spending money on the event, they will be working hard to ensure that the event goes off smoothly without any problems. Continue reading→

Logan Home celebration set for Oct. 17

Posted on by Posted in Development, Latinos, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Hope Builders

The Hope Builders, a division of Taller San Jose, will be celebrating the completion of the Hope Builders homes in Santa Ana’s Logan Neighborhood, on Oct. 17, at 10:30 am.  Lunch will be available after the ceremony.

To RSVP please contact Liana Meyer at (714)543-5105 ext. 128.

Through a collaboration of Taller San Jose, the City of Santa Ana and Orange County Community Housing Corp., Hope Builders provided affordable housing for first-time homebuyers in the Logan neighborhood in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

16th Annual SAUSD Parent Conference and Youth Expo Set For October 11

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

SAUSD Parent Conference

The Santa Ana Unified School District is holding their “16th Annual Parent Conference” this Sunday, October 11, from 9 am to 3 pm, at  Godinez Fundamental High School.  A City of Santa Ana sponsored Youth EXPO will concurrently be taking place at the adjacent Centennial Park.

Click here to read about the Santa Ana Youth Expo.

Here is the SAUSD’s press release regarding this event:

 16th Annual SAUSD Parent Conference and Youth Expo Set For October 11

The Combination Event Brings Together More Than 100 Agencies to Benefit Families Continue reading→

California Endowment community engagement forums in Santa Ana

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Community Events rForums

The California Endowment has chosen Central Santa Ana for a ten-year initiative starting in 2010 to create a better Santa Ana. We want you to share your dreams, hopes and your voice for the future of Santa Ana. Childcare and Translation are available.

The California Endowment is a private, statewide health foundation that was created in 1996 as a result of Blue Cross of California’s creation of WellPoint Health Networks, a for-profit corporation. This conversion set the groundwork for our mission:

The California Endowment’s mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians.

The California Endowment is conducting several Community Engagement Forums in Santa Ana, in October, as follows: Continue reading→

Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez led the charge against the MWD pension spike

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

Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez

I finally got an update about last night’s Santa Ana City Council meeting, specifically about the 85a item that Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez put on the agenda regarding the proposed Metropolitan Water District pension spike.  It turns out she led the charge AGAINST the pension spike!

Apparently Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez felt the same way that I do – that now is the wrong time to give more pension benefits to MWD employees.  This could result in higher water rates and our residents already pay the highest water rates in Orange County.

Kudos to Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez for her leadership!  All of the City Council Members voted with her.  Now that vote will be forwarded to Dan Griset, the former Santa Ana Councilman who represents the residents of our city on the MWD Board of Directors. 

Click here to send a “thank you” email to Mayor Pro Tem Alvarez.  She really stuck her neck out on this issue.  Continue reading→

SAPD to send text alerts via new Citizens Action Network

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Neighborhood Associations, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Cell phones for texting

“Police in Orange County’s largest city, Santa Ana, want to use cell phones to alert people in the community who register as having interests in specific areas as part of its new Citizens Alert Network. It’s a two-way texting plan to alert people about crime trends, descriptions of suspects, missing persons advisories, crime prevention tips, as well as information about current fraud schemes and scams,” according to NBC News, Los Angeles.

Here is what the Santa Ana Police Department has to say about their new Citizens Alert Network: Continue reading→

Santa Ana residents get in free at the Discovery Science Center today

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

Santa Ana residents can visit the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center for free today.!

Their new exhibit is Head to Toe: All About Your Body. The human body is a fascinating and complex machine, with each of its many parts fulfilling a unique and interesting function. Head To Toe explores five body topics: skeletons, organs, the senses, general health and general body facts.

They are located at 2500 N. Main St., in Santa Ana. You may call them at (714) 542-2823. Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. Continue reading→

Will Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez push for a pension spike for MWD employees?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

santa-ana-water-tank

Santa Ana’s high water prices may rise even more if the MWD pension spike is approved

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez added an 85a  item, at the last minute, to the agenda for tonight’s Santa Ana City Council meeting.  The item is titled “Proposed Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Employee Compensation and Benefits Issue.” 

What this means is anyone’s guess.  My theory is that she is going to ask the City Council to vote to support the irresponsible proposed pension spike for the MWD workers, but who knows?  Perhaps she may be taking the counter view.  One can only hope. Continue reading→

Night Gallery Ceramics Presents the Annual Halloween Day Of The Dead Art Show

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Night Gallery Ceramics Day of the Dead

Night Gallery Ceramics Presents The Annual Halloween Day Of The Dead Art Show, starting tonight, Saturday, October 3rd, from 7:00pm – 10:00pm.

The event will include Wine, Music and Silent Horror Classic Movies, and special Artist’s Presentations by: Brett Barrett, Paul Brogden, Tamara Lujan, Mulder 142, Bryan Shoening, David Russell Talbott, and Dark Vomit.

Future Reception Dates: November 7th and December 5th.

Night Gallery is located at 201 N. Main St., in Santa Ana.  You may call them at  (714)973-8477. Continue reading→

Calacas “Dia de los Muertos” exhibit opens tonight!

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Latinos, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Calacas Day of the Dead art exhibit

Santa Ana’s Calacas store has announced an opening reception for a new Day of the Dead art exhibit coming up this Saturday, Oct. 3, from 7 pm to 10 pm.  The festivities will include an appearance by “La Catrina.”  The exhibit will run through October 7. 

Calacas is located at 324 W. 4th St., in downtown Santa Ana.  There is free parking at the structure at 3rd and Birch.  You can find out more about this event by calling Calacas at 714-662-2002 or by visiting their website. Continue reading→

Are Santa Ana high school chemistry classes dangerously overcrowded?

Posted on by Posted in Education, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

SAUSD Science Teacher Gary Reynolds speaks out about dangerous overcrowding in chemistry classes at School Board meeting on Sep. 8

“A Santa Ana High School science teacher is claiming chemistry classes at the campus are crowded beyond state regulations, causing unsafe conditions for students,” according to the O.C. Register.

Gary Reynolds, who has taught physics, chemistry and other science classes at Santa Ana High for 22 years, filed a “report of concern” with the school district alleging an “existing unsafe situation in our high school chemistry classes.”

I know Mr. Reynolds – he is a great teacher and as solid a citizen as you could ever hope to find.  He told me in an email that he wanted to give the district the chance to correct the overcrowding in chemistry classes – but their response was not what he was looking for. 

Juan Lopez, associate superintendent of human resources for Santa Ana Unified, said the state Science Safety Handbook provides guidelines for class sizes, but does not set down legal requirements. Continue reading→

Can Latino and Vietnamese students get along?

Posted on by Posted in Education, Latinos, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Youth Activities 8 Comments

Mexicans love pho

One thing Latino and Vietnamese residents can agree on – Pho is delicious!

“Lan Quoc Nguyen, the Vice-President of Board of the Garden Grove Unified School District, in an interview published on a Vietnamese newspaper proclaimed that other ethnicities are wary of classes with a lot of Asian students in it because they can’t compete,” according to the Bolsavik blog.

Wow!  Where do we even begin with that sentiment?

My son Joey goes to Godinez High School, in Santa Ana, where he is an honors student.  He is taking Advanced Placement classes that will earn him college credit.  I have met many of his peers.  Most of them are Latinos.  But my son’s girlfriend is Vietnamese – and yes she is brilliant.  She speaks three languages and teaches piano lessons. 

As for my son, he plays the guitar and pitches for his high school baseball team.  And no, he is not wary of Asians.  Nor have I seen any animosity between the different races in his AP classes.  Continue reading→