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Tag Archives: Vince Sarmiento

Santa Ana Mayor Sarmiento supports the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act

Posted on by Posted in immigration, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Santa Ana Mayor Vicente Sarmiento today announced his support for the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act being introduced by California Sen. Alex Padilla and other members of Congress.

The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act would provide undocumented essential workers with a fast, accessible, and secure path to citizenship, beginning with immediate adjustment of status to legal permanent resident. This legislation is a critical part of a just and inclusive COVID-19 recovery.

“Throughout this difficult and deadly pandemic, undocumented workers have risked their lives to help keep our economy moving, to put groceries on the shelves, to cook our meals, to manufacture and distribute goods, and so much more,” Mayor Sarmiento said. “I applaud Sen. Padilla for recognizing the contributions of these essential workers by providing them a well-earned path to citizenship. The Citizenship for Essential Workers Act will not only strengthen our country, but also is simply the right thing to do.”

There are 5.2 million undocumented immigrants working in jobs that have been designated as essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. This accounts for almost 3 out of 4 undocumented workers in the United States.

About Santa Ana

Santa Ana is downtown for the world famous Orange County, California. It is the County Seat, the second-most populous city in Orange County, and is home to a vibrant evening scene and arts community. About three-quarters of the City’s residents are Latino. Over 1,200 City employees work hard every day to deliver efficient public services in partnership with our community to ensure public safety, a prosperous economic environment, opportunities for our youth, and a high quality of life for residents. Learn more at www.santa-ana.org.

COVID-19 video update from Sarmiento and Penaloza

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, David Penaloza, Disease, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Santa Ana Mayor Vicente Sarmiento and Mayor Pro Tem David Penaloza have shared a video message about COVID-19.

For more information on City of Santa Ana COVID-19 resources and news, please visit https://www.santa-ana.org/covid19.

To sign up to be notified by the OC Health Care Agency about when a vaccination appointment is available at the County’s sites, go to https://www.othena.com/. More information about the County’s vaccine distribution is at https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/.

Actualización de Video Sobre COVID-19

Alcalde Vicente Sarmiento and Vice Alcalde David Penaloza compartieron un mensaje de video sobre COVID-19.

Para más información sobre recursos y noticias para COVID-19 de la Ciudad de Santa Ana, por favor visite https://www.santa-ana.org/covid19.

Para inscribirse para ser notificado por la agencia de salud pública del Condado sobre cuando está disponible una cita en los sitios de vacuna del Condado, visite https://www.othena.com/. Más información sobre la distribución de la vacuna del Condado está en https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/.

Mayor Sarmiento confirms that the SAPD is ready to arrest unruly Trumpers

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Donald Trump, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

“The situation at the U.S. Capitol today with armed assailants taking over the interior of the halls of our most sacred government institutions has been an absolute disgrace and embarrassment to our country.

“As the Santa Ana Police Department follows and monitors intelligence sources for any local safety threats related to the violence that occurred in Washington, D.C., and in Los Angeles, our local law enforcement will be prepared to handle any incidents of concern and to protect the community.”

– Mayor Vicente Sarmiento

New Santa Ana Mayor, City Councilmembers take office

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Jessie Lopez, Johnathan Ryan Hernandez, Santa Ana, Thai Viet Phan, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The City of Santa Ana’s first new Mayor in 26 years and three new City Councilmembers took office on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020.

Mayor Vicente Sarmiento will serve a two-year term through 2022. Councilmember Thai Viet Phan representing Ward 1, Councilmember Jessie Lopez of Ward 3, and Councilmember Johnathan Ryan Hernandez of Ward 5 will each serve four-year terms through 2024.

The installation took place during a virtual special City Council meeting with a prerecorded Oath of Office and video celebration highlighting messages from the new City leaders, words of congratulations from their supporters and community members, and a musical tribute from the Santa Ana Unified School District arts program.

Mayor Sarmiento is believed to be the first Bolivian American Mayor in the United States and Councilmember Phan is the City’s first Vietnamese American Councilmember.

Mayor Sarmiento noted that he and the three new Councilmembers were all either born or raised in Santa Ana.

“We are literally the sons and daughters of Santa Ana, genuinely home-grown products of the City,” he said.

The new City Council’s first official action was to unanimously elect Councilmember David Penaloza of Ward 2 as the new Mayor Pro Tem. The new Councilmembers also join Councilmember Phil Bacerra of Ward 4 and Councilmember Nelida Mendoza of Ward 6.

Before being elected Mayor, Sarmiento served as a Councilmember from 2007 to 2020. He is an attorney who received his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and his law degree from UCLA.

“Santa Ana is one of the largest cities in the largest state in our union,” Mayor Sarmiento said. “We must conduct ourselves as such and be bold in our aspirations but never again ignore the needs of those most vulnerable among us.”

Councilmember Phan was born near a refugee camp in Thailand after her parents fled the devastation of the Vietnam War. Her family settled in Santa Ana in 1989. A city attorney, she received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and her dual law/master of public policy degree from USC.

“I know we have a lot of work ahead of us, whether it’s to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on our community, addressing the homelessness crisis, or dealing with the lack of affordable housing, I know we’ll work together to arrive at positive solutions for all,” Councilmember Phan said.

Councilmember Lopez was born and raised in Santa Ana and attended local public schools. She received her bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach and is a community health worker.

“When I decided to run for office, my desire was rooted in commitment of wanting something better for my neighbors as much as I wanted it for my own family,” Councilmember Lopez said. “I firmly believe that policy is a tool to implement equity on a systemic level.”

Councilmember Hernandez was born and raised in the Artesia Pilar neighborhood, is a product of Santa Ana Unified School District and graduated from Santa Ana High School. He is a community health worker who works with children and previously worked in gang prevention and reentry.

“I understand the excellence that exists within our community, and I plan on helping invest and develop more of it,” Councilmember Hernandez said. “From the rich cultural history, from the black community to the brown community to the API (Asian and Pacific Islander) community that have brought people together, I believe this community is a community that is worth investing in.”

The City Council installation and celebration video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/ZT5NE6x6vPA

Sarmiento won with only a third of the total vote

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Vince Sarmiento is Santa Ana’s new Mayor but he is coming into office with a very thin margin of victory. Sarmiento only got a third of the vote. That is certainly no mandate.

To make matters worse Sarmiento will have to run for reelection in two years. That means he will have to start raising money right away even as he works to bail out the City of Santa Ana, which is in financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s affect on our sales tax revenue; the irresponsible raise doled out to the SAPD, which Sarmiento voted for; and the millions of dollars in pensions and health benefits due to retired Santa Ana workers.

Sarmiento will have to work with a City Council that will not have a clear majority and whose members will include millennials who want to push the city even more to the left. Most of the new City Council Members will quickly find themselves over their heads.

Sarmiento barely won his last two City Council races. In two years he will surely face several candidates as he runs for Mayor again. Sarmiento won this time because he ran to the left while Jose Solorio and Claudia Alvarez split the middle and Ceci Iglesias took the right. Sarmiento won due to a vote split. Will he have such a split in two years?

My guess is that Sarmiento will have tough competition in two years. If he fails to fix the City’s finances he may well be running for reelection as the City goes bankrupt.

Good luck Mayor Sarmiento. You will need it.

Sarmiento caught lying about his support for the 2525 N. Main St. apartment project

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Santa Ana Mayoral Candidate Vince Sarmiento sent out a mailer yesterday that showed quite a bit of nerve. In the mailer Sarmiento said that he was “the only Santa Ana Mayoral candidate working to protect the north Santa Ana neighborhoods.”

That is of course a bold-faced lie. Three of the Mayoral Candidates – Vince Sarmiento, Ceci Iglesias and Jose Solorio, all voted yes, in favor of rezoning and approving the 2525 project.

In fact all of them voted in favor of the project twice: on the first vote reading of the ordinance and again on the second reading. They did so after two years of debate, countless meetings, hundreds of emails, and hundreds of residents coming to council meetings voicing reasoned opposition to this proposed project.

Sarmiento flip-flopped on 2525 only after the was able to gather thousands of petition signatures on a referendum to stop the project. At that point Sarmiento, Iglesis, and David Penaloza all reversed their previous positions and then voted to stop the rezoning. Solorio however “abstained.”

The fact of the matter is that of those running for Mayor the only ones who did not support 2525 are Claudia Alvarez, Mark Lopez and George Collins.

Incidentally we hear that Park Santiago neighborhood leader Dale Helvig, who led the effort against 2525, is going to endorse Alvarez this week. She already had the support of former Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Don Cribb, who lives in the Park Santiago neighborhood.

Santa Ana Nov. 3, 2020 Election Voter Guide

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Cynthia Contreras, Elections, Jose Solorio, Juan Villegas, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The ballots for the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election should be arriving soon, perhaps by Oct. 5. It is time to start thinking about how we are going to vote in what is a historic City Council and Mayoral Election here in Santa Ana.

This is the first time we will be voting for the City Council on a Ward Specific basis. And this is the first time in over 20 years that Mayor Miguel Pulido won’t be on the ballot as he has finally termed out.

Santa Ana City Council

Ward 1 Candidates

Our Ward 1 pick – We really like both Thai Viet Phan and Cynthia Contreras. They are both registered Democrats but Phan leans more to the left while Contreras is more of a moderate. Contreras gets bonus points for being a mom so we’re going with her.

Ward 3 Candidates

Our Ward 3 Pick – Jeffrey Katz is the most impressive Ward 3 candidate, and it’s not close. He is an attorney and a longtime neighborhood leader. Pulido’s machine is backing Mark McLoughlin, but we prefer new leadership on our City Council, not retreaded City Commissioners. Bonus – Katz has spent years working on the local homeless problem. He is the most likely to actually have good ideas on what is perhaps the biggest issue facing our city.

Ward 5 Candidates

Our Ward 5 Pick – Councilman Juan Villegas was one of two City Council Members who voted against the massive SAPD pay raise, but as a longtime member of law enforcement we know he is a crime fighter. He just doesn’t like to waste taxpayer money and we appreciate that. He has our full endorsement. Bonus – Villegas opened Santa Ana’s first Family Justice Center, for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking. He has a big heart and we need to keep him on the City Council!

Mayoral Candidates

Our Pick for Mayor – We have been fans of Ceci Iglesias for years because she always opposes wasting taxpayer money and she stands up against Special Interests. If you prefer to vote for a Democrat we like Jose Solorio. He has an even-keeled temperament and major connections in D.C. and in Sacramento that will help our residents.

SAUSD School Board

We are supporting the three challengers who are running against the teacher-union supported incumbents. The challengers include Cecilia Aguinaga; Judith Carillo and Oscar Reyes. We do not feel that the SAUSD School Board should be run by teacher union puppets.

Legislative Seats

  • 69th Assembly District – We are not fans of the incumbent, Tom Daly, going back to his time as Anaheim Mayor when he was firmly anti-Latino. Unfortunately this year’s Republican candidate, Jon Paul White, is a major Trumper and is also anto-Latino. We cannot support either candidate.
  • 72nd Assembly District – We mightily dislike the Republican candidate, Janet Nguyen. She is corrupt and will only work for the Special Interests, not the residents. We are supporting Diedre Nguyen, the Democratic challenger.
  • 46th Congressional District – We are supporting the incumbent, Lou Correa.

County Seats

  • We are supporting the incumbent in the First District, Supervisor Andrew Do. His opponent, Sergio Contreras, has helped to put the City he serves as a Council Member, Westminster, in dire financial straits and he will likely do the same to the County of Orange. Contreras is far too beholden to the labor unions.

Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees

  • Area 3 – Local businessman Mike Gonzalez has our support. The other challenge, Sal Tinajero, was the main architect of the Santa Ana Measure X Sales Tax increase that resulted in Santa Ana residents paying the highest sales tax in orange County.
  • Area 5 – Former Santa Ana City Councilman Brett Franklin is our pick. Brett is the only candidate for Area 5 who will oppose new taxes and fight the waste of taxpayer money at Santa Ana College and the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

Here are the posts we have written in the past few weeks about the candidates running in the November election:

Statewide Ballot Measures

Prop 14: NO

  • Bonds for Government Subsidized Stem Cell Research 

Allows politicians to borrow $5.5 billion at a cost of $7.8 billion to taxpayers to give away funds to so-called research studies on stem cells.  Previous government funding for this was riddled with mismanagement and waste.   

Prop 15: NO

  • Statewide Property Tax Increase (Caution: Ballot Has Deceptive Title)

Deceptive title on your actual ballot will claim it “Increases funding sources for public schools…” when this is REALLY a massive $12-15 billion tax increase that will destroy jobs.  This measure guts Prop 13 from 1978 (Howard Jarvis’ Initiative) for commercial, retail, industrial, and other properties and also allows state politicians to impose new taxes on home-based businesses.  Prop 15 will increase your cost-of-living at a time when working families are already struggling to survive. Worse, if this flawed and costly tax hike measure passes, expect a companion measure in next election to repeal Prop 13 from 1978 and increase property taxes on homeowners.  For more information and to join the fight against Prop 15, go to www.StopPropertyTaxHikes.org

Prop 16: NO

  • Authorizes Discrimination on the Basis of Race in Government Decisions and Hiring (Caution: Ballot Has Deceptive Title)

Deceptive title on your actual ballot will claim it “Allows Diversity as a Factor in Public Employment…” when this would reverse a voter-approved Constitutional Amendment from the 1990s that banned any discrimination on the basis of race in any government decision. If this measure passes, race-based preferences such as quotas and affirmative action would be allowed and merit-based criteria will be disregarded.  Prop 16 fans the flames of racial division and is a step back in the fight for equal protection under the law. 

Prop 17: NO

  • Gives Parolees the Right to Vote 

Biased title on your actual ballot will claim it “Restores right to vote after completing prison term” but fails to note that parolees have NOT yet completed their sentence for their crimes and parole is still considered part of the sentence. Prop 17 would restore early voting rights to violent criminals and is offensive to crime victims. If you break our laws, why should you have a vote in setting our laws?  Under existing law, voting rights can be restored once an individual completes their full sentence, including parole, so Prop 17 is not needed.   

Prop 18: NO

  • Gives 17-Year-Olds the Right to Vote  

For a cost of over $1 million per election cycle, 17-year-olds would be mailed ballots to allow them to vote before they reach legal age.  State law prohibits 17-year-olds from drinking, smoking, and even tanning because science suggests they aren’t old enough to make sound decisions yet. Voting should be no different. Prop 18 is irresponsible and shows that the politicians who placed this misguided measure on the ballot are the true juveniles here.  

Prop 19: NO

  • Increases Property Taxes

Prop 19 is a tax increase disguised as a tax relief measure.  Only one part of Prop 19 is good – a small provision allowing homeowners who are over 55 or meet other criteria to transfer a low property tax base to another property. However, Prop 19 then revokes property tax protections for many other homeowners and uses firefighting as mere window dressing to con voters into raising taxes. Prop 19 would set a really bad precedent and cost taxpayers too much. 

Prop 20: YES

Support the Police and Hold Criminals Accountable  (Caution: Ballot Has Deceptive Title)

Deceptive title on your actual ballot will claim it “Restricts Parole for Certain Offenses…” when in fact Prop 20 would merely reverse policies that coddle criminals and allow for early release of dangerous criminals from prison. Prop 20 will restore much-needed enforcement powers to police and prosecutors to hold criminals accountable for looting/repeated shoplifting and other crimes that were considered FELONIES before state politicians watered-down the crimes to simple misdemeanors or less. Prop 20 also expands use of DNA to help catch criminals. For more information OR to request a free “Yes on Prop 20 – Support the Police” lawn sign, go to https://reformcalifornia.org/petitions/support-police/

Prop 21: NO

  • Rent Control

Prop 21 is a disastrous measure that will increase the cost-of-living in California and lead to less housing supply.  Rent control may sound good to some but everywhere rent control has been tried rents have actually skyrocketed higher. Economic studies show that Prop 21’s approach to rent control makes rents rise quicker because property owners will take the maximum allowed increase each year whether or not market conditions justify it just because they know future increases are always capped.  Prop 21 will choke the supply of apartments by providing a disincentive for builders to invest in them. 

Prop 22: YES

  • Allow Uber/Lyft and other App-Based Transportation and Delivery Services to Operate in California(Caution: Ballot Has Deceptive Title)

Deceptive title on your actual ballot will claim it “Exempts App-Based Transportation and Delivery Companies from Providing Employee Benefits…” when Prop 22 actually FAVORS the drivers of these companies by allowing them the freedom to continue to work as independent contractors with a variety of benefits and protections.  Prop 22 is part of the larger fight to repeal the terrible AB 5 law that state politicians imposed this year that has all-but banned the use of independent contractors. 1 million jobs are at stake and are being damaged by AB 5. To join the fight against AB5 and in support of Prop 22, go to www.DefendFreedomToWork.com

Prop 23: NO

  • New Costly Regulations for Kidney Dialysis Clinics

Deceptive title on your actual ballot will claim it “Establishes State Requirements for Kidney Dialysis Clinics” when 1) there are already numerous regulations governing these clinics and 2) Prop 23 would add unnecessary costs and burdens on kidney dialysis clinics in an attempt to force workers into unions to pay dues that then are given to politicians in the form of campaign contributions.  Prop 23 is a sham initiative that is hazardous to public health. 

Prop 24: NO

  • Amends Consumer Privacy Laws

Everyone likes privacy, but Prop 24 is a flawed initiative that creates a $10 million-a-year government bureaucracy that would only be able to be reformed or eliminated by requiring voters to consider yet another ballot measure in the future. This flawed initiative actually reduces privacy in a number of ways and distracts from implementation of a new law that just went into effect to improve privacy in the digital age. Let’s wait to see the results of that existing law first before adding to costly mandates. 

Prop 25: NO

  • Referendum: Should We Ban Cash Bail System for the “Honor System”

State politicians intentionally worded Prop 25 in a confusing way so that people don’t know whether a Yes vote means No and a No vote means Yes or whatever.  To simplify things, vote NO on Prop 25 if you want to block a flawed law that the politicians imposed that would ban bail as a requirement of releasing individuals charged with serious crimes. Liberals want to replace bail with the “honor system” of hoping criminals show back up for their court date. Prop 25 would result in the creation of a new costly bureaucracy where government workers would be hired to “trace” people and ask them to voluntarily come to court hearings.  Prop 25 is a dangerous law that puts crime victims at risk. 

Local Voter Guides

About the Editor: Art Pedroza founded the New Santa Ana Blog in 2009. This year the blog has already racked up over 2.2 million views while its sister Facebook page reaches close to 300,000 people a month. Pedroza has served on several Santa Ana City Commissions, most recently the Parks and Rec Commission, and he currently serves on the O.C. Emergency Medical Services Commission. Pedroza has run for both the Santa Ana City Council and the SAUSD School Board. He has an MBA from Keller Graduate University and he resides with his family in the Park Santiago Neighborhood.

Spotlight on Mayoral candidate Vince Sarmiento

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Alcohol, Crime, Drugs, Elections, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment
Vince Sarmiento and convicted felon Roman Reyna

Santa Ana City Councilman Vince Sarmiento has taken to calling himself Vicente of late but have a look at his listing on the California State Bar Association and you will see his name is Vincent Flavio Sarmiento.

The sudden name change is part of Sarmiento’s attempt to refashion his image, which has included shifting hard to the left and embracing the Berniecrats – the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party.

Sarmiento has been on the Santa Ana City Council for 13 years, dating back to 2007. It is fair to ask what exactly Sarmiento has accomplished in Ward One during those many years on the City Council? The City of Santa Ana is awash with homeless drug users and gangs continue to engage in drive by shootings and worse.

You also must ask how much of that crime is Sarmiento himself responsible for? While his family has tried to hide their ownership of various seedy bars in town, that is how Sarmiento has accrued his wealth. The bars include:

Let’s take a look at the crime that happened around El Carnaval Nightclub this year from April to May:

The criminal incidents around El Carnaval included numerous assaults, a DUI, disturbing the peace, fights and burglaries. The DUI happened right at El Carnaval. All that took place in the Artesia Pilar Neighborhood.

Here is the crime that took place around El Festival, also form April to May:

Same deal – numerous disturbing the peace incidents, drug violations, vandalism, theft, and a vehicle theft too.

Here is one more – crime around El Nuevo Corral Bar from April to May:

Same deal – numerous disturbing the peace incidents, robberies, burglaries, thefts and a weapons charge.

Look up any of these bars on crimemapping.com and all you will find is crime, crime and more crime, courtesy of the Sarmiento family!

No wonder Sarmiento has positioned himself against the Santa Ana police, but don’t forget that when push came to shove he voted for the huge pay increase for those police.

Remember that Sarmiento is trying to position himself as the champion of the poor and the immigrants. But what does all that alcohol do to these folks?

According to a study in 2014:

  • 43 percent of first-generation immigrants struggled with alcohol abuse
  • 86 percent of second-generation immigrants reported alcohol abuse

Alcohol abuses can also escalate or fuel an already violent person – increasing domestic violence in particular, in a city awash with such crimes.

As if all that was not bad enough Sarmiento is now making money by peddling himself as a marijuana attorney, to cities throughout Southern California.

What can marijuana use do to undocumented immigrants? If a non-citizen admits to an immigration official that he or she has ever possessed marijuana, the person can face very serious immigration problems – if he or she applies for a green card, applies for U.S. citizenship, travels outside the United States, or ICE just questions them on the street. This is true even if the person never was convicted of a crime, just used marijuana at home, and it was permitted under state law.

Marijuana also has a lot of negative health effects. And homicides have generally increased in pro-marijuana jurisdictions. In Denver, the homicide rate has steadily climbed from 36 in 2013 to a peak of 67 in 2018. Seattle had 19 homicides in 2013, then the rate increased every year except 2016, reaching a peak in 2018 of 31 cases. Even the District of Columbia has experienced a resurgence of violence — reaching 160 homicides in 2018 after seeing a historically low 116 homicide cases in 2017. Though too early in the year to make a meaningful projection, homicides spiked more than 100 percent in January 2019, as compared with January 2018.

To summarize, Sarmiento has been on the City Council since 2007 and has done nothing to improve his ward or our city. His family peddles massive quantities of alcohol to our poorest residents, increasing crime in our city. And now Sarmiento is out there pushing for more marijuana sales in Southern California, affecting public health and driving an increase in violent crime as well.

Don’t be fooled by Sarmiento’s massaged image. This is not the man we should be electing as our next Mayor of Santa Ana.

Spotlight on the 2020 Santa Ana Mayoral candidates

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Elections, George Collins, Jose Solorio, Mark I. Lopez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

There is no question that Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Claudia Alvarez has the experience be able to handle the Santa Ana Mayor’s job. The question however is whether her temperament will get in the way.

Nine years have passed since Alvarez has to apologize after she compared downtown property owner Irving Chase, who is Jewish, to Adolf Hitler. Alvarez, at the time, was upset about special property tax that funds that Downtown Inc. — the organization that promotes, secures and cleans up the downtown core, were charging to local merchants. She had a point about that tax – we opposed it as well. But Alvarez could have found a way to voice her displeasure with that tax without dredging up Hitler (as seen in the video below at 15 minutes and 12 seconds). But time and again this is the sort of behaviour we have come to expect from her.

Alvarez may have ended up this crusty because she played the role of attack dog for so many years as part of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s cabal. Pulido, famously, does not like confrontation. So he often relied on Alvarez to be the bad cop. And she appeared to relish that role. But bad cops don’t make good Mayors.

Santa Ana needs a Mayor who has thick skin and who can represent all of us. Alvarez? She walked out on a candidate’s forum at the local NAACP when she got a few boos.

Here is Alvarez cutting off residents who are trying to speak up at a City Council meeting.

Fortunately we have quite a few other choices in this year’s Santa Ana Mayor’s race. Let’s look at the rest of the candidates.

Several of my best sources shared with me this week that a poll had been conducted, allegedly by the Santa Ana Police Officers’ Association, regarding the Santa Ana Mayoral candidates. The aforementioned Alvarez came in second in that poll. Guess who came in first? If you guessed former Santa Ana City Councilwoman Ceci Iglesias you are correct!

Disregard Iglesias at your own peril. While the Santa Ana Police Officers Association was able to recall her a few months ago that was a low voter turnout Special Election. The November election will be a Presidential election – and voter turnout will be high, even here in Santa Ana. That favors Iglesias, who has a large base of support in our city, primarily in the faith community.

Iglesias is also one of the only immigrants running for office in Santa Ana this year. And she is the only fiscal conservative on the mayoral ballot who has actually had significant electoral experience, as a former SAUSD Trustee and Santa Ana City Council Member.

Iglesias also enjoys broad support from local progressives who appreciate that she did not vote to give the Santa Ana police officers a huge raise – when our city is in such financial straits.

There are also two current Santa Ana City Councilmen running for Mayor. And they actually have a significant political connection.

When Jose Solorio was elected to the California State Assembly he had to vacate his seat on the Santa Ana City Council, back in 2006. Guess who was appointed to fill out his term? It was Vince Sarmiento – and now they are both on the City Council together and are both running for Santa Ana Mayor.

Solorio has had a lot more political success than Sarmiento. Solorio served several years in the State Assembly before he was ultimately termed out. He tried to take out then State Senator Janet Nguyen in 2014 but failed. Solorio was however able to get elected to the City Council again in 2016, in Ward 3.

Mayor Pulido has always had major connections in Sacramento and in D.C. Of all the mayoral candidates that are vying to replace him, Solorio comes closest to having similar contacts. In fact I believe Solorio may have an even higher profile in the national Democratic Party than Pulido.

Solorio remains a business-friendly moderate. Those are exactly the sort of qualities we need in a new Mayor. Remember that the Santa Ana Mayor is a part-time position – and the Mayor cannot really accomplish anything without garnering at least four votes from the City Council Members. Solorio is smooth enough to be able to do that.

Vince Sarmiento and Bernie Sanders, hanging out in front of a Boy’s restroom

Sarmiento, on the other hand, started out as a moderate back when he was first appointed to the City Council. Today he is a Berniecrat, having tied himself to the Socialist former Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Roman Reyna promotes Vince Sarmiento for Mayor

Sarmiento is also tied to former Santa Ana City Councilman Roman Reyna, who is now a convicted felon after botching his last campaign and being forced off the City Council. Reyna has been backing Sarmiento along with a few of the City Council candidates (Tony Adame and Johnathan Hernandez).

It is amazing that Sarmiento is running for Mayor given how close his last two City Council elections were. In 2016 Sarmiento garnered 36,486 while his opponent, the completely unknown Jessica Cha, ended up with 29,183 votes. In 2012, Sarmiento ended up with 27,289 and while his opponent, the thoroughly unknown Estela Amezcua, ended up with 25,230 votes.

Sarmiento barely beat two unknown opponents in 2012 and in 2016 and now he wants to be Mayor? It seems a bit of a stretch.

There are two additional mayoral candidates:

Collins has been active in the city for many years. He often videotapes meetings and makes them available to the public. He is not mounting much of a campaign but I spoke with him recently and he figures he might do well just by getting votes from voters who are not enamoured by the other candidates.

Santa Ana’s convicted felon November City Council election slate

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Crime, Elections, Johnathan Ryan Hernandez, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Tony Adame, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Former Santa Ana City Councilman Roman Reyna pleaded guilty to one felony count of perjury and one misdemeanor count of Elections Code 18201, filing fraudulent nomination papers, as part of a plea agreement in 2019. Reyna was ordered to pay $578,053.16 in restitution which represented the cost of the special election the City of Santa Ana had to hold to replace Reyna on the City Council. Reyna was also banned for life from holding elected office, according to the OCDA.

We truly doubt Reyna has repaid his debt to the Santa Ana taxpayers but he is back with a campaign walk piece touting his own selected slate of candidates for the Santa Ana City Council: Johnathan Hernandez in Ward 5 and Vince Sarmiento for Mayor. Reyna has also set his profile picture on Facebook to promote Ward 1 candidate Tony Adame.

Perhaps Reyna has resolved his sentence? After a one-year progress review, the guilty plea to the felony charge was supposed to be withdrawn and he would then be sentenced on the misdemeanor Elections Code charge if he made progress toward completion of the terms of his probation.

But it is hard to believe that Reyna was able to scrape up over half a million dollars to pay the restitution fee. His Facebook page still says he is employed by the SAUSD. That too seems a stretch. What use would they have for a convicted felon who is not a teacher?

Every culture has their own word for “shameless.” In Spanish we say “desvergonzado.” In Yiddish they say one has a lot of “chutzpah” or is “besbushenik.” In Vietnamese they say “không biết xấu hổ.” Whatever the phrase you prefer you can apply it with gusto to Reyna, who has apparently learned nothing from his political travails.

The City Clerk has announced the Santa Ana City Council and Mayoral candidates

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Elections, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The Santa Ana City Clerk has closed the 2020 General Election candidate filing and so we now know who will be running for the City Council and for Mayor this November.

Ward 3 however was extended until August 12 so we are posting the candidates that we know pulled papers and will update this post once they are finalized.

Ward One

Ward Three

Ward Five

Mayor

Find out what Santa Ana is doing about illegal fireworks at a virtual meeting tonight

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Fires, Neighborhood Associations, SAPD, Vince Sarmiento, Water Leave a comment

Water, Fireworks Topics at Communication Linkage Forum on June 25

The Board of the Santa Ana Communication Linkage Forum (Com-Link) invites you to participate at their next Virtual General Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2020, at 7 p.m.

The main presentation will be given by City of Santa Ana Councilmember and Orange County Water District (OCWD) President Vicente Sarmiento regarding the collaboration between the OCWD and Santa Ana to provide high-quality, reliable water and updates regarding the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). City Public Works Executive Director Nabil Saba will also join the presentation.

Brief updates will be shared at the beginning of the meeting regarding:

1) City’s Fireworks enforcement plan by Santa Ana Police Commander Weber.

2) Public Input Opportunity on Proposed City Charter Changes.

Refer to instructions below to participate in the virtual meeting:

Option 1:
Using your desktop, laptop computer, smartphone, or tablet device: go to www.santa-ana.org/neighborhood-initiatives/com-link and click on the registration link.

The registration will ask you to fill in the following information: your first name, last name and an email address. You will automatically be registered to participate and will be provided with a hyperlink to join the webinar for the Thursday, June 25, 7 p.m. Com-Link Virtual Meeting.

Option 2:
From your landline, please call to listen to the presentation on your phone by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-309-2071 and entering Audio Access Code: 870-177-967.

You will have an opportunity to enter your questions on the “questions” tab feature of the webinar page. Email your questions to the City’s Neighborhood Initiatives Team email neighborhoodinitiatives@santa-ana.org.

If you encounter any technical issues trying to join the webinar from your computer or phone, please call the City’s Neighborhood Initiatives Office line at (714) 667-2260 before or during the meeting.

Spanish interpretation for this meeting will be available by phone by dialing toll-free number (669) 900-9128 and entering Meeting ID: 542-334-173.

Agua, Fuegos Artificiales son Temas del Foro Com-Link el 25 de Junio

La Mesa Directiva del Foro de Enlace Comunicativo (Com-Link) de Santa Ana le invita a participar en la próxima reunión general virtual, programada para el jueves, 25 de junio, 2020 a las 7 p.m.

La presentación principal será realizada por el Concejal de la Ciudad de Santa Ana y Presidente del Distrito de Agua del Condado de Orange (OCWD) Vicente Sarmiento con respecto a la colaboración entre el OCWD y Santa Ana para proporcionar agua confiable y de alta calidad y actualizaciones sobre el Sistema de Reposición de Agua Subterránea (GWRS). El Director Ejecutivo de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad, Nabil Saba, también se unirá a la presentación.

Se compartirán breves actualizaciones al comienzo de la reunión con respecto a:

1) El plan de la Ciudad para la aplicación policial a los fuegos artificiales por el Comandante Weber del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD).

2) La oportunidad para sugerencias del público sobre los cambios propuestos de la Carta Municipal (leyes locales de la Ciudad).

Consulte las instrucciones a continuación para participar en la reunión virtual:

Opción 1:
Con su computadora de escritorio / computadora portátil / teléfono celular / su tableta, visite www.santa-ana.org/neighborhood-initiatives/com-link y seleccione el enlace de registración.

El registro le pedirá que llene la siguiente información: su nombre, apellido y su correo electrónico. Se registrará automáticamente para participar y se le proporcionará un hipervínculo para unirse al seminario web de la reunión virtual de Com-Link el jueves 25 de junio a las 7 p.m.

Opción 2:
Desde su teléfono fijo, llame para escuchar la presentación de su teléfono. Marque el número gratuito 1-877-309-2071 e ingrese el código de acceso: 870-177-967.

Durante la reunión, usted tendrá la oportunidad de escribir sus preguntas en la sección de “preguntas” ubicado en la página del seminario web. Para enviar sus preguntas por correo electrónico al Equipo de Iniciativas de Vecindarios de la Ciudad envíe un correo electrónico a neighborhoodinitiatives@santa-ana.org.

Si encuentra algún problema técnico al intentar unirse al seminario web en su computadora o teléfono, llame a la línea de la Oficina de Iniciativas de Vecindarios de la Ciudad al (714) 667-2260 antes o durante la reunión.

Interpretación en español estará disponible por teléfono para esta reunión. Marque el número gratuito (669) 900-9128 e ingrese el número de la reunión: 542-334-173.

Learn about water, fireworks and charter changes at the next virtual Com Link meeting on June 25

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

The Board of the Santa Ana Communication Linkage Forum (Com-Link) invites you to participate at their next Virtual General Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Main Presentation will be given by City of Santa Ana Councilmember and Orange County Water District (OCWD) President Vicente Sarmiento regarding the collaboration between the OCWD and Santa Ana to provide high-quality, reliable water and updates regarding the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). City Public Works Executive Director Nabil Saba will also join the presentation. For more information regarding OCWD, please visit https://www.ocwd.com/.

Brief updates will be shared at the beginning of the meeting regarding: 1) City’s Fireworks enforcement plan by SAPD Commander Weber and 2) Public Input Opportunity on Proposed City Charter Changes by Daniel Soto of the City Manager’s Office. For background regarding the City’s Charter and to provide your suggestions, please tap or click here to view the Charter review presentation or visit https://www.santa-ana.org/cm/city-charter-update for more information.

Refer to Instructions below to participate in the virtual meeting:

Option 1) Using your desktop / laptop computer / smartphone/ or tablet device, please register for the meeting by clicking on https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9006667498800501259. The registration will ask you to fill in the following information: your first name, last name, and an email address. You will automatically be registered to participate and will be provided with a hyperlink to join the webinar for the Thursday, June 25th 7 p.m. Com-Link Virtual Meeting.

Option 2) From your landline, please call to listen to the presentation on your phone by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-309-2071 and entering Audio Access Code: 870-177-967.

You will have an opportunity to enter your questions on the “questions” tab feature of the webinar page, however, we encourage you to submit your questions regarding the main presentation in advance, if possible, by no later than 7pm on Monday, June 22nd. Please tap or click here to email your questions to the City’s Neighborhood Initiatives Team or email neighborhoodinitiatives@santa-ana.org.

If you encounter any technical issues trying to join the webinar from your computer or phone, please call the City’s Neighborhood Initiatives Office line at (714) 667-2260 before or during the meeting.

Spanish interpretation for this meeting will be available by phone by dialing toll-free number (669) 900-9128 and entering Meeting ID: 542-334-173.

For more information regarding Santa Ana’s Com-Link organization, please visit: https://www.santa-ana.org/neighborhood-initiatives/com-link.

Recordatorio acerca de la Reunión General Virtual del Foro de Enlace Comunicativo de Santa Ana (Com-Link) programada para el Jueves, 25 de junio a las 7 p.m.

La Mesa Directiva del Foro de Enlace Comunicativo (Com-Link) de Santa Ana le invita a participar en la próxima reunión general virtual, programada para el jueves, 25 de junio, 2020 a las 7:00 p.m.

La presentación principal será realizada por el Concejal de la Ciudad de Santa Ana y Presidente del Distrito de Agua del Condado de Orange (OCWD) Vicente Sarmiento con respecto a la colaboración entre el OCWD y Santa Ana para proporcionar agua confiable y de alta calidad y actualizaciones sobre el Sistema de Reposición de Agua Subterránea (GWRS). El Director Ejecutivo de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad, Nabil Saba, también se unirá a la presentación. Para obtener más información sobre OCWD, visite https://www.ocwd.com/.

Se compartirán breves actualizaciones al comienzo de la reunión con respecto a: 1) El plan de la Ciudad para la aplicación policial a los fuegos artificiales por el Comandante Weber del Departamento de Policía de Santa Ana (SAPD) y 2) La oportunidad para sugerencias del público sobre los cambios propuestos de la Carta Municipal (leyes locales de la Ciudad) por Daniel Soto de la Oficina de la Administradora de la Ciudad. Para conocer más de la Carta Municipal y para proporcionar sus sugerencias, toque o haga clic aquí para ver la presentación de la revisión de la Carta o visite https://www.santa-ana.org/cm/city-charter-update para obtener más información.

Consulte las instrucciones a continuación para participar en la reunión virtual:

Opción 1) Con su computadora de escritorio / computadora portátil / teléfono celular / o su tableta, primero regístrese para la reunión haciendo clic en:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9006667498800501259. El registro le pedirá que llene la siguiente información: su nombre, apellido y su correo electrónico. Se registrará automáticamente para participar y se le proporcionará un hipervínculo para unirse al seminario web de la reunión virtual de Com-Link el jueves 25 de junio a las 7 p.m.

Opción 2) Desde su teléfono fijo, llame para escuchar la presentación de su teléfono. Marque el número gratuito 1-877-309-2071 e ingrese el código de acceso: 870-177-967.

Durante la reunión, usted tendrá la oportunidad de escribir sus preguntas en la sección de “preguntas” ubicado en la página del seminario web. Sin embargo, le recomendamos que envíe sus preguntas con respecto a la presentación principal con anticipación, si es posible, antes de las 7pm del lunes 22 de junio. Toque o haga clic aquí para enviar sus preguntas por correo electrónico al Equipo de Iniciativas de Vecindarios de la Ciudad o envíe un correo electrónico a neighborhoodinitiatives@santa-ana.org.

Si encuentra algún problema técnico al intentar unirse al seminario web en su computadora o teléfono, llame a la línea de la Oficina de Iniciativas de Vecindarios de la Ciudad al (714) 667-2260 antes o durante la reunión.

Interpretación en español estará disponible por teléfono para esta reunión. Marque el número gratuito (669) 900-9128 e ingrese el número de la reunión: 542-334-173.

Para más información sobre Santa Ana Com-Link, visite la página https://www.santa-ana.org/neighborhood-initiatives/com-link.

A preview of this November’s Santa Ana Mayoral election

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Benjamin Vazquez, Cecilia Iglesias, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Elections, Jose Solorio, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

The recently concluded Santa Ana Recall Election was a grueling experience but it won’t be long before we start getting bombarded by mail yet again from the candidates for the Santa Ana Mayor’s race. This November we will be asked to choose the successor to longtime Mayor Miguel Pulido, who is finally going ot term out after over 20 years in office.

The City of Santa Ana has not yet posted the candidates who are running for Mayor, but here is a rundown of the candidates I know are running and those who might be considering running:

  • Jose Solorio, Santa Ana City Council Member and former State Assemblyman
  • Cecilia Iglesias, former SAUSD Trustee and recently recalled Santa Ana City Council Member (the Recall results have not been certified yet but it is pretty much over a this point)
  • Claudia Alvarez, Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee, former Santa Ana City Council Member and a prosecutor at the O.C. District Attorney
  • Vince Sarmiento, Santa Ana City Council Member
  • Benjamin Vazquez, SAUSD teacher and a past failed Santa Ana Mayoral candidate
  • Sal Tinajero – Former Santa Ana City Council Member and former SAUSD Trustee, and currently a debate coach and teacher at the SAUSD

All of the above candidates are registered Democrats except for Iglesias. Folks always count her out but Iglesias has a history of winning tough races. She may have been recalled from the City Council this month but she could win a mayor’s race where all the other candidates are talking from the same liberal playbook.

Solorio is expected to have the biggest campaign warchest. He was a champion fundraiser for the Democratic Party when he was in Sacramento and today he works at a law firm doing essentially lobbying. He has major connections both in Orange County and in Sacramento. But the NIMBY’s hate him and he lost his last big race, when he challenged then State Senator Janet Nguyen a few years ago.

Alvarez has always had mayoral ambitions. But she she stepped in it big time a few years ago when she compared a DTSA landlord to Hitler only to find out he was the descendant of Holocaust survivors. She has a sweet smile but you always have to worry about the knife she is holding behind her back.

Sarmiento has steadily drifted to the left over the years but he has a history of turning on his friends. Pulido helped him to get onto the City Council years ago and sure enough Sarmiento turned on him. Recently Sarmiento flipped on his longtime supporter, Ryan Ogulnick, as Sarmiento came out against the 2525 N. Main St. apartment project that he had previously supported. Sarmiento has been so squishy on the issues over the years that he has failed to build much of a voter base.

Tinajero has not yet announced that he is running but he barely lost to Pulido last time around so the thought of running again must surely be on his mind. The amiable Tinajero is a master at working with the national media and he recently was able to get the Santa Ana High School Valedictorian onto a national T.V. program honoring 2020 graduates. And while Sarmiento allied with Bernie Sanders, Tinajero has been connected with both Barack Obama and Joe Biden for years. He would be a compelling candidate if he jumps in again.

The rabble-rousing Vazquez, like Sarmiento, is a Berniecrat. His biggest beef is with the police. He is, like Tinajero, a local public school teacher, but he is very far left. He has run for Mayor before and I can certainly see him doing so again as none of the others on the ballot will be socialist enough for his taste.

There may be other candidates emerging in a few months. None of the candidates noted above appeals much to the NIMBYs or the Asian voters. One guy who does is current Santa Ana Council Member Phil Bacerra but he tells me he has only been on the Council for a year and he doesn’t think it is his place to run for Mayor yet. But I could see him changing his mind if enough people ask him to jump into the race.

Who will you vote for in November for Santa Ana Mayor?

Sarmiento appoints the first undocumented immigrant to a Santa Ana City Committee

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, immigration, Santa Ana, Taxes 12 Comments

SANTA ANA, CA — Carlos Perea is a Santanero at heart. He arrived in the city at age 14 from Mexico to join his family, graduated from nearby Los Amigos High School and Santa Ana College, and went on to become an immigration advocate who led local efforts to create several immigrant aid programs.

Now Mr. Perea, 28, is the first Santa Ana resident who is undocumented to serve on a citywide board, commission or committee. He also is believed to be the first undocumented person to serve in such a capacity among all 34 cities in Orange County.

On Feb. 18, 2020, at the recommendation of Councilmember Vicente Sarmiento, the Santa Ana City Council appointed Mr. Perea to the Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee, a resident-led group that advises the City Council on how revenues and expenditures from the recently approved sales tax measure are utilized.

“The City of Santa Ana is a leader in celebrating and supporting immigrants, which helps keep our community safe, inclusive and economically vibrant,” said Councilmember Sarmiento. “I appreciate Carlos’s courage in being an active member of his community and encouraging others to do the same.”

The Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee was established as part of a sales tax measure, Measure X, which was approved by Santa Ana voters on Nov. 6, 2018. Measure X authorized a 1.5 percent sales tax for 10 years, through 2029, and reducing that sales tax to 1 percent 10 years thereafter, through 2039. The revenues generated from the new sales tax supports the City’s General Fund, which funds emergency 9-1-1 response, fire and police services, homelessness, streets repair, youth and senior services, and more.

In addition to requiring annual audits, the ballot measure also mandated a citizen oversight committee. When the qualifications to serve on the committee were set, the City Council required that a committee member be a resident — instead of a registered voter — of Santa Ana. To be a registered voter, one must be a U.S. citizen. If this were a requirement, undocumented persons would not be allowed to serve on this committee.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee to help ensure that sale tax revenues are spent responsibly and in the best interest of all Santa Ana residents,” Mr. Perea said. “I’m also proud to be part of a community that empowers all of its residents, regardless of their immigration status, to be civically engaged. With easy policy changes, such as eliminating citizenship requirements to serve on the Measure X Citizen Oversight Committee, Santa Ana continues to lead in uplifting
immigrant rights in Orange County by removing barriers to participation in their local government.”

Mr. Perea, who graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, led advocacy and organizing efforts that resulted in the creation of the Santa Ana Sanctuary Ordinance and Santa Ana Universal Representation Program. In 2017, Carlos helped found the Orange County Justice Fund, which advocates for effective legal representation and due process for immigrants in detention and deportation.

The City of Santa Ana facilitates 11 boards, commissions and committees that serve in an advisory role to the City Council. For more information, visit https://www.santa-ana.org/cc/appointed-boards-and-commission.