The Santa Ana Planning Commission is considering new rules for Downtown Santa Ana bars – and several of the more controversial bar owners and other Downtown Santa Ana gadflyes showed up at this evening’s meeting to speak up in support of a proposed expansion sought by Proof Bar.
You may recall that Proof owner Joey Mendes got ripped by the OC Weekly a few months ago when he refused to allow a member of a band that was set to play at his bar to enter his establishment, because the poor guy was using a Matricular Consular card as I.D. Mendes was there tonight as well.
I have no idea why Tish Leon, who was ousted from the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission, was there tonight. Nor for that matter do I understand why the owners of Proof apparently have retained Phil Bacerra to advocate for their expansion. His Linkedin page says he is a “problem solver.” Bacerra was dismissed by Mayor Miguel Pulido from an OCTA Commission, a few months before Leon got the boot. Neither Bacerra nor Leon have any pull whatsoever with our City Council majority.
Bacerra, incidentally, is advocating on his blog for an Entertainment Commission – such as the one in the City of San Francisco. This Commission would issue and deny permits in an “Entertainment” area. Isn’t that what our Planning Commission already does? Lame. The last thing we need is to empanel a bunch of barflys on yet another city commission!
One of the owners of Chapter One: the Modern Local Restaurant (perhaps the most pretentious business name in Santa Ana) was there too – you may recall Tim O’Connor (one of their owners) went off on Downtown quinceanera shops a few weeks ago. He told the Santa Ana City Council that “You can’t have the same shop, the same stores, the same exact same quinceanera shop across from the exact same quinceañera shop…exact same thing over and over again and expect to be successful. Times have changed. Fourth Street should change with those times,” according to the OC Weekly.
Planning Commissioner Sean Mill reminded those in attendance about what he said by telling the folks at the Planning Commission meeting that perhaps we don’t need bar after bar in to open up in our Downtown area.
The Santa Ana Police Department doesn’t want any more bars in Downtown Santa Ana either…
Mill told me later that he found it ironic that many of the same folks who drummed the Latino-owned bars out of our Downtown area years ago are now trying to open more bars – but of course they are marketing to a different crowd. Mill also wondered why families are being forgotten in the mad rush to open more bars in the area.
Planning Commissioner Patrick Yrarrazaval, who is the Principal at Valley High School, opined that the Downtown area is a better place to open bars than, for example, opening one across from Lathrop. Oops. He apparently doesn’t consider the area charter schools to be public schools, even though they are. Those schools include the Orange County High School for the Arts, the Edward B. Cole Sr. Academy, and the El Sol Science & Arts Academy of Santa Ana, plus the Orange County Educational Arts Academy (OCEAA).
Do we really need MORE bars in Downtown Santa Ana? Really? Santa Ana already has issued more liquor licenses than any other city in Orange County. It’s not close. I think we could use some more family restaurants. Most of us cannot afford to eat at the newer restaurants. A Chuck E. Cheese would be nice – Santa Ana is the largest city in Orange County without one.
The Proof guys have a lot of nerve asking for an expansion after one of their patrons was shot at 2 am in a nearby parking structure, last year. The problem with Proof and the other bars is that they don’t serve food. So their patrons get stone cold drunk. I wonder how many of these drunks get away with driving under the influence, since the SAPD DUI checkpoints are usually set up in quiet neighborhoods with high numbers of immigrants? Yes, once in awhile they set one up near Original Mike’s, but they should have motorcycle officers waiting outside Proof every night. It would be easy pickings.
Nothing was settled tonight, but you can expect a hell of a fight as the Planning Commission weighs the new ruled. I am pretty sure that the City Council majority won’t likely be swayed by the folks who were at tonight’s Planning Commission meeting. Did I mention that Irv and Ryan Chase were there – along with their promoter, Archer Altstaetter? Archer went off on what he intimated are antiquated city rules – but this is the guy who opened his new costume store without a business license! What does he care about rules when he ignores them anyway?
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"Prove it"
Your comments on this and other blogs are all the proof I need. They speak for themselves.
"Your comments on this and other blogs are all the proof I need. They speak for themselves"...... Hmmmmm
Opinions are not proof!
Try again moron mongoloid!
Admin, If I would be a tourist and arrive to a Santa Ana, in what Hotel should I stay and where should I go to entertain myself after 22:00?
Which street should I take with my wife for a midnight walk?
Where should I take here to see City overview?
Where is some romantic spot in Santa Ana?
Maybe you should ask planing commissioner where he is planing to put them.
First off, I would like to thank you for making the semi-flattering picture of my establishment the first static picture of this post. I was a little disappointed to be included under an advertisement of a Bail Bond outfit, but just like myself, I guess you have to make your money somehow.
A few questions:
You wrote: “Really? Santa Ana already has issued more liquor licenses than any other city in Orange County.”
I ask: Doesn’t that sound standard as is contains the most bodies?
You wrote: “The Proof guys have a lot of nerve asking for an expansion after one of their patrons was shot at 2am in a nearby parking structure, last year.”
I ask: “How did you concur that the deceased was a patron? Are you relating his patronage with ANY of the downtown businesses as a potential cause for his murder? How long after a nearby tragedy is an acceptable time for a small business owner to wait to pursue their dreams?”
A request:
Can you please update the map of DUI checkpoints because, thanks to your attention, I think your old information has been trending.
Thank you SAPD for all of your incredible effort, sacrifice, and hard work. Those two guys in that room last night have spent numerous thankless hours helping to make our town safe.
In defense: I was ripped by the OC Weekly for obeying the law and protecting my business, our community, and our city, by operating responsibly. Drink responsibly. Operate even more responsibly. Ask anybody.
To answer your question:
Yes. We need more bars in DTSA. This is coming from the one guy you would think would be happy with less competition. We have FAR fewer drinking establishments for our size than surrounding downtowns. If we want to attract people from everywhere then we must compete on a level playing field and not hold ourselves at disadvantage because of a known correlation between alcohol and social problems. Prohibition failed. In fact we must use that knowledge to be more responsible and strategic in our efforts to grow. Alternately, if we want to stagnate and stall natural growth so that fewer cross our borders to spend their money, than I guess that’s another future possibility too. Anaheim and Costa Mesa have always been (and already seem poised to be) more than happy to pick up our business where we are unable to achieve. Irvine will probably continue to pass.
Furthermore, to echo a sentiment published yesterday in a local news publication, The Orange County Register, was this article: http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/11/13/taxes-on-wine-beer-booze-help-fuel-state/130783/ that shows that drinking brings much money into California. It seems that someone understands the correlation between the problems to which alcohol contributes and the steps that need to be taken to mitigate the adverse outcomes. When you generate more money, you tend to have cleaner streets. When you generate less money you seem to have more vacancies and deterioration.
I agree with the admin that we need more affordable family full service restaurants, but we also need a few more places to enjoy an adult beverage as well. I have certainly grow sick of drinking at Proof. Remember, curfew starts at 10pm and we still want to generate income in this city past then.
Lastly, If you were the guy at the meeting shooting pictures of me, thanks for not including them, as I’m doing a no-shave-November; my bald is really showing and my neck hairs and beard are giving me a wolf-man look. Plus nobody wants to see a dude in a rad t-shirt in a room full of suits.
P.S. I agree with Mateo. I think I like Sean Mill too. Even though he seems skeptical about new booze places and always pairs it with an open fear of what happened “back then” in the way long ago, he seems to well understand the many pitfalls of alcohol use and speaks from a place of confidence. Plus his deep baritone lulls my ears into a comforting haze that makes them feel like they're wrapped in a warm vocal blanket.
-cheers
Joey,
Phil Bacerra? Really? He will hinder, not help, you in your quest.
Joey,
"I agree with the admin that we need more affordable family full service restaurants, "
Organize the Artist Village Restaurant Association to support and advocate for your neighbors, those who primarily service the local Hispanic market, to have the ability/opportunity at a full bar permit. Do not support the exclusion of one market over the other. If the market does not support the business it will fail. Give the businessman the opportunity to succeed or fail equally.
I, you and others I am sure would like to enjoy a Margarita with our Enchilada or Mole Poblano plate.
"Give the businessman the opportunity to succeed or fail equally"....... Hmmmmm
Smart white Europeans do not fail.
Stanley Fiala says:
November 15, 2011 at 4:36 pm
“Give the businessman the opportunity to succeed or fail equally”……. Hmmmmm
Smart white Europeans do not fail. Hmmmmmmm
The Banking System, the Mortgae Industry, Ford Motor Co, the Real State Industry and all those other companies and industries that the USA public recently economically bail out must all be Mexican owned then....hah Fiala.
The restaurant that moved out of the Playground site had an ABC license, and they failed. They couldn't even pay full rent for months. Is that the fault of the property owners too? The old Handlebar Saloon is being rehabbed by a new property owner, Al Cordero, who wants a first class restaurant and gallery.
And yeah....Phil Bacerra??? No help whatsoever.