Councilman Benavides should not be honored by Santa Ana’s artists

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• You know he wasn't going to get Husband/Father of the year!

• Yep, he is a creepy dude......He loiters around the downtown area on weekends nights alone.....Very suspicious guy.

• There goes Omar creating false Arguments again. Suggesting that people judge Santora galleries by Gypsy Den attendance and Gypsy Den by Santora Arts Organization competence. What?
  It is a Village Omar. An "Artist Village!" People go to the village and enjoy the atmosphere there whether or not they even know what the Santora building is or whether or not they like or do not like the Gypsy Den food anymore.
  Creative Options for the Village!
  Not fabricated competition and exploitation of the political dissonance.
  But then again The Dissonance creates a nice backdrop for more aesthetic creative order. HA!

  • Way to equivocate, or maybe you just plain misinterpreted.

    "People go to the village and enjoy the atmosphere there whether or not they even know what the Santora building is or whether or not they like or do not like the Gypsy Den food anymore." Exactly. You just made my point. Read it back aloud a few times and let it sink in...

    And what of the Santora artists? What? There's less and less of them now? For every former painter there's a law office or other type of business?

    You mean, independent artists aren't immune to gentrification?

    What? Artists were used to "beautify" and "improve" the area, and push real estate rates up??

    And you're one of the longest lasting, unknowingly or willfully contributing to the continued "improvement" of the Santora until your lease is pulled along with the rug from under you.

    What's that? You won't have that problem because you come from money? Speaking of false arguments, we have one who poses as some type of struggler when he is closer to the 1% than most other real Santa Ana artists.

• Maybe he hangs Solo because the Chicas take up too much space and eat holes in the wallet. Kick em too the curb David.

• The Santora issue has everything to do with whatever artists are left trying to protect their interests and prolong their stay in there. A wise move, in my opinion, is for Santora artists to start looking at other areas of the downtown to do art. Frankly, other areas of the downtown need art. Look at other artists that have moved out of the Santora and have regrouped and re-sprouted in other parts of the downtown.

• It's not like the United Artists Of Santa Ana is the League Of Women Voters. I don't think this amounts to much other than a weak political candidate trying to list accomplishments.

  There are many questions surrounding his Kidsworks accomplishments, and the tight knit relationship between that organization and Michele's "OC Healthcare Alliance" and one has to wonder are all these "commissions and boards and awards just away for them to avoid admitting they have done little to move the city forward.

  One funny note, if you look at the Newsong, news releases, predating PDB's failed mayoral run, you'll see it littered with BUZZ WORDS like "Vibrant", A term repeatedly used by Benavides. It's like they are one trick ponies.

  And what's up with the whole Jack LaLanne thing or PayanX ? another reformed wh0re from Irvine, posting about Santa Ana's "Vibrance".

• Omar, If you speculate about other people's finances, that does not mean that you are going to come any closer to a truth.
  And suggesting that I would be responsible for Artists loosing their acceptance and favor with the landlord makes about as much sense as me holding you responsible for killing all the California Dolphins because you made the choice to publicize the plight of the Dolphins and protect the Dolphins and threaten the Dolphin killing industry in the process. Christ.

• The Artists ARE looking in other parts of downtown and are fully aware that ALL Santa Ana needs Creative opportunities. That doesn't alter the fact that the Santora Arts Building has been a cultural hub for our region for 85 years and should be celebrated.

  Many local Artists (most don't reside at the Santora) are committed to Preserving the Arts in our City's historic core and are working to build a viable Arts Infrastructure so that all SA residents can reap the benefits of successful Tourism, Filmmaking & Creative Industry revenues.

  Santa Ana is a Pauper sitting on a throne of GOLD.

  If we tapped into our region's Creative Economy, our City government would receive hundreds of thousands of dollars (via Film Permit fees, higher Retail Tax Revenues, more Hotel Taxes, attracting Cultural Investors) that could be channeled to enhancing our Parks & Bike Paths, building more Live/Work studios, Civic Design Projects, Public Art & supporting Arts Education for our Youth & Elders.

  The Arts mean Business!

  For more information on the economic impact of the Arts, visit:

  http://www.artsusa.org/information_services/research/services/economic_impact/default.asp

  http://www.cac.ca.gov/artsinfo/economicimpact.php

  • So far the main use of the arts has been to sell liquor and overpriced food.

    • Dearest Editor, That's precisely what Santa Ana's Professional Artists want to counter-balance. We are all tired of non-arts businesses reaping ALL the rewards of our labor. The Artists need some love & support if we are to keep laying those golden eggs. ;)

      It's time for Arts Equity (a non-exploitative relationship with Artists) in Santa Ana and real leadership in managing our City's Art Assets.

      Our entire community would benefit greatly from cultivating our Creative Economy! #SupportTheArts #TheArtsAreABusiness #CulturalTourism #WhenBusinessesFlourishCommunitiesThrive

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UEM_GN-vWDI

      • Well giving awards to Benavides, who is trying to keep the bars open until 4 am, is a step in the wrong direction.