The lame Santa Ana City Council Majority want us to believe that Mayor Miguel Pulido forced them to hire current City Manager Paul Walters, but they were all there at the City Council meeting on May 21, according to the meeting minutes, when they discussed the appointment of Paul Walters, who at the time was the Acting City Manager, in closed session. It should be noted that three Council Members were late to that meeting – Vince Sarmiento, David Benavides and Michele Martinez.
Those Council Members are now accusing Mayor Miguel Pulido of violating the Brown Act, but what were they doing arriving late to that May meeting – and walking in together to boot? Did they have an illegal “pre-meeting?”
For some reason Sarmiento did not vote in that meeting for the Consent Calendar items – but the rest of them did and the items included a motion to direct the City Attorney to “prepare an employment agreement for City Manager.” They voted 6-0 for that item!
When the Council later voted in June to hire Walters as the permanent City Manager both Martinez and current Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero blew off that meeting! Martinez told the O. C. Register that “I was not very excited or happy that Miguel didn’t want to do a nationwide search when we had the opportunity,” Martinez said. “He forced Paul on us.”
Forced Walters on the Council? Are you kidding? Martinez and Tinajero didn’t show up to vote at that June meeting! Now they are whining that the vote was forced on them. They had a chance to voice their concerns in June and they took a pass! You don’t get Mulligans when it comes to these votes Martinez!
Martinez also said that: “The reality is that maybe it’s time to take a leap of faith and bring in new people who can lead the city in a new direction,” said Martinez, who with Tinajero was absent for the June vote. She said that the city should have continued with a nationwide recruiting effort after the former city manager – David Ream – retired in 2011. Instead, she said that Pulido pushed the council to hire Walters,” according to the O.C. Register.
The Council voted unanimously to hire Walters. And he saved the city from a horrible budget crisis that the Council and the previous City Manager, Dave Ream, created. Now they want to can Walters because they are trying to punish Mayor Pulido. This isn’t political leadership, it is sour grapes!
My sources also are reporting that Martinez is now running around saying that there are “secret” accounts in the Santa Ana Police Department. Didn’t the cops support her in June when she ran for the Assembly? She didn’t wait long to stab them in the back! That seems to be her M.O.
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Mayor Pulido carried out a very stately performance for the Counter-Revolution at the last council meeting.
Do not count Michele out just yet.
She did not look amused at all by Mondays Song and Dance.
I wish somebody had a video with good audio of what she said to the Mayor before she exited the stage.
The people deserve to know. Brown Act.
He asked her to stay and vote on an important city business matter and she refused to do so.
The "CROOKED MAJORITY" is more like it.
What a bunch of selfish posers. If you can't be bothered to show up, then step down Michele.
To think I once supported this moron.
Hey Art,
When do they show the re-runs of the council meetings? Are they on line?
If not, why not?
The cable channel shows replays thoughout the week and it is also on streaming on demand at the cities web site. To watch council meeting older than 2 years (?) you can check out the DVD at the library.
Can you give tell me how Mr. Cook? I just want to see this last council meeing on line and can't find the link. could you post it here?
Go to the City of Santa Ana website.
At the bottom is the "OPEN GOVERNMENT" link.
You will find it there in many forms.
But BEWARE: It is quite painful to watch. Fransisco Baragan makes Roman Renya look like Shakespere!
It is hard to believe this guy ran for State Assembly. No wonder he came in last he does not even have the least bit of speaking skills. The whole silly hat thing too?? I have more respect for the lady using the translator, maybe he should try that instead of using words he could not pronounce. Three minutes of torture.
I encourage all to watch the cowardly acts of the absent council members: Benavide's, Azumeca, Renya and Martinez.
Watch out Art. Martinez filed a statement with the LibOC lawyers and they are ready to take your house. Doesn't look good amigo
Shouldn't they be conducting one of their "bulldog" investigations into her alleged Brown Act violations?
Actually, I am able to make more sense of the councilmembers being absent than Sarmiento and Tinajero sitting there and taking it all night.
Are they not allowed to respond to public comments?
What about at the end of public comments?
Admin can you please explain to your audience the rules of council meetings and public comments?
Signed, So Confused
I believe they can respond and they get a chance to do so at the end of the meeting as well. However what could they possibly say? They have egg on their faces.
Watch the video, Mayor Pulido asks POINT BLANK if any members would like to comment. Amazing show of cowardice by these stooges. Then Sal has the Audacity to get quoted as saying he was in disagreement.
SPEAK UP COUNCIL. OR DO YOU ONLY OPINE IN SECRET SESSIONS?
What happened to NEW SA BLOG to stay positive? This is a whole new low for you ART shame shame SHAME ON YOU !!
"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke
I know huh, N.S.A. use to be so sensitive and considerate to its political rivals. And now look.
For Shame.
LOL! You tell him Mateo!
We are for the people of our city, not for any particular factions. The Council Majority lost our support awhile ago and they are doing nothing to regain it so far in this New Year.
The unfortunate part, it's this. If Walters get the boot and you are out, we have to fork the kickbacks in his contract. I am pretty sure these are good perks. I would think some medical benefits, PERS years added and couple years of salary. Do not forget he is a lawyer, no free work for you tax payers
The Council negotiated this contract. No one held a gun to their heads. Now they are shooting themselves in the feet again and we're paying for the ammo...
Walters contract is one of the most affordable in the county.
The council should be looking for a younger trainee who can start at the bottom of the pay grades.
Walters has a 5 year contract with two 1 year extentions.
Sage advice. Will fall on deaf ears. Our Council is less interested in ideas and more focused on pettiness, revenge and a thirst for power.