Unethical behavior is abundant in Santa Ana politics…

The Santa Ana City Council is holding a meeting on Dec. 6, at 5:30 pm, to review the “Code of Ethics,” which voters passed when they voted for Measure D, which extended Council term limits.  The Council appointed a committee of three Council Members, including Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, Vince Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero, to conduct this review.

Alvarez has since backed out – in the wake of the Code being used by Council Members David Benavides and Carlos Bustamante to try to punish her after she made a bad Hitler analogy in referring to controversial Downtown Santa Ana landlord Irv Chase.

None of the other Council Members, including Benavides and Bustamante, want anything to do with the Review Committee.  I can’t blame them.  The Code of Ethics was designed to muzzle bloggers who were put on City Commissions.  Ironically it is now being used by the Usual Suspects to attack Santa Ana’s Council Member.  And that obsessed Long Beach blogger has written not one but two posts about the Santa Ana Code of Ethics Review Committee.  Good grief!

But there might be a better way – I think perhaps that it might be time to launch a Code of Ethics panel and populate it with current and past City Commissioners and community and business leaders (who would not have to live here but should at least run a business here).  The Usual Suspects of course need not apply.

I could see a Code of Ethics panel that would include Planning Commissioner Sean Mill; Parks and Recreation Commissioner Max Madrid; Youth Commissioner Jonathan Espinoza; Redevelopment Commissioner Lynette Verino; business owner Art Lomeli; community activist Alex Vega; and former Council Member Brett Franklin.  This panel would be charged with reviewing the Code and suggesting changes to the City Council.

What sort of changes should we make to the Code of Ethics?  Well, for one thing, how can Councilman Bustamante be allowed to stay on the Council after he resigned his County job when he was charged with sexual harassment?  Anyone charged with sexual harassment should not be allowed to serve on our City Council or on any of our City Commissions.

How about that former City Commissioner who was detained by the SAPD after he harassed prostitutes on Harbor Blvd.?  Should anyone who has a police record be allowed to serve on a City Commission?  I would hope not.

Or how about that failed City Council candidate who got caught sighing the nomination papers of one of his Council challengers?  Anyone caught engaging in election shenanigans should NOT be allowed to serve on any City Commissions.

What about the former City Commissioner who went berserk at a public meeting in Fullerton?  Commissioners who verbally assault people should of course not be allowed to serve in Santa Ana.

How about the former Councilman who was visibly drunk the last time he was sworn into office – and who now is involved in conducting neighborhood Wine Walks that lack city permits?   Clearly those with drug and alcohol problems need not be considered for any city posts.

How about that Neighborhood Association president that likes to extend her middle finger at City Council meetings?  No bueno!

Clearly we need to consider empowering an Ethics Panel to consider these suggestions and to bring positive change to our Code of Ethics.

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • "Matthew Cunningham never stole tens of thousands of dollars from the kids"

    No Matthew Cunningham simply outed the names of Catholic Church sex abuse victims on behalf of pedo protector John Urell. Matthew Cunningham stole the shield of anonymity after Catholic Priests and church workers stole their innocence.

  • Well Art if Cunningham is your measurement ruler then you should get payed for that crapola too.

    So any Mexican (cartel primitive type) is a OK with you as long as he can supersede Cunningham?

    Sad!

    • Vega is no different from you Fiala. But you are more eloquent in English. And he has more kids than you do.

  • "And he has more kids than you do".... Hmmmmm

    Obviously if he is primitive Mexican! However they are all on welfare.

    He probably have some in Mexico too.

  • "His kids are actually quite brilliant".... Hmmmm

    I would never bring someone kids into a discussion.

    • But you are OK with saying folks are on welfare just because they are Mexicans? Get off your pedestal Fiala.

      I am sure your daughter is quite bright too. We all hope that our kids will achieve more than we did. And the immigrants you oft malign left everything behind for the hope of giving their kids a better life.

  • "But you are OK with saying folks are on welfare just because they are Mexicans?"..... Hmmmm

    Unfortunately you do not understand my ESL. What I have said Zorro was that Vega, same like you, have too many kids which you can't support. So the State must do that for you. Coincidentally you are both Mexicans which makes it normal.

    I will not grade your kids!.... You do mine!
    I will not grade your wife!.... You do mine!

    I am more intelligent so I will not lower myself to your blogging standards including distortion of what I have ever done for the Santa Ana.

    I have been correct on all issues which I have proposed. Pulido, Walters, Mill, and you have failed by bankrupting City yet you are all in control of it so obviously it is not gone be good City ever.

    If the stupid Mexican council would listen only to one of mine business proposal the City would be prosperous.

    Latest one was to gave me exclusive rights to manage "the occupy" movement in Santa Ana in exchange to eliminate City's deficit.

    Obviously the Mexican council is clueless as they were on Gang issue, 1B issue, Downtown issue, Santa Ana business bank issue where I have offered and demonstrated in real time to bring in 6M in three months.... the list is long.

    Monkeys will be monkeys unless they start walking upright without support of the welfare and over taxation of the successful citizens.

  • I should add that the Santa Ana is 100% ran by Mexicans and that is why it is worse city in OC (if incorrect name which city is worse than SA) and on the verge of bankruptcy with highly undemocratic and oppressive regime which equals to regime of Mexico.

    Santa Ana is Forbidden City.

    • Vincent Sarmiento and Paul Walters aren't Mexicans ...nor was Dave Ream, the man who left us in such a mess.

  • Give me a break with this stupid Ream!!!

    The Council runs city!

    The Council is 100% Mexican because it has 100% Mexican voting power.

    What is Sarmiento? like you? Sometimes Mexican, Jew, Spanish, Oriental??... what ever is convenient?

    Walters does not count because of the Pulido's quid pro quo and is Manager only to spike his pension and will quit as soon as he accrues the necessary time.

    Walters qualifications are to take the flashlight and beat the city's balance sheet to death.

    That does not works.

    Walters never ran any private business nor has any clue how to make any money other than writing bad tickets, confiscating cash as drug money, installing red light cameras, repossessing vehicles for 30 days, and killing people.[Same as a hoodlum]

    Get out of your never land illusions!

  • Reiterating!

    Only thing they need to do is to implement Civil Code 47(b)

    Obviously the will not do that because they are Mexicans with grave disregard for the law.

  • At the risk of revealing my "supersecret" identity (that was a joke, Dan, you can stop the prank phone calls).

    Regarding Ted (Morono) Moreno, he was a pawn in the game, if you need anymore proof, watch the exchange at the city council meeting Between Rob Richardson and I debateing Ted's aledged mis use of city property:

    He, without permission "borrowed" two 8 foot tables from his neighborhood rec center, where he volunteered and spent time, for his kids birthday party.

    Childless (and gutless) Richardson, had a cow and went after him.

    It was enough for me and I went to the podium with some choice words for then Councilman Richardson.

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