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Will the next City Manager be Public Works Director Raul Godinez II?

Posted on by Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Politics, Public Works, Raul Godinez, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Raul Godinez

I am hearing that the Santa Ana City Council has settled on their next City Manager and despite a supposed national search and calls for transparency they are going with the Santa Ana Public Works director, Raul Godinez II, who was designated in September as a Public Works Leadership Fellow by the American Public Works Associate. Godinez lives in Orange with his wife Deidra Simon de Godinez and their kids.

This really should not come as a surprise to anyone.  Godinez left the Public Works Director position in Oakland, where he oversaw over 800 employees, to come to Santa Ana where he has been leading less than two hundred Public Works employees.  You don’t make a move like that unless there is a good shot to move up at some point. Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana launches a newly redesigned website

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 9 Comments

The City of Santa Ana has taken a huge leap forward with their redesigned website.  I am not sure who they hired to do the work but the new site looks terrific.

Kudos to Santa Ana City Manager Paul Walters, our City PIO (Public Information Officer) Jose Gonzalez,  and Mayor Miguel Pulido as well as any and all city staff who were involved in the city’s website redesign.

There is even an “Open Government” page!  Here are the resources you will find there: Continue reading→

A new era for Santa Ana as Walters becomes the city’s top executive

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Paul Walters, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Community: UNANIMOUS VOTE BY SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL MAKES PAUL M. WALTERS THE CITY’S TOP EXECUTIVE

SANTA ANA, CA (June 6, 2012) – At Monday night’s city council meeting, in an unanimous vote, the Santa Ana City Council appointed Paul M. Walters as the City Manager and Police Commissioner. City Manager Paul M. Walters will be responsible for the City’s daily operations, and in his role as Police Commissioner his duties will include acting as the City’s intermediary with regional, state and federal agencies and special law enforcement task forces. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana announces youth summer jobs program

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: CITY OF SANTA ANA ANNOUNCES SUMMER JOBS + PROGRAM

A Call to Local Businesses to Help Our Youth by Participating in the Summer Jobs + Initiative

SANTA ANA, CA (May 17, 2012) – The City is pleased to announce its participation in President Obama’s Summer Jobs + Initiative. The President is calling on businesses, non-profits, and local government to join his Summer Jobs+ initiative and provide pathways to employment for youth this summer. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana’s Ward boundary change public hearing to be held on 12.19

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs, Elections, Entertainment, Politics Leave a comment

Thomas Gordon won’t be able to run for Ward 6 again, as the ward changes have put him in Ward 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 1, 2011

Contact: Jose Gonzalez, City Manager’s Office, 714-647-5200 – Office, 714-822-4415 – Cell

CITY OF SANTA ANA RESCHEDULES PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CHANGING WARD BOUNDARIES

SANTA ANA, CA (December 1, 2011) – The City of Santa Ana is rescheduling the public hearing proposing to change the City’s Ward boundaries. The public hearing will be held on Monday, December 19, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 22 Civic Center Plaza, in which testimony will be received and where any person having an interest in, objection to, or suggestion regarding the making of changes in Ward boundary lines may appear before the City Council. Continue reading→

Solorio and Santa Ana to celebrate new water improvements in Diamond Park

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Jose Solorio, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana, Water, Working Families Leave a comment

MEDIA ADVISORY, For Immediate Release: December 13, 2011
For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – office: (916) 319-2069, mobile: (916) 804-5355

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio and the City of Santa Ana to hold groundbreaking ceremony for long-awaited water pipeline improvements to Santa Ana’s Diamond Park neighborhood

Construction to connect small community to City of Santa Ana’s water system will finally bring community safe, clean drinking water

SANTA ANA – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-69) and officials from the City of Santa Ana will hold a groundbreaking ceremony in the Diamond Park neighborhood of Santa Ana to kickoff the long-awaited water pipeline project that will finally connect this small neighborhood to the City of Santa Ana’s water system. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana issues windstorm advisory for tonight

Posted on by Posted in Public Safety, Public Works, Santa Ana, Weather 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Press Advisory: Significant Windstorm Event Preparation

The weather service is predicting a significant windstorm event effective 12/1/11, at 12 AM through Friday. Winds are predicted to potentially be in the 60-80 mph range, however Santa Ana may see lesser wind speeds. Public Work’s main objective during night time hours will be to clear the Right of Ways of major debris, clear city debris from private property and to make the affected areas safe.

Staff has met to prepare for this event as follows: Continue reading→

Bustamante and the County could face big fines if harassment charges stick

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

What penalties does Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante face – if the harassment charges against him stick?  Well, the bad news for him is that the harassment penalties in California are the toughest in the nation – and he could face big fines – but the County of Orange could be on the hook for even bigger penalties, as his employer.

Here is an explanation of what constitutes sexual harassment, in California, from an online legal source: Continue reading→

Councilmember Benavides handled situation with dignity

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Before I get to the point of this post I would like to thank the administrator here at New Santa Ana for allowing me to pen this post and share it with the readers.  Despite what our good friend from Irvine says, I am not blogging again here or anywhere else.  However I felt what I am about to write needed to be said.

The last couple of weeks have been quite tumultuous here in Santa Ana and it culminated last evening with the city council’s action regarding the unfortunate comments made by Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez.  I know from speaking to a number of the councilmembers just how tough it has been on them personally as they have dealt with this emotionally charged issue.  It has not been a fun time for anyone of them, not Claudia and not David or Carlos either. Continue reading→

Free course on how to grow your business, for Santa Ana business owners

Posted on by Posted in Business, Education, Entertainment, Latino Leaders, Latinos, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The City of Santa Ana is offering a FREE course, by Mi Empresa Exitosa, in Spanish, on “How to grow a successful business,” in Spanish, for Santa Ana business owners.  There are only 20 scholarships left for this course, which is worth over twelve hundred dollars.

The course starts on March 17, from 5:30 to 9 pm, at 305 E 4th St. Suite 200, in Santa Ana, and it will run 10 weeks covering the following topics:

  • Strategies for success in this economy
  • How to prepare a “Business Plan”
  • Mistakes made by entrepreneurs
  • How to attract and retain customers
  • Flow of income and expenses
  • Financing

Requirements:

Complete and submit your grant application – download it here, and a copy of the current business license from the City of Santa Ana.

The course includes all materials and food!  Click here to see the course calendar.  Click here to see the course flyer.

Remember, this course will be taught entirely in Spanish.

REGISTER NOW!

For more info call 714 516-1111 or email: eduardo@miempresaexitosa.com.

Sponsors include: the City of Santa Ana Workforce Investment Board; Downtown, Inc.; Recovery.org; La Opinion; the Small Business Financial Development Corp. of Orange County; the Hispanic Business Consultants; the Camara de Empresarios Latinoamericanos, and Todo Synergy.

Curso Completo de Negocios.  “CRECIENDO MI EMPRESA EXITOSA.”

Becas disponibles al 100% y Parciales.

Llama al (714) 516-111 y averigua para cual calificas.

10 semanas que cubrirá los siguientes temas:

  • Estrategias de éxito en esta economía
  • Cómo preparar un “Plan de Negocios”
  • Errores que cometen los empresarios
  • Cómo atraer y retener clientes
  • Flujo de ingresos y egresos
  • Financiamiento

Curso inicia: Marzo 17 2011 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Lugar a ser determinado en la ciudad de Santa Ana, Ca.

Dueños de negocios en Santa Ana

Becas del 100% para Dueños de negocio en Santa Ana

Requisitos:

Llene y enviar su aplicacion de beca – descargue la aplicación aqui y una copia de la licencia de negocios vigente de la Ciudad de Santa Ana. El curso Incluye materiales y alimentos.

REGISTRATE AQUI

Mas informacion: 714 516-1111 o email: eduardo@miempresaexitosa.com

Garage sale weekend in Santa Ana, on March 5 and 6

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Working Families Leave a comment

Time for spring cleaning!  Santa Ana residents may hold garage sales this weekend, March 5 and 6.

Regulations for residential garage sales include:

  • Sales may only occur on Saturday and/or Sunday
  • Sales may begin at 8:00 a.m. and must end at 5:00 p.m.
  • Items sold may not be displayed on the public sidewalks, parkways, streets or alleys
  • Items sold must be used goods, from your household, and not purchased for resale
  • Signs may not be posted on telephone poles, public street lights, traffic signs, or on any structure in the public right-of-way  (Signs posted illegally will be removed and a fine may be mailed to the responsible party.)
  • Signs may be posted one week before the sale weekend
  • Signs must be taken down one day after the last date of your sale

Garage sales for residential properties are permitted on the first full weekend of March, June, September, and December each year.  No permit is required.

Churches and businesses must contact Planning at (714) 647-5804 for regulations for “temporary outdoor activities”.

Persons conducting sales on any unauthorized weekend or violating any of the above regulations will be subject to an Administrative Fine or a misdemeanor citation.

For additional information call Community Preservation at (714) 667-2780.

Is it time to take a second look at the City of Santa Ana’s garage sale policy?  A few years ago, we went from 52 possible garage sale weekends to only 4, when the ordinance was changed.

One of my readers had this to say about our city’s garage sale policy: “Especially in light of the economy, with foreclosures and job losses our 4 garage sale policy is OUT-OF-TOUCH with reality. Garage sales are a good source for people who are struggling to buy clothes, toys, appliances etc. It’s also an extra hardship on those who have to move, if they miss the “approved week-end” they are forced to give their stuff away.”

You can read the City’s official garage sale policy at this link.

So what do you think?  Is it time to revisit this policy and perhaps allow a garage sale the first weekend of EVERY month?

I think we have some caring, compassionate City Council Members who might help us.  Councilwoman Michele Martinez grew up poor in a home affected by drugs and gangs.  Councilman David Benavides was once a youth minister.  Councilman Sal Tinajero is an award-winning public school teacher.  They would be a good place to start.  And Council Members Claudia Alvarez and Vince Sarmiento are smart and experienced in community affairs.  They too should hear from us.

Click here for information on how to contact each of our Council Members.

City of Santa Ana taking steps to encourage construction, housing and jobs

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Redevelopment, Santa Ana 7 Comments

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jay Trevino, Executive Director, Planning & Building Agency, City of Santa Ana, 714‐667‐2706

SANTA ANA TAKING STEPS TO ENCOURAGE CONSTRUCTION, HOUSING, JOBS

SANTA ANA, CA – The Santa Ana City Council voted unanimously at its February 7 th meeting to defer collection of development impact fees to foster continued development and jobs in the community.  The program applies to both residential and non‐residential development, and allows developers to defer the payment of several fees.

Deferring these development impact fees reduces the amount of up‐front costs developers must finance through debt or equity, and reduces the amount of interest paid over the construction period.  These fees can represent a sizable up‐front cost and may be a deciding factor in the financial feasibility of a project.  “The Building Industry Association of Orange County (BIA/OC) applauds the leadership of the Santa Ana City Council for their proposal to assist the building industry by supporting a development fee deferral program, says Bryan Starr, Deputy Executive Officer, External Affairs.  “The BIA/OC is proud to partner with progressive city leaders who find common sense solutions to some of the pressures that our industry has been facing.”

The impact fee deferral program will last for one year beginning March 9, 2011 and ending March 7, 2012.  It allows these costs to be paid at occupancy, rather than at the beginning of construction.

Council installation ceremony quite upbeat

Posted on by Posted in Alfredo Amezcua, Carlos Bustamante, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 7 Comments

Last evenings city council installation ceremony was great success that had a very upbeat vibe about it.  Mayor Miguel Pulido and Councilmembers Michele Martinez, David Benavides and Sal Tinajero all reaffirmed their oath’s of office and the 2010-2012 Santa Ana City Council was seated joining their colleagues Claudia Alvarez, Carlos Bustamante and Vince Sarmiento.

Despite a small gathering of protesters organized by the failed Amezcua campaign the evening went off without a hitch and each of the councilmembers and the mayor offered up encouraging words for our city’s future.  It looks like all seven members of the council are committed to moving forward with an agenda that will help improve the quality of life for all of our residents and not let the naysayers and malcontents hold us back.

The highlights of the evening had to have been Councilmember Benavides daughter holding Benavides late father’s Bible during his swearing in and the moving tribute to Councilmember Martinez late mother.  Benavides father passed away last year and Martinez mother died the day before the election this year.

It was great to see the families of all of our elected officials and many of our city staff.  Sometimes in the brutal battles that take place in the political arena we lose sight of the fact that these folks are human like the rest of us and have families that love them very much.  Last night allowed us all to see that very human side of our leaders.  Mayor Pulido’s son Miguelito even helped entertain the crowd at the Bowers Museum reception by playing classical guitar along with his classmates from the Orange County High School of the Arts.

There was one matter of business before the council last night and that was the selection of Mayor Pro Tem.  The council unanimously selected the current Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez to continue on in that position.  The solid support from her colleagues is a testament to the leadership shown by Alvarez durin her tenure on the council.

Last night’s event left me feeling very good about the future of our city and I am excited to watch what our city leaders do to move our city forward over the next two years.  Lets hope the malcontents and the naysayers will get on board and help make Santa Ana a better place.

The City of Santa Ana strikes back at Glen Stroud and his fraudulent Grand Jury report

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Development, Lawyers, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Ousted Santa Ana City Commissioners Glen Stroud and Tish Leon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David N. Ream
May 24, 2010 City of Santa Ana
(714) 647-5200

Santa Ana, CA – The City of Santa Ana has received the Grand Jury report and is currently preparing a response. Although we respect the work and the role of the Grand Jury, we have tremendous concerns with the findings and believe their process was filled with inaccuracies and only serves to confuse the public. The reality is that this transit project is on schedule, under budget and successfully moving forward.

“The facts are that this is one of the biggest infrastructure projects our city has ever undertaken and it is currently on schedule and under budget. The public process we went through to select a team of consultants was transparent and without any wrongdoing, which is what the Grand Jury report ultimately notes. The contract with the hybrid team that the City Council selected is $2,195,470 below the original bid recommended by staff,” stated Mayor Miguel A. Pulido.

Additionally, the project is on schedule and continues to be administered effectively by the Orange County Transportation Authority. “As part of the Go Local process, OCTA has been working extremely closely with the City of Santa Ana including its staff, consultants, and elected officials. OCTA has provided oversight of the project, and we are pleased with the progress and work done to date,” stated CEO of OCTA Will Kempton.

The City is excited about this project and is confident that it will continue to move forward smoothly and without deficiencies. “The contract was not flawed and we recognize that the Grand Jury found no illegal actions by the City. There was no factual violation of the Brown Act and no secret meetings. It is the responsibility of councilmembers to meet with their constituents, including business owners who are seeking to do work in the community. All meetings regarding the merits of the project were properly noticed. The recommendations in the report are general and benign. We have reinforced our existing City policies by adopting improved RFP/RFQ guidelines to ensure the decision making process continues to be transparent in the view of our residents,” stated City Manager David N. Ream.

Based on the above mentioned facts, the Grand Jury findings are inconsistent and are in direct conflict with reality. City Attorney Joe Fletcher stated: “The mission of the Grand Jury in this setting is to conduct investigations regarding the administration and affairs of cities in Orange County and to make recommendations as it may deem proper and fit. This report has gone beyond that mission to infer inappropriate or unethical conduct on the part of city officials without any factual basis for such conclusions. Despite innuendo to the contrary, the report contains no evidence of illegal or unethical conduct and often relies upon misstatements of legal standards and misinterpretation of applicable statutes.”

Furthermore, Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez stated “I am deeply concerned with the fact that a disgruntled, fired city commissioner with an obvious bias was allowed to thereafter serve as a member of the Grand Jury in this investigation. An objective fair and impartial jury goes to the heart of the American justice system. By his participation in deliberations, investigations and votes, Mr. Glenn Stroud has compromised the integrity of the Orange County Grand Jury and tainted this entire investigation. The residents of this county deserve better.”

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Click here to read the City of Santa Ana’s response to the Judge.  Be sure to read it.  Councilman David Benavides took money from both George Pla and Glen and Julie Stroud.

Building One Broadway Plaza is what the people want

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Real Estate, Redevelopment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A few days ago my fellow Orange Juice blogger Art Pedroza wrote a post articulating the position that perhaps now is the time to get Mike Harrah’s One Broadway Plaza up and going.   Like Mr. Pedroza I was initially opposed to this project and suspect of Mr. Harrah’s actions and motives.  While I am still somewhat cautious in my view of Mr. Harrah I am now finding myself in support of the construction of One Broadway Plaza.

By coming out in support of the construction of this project Pedroza and myself while surely be rebuked by the naysayers and the obstructionists.  In fact some of the folks from the “neighborhood association” crowd have already offered up their criticism of Pedroza’s position on on the Yahoo Santa Ana Citizens site.

Here is a comment posted by one of the so-called “neighborhood leaders” Roy Melcher:

Click here to read the rest of this post.