Santa Ana is finally number one at something…we have the poorest zip codes in Orange County. Here is what the O.C. Register has reported:
Santa Ana’s 92703 had the lowest average household income of any ZIP code in Orange County in 2005
Santa Ana is #1 – in lowest-income zip codes…
– January 3, 2008Posted in: Classic Juice 1, Santa Ana
SanTana is a ghetto, why would you expect anything less? Blame the people who live there. They trash their own neighborhoods, spray graffiti over everything, dump sofas and garbage in the street, leave shopping carts everywhere, cram 50 people into one house….I could go on, but you get the idea.
I spent the first 18 years of my life in 92701. I don’t remember it ever looking the way it does now. I don’t expect el mayoreo, or any of the local politicians to do anything that will help this zip code. So why not the residences?
Thank goodness the new development and the Renaissance plan have no low income housing.
Maybe the new residents can help raise those numbers a little.
I think one needs to look at the choices people make. Look at all these folks who live in these zipcodes who used their homes as cash registers and got new cars, etc. They did not move up or try and improve the way their home looks. They basically bought the quick flashy car or tv etc. Government is meant to create opportunities for investment, not keep helping people out of the mess they created. It is a hand up not a hand out.
Typical comments blame the poor for being poor. How quickly we forget the Christmas Season and the words of the son of God about helping the poor and loving thy neighbor. Shame on you all.
#5. I havent read one word on this blog that blames the poor for being poor. Does the lower income have a pass on personal responsibilty. This multi-culture crap has got to stop. Santa Ana is a joke. What these politicans are doing now is not working. (that is not a question). The only resolve I can see is to vote em’ out.
We have zoo’s were the wild animals are kept.
We have private gated communities with their own guards were wealthy people are kept.
And we have Santa Ana were low income people are kept.
For better or worse this is reality and it can be seen all over the world.
The only question is, what crime have these people done, to deserve slave labor wages and slum conditions for housing?
The employers and the landlords who live in the in the wealthy gated communities are the ones who pay the inadequate wages and own the slums rentals.
Hmm. Maybe that’s why the city looks like crap and there are no funds for decent parks for the kiddies.
But let’s not build anymore lofts and condos
The Renaissance Plan can help to alleviate some of the problems discussed on this page, but the Renaissance Plan is not perfect and needs to not be so heavy-handed in removing businesses that have contributed to the city’s revenues.
Jesus commanded, “Love your neighbor.” When asked to define “neighbor,” Jesus expanded the traditional meaning of the word–defining our neighbor as anyone who is in need, including social outcasts: “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” (Luke 14:13)
I make over $100,00 per year and bought a half million dollar loft in zip 92701. Didn’t they count me and my 75 neighbors? All kidding aside, you know what? I love it here. After living around the jackasses in South County for the past 8 years and dreading every day I had to go home I have to say I would prefer to live around a bunch of hard working and friendly folks like these any day. Are there issues? Sure, like anywhere else. You may say “well, kids in south county aren’t in gangs and don’t go around tagging and shooting each other.” Well, no, not entirely, but they do drive their $40,000 trucks and BMW’s into light posts on a regular basis, get drunk and do aforementioned or will run over other citizens (search Aliso Viejo man run over on Google) in a parking lot. Oh yeah, there was a kid who walked into his neighbor’s house with a shotgun and leveled an entire family not too long ago. That happened there too and then the dumbass who stabbed the other dumbass in the bar down the street from us. Maybe not the systematic issues here, but I think you get my point. As for their parents, those people working 2-3 jobs to make it work and hopefully give their kids a better life, do you think they WANT to be poor? Hell no, nobody does. But to sit here (posters) and cast judgement on someone who is doing the best that they can to make ends meet, well, F- you. Sit for minute and think how long you’d survive if I shipped your ass to Columbia, Brazil, China or Spain for that matter with nothing, literally, not even a knowledge of the language. There are many, many people in this world who seek out a better life and risk their own lives to make things better for their future generations and the journey upward often starts at the bottom. Furthermore, the results are often painfully slow in return and come in the form of a grandchild who heads off to college and becomes a lawyer, doctor, etc. My grandparents did it, literally, came here after WWII with a spoon, that’s it. Once they got here they lived where they could afford and that was with all the other immigrants and at the time that meant with all the people who’s skin wasn’t the right color as well. There were gangs, drugs, murders, which claimed some kids and avoided others. And you know what, despite that they raised 3 kids who went college, went on to grad schools, bought homes and raised families. Their kids are doing the same one of which is now making films in Hollywood. And the city they first stepped foot into turned out o.k. too, NYC is pretty nice now. So, if you think you’re a better person, a better human being than someone just because you were luckier than they at a given time in life then I fear for the direction this society is headed, or headed back to for that matter. Because, really, what it shows me is how insecure and fearful you are and how little you are really offering to the rest of us.
You know what poster 12? I agree with you wholeheartedly. Most people are not poor by choice, and all have the opportunity to change that if they make the right choices. I was also born to a poor family, but worked my way through college. And I did not have a strong support system. The problem is not being poor or rich, and it is not with whatever city or place you grow up in – it is about personal responsibility and the drive to get what you want in life. Your parents focused on raising successful kids, and they accomplished that goal.
It is very tiring to hear about people who blame everyone else – the local government, the police, the kid down the street…it all comes back to taking responsibility for our own lives.
I too, love Santa Ana. I do not place blame on city leaders for the actions of gangs or thugs. I do not believe that the lack of parks causes gang violence and murder. To be sure, there is a lot to be accomplished in this city to make it better, but placing blame is not productive. YOU, and others like you, are a strong reason I believe that. This society is much better for people wanting and willing to better THEMSELVES first before casting any stones.
# 8
Please explain to us how the RSP will usher in higher paying jobs and safe streets!?
Those who do not agree with the RSP are not idiots-we are concerned citizens taht are engaged in the process and request answers to our questions about the RSP.
# 3
Do not be so quick to say there will be no affordable housing. Now that the bait & switch has been revealed…who knows what will happen.
Also,the developers who have bought up the land in RSP area will get $$ rebates for the affordable housing.
#1,3,4 & 6
Oh but for the grace of God go you…
One really never knows what goes on in our homes. Many have to spend their money feeding the family and providing heat before fixing a house.
In a split second any of our lives can change. Health and livlihood can be gone in a moment in a household that makes 500 a month to a household that makes 100,000 per month.Many that you feel are irresponsible are the very ones who pay their Hospital Bills while the rich fail to pay theirs and the Hospital negotiates their fees.
Walk a mile in anothers adversity and then you will see.
Anon 12#
Your absolutely right about South County. Kids are always driving around drunk or high. I work over there In Rancho Santa Margarita. I was really surprised when I found out that in the Grocery store I work for, kids do beer runs, They come in stoned and get a bunch of junk food, cause they have the munchies. A lot of adults steal all the time. I understand if people steal cause their hungry, I guess the steal just for the thrill of getting away with it.
I talk to all the kids that work there and they all admit to me that they all get stoned get drunk and do stupid things. There are gangs in south county but, there just very few in numbers.
I don’t understand why some people in Orange Juice still want low income housing? They should look around and drive around Santa Ana it seems that half the city is low income housing.
It’s sad to say this but where there’s low income housing there gangs, drunks, graffiti, sofas on the sidewalks, shootings and thrash on the streets.
The reason it looks horrid, mostly in these areas are full of immigrants they come here for a better future. In there mentality there only going to stay here for a couple of years to save money and leave, that
#16 – I agree with you. Most of us are only a few paychecks away from being poor or destitute. Yet, that doesn’t mean government is to blame, or that we should rely on government to bail us out. Don’t rely on social security or Medicare…it might not be there later. Save as much as you can, and do whatever you can to live for tomorrow and not JUST today.
And one last thing, Art, please start thinking about using your energy for more productive efforts. I’ve been “lurking” on this and couple of other political blogs until now ( I was #12 and finally feel the need to speak as my aliased self) and to be honest, you’re just too negative. You’ve boxed yourself in and are soon going to be passing the point of ever being a real change agent. The measure D vote is coming up and I’ve not seen a single mention outside of your blog about it. In fact, I was half expecting to meet you or someone else from this blog because they would be knocking on my door and handing me a flyer as such. Where’s the true passion? Stop blaming the mayor for “forgetting about” the street you lived on and whatever else ills you. Seriously, go down to Kinkos, start making copies and hit the streets! This is what our country is made of, the grassroots movement, change…look at what happened in Iowa tonight, a man who would have had to use a seperate washroom not some 45 years ago is now a front runner for President. Doesn’t that inspire you to get out there and make it happen? Insofar as 92701, It’s changing over here on it’s own and you need to trust the momentum that’s building. There are a whole bunch of new residents here at Santiago Street Lofts and more are on the way as the next phases are due to start construction within the month. That’s another 50-75 people on top of the 75 already here. And you know what? We all make good money which we are all wanting to spend here in the community, love what this city is and is capable of becoming and aren’t going anywhere. And quite honestly, we’ve already dug in and are getting things done working with the city and it’s departments to the point that I’m not even sure what you’re really complaining about? So with that I ask, please, don’t ever think you need to speak for us because you’re not being nor won’t be asked to. If you want things to change, you have to make it happen yourself. The world has enough armchair pundits.
I have not read anything on this thread were anyone is blaming any entity for people beign poor.
These individuals work hard and do an excellent job. This is why they get the work and employers seek them.
All of us live within our means. We also have our particular social problems associated with economic levels.
Everyone needs a place to live. Why deny this basic need because you have a prejudice with those of low economic status.
Some communites have more diversity than others. Beverly Hills has diversity within the very high economic levels. Santa Ana has a wider economic diversity. If you are not comfortable with this then you have the choice to be in a different city.
It is impossible and inhumane to argue for the elimination of humans simply on a poverty prejudice.
It is more prudent to invest in their neighborhood infrastructure,job skills and job development.
Everyone on previuos posts agrees that the problem associated with this blog thread is poverty.
If we all work together to diminish poverty within the city, the probblems associated with poverty will also diminish.
This I think is eaiser and more humane than isolating and removing the poor from society as many on this blog suggest.
Well said #17. You speak the words of someone who wants a better Santa Ana for ALL.
You should run for Mayor
Urban Messiah,
Well, speaking of the Messiah, we just concluded Christmas and New Year’s. Had we been walking precincts during that time, particularly during Christmas, the voters would have been none too pleased.
Our campaign committee actually met last night. We put together our walking plans for the rest of the campaign. We also discussed fundraising, making signs, and putting together a mailer. If you could only have seen the people on the committee! Let’s just say it is a diverse group.
On top of that, I have already made a donation to the No on Measure D Committee and will likely do so again before this is over. And I have delivered No on D fliers to half of my neighborhood.
I appreciate your candor. I have lived in Santa Ana for over fifteen years. I have not seen much positive change to be honest with you. Many of the tenants in the Santiago lofts are none too pleased with the Mayor and the Council, from what Thomas Gordon tells me and from what I have read elsewhere.
Here is the question you must ask…does this Council deserve another term…for a total of 12 years? Was it not bogus for them to EXCLUDE mayoral term limits from Measure D? That is what this all boils down to. I cannot see how anyone could vote yes on D.
Vote no on Measure D!
Anon 21#
Me run for Mayor? Don’t I have to be corrupt like Pulido.
Pulido has a lot of Power good friends in high places it would take a lot of money and good evidence from all the corrupt stuff he has done to this city, to force him to step down.
Right now im more focused in finishing my Masters in Social Work and hopefully get my doctorate in Education and motivate and encourage kids to go to school and make them believe in themselves and make them have enough confidence in themselves to achieve anything they put their mind in. Hopefully I will stop them from believing that they would never amount to anything. I was one of those kids that was left behind that graduated from High School with out knowing anything.
Im very grateful that I have meet the right people that helped me brake away from the mold that SAUSD had me in.