I don’t normally support term limits but when it comes to Santa Ana I am making an exception. Our current Mayor, Miguel Pulido, has been in power for 12 years – the equivalent of three presidential terms. Enough is enough! He claims that some major city projects need several terms to complete. Really? Which ones Pulido?
Our parks are unkempt, compared to those in Irvine and Tustin. Our streets remain riddled with potholes. The riots by illegals immigrants that took place earlier this year were an embarrassment. We have two libraries, to serve a huge population of young people, and the bookmobiles were just cancelled. What projects could Pulido be talking about?
Perhaps he is proud of the already dying Artists’ Village? Or maybe he is talking about the ridiculous medians that were installed on some streets. Of course my readers will recall that some years after they were installed Santa Ana City Manger Dave Ream decided the city could not afford to maintain them, and he tried to pass an assessment, which of course failed.
Maybe Pulido is talking about Mike Harrah’s One Broadway Plaza plan (OBP)? But now it looks like that ridiculous idea may not even go forward. I am at a loss as to what in the world Pulido could be talking about – but maybe something is still in the works. I doubt that however.
Ironically, the only council members who are openly calling for term limits are Claudia Alvarez and Lisa Bist, although I believe that Mike Garcia voted for the limits initially. Shame on Alberta Christy, Jose Solorio and Carlos Bustamante for voting with Pulido! Remember this my friends on the Democrat side of the aisle. Make sure you call or email Solorio and ask him to reconsider. He still needs your votes in the upcoming general election. And those of you who are Republicans, be sure to let Bustamante know that you won’t be supporting him for Lou Correa’s seat on the Board of Supervisors unless he backs the mayoral term limits.
The Santa Ana City Council meeting on Monday starts at 6 p.m. To find out more about this story go to the OC Register story at this link.
One Broadway Plaza is One Blotched Project and every resident of Santa Ana should be very concerned that there is no oversight on this towering mishap.
Just this week SCAQMD shut down the demolition of the building at 10th & Broadway because Harrah failed to 1.)abate the asbestos at the site; 2.)was caught illegally disposing hazardous waste at a county landfill; and 3.) workers at the site were not equipped with the proper outwear for abating asbestos while demolishing a building.
The city’s hesitancy to oversee the demoltion of the 1001 N. Broadway site and the Yale Apts. is troubling since they’ve turned a blind eye to Harrah’s blantant violations of state laws.
I’m sure it’s helpful that Pulido continues to serve as mayor while this One Blotched Project limps along. And the mayor’s seat on SCAQMD, well that’s an added bonus for Harrah and a detriment to the residents of Santa Ana.
Art’s right, it’s time to send a clear message to Jose, Mike and Carlos. The naysayers said we couldn’t topple Alvarez, but we did and we’re poised to strike again.
The Mayor mentioned the need for several terms in referrence to the Renuissance Plan at the end of the last Council meeting . This plan is about consultants hired by the City advising them on the best land use of an area bounded by the train depot , along Santa Ana Blvd to Civic Center , down Ross to 1st street , along lacy and back to the train depot . Having the land use approved by the council , then developers can bid for projects . This as I uderstand is a 10 to 15 year project as presented by the consultants to the City Council at the last meeting . It was also mentioned that this land use cunsultant idea be used for developement of other parts of the City . Art Lomeli
This is another great topic Art. Thank you for keeping Orange Juice so interesting. Does anyone know if the term limit provision would impact Pulido even if it passed? I don’t think it is written to be retroactive which would still give him 10 or 12 more year
To Anon 4:19pm,
Don’t forget that Bustamonte, Alvarez, Bist, Garcia, and Solorio are big supporters of OBP. In fact, Pulido abstained and therefore did not vote when it first came before the council for approval.
If 8 years is good enough for the President of the United States, then it’s good enough for the mayor of Santa Ana.
The mayor is hustling when he mentions the need to give birth to the Renaissance Plan. He’s been coddling OBP for nearly 7 years and the 37-story finger is beginning to read like One Blotched Project.
Ron Unz was the engine behind the recall of Nativo Lopez. Without Unz’s money, it would never had happened. The arrangement – $$$ – between Unz and Pulido rested on Vivian Martinez tossing her sombrero into the race.
Look for Pulido not to vote on any Renaissance Plan project.
why should other council members have 8 years and the mayor gets unlimited? What about Dave Ream? he is around a long time as well. Some may argue the mayor runs for election evey 2 years, but not even a great president, governor, or state senator can be in office longer than 8 years.
The charter revise regarding mayoral term limits was jinxed from the beginning because Alvarez and Bist stacked the committee with pals and family members hell bent on sticking it to the mayor.
Their political cockiness got the better of them and when Alvarez went down in flames, the mayor and his council majority responded to Alvarez & Bist’s manipulative measures by dumping the mayoral term limits from the discussion.
This brand of political payback is a disservice to the residents of Santa Ana.
A mayoral term limit is in order and the voters should have the opportunity to vote it up or strike it down.
Lot’s of chit chat here about ending Puilido’s time as Mayor but I’m interested in knowing who bloggers think would be a good choice for Mayor when Pulido leaves. Did you know that when Pulido ran for Mayor the first time he was nearly defeated by a local lawyer named Ann Andres? She had never held office and almost beat Councilman Pulido who at that time I think had been on the council for 10 years. How about a list of top 5 candidates for Mayor. In a city of over 350,000 that shouldn’t be too hard to come up with!!
Anon at 10: 14
Let’s start with your 5 top candidates for mayor.
10:14,
Great question! Now this thread is really going to take off. If Pulido were to take leave of us tomorrow, who would run for his office? Who would be worthy of support?
A few names come to mind. Tom Lutz, the retired council member. Armando de la Libertad. Rob Richardson, who is currently on the Santa Ana School Board. Oscar Garza, a past candidate for the Santa Ana School Board. Winston Covington, a neighborhood activist. Mike Garcia, who is currently on the city council. Hmmm…how about Tim Whitacre?
I wish there were more Latino names to add to this list…perhaps our readers can add a few?
Why is not term limits for council “repeal” not on the list?
Teresa Saldavar…local businesswoman..she could self-fund her campaign, Rueban Martinez..local businessman..he would get a lot of free publicity and is popular…Pat McGuigan…former councilwoman…is very popular in the Riverview West neighborhood and could get her neighbors to help her campaign…America Bracho(sp??) of Latino Health Access…she would have an army of local volunteers to walk door to door and knows lots of rich people to give her contributions…Art Pedroza…I know he might not want to run but Art could bring some fresh ideas to the table.
Since this is a wish list, I’d like to add Lynette Verino and second the nod for Armando de Libertad.
Art expressed he’d like to add more Latino names. I’d wish his list would have included one woman.
Mike Garcia would make an excellent Mayor, he has gotten more done for Ward 6 in one term than Pulido has done for 12 years. And he is firmly for term limits.
Lynnette Verino would make an exellent choice, she is truly a pro-neighborhood person.
Heck we don’t even need a Latino, how about outgoing Senator Joe Dunn. He needs a position, I think he may be th man to turn Santa Ana around.
Or, just to show I am open minded for a Republican, I believe Oscar Garza is a good choice. He is honest, has some teriffic ideas, and would work hard to get it done.
Of course how about you Art, or Claudio Gallegos? Reading both of your stuff, I think either one of you would make a visionary Mayor fr Santa Ana. Claudio especially, he kind of reminds me of Antonio Villaraigosa that Santa Ana could use. What do you say Art or Claudio, would one of you run?
“Just this week SCAQMD shut down the demolition of the building at 10th & Broadway because Harrah failed to 1.)abate the asbestos at the site; 2.)was caught illegally disposing hazardous waste at a county landfill; and 3.) workers at the site were not equipped with the proper outwear for abating asbestos while demolishing a building.”
It took 3 days to shut down this site even though proof was presented that asbestos was on site as well as lead and even though there are schools such as El Sol Academy at 1010 N Broadway and OCHSA at 1010 N Main.
City staff was reluctant to shut this down and a certain person from the City Managers office promised to attend a meeting at the site Friday Morning and never showed up.
Our city and it’s kids deserve better.
I would have hoped that having Miguel Pulido on the board at AQMD would have resulted in better oversight.
“The Mayor mentioned the need for several terms in referrence to the Renuissance Plan at the end of the last Council meeting”
Miguel Pulido was first elected to City Council in 1986 and is currently serving in his SIXTH term as Mayor.
This city is indeed in need of a Renaissance Plan in which to bring in new business, new investment,tourism,a sense of pride in the community and revitalize our core while preserving historic structures and increasing our tax base.
Our crime rates are going up,our tax bases are going away and down, our streets are crumbling our schools are failing the children, our employees are demanding raises and the city is operating at a 13 million dollar deficit.
Time for real change.
Art..you suggest Winston Covington but isn
It was Oprah, not Dr. Phil.
Latino Leaders for Mayor that have a chance of winning:
Rueben Martinez
John Palacios
Sal Tinajero
Alfredo Amezcua
With names like Armando de la libertad (failed assmbly candidate and council candidate), I will stick with Pulido.
I vote for Sen. Joe Dunn
This is another bad idea. Voters should be allowed to vote for whom ever they like. That is a democracy.
If voters decide they want Mr. Pulido and he gets re-elected then that is the correct result. If you think voters are not smart enough to choose their representatives, then go live in a monarchy.
And, if you don’t like Mr. Pulido vote for another candidate and tell your friends why Mr. Pulido is the wrong person to lead this City.
However, don’t rob me of my opportunity to vote for my candidate of choice.
“However, don’t rob me of my opportunity to vote for my candidate of choice.”
Thanks for your two cents Mrs Pulido.
I hope voters are willing to vote for a candidate who will lead Santa Ana into the future, I just don’t think that your husband Miguel is the right choice.
Besides his catalytic converter factory and his real estate deals just what has your husband done for Santa Ana lately?
Homicides -up
Deficit -up
Bad parks and worse streets -up
“Latino Leaders for Mayor that have a chance of winning:
John Palacios
Sal Tinajero
Alfredo Amezcua “
Sal and Al have ZERO chance after supporting Claudia in her race baiting,name calling second failed attempt at Assembly.
And John should follow Dr Mijares
in his wise move out of Santa Ana so that the kids in SAUSD might have a chance of getting a decent education.
Term limits haven’t delivered what anyoe hoped for. They have, in fact, harmed the public interest.
For starters, they have done little to eliminate the permanent political class. Today’s legislators or elected officials, from whichever party, are all too often ex-staffers or relatives of the politicians the limits uprooted from office — not the citizen politicians people (especially conservatives) envisioned. And, we now have the third house — the entrenched lobbyist.
Term limits also have led to a revolving door of Assembly speakers, council members and others who are so temporary and beholden to the special interests that helped put them in power that at times they function without complete authority or any authority, for that matter.
No, I take my right to vote for whom ever I choose seriously. Apparently, Mr. Gordon does not.
I guess Miguel will be mayor forever… It seems the residents of Santa Ana do not like change. Maybe they should read, “Who moved my cheese” Change is constant and necessary. If the Latino Leaders are not up for it then Mr. Gordon you should run? Who ever decides to run has a great opportunity to take the Mayor out this time around. We need to come together if we want change. Rumor has it. Lisa Bist wants to run for Mayor. A woman would be great in this position?
I am going to make sure he stays the course with Police and Fire.
As far as term limits.
I am a Democrat. We are the party of term limits..
Miguel Pulido got on my wrong side when he backed Skippy, (Mike Carona) in the last election.
I received a Friends of Mike Carona from the Republican Party in the mail saying Mayor Pulido us democrats support Sheriff Carona. Now I remember him saying in the last meeting that he never uses his office for political purposes?
Yeah right!
As far as I am concerned he messed up big time with me.. But I also have my husband who puts his life on the line everyday to think about also.
Now here is the situation I have, I hope Miguel Pulido does get termed out because I am for Democracy. I am not for taking over an office like Hitler or how they live in Cuba.
(I feel like that now with our current administration in Washington)
Enough of that said about that though.
Tank care see you all tonight my Republican friends.
Karen A Finn
Earth to Karen:
They don’t vote in Cuba.
You can exercise your right to vote by choosing to vote for someone other than Mr. Pulido
If Tim ran he would have to come up against me.. ROFLOL.
Karen A Finn
Hmm, You mean we vote here? ROFLOL
Well i guess you got my point did you not?
Plus, if you read mine veryyy carefullyyyy you would of seen I said,
How they live in cuba!
Pulido got in hot water this year when he visited the coca farmer who became president of Bolivia, Evo Morales. Since then, Morales has copied every move of Venezuelan President-for-life Hugo Chavez, the new Fidel Castro. Both of them have moved to suspend their Constitutions and make themselves presidents for life. Does that sound familiar? Pulido is just doing what his fascist friends in South America have been doing for years…shame on Solorio, Bustamante and Christy for supporting this behavior!
I agree with Art. I have no respect for people like Bustamante, Christy, Garcia and lastly Solorio. It seems they are scared of Daddy. We cannot tolerate this kind of behavior. We need new leaders…
9:44,
Winston has a sexual addiction? Maybe he should run for OC Sheriff…
That’s a funny one Art!! I’m not joking though..he was on Dr. Phil. But you are right…that puts him in good standing with Carona.
Karen –
I heard you during public comments and I was surprised to learn you live in Orange. Last time I checked, you cannot vote in Santa Ana.
Unless I’ve missed something, why the rant about Miguel and why do you care about Santa Ana mayoral term limits?
Just wondering.
Term limits suck and it was the lazy-mans way to get change without any work. It did not work.
well, the term limits failed last night. I remember in 1994 when term limits was all the rage. Should we campaign against the charter changes to protest?
“No, I take my right to vote for whom ever I choose seriously. Apparently, Mr. Gordon does not.”
I said that where Mrs Pulido?
Your reading skills are obviously
as poor as your voting skills.
Try voting for someone who will bring real change to Santa Ana.
Someone who cares more about us citizens then themselves.
Mr. Gordon:
I have voted Mr. Pulido in the past and will continue to do so. If you are so concerned about how he governs, then vote for someone else.
What is stopping you or anyone from putting forth a candiate that can win? Is it apathy? Is it that you can’t figure out how to do it? Use your cerebral powers, my man.
Quit your belly aching and let’s see you figure out how to get a new mayor without limiting other peoples’ right to vote for their person of choice.
“Quit your belly aching and let’s see you figure out how to get a new mayor without limiting other peoples’ right to vote for their person of choice.”
Mrs Pulido,
Where have I said anything about limiting people’s right to vote?
Again, your reading skills are as poor as your choice of politicians and husbands.
Business, tourism, and the middle class will continue to leave SA, just like they are leaving NYC, LA and SF, unless security is high and taxes are low. Word of mouth beats all the civic happy talk in each of these cities.
for mayor, Lupe MOreno?
I never thought I’d see the day where Santa Ana is mentioned in the same sentence as NYC, LA and SF.
Please. Business are leaving this hick town for many reasons, none of which concern security.
Business maybe leaving cause Santa Ana id a HIGH Tax city. It was in the OCR just the other day.
KAREN says:
“I am a Democrat. We are the party of term limits..”
What kind of ignorance is this? It was a republican/conservative act to oust control of the assembly and senate from the democrats, Karen. Check out the L.A. Times Op Ed piece from 7/3/06:
“We were wrong about term limits
A conservative supporter of clipping politicians’ wings switches sides.
By Rob Stutzman” ROB STUTZMAN is former deputy chief of staff for communications for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and now works as a communications and political consultant.
July 3, 2006
THE POLITICAL landscape is always evolving. Sometimes violently (as with 9/11 or Watergate), other times gradually, through shifting demographics or economic change. Dogmas come, dogmas go, political winds shift back and forth, tossing us about.
About 20 years ago, the notion of term limits for officeholders became dogma for the center-right. Voters wanted to punish self-dealing politicians by eliminating their permanency. Career politicians out, citizen politicians in! Or so the idea went.
Fourteen years have passed since California voters approved legislative term limits, restricting Assembly members to a trio of two-year terms and state senators to two four-year stints.
Read more at LATIMES.COM
KAREN further blathers:
“Now here is the situation I have, I hope Miguel Pulido does get termed out because I am for Democracy. I am not for taking over an office like Hitler or how they live in Cuba.”
Explain how living in America (a democracy, not a “democratic world”) has anything to do with accepting term limits? or having to blidly accept someone else’s opinion without the right to debate or dissent from that opinion? It sounds like you would be more comfortable in Nazi Germany that the USA.
If you cherish being an American, maybe you should cherish the first amendment – people can have their own opinions on issues, and do not have to have them “handed to them” as in a dictatorship. Yet you think if someone is opposed to term limits they should be forced out of the country?
To the substantive issue: Term limits are a joke – it is a statement that the democratic system does not work because the voters are too stupid to vote out a bad elected official. Or that they prefer a bad elected official. So laws have to be established to “protect the voters from themselves” and to “limit the damage teh voters can do to our city/county/state/country.”
Voters certainly can pass initiatives to establish term limits, and then they are democratically established term limits, however misguided. (I will not get into how those initiatives are funded, or by whom) However, they can democratically revoked or revised as well. The debate of whether they serve their purpose or are an evisceration of the democratically elected legislative body resulting in limiting the ability of statesmen to serve in place for the next “trainee” is an important debate. The problem is that someone has sold the voters a bill of goods that term limits are somehow necessary in a democracy where the electorate is happy with the person they are electing, but those who cannot get the duly elected official out of office by a vote instead wants to get them out by limiting the elected official ability to serve in the office, thus depriving the electorate of their chosen representative.
Is that really “democracy”?
Finally, those afraid of debate are typically those who are given their ideas by someone else, or those who are threatened because they do not understand and/or cannot defend or explain their own “deeply held” ideas.
Show us you have the ability to think and defend your ideas, “Karen.” In the USA you have the freedom to say stupid things without any semblance of rational thought or intellectual reflection. But I have the right to call you out for what you say.
(mm) You asked me why I spoke???
Where you even paying attention???
Where you???
Ok, then what did I say?
Tell me?
Please I want to know!
1. You did hear who I was married to?
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. You heard why I spoke about his term limits?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm????????
Guess not???????
3. You heard what he said in the off camera session about how he never used his office for political gain???
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!
4. You heard me say something to the fact about elections campaign mailers?????
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm???????
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. You did hear that I lived and grew up in Santa Ana and I was speaking for my Mom in Santa Ana also!!!
Hmmmmmmm???????
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now then what was that you asked me?????????
Anonymous said… Quotes Me Karen yet again!!!
Yep, i love the way the right always says how Liberal the papers and the media are, but then when the papers quote how right the right are, boy oh boy you love to quote from them do you not lol.
Please if want to say that republicans are more for term limits and quote from newspapers after you call the papers Liberal all the time be my guest. If you want to trash me be my guest. I try to be Republican friends and everyone in between so get a life Anonymous said… or face me OK?
KAREN said:
“(mm) You asked me why I spoke???”
NO.
“Where you even paying attention???”
UNFORTUNATELY, YES.
“Where you???
SAME PLACE AS ALWAYS WHEN I BLOG.
“Ok, then what did I say?
Tell me?
Please I want to know!”
I, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, ARE STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
1. You did hear who I was married to?
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WRONG – YOU ARE MARRIED TO A POLICE OFFICER, WHICH YOU FREQUENTLY ALSO DESCRIBE AS A “FIRST RESPONDER”.
2. You heard why I spoke about his term limits?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm????????
Guess not???????
YES: PULIDO OFFENDED YOU BY SUPPORTING MIKE CORONA. SO YOU ARE HOPING PULIDO TERMS OUT, BECAUSE HE OFFENDED YOU SO MUCH BY ENDORSING CORONA. OF COURSE, PULIDO CANNOT TERM OUT WITHOUT TERM LIMITS, SO YOU WANT AND NOW ENDORSE TERM LIMITS.
GOSH – ANYONE YOU KNOW AND LIKE EVER ENDORSE SOMEONE YOU DON’T LIKE?
BY THE WAY, MS. “DEMOCRAT” – THE REEPS PUSHED THROUGH TERM LIMITS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO OUST DEMOCRAT WILLIE BROWN FROM THE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER POSITION. SO AGAIN, EXPLAIN HOW DEMOCRATS ARE THE PARTY OF TERM LIMITS?
3. You heard what he said in the off camera session about how he never used his office for political gain???
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL POLITICIANS ENDORSE OTHER POLITICIANS. PULIDO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS, AND YOU HAVE NEVER GONE BALLISTIC BEFORE, HAVE YOU? ARE YOU COMPLAINI9NG ABOUT OTHER POLITICIANS ENDORSING? WHAT ABOUT CORREA?
4. You heard me say something to the fact about elections campaign mailers?????
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm???????
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH – I WAS ABLE TO DECIPHER THAT POINT AS WELL. STILL DOESN’T ADDRESS ANY OF THE ISSUES RAISED. SEE #3 ABOVE.
5. You did hear that I lived and grew up in Santa Ana and I was speaking for my Mom in Santa Ana also!!!
Hmmmmmmm???????
Guess not!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now then what was that you asked me?????????
I ASKED YOU, IN ORDER:
a)What kind of ignorance is this?( YOUR COMMENT THAT “I am a Democrat. We are the party of term limits..”
b) Explain how living in America (a democracy, not a “democratic world”) has anything to do with accepting term limits? or having to blidly accept someone else’s opinion without the right to debate or dissent from that opinion?
C)Yet you think if someone is opposed to term limits they should be forced out of the country?
D) Is that really “democracy”? (TERM LIMITS DEPRIVING VOTERS OF THEIR CHOSEN REPRESENTATIVE BECUSE OF A MALCONTENT WHO CAN’T FIND A CANDIDATE THAT CAN BEAT THE INCUMBANT)
SO “KAREN” – YOU WANT CONGRESSIONAL AND SENATE TERM LIMITS (FEDERAL) – WANT TO GET RID OF LORETTA SANCHEZ AND BARBARA BOXER AND DIANE FEINSTEIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SERVING TOO LONG?
If anyone one wants to talk to me you come out of hiding behind of your big republican head and talk right or do not answer me.
You hold no water with me at all. You are a scared rat! Period!
You have no say so!
You hold no vote!
It is like I said before I have more of a vote than you do!
At least I have the guts to say who I am.
What a bigger person I am than you.
So until (Anonymous) can come out of hiding sorry your words mean nothing!
First responders Wife
Hmmm, so I guess you consider the ones that were murdered in the World Trade Center not First Responders?
They were POLICE and FIRE both known as First Responders!
I will say this to you once more because you were not paying attention at the Council Meeting and you proved it lol..
“In the off camera session were YOU THERE?”
HELLO!!
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
If you were he said “he had never used his office for Political gain”, that is one of the reasons he gave for him taking his name off the Charter!
I wanted him to know on camera if he wants to lie about using his name and office I will call him on it every darn time. But I will call him on it when people can see him.
I swear you really need to pay attention. You once again proved to me you have no clue what I was talking about! I do not mean to be nasty but you came at me first and you asked for everything you get if want to go at me with a no name and not have a clue what I was talking about. Plus Loretta does have term Limits lol.. 2 years.. Every 2 years…