Interesting evening in Santa Ana – wish I could have been at tonight’s City Council and School Board meetings. However, I did receive reports from a flock of pajaritos – so here are the highlights:
Congratulations to our co-blogger Sean Mill! He is now a member of the Santa Ana Planning Commission. Only one person showed up to disrespect him – and of course that was Debbie McEwen. Her friends all went to the Santa Ana School Board meeting instead.
Other bloggers from our team who made it onto Santa Ana commissions include Luis Rodriguez, whom I will be serving with on the Housing & Redevelopment Commission, and Claudio Gallegos, who ended up on ETAC. I know that Luis and Claudio will do a very fine job, as will Sean. I think I can speak for Sean when I say that we have been out in the wilderness for a very long time and it is nice to be back in the fold.
A very big thank you to the city council members who appointed us – in my case gracias to Michele Martinez. Sean was appointed by Sal Tinajero. I am not sure who appointed Luis and Claudio.
I am also told that Nelida Yanez, who ran for Ward 4 this year, will join me and Luis on the Housing and Redevelopment Commission.
One other point of interest at tonight’s city council meeting. Councilman Sal Tinajero introduced a motion to select a new Mayor Pro Tem – but David Benavides immediately went into full puppet mode as he countered with a motion to suspend Sal’s motion for 30 days. New councilman Vince Sarmiento went along with that and the damage was done. Now Carlos Bustamante can continue to say he is the Mayor Pro Tem while he campaigns for the 1st Supervisorial District.
Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez countered by honoring former Councilman and current opponent to Bustamante, Brett Franklin, for his years of service to the council. I am told that she also excoriated the infamous Honda deal that has become a political albatross for Bustamante. FYI – Franklin has told me that he is going to run for Bustamante’s council seat in two years. I am also told that John Acosta is considering a run for the same seat. No matter what, you can pretty much bid Bustamante adieu at this point. He is pan tostado.
Now on the to school board. It appears that the district and the trustees put together a rating system for the candidates they interviewed tonight. Those with lower scores were the top candidates (sort of like when you play golf).
Here are the results of tonight’s candidate interviews:
Rank# Score# Name
1st 7 Jose Hernandez
2nd 20 Roland Lujan
3rd(tie) 22 Narinder Mahal
3rd(tie) 22 Patricia Olvera
4th(tie) 23 Mark McLoughlin
4th(tie) 23 Oscar Garza
5th 24 Shane Barrows
6th(tie) 26 Frances Williams
6th(tie) 26 Yvette P. Aguilar
7th(tie) 37 Cecilia Aguinaga
7th(tie) 37 Ralph Arroyo
Here is what I have been told about the frontrunner, Jose Hernandez: he is a defense attorney with a practice in downtown Santa Ana. I believe his wife is an attorney as well. He is a product of local public schools and I believe his children all attend local public schools. Fancy that. He is bilingual and he has done work for immigrants. Wow! He sounds almost too good to be true!
I am told that it is likely that Hernandez will be announced as the replacement for Sal Tinajero at the next school board meeting. Congratulations Mr. Hernandez! Good luck – send us a bio and a head shot and we will write a post introducing you to our readers. You may email me at apedroza@earthlink.net.
As for the Dancing Scotsman, it turns out he is more of a Dancing Irishman. Sorry Mark! I tend to get the Celts confused. By the way, little know fact, those of us who share Spanish ancestry have a few Celts in the Old World too – the fiery independent people of the Basque province in Spain.
Congratulations to Art, Claudio, Luis and Sean from the OJ! I hope you continue to provide your readers with insightful and hard hitting posts.
Yes, it’s true. Three of the four school board members ranked Jose Alfredo Hernandez as their #1 choice to replace Sal Tinajero. The board convenes tomorrow evening to vote on the appointment and it’s certain Mr. Hernandez is Sal Tinajero’s replacement.
This homegrown attorney attended Edison Elementary, Lathrop, Santa Ana High School and is a Century graduate. He substitute taught in our district while he worked his way through Whittier Law School. One of his children attends MacArthur and another is settled in at Thorpe. He recently opened his own law office in downtown Santa Ana and his youngest child is five months old.
It will be good to have board member who has children enrolled in our schools, and as he mentioned, several nieces and nephews as well.
He’s young and full of good energy.
All in all, it’s been a good day for Santa Ana.
It will be great to see a homegrown lawyer and father of four dedicate himself to improving our school district.
Mr. Hernandez clearly was voted much higher than the others.
It would be strange if the votes changed much tomorrow when the trustee appointment is supposed to be official.
Yay, Brett Franklin for Council – 2008.
The process worked last evening. Any tampering, at this point, by school board members, would smack of political tinkering.
Candidate Hernandez garnered three #1 rankings. And from I sit, that’s a board majority.
Art
you forgot to mention, Claudia Alvarez stated in response to McEwen’s concerns re Seans appointment….
“Sean needs to start telling the truth”
She already knows that he’s a liar
“I only supported him because my colleague wanted him.”
Just another example of political horsetrading.
Wow! there’s a warm fuzzy introduction, and that’s from a councilwoman from your own camp
I was reminded that Sean was removed from a commission in the past and that Council will be happy to do it again.
For #5
Truth? Now that’s a good topic for a philosopical discussion.
The record shows only one person spoke in oppostion of Sean’s appointment. And that individual has been severe and harsh in her posts on the Juice and SA Cits as well. I think Councilmember Alvarez’s comments about “truth” should apply to McEwen as well.
Between Sean’s confirmed appointment as Planning Commissioner and the school board’s clear decision of a #1 candidate to replace Sal, the city phone lines must be burning this morning.
Ah, the times they are a changin’.
Just to make some waves.
Mostly posting on the OJ by staff bloggers, have been critical of the city of Santa Ana
I think Sean Mill will help bring much needed transparency to the city.
Last night was a good night for the district and the city. There is now a glimmer of hope that independent decision making will evolve through support from
1) the latest new SAUSD board member,
2) our new city council members,
3) new city commissioners, and
4) the formation of a more forward thinking gang prevention task force.
I was pleased to witness a break from the cronyism.
For #5
The council unanimously approved Mr. Mill’s appointment.
And since we’re talking “facts.” Who are the councilmembers that confided in you they’d be happy to remove Mr. Mills?
It’s a little chilling on the outside. Isn’t it?
I agree with #8. I think Sean will bring the much needed transparency to the city. I wish him the best of luck in his new position.
The appointment of Jose Hernandez is very exciting. I understand he outshined all the other candidates last evening. I was delighted to learn, on the OJ, that three of the four board members ranked him #1.
I wish Mr. Hernandez the best of luck as well and I look forward to seeing him on the board dias on Jan.23rd.
#5 aka Debbie,
Claudia was 100% behind Sean. She, like you, never mentioned Sean’s name. Because you (Debbie) were such a poor speaker she thought you were talking about Claudio Gallegos.
She knows that you (Debbie) hate Claudio too. So be sure and state the facts as they actually happened. If you need clarification as to whom Claudia was referring feel free to ask her.
Your (Debbie’s) attempt to derail Sean’s appointment was pathetic. You (Debbie) claimed to be representing a whole bunch of folks while speaking, but you only mentioned your pal the felon Tim Rush by name.
Why couldn’t Tim speak for himself? Doesn’t his ankle bracelet allow him to travel all the way to City Hall?
Congrats to Sean and the rest of the folks at the OJ for their appointments. Makes us proud.
Sean
Claudia openly declared you a liar and no amount of double talk,bobbing and weaving, dancing, or smoke and mirriors will change that. You even lie when it has no meaning whatsoever. Like claiming you NEVER blog anonymously.
I’m sorry I missed the look on your face when you were told how many people phoned City Hall to register their digust for your nomination.
I’m sorry I missed the look on your face Debbie when the council unanimously approved Sean’s appointment.
#12 aka Deb McQ
Just because Claudia Alvarez claims Sean is a liar, doesn’t make it true or accurate.
Sorry I missed the look on your face when French Park’s traffic plan was shot down in the U.S. courts.
#14
It is obvious that you are so ignorant and hateful that you haven’t noticed that there are thousands of residents forced to continue living in the congested, dangerous, noisey, chaos of cut through traffic in a number of neighborhoods. But of coarse you idiot, you never gave the rest of the citizens or their comfort a passing thought.
If there is room in your tiny, spiteful, cesspool of a mind, try to think of the children of Wallace Davis School, and the folks living in the already congested French Court neighborhood. Ask any Mother on the street, she will say she wants the plan back.
What kind of a jerk would rather see three neighborhoods suffer with an extra 15,000 to 20,000 cars a day just to take a shot at me.
You really are sick
Debbie McEwen
#15 & 16
Your tirad was expected, however it doesn’t alter the fact “your” traffic plan violated the civil rights of others. That was the court’s findings.
It’s no state secret that you horse traded with the mayor and certain council members to press your designed traffic plan through. Your days of backroom deals have come to a close.
Your hateful posts warrants no further response. Counseling might help you deal with your suppressed anger. I pray you find the peace you seek.
#17
Just wanted to clear up your confusion
1.The French Park/French Court Traffic Plan did not in any way, shape or form violate the civil rights of others.
What the Court actually found was, the “polling” method that the City had used for every single traffic plan in place today was a violation.
2.The neighbors that pursued the implementation of the traffic plan followed the onerous, 12 month. criteria just like all the other neighborhoods that applied for traffic relief. The City made the rules and the timeline, and the neighbors followed them. Period
Now let’s recap….
The traffic plan itself didn’t violate any civil rights.
No secret deals were made with certain Council members.
No backroom horsetrading was done with the Mayor to push something through.
Lastly, counseling may help you overcome your conspiracy paranoia.
Pray you can overcome your demons
Somewhere between posts #15-18 is the truth.
I know the city was sued and lost; what was the basis for the lawsuit? Furthermore, it’s my understanding not all residents, living within the impacted area, where allowed to vote. Is that true?
Finally, I couldn’t help notice Debbbie McEwen signed one of these posts. Isn’t this the same woman who sued the city and her fellow neighbors over One Broadway Plaza?
The basis of the lawsuit was that the process adopted by the City did not allow dwellings larger than a tri plex to poll individual addresses. For anything larger than that, the owner of the complex was polled.
Also, to clarify Mcewen, and six other board members of French Park were sued by an William Beaubeau an employee of Mike Harrah and Al and Patricia Bustamante, residents of FP
The Court ruled in favor of the board members of French Park.
#20
Thanks for the post, however there’s something unsettling about your comment. Generally the ACLU’s involvement in litigation pertains to violation of civil rights. Personally I find it intriguing the ACLU became involved in a neighbohood traffic plan.
The personal attacks launched by
#15 & #16 seems to indicates this incident was very divisive.