Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez has already succeeded in convincing the city to add their budget (or at least part of it) to their website. Now they have added more information regarding upcoming commission meetings. Her latest effort involves fitness – and it deserves mention.
The City of Santa Ana will be hosting a “Nutrition – Fitness Fair” on Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Valley West Godinez Gym, located at 3002 Centennial Road, in Santa Ana. The program includes a free lunch, which I assume will be nutritious, “Active Booth Exploration,” Dr. Galdamez, speaking about “Adopting a Healthy Life Style,” Chef Mike and Family Pride, a basket ball exhibit game (from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.), and a “Food Rainbow” Farmers Market.
Here is what the city has to say about the event, “Among ethnic groups, the Hispanic population has the highest rates of adult and childhood obesity rates. In Orange County for example the adult Hispanic population is over 60% overweight and for Hispanic Children is over 30%. In Santa Ana, the entire adult population is over 70% overweight. With these levels it is no wonder why the rates of Type II diabetes and heart disease among adults and youth in Santa Ana are going up.
The Mayor and Council have placed a high priority in combating this crisis. Through the leadership of Councilwoman Michele Martinez, the Nutrition-Fitness Fair is being developed to be a key event to serve as a catalyst and bring community energies in focus so as to take the next collective steps needed to help move the Santa Ana population into a direction of a healthier life style.”
The basketball game ought to be a hoot, as it will involve local elected officials (your chance to block Bustamante!), community leaders, and high school basketball players. I hear Michele has real game and she intends to slam dunk on her opponents! You can sponsor your favorite elected official or community leader. What an opportunity! For more information, call Jeannie Jurado, Recreation Supervisor, at 714-571-4200.
The sponsorships are donations which should be made to the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) which is where the Parks and Recreation has a non-profit 501 (c) (3) account. OCCF
Is this type of nanny state activity what the residents of Santa Ana want its city government to focus on? I wonder —-
#1,
I prefer our city government focus on issues that concern our community. The health of our community, especially our young people, is of great importance.
I would rather have them focusing on this rather than illegally closing down streets or going after vendor trucks at the behest of a handful of angry and hateful vigilantes.
Michele is funding this event with money she is raising or money out of her own pockets. Little, if any, taxpayer monies will be used. That is more than I can say for the monies wasted on the NICE committee and the legal fees run up by the pet projects of its supporters.
Sean,
Missed you at the vigil this evening
Heck, even some of what you might call the usual suspects showed up
Next week we will all be there again if you actually care to join us
Thomas,
I’ve been showing up for over 20 years. Glad to see your getting involved in the community and that your pals the “usual suspects” came out.
Who are the usual suspects? I’m asking for those of us who apparently aren’t in the loop?
#5,
The “usual suspects” are a handful of folks that you can count on to support issues and candidates that generally attack the low income and immigrant residents of Santa Ana. I choose not to use their names, but they know who they are.
#6 Are you talking about Alan Monsoor, Barbara Coe, Jim Gilchrist, etc. supporting candidates in Santa Ana? Wow. When did that happen? Who are they supporting for santa ana city council?
#7,
No, but I am talking about folks that support the beliefs and actions of the Mansoor, Coe and Gilchrist’s of the world. The “usual suspects” are Santa Ana’s answer to that cabal.
Sean, this is No. 1 again. I guess we differ on what electeds are elected to do. I see them as policy setters and they should stick to that role, I suspect you see them doing that and a lot more in the area of social work. My experience has been that when electeds get involved in such work they muck things up, eventually, including getting folks all fired up on an issue and developing expectations that get dashed because the elected has generated an expectation that something will be done by government. Often, truth be known, such community activism by an elected is more about self-promotion than it is about substance. To each his own – I just do not see electeds as having a leadership role on personal health and hygene, nor the education and knowledge. That is for Doc’s, nurses and public health officers! By the way, the Orange County Children and Families Commission (First 5) has a major initiative on childhood obesity and is trying to do a lot of educating on that topic, especially with pregnant women and mothers of newborns. Would be efficient if Ms. Martinez invited them to the table, perhaps.
#9,
I agree with you in that government is not the answer to every problem. I do think that Michele should be commended for her efforts though. She is doing this mostly on her own accord and without much help the city or taxpayer monies. The fact that she is a leader in the community lends credibility to the effort.
I too agree that anyone wishing to participate should be welcome. I don’t believe Michele is doing this for self-promotion. I believe that this is something that she truly believes in and because she is in the position of leadership that she is, she is doing something about it.
This event is Michele’s doing, not the city’s.
According to the city website, that is the same date as the annual American Cancer Society Relay for life event, and it is also at Hector Godinez School.
http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/cda/communitycalendar.asp#May
Michele is still considered “Government” in her role as Councilwomen.
Looks like the city is paying for this one despite what Art says.
According to a staff member, parks and rec pays fees for the facility and all the staff for the event, as well as all the staff hours going into the planning.
#12 uh Michele can’t spell guh guh government.