Chisme has it that Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero formally requested that the Orange County Sanitation District hold at least six meetings per month. Why would he do that, I wonder?
Here is what the OCSD’s website says they do, “Each day we treat approximately 250 million gallons of wastewater enough water to fill Anaheim stadium nearly three times each day. About 80 percent of the wastewater comes from homes
Press conference today by Albert's attorney and family: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jim DeSimone (@civilrightslawyerjimdesimone)
Press conference today by Albert's attorney and family: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jim DeSimone (@civilrightslawyerjimdesimone)
Press conference today by Albert's attorney and family: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jim DeSimone (@civilrightslawyerjimdesimone)
Well, I read it again, and I don't think it's "just a long screed about Cunningham." But thanks for dropping…
"Instead, it’s just a long screed about how much you dislike Cunningham. Who cares?" Well, that's a pretty good point.
Hit a nerve, eh? "None of that turns out to be true." That's what you wrote about Cunningham reporting the…
I said "sort of but not really." Just to say that the board was ruled unconstitutional as Matt did in…
Weird post, Vern. You say the judge did not rule the rental housing board composition unconstitutional...but he did. It's there…
Cunningham should just be grateful that government has given him a parasitical livelihood.
[…] See 60 Minutes’ Censored “Inside CECOT” Here! – Orange Juice Blog […]
You should change the name of this column to “Santa Ana Political Chisme.”
Poster 1,
LOL! You have to roll with what you have. I had only SA chisme today. Who knows what next week will bring?
#1, no one else covers Santa Ana politics!
OJ has the best coverage. If you want to hear about whats going on in Westminster, or Fullerton, or where ever it is you live, then please… by all means… tell us.
Art –
Your Chismes postings are informative, timely and an enjoyable read. Muchas gracias.
Nice work Art! And I’m glad you aren’t afraid to shine the light on Tinajero! You forgot to mention that they get paid $200 per MEETING at those Sanatation Board meetings! That’s at least a cool $1,200 per month for both Tinajer and Benavides and I think they can go up to 10 meetings per month! Now we know why Pat McGuigan and Alberta Chirsty were so quick to support Tax Increases being pushed by then CEO/Hippie Blake Anderson! It’s amazing how much loyalty you can buy when you are paying $200 for meetings that can sometimes last less than an hour. Nice work if you can get it! With the council full medical, council pay, auto allowance and other beni’s it’s no wonder so many people want to get elected!
#4
Informative?
Allow me to remind readers of this blog that it would be wise to take what Art presents as “fact” with a grain of salt, especially when it involves people he doesn’t like. Consider this exchange from his previous “chismes”;
He initially made this ridiculous statement;
“Chisme has it that a 13 year old was recently shot in front of Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides’ house. I am guessing he won’t be celebrating that. Any bets on when he moves to Irvine and rents a place in Ward 4?”
Then, later in the comment thread, he made this statement, presented as fact;
“OK – let’s get back to the issue at hand. A child was gunned down in Benavides’ front yard – and he ran off to DC to hang out with Bush and Cheney during Cinco de Mayo.”
When confronted with the reality that the shooting didn’t happen in Mr. Benavides front yard, and it didn’t cause Benavides and to run to DC because the shooting happened AFTER their trip, he made this curious “admission”;
“Are you disputing that a 13 year old was shot in front of Benavides’ house? Or that I got it wrong when I said it happened before he went to DC? The latter might be wrong,…”
Actually, he had the latter AND the former wrong. He had it ALL wrong.
I challenged Mr Pedroza to issue a retraction. And on the main page of this blog, not in the comment thread. Then he went silent.
So that’s the way our informed, credible source works. Journalists get fired for such innacuracies and missstatements. In the blog world it’s different. So be it. But Mr. Pedroza holds himself out as a CREDIBLE, INFORMED, VALUABLE source of information.
When he’s talking about people he doesn’t like, I would suggest that the readers of this blog take what he says very, very lightly. He can hide behind the word “chismes” all he wants, but he clearly tries to venture into the realm of “fact”. Quite unsuccessfully.
For years the sanitation district only had 1 regular meeting a month. That is the standard.
I don’t know where the info that there are as many as 10 a month is coming from, but it has not ever happened in the last few decades. Stop fabricating.
Tinajero is a looking pretty greedy at this point. He regularly flakes on community meetings and other commitments to residents and he thinks he can take on more meetings?
As for his intent to run for higher office, when will Santa Ana residents understand that when they vote for political hacks, they get no commitment, no dedication. Sleazy politicians consider Santa Ana city council as a stepping stone to higher office.
Sal is proving himself to be one of those politicians.
#7
“Sleazy politicians consider Santa Ana city council as a stepping stone to higher office.”
Let’s face it, term limits play at least a part in this. When a councilmember knows he/she has 8 years max on council, OF COURSE their tenure becomes more of a stepping stone.
Term limits…part good, part not so good.
Art,
Your claim about Sal Tinajero wanting six meetings a month is simply not true. As I told you in our conversation earlier, a high ranking member of the 8th floor cabal went to Sal and told him that they would try to get the number of sanitation meetings each month increased. Sal said he was fine with the two meetings per month however the 8th floor staffer said they would push for the increase anyway.
It is clear that someone on the 8th floor leaked this information out in an attempt to discredit Sal. Only two people were in the room when the conversation took place, Sal and the staffer. The question we should be asking is, why is someone on the 8th floor trying to discredit Sal Tinajero?
Unlike many of his cohorts Sal Tinajero ran for public office to serve the public not enrich himself. Sal is a successful school teacher and coach. He does fine financially in his private life. He puts being a teacher ahead of being a politician. So unlike others on the city council, he isn’t a professional city councilman.
This rumor is false. It was a lie created by a member of Dave Ream’s inner circle in an effort to discredit Sal. Lets hope the person that is behind this pays for their underhanded efforts.
There is 1 monthly meeting, but members get paid for sub-committee meetings. Finance, HR, Execs, …meet, eat, make sanitation, and get paid for each get together. A flaw in AB1234 was that it did not require elected officials to disclose the amount of money paid since last meeting. Electeds should end meetings by disclosing Fire Authority $260, Sanitation District $600, OCTA $400, SCAG $800, OCCOG $300, Vector Control $100, etc…
The leak on the 8th floor is probably due to the pressure not to raise Santa Ana execs pay! Catherine Standiford was begging for raises for her and her fellow execs just 2 weeks ago. My guess is she is trying to stain Sal and other electeds. Staff should focus on their jobs (and roads)!
Sean:
Art is right about Tinajero. I heard it from an impeccable sources more than two months ago that a secretary from the Santa Ana council called the OCSD general manager’s office and said “Councilman Tinajero understands OCSD directors can attend up to six compensated meetings a month, and he would like to be scheduled for six compensated meetings.”
This is what prompted me to what about stipend hounds back in March, but I couldn’t post about it without burning my sources.
n2justice, if you don’t like our blog then don’t read it.
Yes, Art has a bias against Solorio and Benavides… and uses any opportunity he can (that comes relavently available) to blog about it.
I’m sure you’re biased against certain people. I have my own bias against certain people. It’s human nature.
I challenge you to find any news source that doesn’t have a certain political or personal bias.
I’ll give Art this though, his chismes columns do get readers, they get posters like yourself, and they bring light to issues that wouldn’t normally have light.
But, as far as biased news goes, Art doesn’t compare to William Randolph Hearst. There’s a machine in and of itself. He was like CNN on steroids. We’re just a blog. :-p
http://www.ocsd.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6332
meeting called to order at 6:30
meeting adjourned at 7:12
42 minutes
Board members are paid $170 per meeting, the maximum number of meetings they are paid for is 6 per month, plus mileage. The Chair can be paid for ten meetings per month, plus mileage.
You guys are really good on these posts! You cracked the code and figured out how this whole Council/Staff things works! You can get the straight scoop on pay for Sanitation District by doing a public records request.
Staff wants more pay..they figure out how to juice up the council pay with an agreement that they don’t attack each other in public. It’s been working like that for years. Ream finds the weak spot of each councilmember and goes after it.
Why are most of you folks hung up on one paragraph from this post? Even Art stated that this “alleged move by Tinajero was a bit surprising”
Let’s get past this and move on to more important questions, like why did Art use a 20yr old picture of Pulido?
Why is no one commenting on the real rivalry between Solorio & Tinajero that begun before either of them ran for public office? Yes, they are both opportunists.
Why does this “N2benavides” character still commenting on an old post?
Did you know that Pulido and Tinajero are teammates on a basketball team for this Saturday’s Nutrition-Fitness Fair at Valley West Godinez Gym this Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm? I’ll be surprised if big Sal suits up.
Who is the 8th floor snitch??? Any guesses???
“like why did Art use a 20yr old picture of Pulido”
Cause Miguel was such a stud back then!
“Who is the 8th floor snitch??? Any guesses???”
I’m guessing that girl up there with the glasses. She looks like she could tell you anything you want if you compliment her on her hair.
#13 Ryan “El Trabuco” Gene
Go back and read my comment again. I’m not highlighting Art’s political bias. I’m highlighting the reality that he is quite capable of getting his facts wrong, and yet holds himself up as a credible, informed source. That’s a different issue entirely.
And when given an opportunity to step up and issue a retraction, he goes silent.
“We’re just a blog”. Right. Some blogs contribute in valuable ways to our discourse and the dissemination of accurate information. And some blog writers, like Art, are capable of getting their facts wrong and then not owning up to it. In what way is this a valuable contribution to this city?
And #15, I’m not David or his “Esposa”. THAT’s the best rebuttal you can offer to my comment? I find it humorous that you’re asking someone to “stop hiding behind your fake name” and yet you post anonymously. Priceless.
“Journalists get fired for such innacuracies and missstatements”
Yet when you go the n2justice blog, n2justice appears to be a promoter for barack obama. but just last week barack obama claimed that 10,000 people died in the kansas tornado.
http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/05/obama-slips-up-on-tornado-death-toll.html
still not a word from n2justice.
hypocrite
“I’m highlighting the reality that he is quite capable of getting his facts wrong, and yet holds himself up as a credible, informed source.”
CBS is the same way and they’re still in business. :-p
“I find it humorous that you’re asking someone to “stop hiding behind your fake name” and yet you post anonymously.”
If that’s the case, I’d be curious to know who you are as well.
“still not a word from n2justice.
hypocrite”
Methinks n2justice isn’t “in to justice” as much as he/she claims to be.
#22
Diverting attention away from the reality that Art got his facts wrong and won’t retract by changing the subject doesn’t amount to a serious rebuttal of my comment. That’s simply a bait and switch. Nice try though.
#23
Yes, many of our respected news sources have taken a hit because of their reporting errors. And they issue retractions on their pages or over the air. What part of that difference don’t you understand.
Art got his facts wrong. Fine. So just encourage him to write a retraction instead of changing the subject. I actually think you’re probably the writer on this blog that deserves the most respect. So just ask your colleague to step up. Be a part of making this blog better.
And what does who I am have to do with ANYTHING? You engage in debate with other people who comment here based on the merits of their arguments without needing to know who they are. Why should I be different?
#20
Maybe you are right. Just look at all that puffy hair he had back then 😉
“And what does who I am have to do with ANYTHING? You engage in debate with other people who comment here based on the merits of their arguments without needing to know who they are. Why should I be different?”
Inquisitive minds want to know. :-p
The info about Tinajero is not false, and several people on the 8th. floor knew about it, not just the person in the room with him. And, several people over at OCSD also knew about it, and commented on it, too. Remember, people talk, comments are made, and information is spread. That’s why there is no such thing as a secret.
#26
Then ask EVERYONE ELSE who posts comments here to reveal who they are. But then we all know that’s not how the blogosphere works.
-I actually think you’re probably the writer on this blog that deserves the most respect.-
Hey- what about me?
#29
LOL…I remain hopeful.
Jubal, et al,
Art is not correct in his assertion. Sal was not the person who initiated the inquiry about the number of meetings. One of the 8th floor flunkies went to Sal about this and took it upon themself to inquire about this.
Let me make this clear, Sal did not inquire about increasing the number of meetings nor did he seek them. This is simply being done in an effort to discredit Sal.
Again, the question we should be asking ourselves is, why would one of Dave Ream’s right-hand flunkies be attempting to discredit Sal Tinajero?
Print a retraction? Are you serious? This is a blog my friend…not a newspaper. Did you ever notice that when an outsider becomes an insider (Sean and others) all of a sudden the things that would have been condemned before now become ok? Maybe Sal didn’t ask them to call…but wink wink nod nod ….it gets taken care of on his behalf by an ever so eager staff so he doesn’t HAVE to ask…Why doesn’t Sal tell the San. district he refuses to take the pay (like Sean from the Fullerton Council does on with his water board money.) You say he’s a rich school teacher and money doesn’t matter to him so let’s prove it Sal old buddy by not taking ANY pay for the meetings! Don’t hold your breath and now that Sean is on the inside on the Planning Commish. expect him to defend his new boss! In defense of Sean…he’s not the first and will not be the last to be seduced by power. My point is not that it’s not unique just that it’s the same old same old…new actors..same problems. Soon enough a new Sean will rise up and rebel against the new Council majority…and so it goes..
#32,
Nobody ever said that Sal Tinajero was rich. What I said was that he is a successful teacher and coach and his wife is in the medical industry and he does not need to pad his income with the little stipend he receives from his service on these boards. That being said, he is entitled to that money if he serves on the boards.
Dave Ream’s flunky approached Sal about this and made the suggestions. Sal never asked for this or directed anyone to do this. This was done by the flunky and then leaked in an effort to discredit Sal.
This is another attempt by Ream and his overpaid flunkies to play politics in our city. This is pathetic.
I think Pulido looks kind of cute with his pouty lip. It’s so French. Either that or he looks like Bucky Beaver.l
n2whatever,
I spoke to another source tonight. The 13 year old was shot across the street from Benavides’ house. I am told that his wife wants to move. Can’t blame her. Good luck talking David into it. His political ambitions come first.
35 and 36;
Again…Art didn’t say that the shooting happened “near” David’s house or 417 feet from David’s house. He said it happened in front of his house. Then he said in the comment section that it happened in his front yard. Then he claimed that it happened before Benavides and Bustamante went to DC, when it actually happened after they returned.
Now he says “across the street”. David doesn’t live on Townsend Street, so how could it have happened “across the street”?
Now what part of those factual errors don’t you understand?
n2 roman reyna,
what part of factual error don’t you understand about your pal davids lie to the voting public about term limits? we all know that just like david you will avoid answering the question. maybe one of the blog writers here will post davids home or cell phone number if you just keep ignoring the question.david has been a joke as a councilman and has done squat to curb crime as his campaign mailers claimed. he also took money from builders while he was on the planning commision. please art, turn a bright light on david as our community has to many kids killed and bad schools and streets and no hope because of david.
# 37
potato-pototo
tomato-tomoto
its all semantics my dear friend.
so glad you hold art to a higher standard than your pal david.
david lied about term limits.
will you hold him accountable?
Did you notice that the old Sean Mill…the one before he got appointed to the Planning Commission and started going on political junket’s to San Diego…used to talk trash on the City Gov. and it’s corruption but now that HE is on the inside you never hear him talk trash on his boss Sal or the rest of the NEW group of usual suspects! I liked the old Sean better! Maybe someone will slap him around or throw a bucket of cold water on him and bring him back from the sad place he has drifted into….We miss you Sean!!!! Come back to us…
Since I was only public person present at tonight’s Safety Commission meeting no the eight floor and because the Benavides issue was in depth discussed, I know that Pedroza is liar.
What I like about Sal is that he always puts the youth first in his priorities! He’s the one who really cares about kids! I have not always agreed 100% of the time with Mr. Mill but I believe he is an honest young man who loves Santa Ana! Now let’s stay positive and work together!
Art P. #5 # 12 and #27. The Orange County Sanitation District is a board as I undersatnd.It is made up of several members. What sense does it make for Sal individualy to formally request the board meet six times a month instead of the two they meet now.Would the rest of the board say ,yeah we are meeting once or twice a month now but because Sal is requesting it, let us meet six times a month so Sal can be conpesated for six meetings as Javal’s source said.The meetings of up to six a month are if business requires it.If there is no business to address why would the board want to meet more than necessary. I doubt they would meet just because Sal is requesting it.If meetings can be increased only by a board member’s request without any real business to discuss then our collective worries are much bigger than one board member.It would be that organisational system that should be questioned.I tend to believe that it was an intended action to embarrass Sal. Sean is saying Sal is denying he requested the increase in meetings and it makes no sense for him to do so if there is no business to conduct.
n2reyna,
See post 36. End of story. When is Benapuppet going to support mayoral term limits and ward specific council elections, like he said he would?
Mr. Lomeli,
It does look like Sal was set up to a certain extent. I have no axe to grind with Sal. I told him from the beginning not to take ANYTHING from the city. You cannot trust the Reamers.
Poster 41,
Stanley, did you wear your poncho to the meeting?
I would trust the factual assertions of city staff before the armchair quarterback analysis of a Sean Mill or Art Lomeli.
Nobody has to try to embarass Sal Tinajero, he does that fine all by himself.
#47 . What makes you believe they are factual staff assertions?They are not defending the atatement.Sal is saying the atatement from staff is false.Your defense of that statement is worse armchair quarterbacking analysis than Sean and I.Sal did not take any action to embarass himself here.Your defense of this staff action is embarassing to you though.
#44
Art, I’m not Roman Reyna. I have no idea who that is. That’s the corner you crawl into when confronted with factual errors? Pretty sad.
N2benavides,
nobody else does either.
“factual errors” = splitting hairs
Move on w/your life, get over it.
Tackle a real issue and quit defending the “bullet head” or is he incapable of that too?
CQT96
Since when does the difference between being correct and being incorrect constitute “splitting hairs”?
And since when is posting falsehoods about an event and what that person did after said event not a real issue?
Dear Art L.,
They way these boards work is that you get paid for the regular board meetings and committee meetings but the Chairman or CEO can also meet with individual members for lunch or coffee and count that as a paid meeting. So when staff says he Sal, how many meetings do you want or we will try to get you 6 or more meetings they have the power to make that happen. Same on the Water board, and to a lesser extent the Toll Road Board.