The differences between Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are substantial. They have some commonalities – they are both Latinos and they both serve big cities, but today we saw yet again why Villaraigosa manages to be the more effective of the two.
The L.A. Times reported that, “An ordained minister who has spent much of his career developing social service and youth programs in some of Los Angeles’ poorest neighborhoods will be named today as the city’s new gang czar, officials said.
Jeff Carr, chief operating officer for Sojourners/Call to Renewal, a liberal evangelical group based in Washington, D.C., will work directly for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as director of gang reduction and youth development programs.”
Pulido would not even allow the word “gang” to be used when naming our gang prevention commission, which we ended up calling EPIC (Early Prevention and Intervention Commission). He is so busy trying to avoid admitting that Santa Ana has a gang problem, that he has yet to take the issue by the horns.
Perhaps Pulido will note what his fellow Mayor to the north is up to and wake up…
Don’t count on it, Art. Villaraigosa has numerous “personal problems”, but he still mananges to get some stuff done in LA. Pulido just doesn’t care about anything except enriching himself and his corporate elite pals. Even as flawed as LA’s Mayor might be, our great mayor is just an embarassment. Heck, HE WON’T EVEN ADMIT THAT WE HAVE A GANG VIOLENCE CRISIS IN SANTA ANA.
And if one can’t even admit that there’s a problem…
Yes and perhaps Pulido should follow his example and morals completely and have several affairs, several children out of wed lock, knock up his current girlfriend and get a divorce as well. If Mayor Villa is the Latino communities role model – you are in serious trouble.
Right..I want to be like Los Angeles! Let’s hope things go better for them than when the L.A. Mayor and council hired gangmember Mr. “Weasel” to help stop the gang problems! Read more about it here: Don’t look to L.A. for answers…
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-noguns2jun02,1,5913410,full.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
Equating the problems in L.A. to the problems in Santa Ana is, at best, disingenuous. The size and population differences of the two cities, and the number of different gangs in each City, are so radically different, there is no comparison.
Santa Ana doesn’t need a “gang czar”, and the Mayor doesn’t deny that gangs are a problem here. He’s been around long enough to see what’s worked in the past, and what hasn’t. He also knows that the City can’t fund every single program that people think will end gang problems.
He’s working with other elected officials to help bring more $$ into the City, like the Governor’s program, that will fund some of these alternative activities. He’s also trying to get more Federal $$ into Santa Ana for cops and alternative programs. Just because he doesn’t do press conferences and public meetings doesn’t mean he isn’t aware of the problems, or doesn’t care. He just isn’t so insecure that he needs to see his name in the papers every other day.
Let’s wait and see how successful Jeff Carr is in L.A. before we make any judgments about how great a gang czar is.
Morning Coffee
I couldn’t get the above link to work without an L.A. Times membership but did find this about the last “Gang Czar” they appointed. His name was Mr. Weasel.
“Marroquin Sr. and Jr.
click to enlargeFormer 18th Street gang member Hector “Weasel” Marroquin for years was celebrated and rewarded for having turned his life around.
He founded the anti-gang organization NO GUNS and received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the city for his efforts to help steer Latino youths away from a life of crime. His champions included former state Sen. Tom Hayden.
But his arrest this week on charges of selling firearms to federal undercover officers underscored concerns long held by people familiar with Marroquin’s background that he had not left his criminal life behind.
L.A.!” L.A. Times
(For more information on Mayor Villarigosa’s last Gang Czar just Google: Los Angeles, Weasel, 18th St. Gang
and you will see what we want to avoid in Santa Ana.
We had a similar situation when John Acosta was on the city council. John was promoting a “former” gang banger to help organize a truce with S.A. gangs. Turns out the not so former gang member was still selling drugs and banging. Speaking of John Acosta, Wasn’t he the Santa Ana City Councilmember who was featured in Hustler Magazine for being a judge in a wet T-Shirt contest at a strip club while he was on the city council? Are there any Santa Ana oldtimers who remember the details on that one?
My pajaritos tell me the contest John judged was not for Hustler magazine but either Oui or Penthouse. If anyone has a copy of the article could you please post it? It’s quite interesting.
Go John Acosta, he has my vote. The women in Penthouse and Oui are much more natural, beautiful, classy and HOT!!!!!!!!!!
In all seriousness, I think former Councilmember John Acosta would be a good choice for Gang Czar. Another good choice would be former School board member Sal Medoza. Perhaps readers of O.J. can suggest other names.
Santa Ana has a gang problem and almost everyone in Orange County knows it and stays away from S.A. unless conducting City or County business. Haven’t you noticed what happens at 5 PM every evening? Workers are hurrying to leave the city. At the last EPIC meeting SAPD informed everyone that there are over 180 gangs in Santa Ana. Tell SAPD there’s no gang problem and they’ll laugh at you.
Villaraigosa’s ability to clean up L.A. in spite of his personal problems is a true testament to his leadership. He sure is cute and has a million dollar smile. Kinda Clintonesque.
Regarding John Acosta; it was a local bikini contest. Big deal.
#7,
The “former gang banger” to whom you are referring is named Art Romo. John Acosta was not the only person who was touting Mr. Romo, neighborhood leaders like Jim Walker did as well.
Mr. Romo and others in the United Gang Council did manage to create a truce amongst local street gangs and the violence and killings dropped dramatically. Romo’s efforts should be commended and derided like you are attempting to do.
Mr. Romo also created “Maldito Enterprises” which gave former gangmembers and ex-felons an opportunity to get a job and learn a trade. It was not unlike “Homeboy Industries” of East Los Angeles which was started by Father Greg Boyle.
Maldito Clothing really took off under Romo’s leadership. Their line of t-shirts were sold in numerous stores throughout southern California including Millers Outpost.
Mr. Romo has indeed made mistakes and has served his time for making them. He has also done some very incredible things in our community and he should be commended for them.
John Acosta put the lives of our children ahead of other issues. He knew that those in the United Gang Council would have a greater impact at ending gang violence than would politicians and police officers. It is this sort of vision that makes him a great candidate not only to be Gang Czar but to be Mayor or Councilman.
As for the bikini contest bruhaha, Wilson Hart tried to use this against him in a council race some years back. It blew up in Hart’s face and John received the largest number of votes in the history of Santa Ana council elections. It sent Hart into permanent retirement from politics. So if you want to go there again, go ahead. It won’t be anymore successful this time either.
What about our very own Deputy D.A., Councilwoman Alvarez? With her experience, history and knowledge, she probably has a lot to offer about gangbanging, and could really stimulate the discussion.
Isn’t Art Romo still in prison? How about his friends Ronnie Mendez and Jesse Ornelas? How do you know these people Sean? Doesn’t say much about you.
So #12, what is wrong with the my BRIEF…… as submitted to the council…. Huh??
Since you not gone post it you fucking Bolshevik you know that you are a liar….. fatso.
Hee we go again with another posting urging a local OC Mayor to act more like the LA Mayor! No one should model their approach to public office after the current LA Mayor – he is in the process of becoming a train wreck!