The hyperbole was flowing alongside the hot chocolate and coffee at tonight’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the City Place in Santa Ana. The entire Santa Ana City Council and Mayor Miguel Pulido showed up to listen to Don Cribb blather about how the City Place was somehow multicultural.
You would have thought that the City Place was going gangbusters, but as we wrote recently, they are having a heck of a time selling their overpriced homes. The O.C. Register reported that they have “sold 70 of the development’s 185 homes.” Not good!
But the City Council, and Cribb, were in full denial tonight. They each got up and made it sound like the City Place is going to save the city. Councilwoman Claudia “Clownia” Alvarez even mentioned the Renaissance plan! It was sickening.
It was funny however to hear Councilman Carlos “Space Commander” Bustamante say that he used to ride his bike on the dirt lot that preceded the City Place. I’m sure he was patrolling for immigrants. Councilman Sal Tinajero then got up and said he grew up without a bike! Alvarez did not mention what sort of broom stick she used to fly around on.
The evening was somewhat festive, with free cookies and brownies and poinsettia plants, but then it started raining right before they turned on the lights on the Christmas tree.
There were a bunch of white carolers there from the O.C. High School for the Arts. I guess that was the diversity Cribb was talking about. None of them were Latino so that was pretty diverse in Cribb’s nutty opinion.
I also overheard that the ornaments on the City Place tree have been disappearing. Imagine that – the ornaments have been getting jacked. Who would imagine such a thing happening in Santa Ana?
I took a long hard look at the City Place the other day, with my friend the Planner. He had to agree with me – the place is seriously flawed. When you walk up Main St. to the center, you see the back of the stores! I kid you not. You see trash piled up and you see utility pipes. How stupid! You would have thought they would have had double entrances to these stores, or at least put in show windows on Main St.
They also planted trees that drop those annoying spiky balls all over the place. I guarantee that before long some old lady will slip on one of these and sue the developer!
And I feel very bad for the poor boutiques under the City Place lofts. They are TINY. And most of them are hidden from view by those annoying trees. They are a disaster in the making.
So does this development signify a new Santa Ana? I don’t think so. In fact a lot of people drove in tonight and then drove out due to a lack of parking. Pulido drove off in his hybrid car. You know, the one the AQMD lets him use for free – even though he still collects an auto stipend from the city.
I wonder if the City Place Christmas tree will have ANY ornaments left on it by Christmas Day? And when will the taggers discover all the unmarked walls in this center?
Well spoken Art. Sounds like a huge waste of an evening. Did you notice that on the Main st. side of Corner Bakery someone must have screwed up because they have patched in some kind of pipes gas i think but I was driving by and could not tell for sure) and patched holes and painted with mis-matched paint on that West side of the building. I mean it’s brand new and already looks like some of the crap on South Main street! Is Cribb still alive? Why is she still giving speeches?
Your a good writer OJ,
As a long time Santa Ana Resident
Im glad to see it.
However, As I am an artist/advocate
of the downtown arts district,
And the Renaissance plan in general,
It would appear that we two
fall on very different sides
of the Santa Ana culture issue.
(That is… I get the impression your against it.)
I say this because I’ve been reading
your previous blogs
and you talk about the Artists village being
a “pipe dream” and a “waste” of money
that would have been better spent
on parks and Libraries.
Speaking only for myself,
If Santa Ana had a dozen
new such parks and libraries
I’m quite sure
I’d never want to set foot in one.
Maybe other people want them,
but Id rather see a corridor of
little shops and galleries
all the way to the courthouse.
As far as your earlier comment
about the De-Mexicanization of fourth street
I’m not sure anybody wants that.
But if it could be a little more like Alvera street
and a little less like Tijuana,
It would definitely be more palatable
for everyone… (just my opinion)
Im no fan of Mr. Cribb,
All I know about him is that
the theater group that performs
at his place is really bad.
(It is cool that he knew Hockney though)
Of course, maybe you and I want the same thing.
Maybe your just so cynical
about anything ever happening
that I’m totally misreading you.
If thats the case, don’t give up hope…
But if you are in fact Anti-Arts village,
than I at least can look forward to debating with you.
Nice Post BTW.
OCHSA’S student population may be diverse in a variety of alternate lifestyles, however it has failed to outreach, capture, and sustain Hispanic students. This is another example of Pulido throwing in excess of $1.5 million at OCHSA to entice them to move to Santa Ana. And OCHSA shows their appreciation by dissing the Hispanic Santa Ana student.
Wasn’t Polly’s Pies previously sitting on the vacant land the Space Commander mentions as his personal playground?
Poster 2,
New parks and libraries would be a wonderful addition to our city, but don’t worry – I doubt Pulido and company will ever push for them.
Actually, we are working on adding a writer from the Artists Village. I think at this point we need to join forces to improve our city. But Cribb’s mission is not a good one. He clearly disdains Latinos and our culture.
Thank you for the kind words. I hope you will keep reading the Orange Juice!
Too bad the ornaments got nripped off. Must be those OCHSA holligans.
I doubt Carlos ever rode a bike…he had his daddy’s limo drive him around!
I enjoyed the ceremony, these little things help keep this city alive.
man, Art that sounded racist. I am sure that you did not mean to but it sure did sound it. Why would you care if the young people who were singing were white?
About 4-5 years ago, I saw SAHS choir perform, I told my friend how good they were. Never did once mention their race though. Why would you?
Even the way you put it is weird…”a bunch of white carolers”
People are people. This is the US. We have people of all races here. This kind of talk is polarizing don’t you think?
I
Carlos and poster #10,
It is NOT multicultural to exclude all cultures in favor of Cribb’s white culture.
As for the carolers, poster #3 nailed it – OCHSA has absolutely failed to reach out to Santa Ana’s Latino children. I won’t celebrate that failure.
Carlos – it is polarizing for Cribb to say that focusing 100% on white culture is diverse. No, it is not.
Art you are digging yourself a bigger hole. Cribb’s white culture as you put it , is your culture too. You are American.
My response was about your comment regarding the youth who sang. Not what Crib said. YOUR COMMENT. Why would you point their race out?
The point is that Pedroza, I and others hear and understand that the reasoning for new development like City place and the Renaissance, as is is being argued, is a means to “balance the demographics” of the city. In the process little attention to actual embracing of the diversity is done. The intent is not to celebrate diversity it is to balance out a majority demographic. The emphasis in the agenda of balancing the demographics, the new develpment leaves out by design the demographic that they are attempting to counterbalance.
This is why Pedroza makes statement that offend some of the previous posters.
This balancing of demographics arguement is weak and ridiculous. If not, how about balancing the demographics in Villa Park, Irvine, Newport Coast, Floral Park and Santa Ana Heigths. Those that advocate tbe balancing of demographics should support this in order to be consistent in thought.
The apposite of what is happening in Santa Ana can be done there. Buy existing homes, relocate the previous owners and build homes people with lower incomes can afford.
People choose to live for various reasons where they live. New development to eliminate or isolate in order to balance demographics is just plain illogical and wrong.
Balancing the demographics seems to be a metaphor for remove,exclude and replace.It is a good sales pitch many have bought into, possibly unwittingly.
I swear, can this Man write anything without sounding Racist.
BTW, The 2007 Santa Ana High Choir Concert is Dec 12th
Rick,
Can Don Cribb say anything without sounding racist?
Rick,
I bet that the Santa Ana High Choir is a lot more diverse than the OCHSA carolers are…
Yes they are, and they work very well together, which something you could learn from.
thanks for the info, go to the concert on Dec 12 everyone. This youngsters are very talented.
Leave the race baiting politicos home, whether they are bloggers, artist village supporters or likewise. This is the 21st century, you would figure that we should leave all the race stuff behind.
SAHS choir IS EXCELLENT.
Rick,
Give me a break. Look at the people who write for me. This is the most diverse blog in Orange County!
I will work with anyone to improve my city, but I won’t work with the Mexican hater Don Cribb!
Carlos,
It is NOT race baiting to stand up against Mexican haters like Don Cribb. I am proud to be able to speak up for the people of this city?
My daughter goes to Santa Ana High by the way. So did my wife. And her mother.
As for leaving race behind, how can we when our city council listens to racists like Cribb?
Art, OCHSA has tried to reach out to Santa Ana residents. It offers free arts classes (art, dance, theater, voice) to Santa Ana residents every Tuesday. Also, OCHSA has high academic standards — it is one of the top academic schools in Orange County. Many Santa Ana students cannot keep up; however, OCHSA offers academic help to at-risk students.
Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! I hope the Santa Ana Highschool Choir is performing the arrangement of Las Posadas that this gringo composed for them back in 2001. Is Ms. Cobb-Woll still directing them?
Yes, She is still teaching I don’t know which songs they will be performing.