The Santa Ana City Council refuses to put ALL their Council meetings on TV. They also refuse to put archived video footage of their meetings online. Tomorrow they are meeting outside of Council Chambers, again, at Kidworks, a non-profit in Benavide’s ward. How many people will know this in advance? Why does the Council keep hiding from us?
This time the Council is meeting to discuss “hot spots.” This entire town is a “hot spot!” Their inaction and ineptitude has led us down a dark road. We have had over 75 shootings this year and at least 16 deaths due to gang violence. The Council, except for Councilwoman Michele Martinez, has been totally asleep at the wheel as the carnage unfolds.
The map to Kidworks is above. The meeting starts at 5:15 p.m. with a tour of Kidworks, which is located at 1902 W. Chestnut Ave., in Santa Ana. Feel free to show up with your “No on Measure D” signs in hand.
How do you figure Martinez is actually doing anything? The murders are still happening despite anything you say she’s doing.
For your info, the entire city council approved adding new police officers, added dollars for graffiti removal, will be voting monies for CDBG programs for diversion, and a number of efforts aimed at making a difference. The police department, under the present council’s leadership, added a gang strike force and got an injunction against one of the most violent gangs in the city.
Your assertion that the council is guilty of “inaction and ineptitude” is absolutely false in the face of facts.
Martinez held a town hall meeting, that Pulido and company did not show up for, regarding the gang problem. She called for a gang commission, which Pulido declawed by calling it EPIC. She held a widely publicized peace march against gang violence, that NONE of the other Council Members showed up for. And Martinez has been very involved in getting our youth engaged in civic affairs.
The efforts you point to have done very little. Why only one gang injunction? Why not more of them? Why isn’t the city arresting the taggers? Why are the police so slow to respond? Why are the police STILL so understaffed? Why have there been 75 shootings and 16 fatalities despite the Council’s “efforts?” Finally, if the city is removing so much graffiti, why is half the city STILL covered in it?
Face it, this Council is a joke. They accomplish very little, but all of them have injured their wrists while patting themselves on the back, except Martinez who actually has tried to make a difference.
Put ALL the Council meetings on TV!
Vote NO on Measure D!
Sounds to me like Councilwoman Martinez’s efforts have not produced results. Even Martinez’s own gang commission hasn’t made a dent in the gange problem based on your own admission.
The one gang injunction will have more impact than all the press conferces Michele has put together.
Ms. Martinez is well on her way to becoming a one term councilperson. The only way she stays on the Council is if the Mayor chooses not to run someone against her.
the entire city council approved adding new police officers
But none have yet to be hired.Crooks like Tinajero and Alvarez are too busy playing to the unions to actuall keep the residents safe.
added dollars for graffiti removal
But there is more graffiti on the walls now than there ever was. The trick here genius is to reduce the amount of graffiti on the walls, and the money spent to remove it.
will be voting monies for CDBG programs for diversion
Will be voting?
That’s a lot of information for an anonymous commenter, no?
And if they are going to dole out CDBG bucks soon, why are they playing favorites with Kidworks by having a meeting there? Oh that’s right, it’s Benavides pet project and he traded votes for it.
The police department, under the present council’s leadership, added a gang strike force
They did not add squat. They simply shifted existing manpower around, much like they do with the budget and crime stats. The strike force has actually impared the PD’s ability to respond to crime in a timely manner by taking officers off of regular street patrol.
present council got an injunction against one of the most violent gangs in the city.
Yet the number of gang related homicides is at the same level as last year, even after adding all the new police and gang strike forces and adding money for graffiti and diverson money. Something stinks in Santa Ana because this mayor and council ain’t telling the whole truth.
Instead of starting from scratch with a new (and ineffective)commission, why doesn’t Michele support programs like the Santa Ana Boxing Club?
Instead of starting from scratch with a new (and ineffective)commission, why doesn’t Michele support programs like the Santa Ana Boxing Club?
I wondered the same about Sal Tinajero. Too bad he does not do anything for the kids of Santa Ana.
“Too bad he does not do anything for the kids of Santa Ana.”
Probably because Sal is too busy scarfing his face full of food at board meetings, or at least those he attends.
DUMP CLAUDIA, VOTE NO ON MEASURE D
offer some solutions #4, what do you have in mind….more libraries? How about some marches and candlelight vigils.
I agree with Mr. Pedroza in the respect that we need to have more injunctions as part of the solution.
Anon said: “
Probably because Sal is too busy scarfing his face full of food at board meetings, or at least those he attends”
If you wouldn’t make fun of a guy with one leg, or a hair lip, or who is blind, or mentally retarded, then why would you make fun of a man who has a food addiction? I think these types of hurtful posts should not be allowed. Ready this blog makes me hungry…I think I’ll go have a late night snack:)
I think we should all take a deep breath. Crime is going to be with us for awhile due to the down turn in the economy. Also, if they stopped letting criminals out of jail at midnight in santa ana it might also help.
finally, if anyone has any leverage over the gangs it is Councilmember Martinez. She knows F troop really well and I have heard that Al Amezcua, her mentor is a former member. Hopefully, she can talk some sense into them. If not, then i think the feds will come in a clean house like they did with the Orion program a few years back.
#10
Smooth digs at Council Member Martinez and Al Amezcua.
Your posting indicates what most have been saying – Council Member Martinez is the lone council member talking about the city’s gang problem. The entire council should be working together on the gang problems besetting our community. Unfortunately they are busy building their own political alliances to better serve their own agendas.
DUMP CLAUDIA ALVAREZ
Vote No on Measure D
The take home message here is the question of televising the meetings. It does not matter where the council meets it is about the residents having access to information.
The council conducts business on behalf of the voters. It is the right, by law, for the council to keep those they serve informed.
The other arguments in the posts are there to unfocus the reader.
Mr. Lomeli:
Your comment that “It is the right, by law, for the council to keep those they serve informed” left me a bit perplexed. Where is that “right, by law . . .” located in the City Charte, State law or federal law?
And, aren’t all rights created by law (i.e., legislation)? Just seems a little redundant.
#13,
It is in the Brown Act. It provides for legal action if information is not made public.
No, not all rights are created by law. Think about it.