Santa Ana neighborhood activist Tim Rush deserves accolades for his efforts with regard to restoring the famed clock on the Spurgeon tower in Santa Ana. According to the L.A. Times, ” His passion led the city’s Redevelopment Agency to allocate $5,000 to repair the clock.”
The building is located at 206 W. 4th St. “City code enforcement officials discovered dozens of people, mostly artists, living in the commercial building. The illegal dwellers were eventually cleared out. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is being renovated for office space.”
Renegade artists crashing in a building illegally? Is that part of the Artists Village concept?
According to Rush, the owners of the building, “refused to allow historical society members access to the building to maintain the clock.” Sure enough, when a “man who checked the progress of the work this week, and who said he was one of the owners, said clock maintenance “fell through the cracks.”
Well, hopefully the owners won’t allow the clock to fall into disrepair again. Kudos to Rush and the other members of the Santa Ana Historical Society for getting the clock fixed.
As an aside, Rush has been pilloried on this blog by our former blogger Sean Mill. Some of that criticism is legitimate, as Rush has been overly active in calling code enforcement on his mostly Latino neighbors, but in this instance Rush did a good thing and he deserved to be congratulated. I seriously doubt however that Mill will join in the applause…
I’m so glad to read this post! Mr. Rush has done so many things to help people and projects in Santa Ana and I love that old clock tower. I’m also glad Mr. Pedroza that you asked Mr. Mills to leave O.J. He was always bashing Mr. Rush and saying he was not a good guy. This is really quite ironic because Sean Mill was a big supporter of Convicted local politicos Ted Moreno, Tony Espinoza, Roman Palacos, Hector Oliveras, and Aida Espinoza (Tony’s wife….not sure if she was ever convicted or was just a witness for the prosecution or like Ana Vazquez and a woman named Romero who were also council candidates and friends of Mr. Moreno and whose names can be found in the trascript of the trial) This was a HUGE black mark on Santa Ana history.. Anyway, I think Sean Mill wants the world to forget he was part of the inner leadership circle of this group of convicted Felons and thinks that if he says mean things about Mr. Rush then Santa Ana residents will forget his role in helping elect FIVE convicted Felons (some didn’t get elected buy tried to). Thank You Mr. Rush for fixing the clock and thank you Mr. Pedroza for fixing O.J. by getting rid of Sean Mill who seems to have become a little cuckoo.
Art
When will you ever do the right thing?
Writing that Tim was overly active in calling code enforcement was not only untrue, but it suggests that suffering at the hands of rude, code violating neighbors is something we should put up with.
Tim did exactly what a GOOD neighbor and citizen should do when they are subjected to these violations, he called. The number of times he called is irrelevent, when the problem is solved the calls stop. Get it?
Also, why did you add the statement “mostly latino neighbors” Does it make a difference who violates, or who calls? Does etnicity some how change how loud music, or front yard parking, or a used car sales operation on a neighborhood street destroys quality of life and property values?
Instead of once again making those statements why couldn’t you just thank him for his work on the clocktower and be done?
Good for Mr Rush to push for the care of city treasures.
Is there a reason that the property owners do not take care of their property?
Maybe it is time for that clock to be a city easement. The owners don’t keep it up, and the city has paid for its repairs.
The city should take it by easement, if that if possible. Or the owners could gift / donate it to the city (or historic society) and take a tax deduction.
Art, thank you for posting something positive about Santa Ana, especially when something positive is being done by somebody you do not always agree with.
Anon #1,
And you would like us to forget that Tim Rush is a convicted felon who stole money from clients that trusted him.
You like us to forget that Tim Rush had his real estate license stripped from him by the state because of his criminal activity.
You would like us to forget that Mr. Rush wants people to be good neighbors but has trouble paying his taxes.
And for the record my not being associated with Art Pedroza and the OJ is one of the best things that could have happened to me.
Dear Anon 8:14am: You must be talking about Stater Brothers checker Ana Vasquez and sometimes realtor Noemi Romero. Both have turned their lives around and have not had contact with any convicted Felons for some time from what my pajaritos tell me.
Why the rush to judge Rush? He’s a good man and has raised funds and support for countless Santa Ana projects. I wish we could clone him. His son is also a star on an MTV T.V. show. Thanks Tim!!!
Good going on the clock project, Mr. Rush. And,if you see code infractions, you are correct in reporting them – regardless of the ethnicity of the alleged offender. Reporting suspected code infractions is not a hate crime!
Mr. Mill,
You never answer about your support for your felons and your racist mother who beat up black women while calling her “N” word.
That is prima facie hate crime.
Mr. Mill same as your mother you are racist hater.
Sean, despite all of the times that Sal is on the wrong side of issues, you want us all to look at the positive things that Sal has done.
You seem to forget that rule when it applies to Tim Rush.
#9,
I have time and again said that I supported Ted, Tony, Hector and Roman. I have never said anything to the contrary.
However you have the facts wrong in regards to my mother. She was the one who was physically assaulted by Sandra Thrower.
As far as me being a “racist hater” perhaps you can explain to all of us how that is possible. Better yet perhaps you could explain it to my girlfriend who is Black.
I see that you must have been on the late bus because I wrote extensively about this very subject right here on the OJ.
If you want to continue to throw stones, perhaps you could get some and post using your name you anonymous coward.
Sean
There was a time when you could rally a few people like yourself to continue to attack Rush on his past. The good news is, folks are so sick of your venemous diatribes and questionable politics you have lost most of your audience.
Just exactly what is the correlation between having trouble paying your taxes and being a good neighbor? Oh, that’s right, there isn’t any. Your endless attacks on Rush’s past has become so predictible it now falls on deaf ears.
Keep up the good work
BTW
If you ever stop living off your Mother you might feel the tax crunch like the rest of us.
#10,
Sal’s never been convicted of a felony and he pays his taxes.
What I want to know is why Congress is not questioning Sean Mill about his use of Steroids? I’ve seen his Roid Rage first hand and it ain’t a pretty sight! Oh..and I’m glad they are fixing the clock too. Thank you Tim Rush!
Dear Anon 1:41: I must respectfully ask you what Sean Mill’s mom, Pat Mill, beating up an African American woman and calling her the “N” word has to do with Tim Rush fixing the clock tower? The Pat Mill’s incident happened a long time ago and at that time the “N” word was commonly used by Anglo women of her class and social standing. Sean freely admits that the incident happened, and that his mom has apologized to the African American community and it is my understanding went through a sensitivity training class taught by Mr. Rusty Kennedy. We must remember that the
I agree that the tower needed some care – frankly, it doesn’t matter who alerted people to saving it. What matters is that it is repaired. That being said, kudos to Tim for his heads up action. I appreciate anyone who cares enough to point out a need, and who takes steps to rectify it.
Sean said:
“As far as me being a “racist hater” perhaps you can explain to all of us how that is possible. Better yet perhaps you could explain it to my girlfriend who is Black.”
I’ve seen Sean at countless council meetings and city events and I have never seen him with a woman of any color. I remember kids in high school without dads who would tell stories about their
“dads” incredible jobs or vacations, and when they got into high school it was “girlfriends” who went to other schools or lived out of state so we could never meet them. I guess if imaginary friends or family members help one cope with life or make them feel less racist then it’s no harm no foul. Here’s a shout out to Sean’s “girlfriend”. Perhaps “she” would like to write a post and defend her boo.
“Better yet perhaps you could explain it to my girlfriend who is Black.”
Perhaps the best evidence that you are the racist Mr. Mill, is your reference to the race for your defense.
As to your Black girlfriend?… well we all have some fetish.
As to my name?… you do not want to know who am I, Mr. Mill.
“Sal’s never been convicted of a felony and he pays his taxes.”
Prove it!… Mr. Mill.
#15,
Perhaps you should refresh on “To cast the first stone.” Meaning. Be the first to attack a sinner. Origin. From the Bible, John 8:7 (King James Version):.
John 8:7 was written about Sean Mill.
In addition to your racism Mr. Mill, I believe that you are the ANTI-SEMI.
Please save you reply asking me to tell this to your Black Jewish girlfriend.
Why does Sean Mills hate on Tim Rush, who lives in Santa Ana and wants to make it a better place for all, but then Sean Mills gives much love to Sam Romero, who does not live in Santa Ana, and his attempts to make a few bucks from the Logan/Judy Ware feud?
Anon 16
You’re right it’s not about what happened in the past with he or she did. It’s about moving forward and making this city a great place for all of us to live. I’m stocked that their fixing that clock tower, it’s a great step in the right direction.
Great post Art, I think everyone in this city: Blacks, Jewish people, racist mothers, even convicted felons, they all want that clock tower restored.
With that out of the way, why do you always have to attack not only the Artist’s Village but artists in general?
The LA times article stated: “City code enforcement officials discovered dozens of people, mostly artists, living in the commercial building”.
You wrote in your post: “Renegade artists crashing in a building illegally? Is that part of the Artists Village concept?”
Conveniently, you completely ignored this sentence right before it: “The owners were cited for allowing people to live in a building zoned for commercial use”.
The owner of the building rented to them. They weren’t renegade squatters.
The “Artist Village concept” is the best thing this city has got going for it (in my opinion). Why do you hate it so much?
#22
You are correct, Sam Romero does not list Santa Ana as his primary residence, however he owns and operates a business in the heart of the city. And that certainly qualifies him to actively participate in the day-to-day activities of the city.
What do you have against Romero, a longtime, small business owner in Santa Ana?
Art’s post is about fixing a clock tower atop one of the most beautiful buildings in Santa Ana and the discussion turns out to be about racist mothers, tax evasion, convicted felons, steroids, etc. Art’s posts went from being good to being a joke. But hey, keep’em coming Art, they keep me entertained.
Saint Chris,
I have nothing against the artists. I was once a graphic designer myself. The fact is however that the City of Santa Ana does not give a sh*t about the artists. The only reason that Dave Ream and Miguel Pulido pushed for the artists village was to de-Mexicanize the downtown area.
Furthermore, they hoped that ultimately the village would drive up property values. It was their secret hope to drive up the values so they could one day toss the artists out and put upper scale businesses in to replace them. And of course the usual luxury condos and lofts.
But the village has not in fact done much to gentrify our city or to drive up property values. It does seem to have a life of its own now.
My advise to the artists – never trust Ream or Pulido. Ever.
Art,
I don’t doubt for a second that Pulido and Ream couldn’t care less about the Artist’s Village or what any of the small businesses down there are trying to do. And im not a champion of Don Cribb or anyone who wants to “de-Mexicanize” Santa Ana (as if that would even be humanly possible?)
But you’re right, the Artist’s Village has developed a life of its own that is very alive and vibrant. And Pulido and Ream could never take the credit for creating THAT.
Im glad you see that. But I can do without the spin.
saint chris,
Good point. Sorry for the excess spin! To be honest, I write these stories so quickly that sometimes they don’t quite express what I was trying to illustrate. My bad.
Thanks for showing the good side of Tim Rush. This city needs all the helpers and positive efforts it can get!
I attended the art walk this month and it was WONDERFUL! The galleries were generous in providing refreshments and the artists took time to discuss their works. It was a fun night for our group and we’ll do it again.
In my opinion, the art walk needs to be advertised heavily by the city. It is not well known enough. The artists are a unique group and need to be supported. An artists village is a great component of this city and should be touted by city leaders as a favorite destination.
Here is the link to the LA Times article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-clock14feb14,1,2958469.story?track=rss
Poster 31,
Thanks. I also had a Times link in the first paragraph of my post.
Darn, all you guys are JERKS. The post was about fixing the clock tower, and it degraded into racism, fault finding, and personal attacks. I have no respect for any of you. You can’t even stay on topic.