Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero’s father was gunned down when Sal was a little boy. It was a tragic, senseless death. You would think that this would have inculcated Sal with compassion for the families of those who die so regularly in Santa Ana due to gang violence. You would be wrong.
To date Sal has NOT said a word about the tragic shooting of a 39 year old father, in front of his two children, a few days ago in Santa Ana. The business owner was caught in a gang crossfire. He died on the spot. The Santa Ana police department has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the miscreant who shot the victim. But so far the Santa Ana City Council has utterly ignored the incident. They made zero mention of it at Monday’s City Council meeting.
Sal is not the only one who should be wincing at the news of the murder. Councilwoman Michele Martinez, who last year led a peace march against gang violence and who suggest the formation of the EPIC/Gang Commission, actually grew up in gangs. She is said to have been a member of the infamous F Troop gang. She left that life behind. But she too failed to mention the shooting at Monday night’s City Council meeting.
How can Council members like Sal and Michele ignore something that should tear at their very souls? How can they fail to take a stand? How can they ignore the children who saw their father get blown away? And why has no one on the City Council announced a college fund for these young victims?
Could it be true that the Council is ignoring this awful incident because the victim allegedly had a few tattoos? How awful! Who are they to judge this man? I hope to God that this rumor is untrue. This Council needs to address what happened. Mayor Miguel Pulido needs to call a press conference, get up to the podium, stand on a pile of phone books so he can look over the podium, and tell his people that he is sorry a man has lost his life to gang violence. And he then needs to announce a college fund for the two kids who were left behind when their daddy was murdered by a gangbanger.
As for Sal, shame on him. He more than anyone else on the Santa Ana City Council should understand what this family is going through – what those children have ahead of them. And yet he is silent, muzzled by a Mayor who refuses to acknowledge that Santa Ana has a very dire problem indeed.
Art, did you see the OC Register picture of this man’s “homies”? The look like typical santa ana gang bangers. One had a beer while remembering his hermano. Ridiculous. The man is one of them.
#1,
We do not know who they were. But they had the right to say goodbye to him. We DO know that he was a business owner and a father. And he DID NOT deserve to be murdered. That much we do know.
Great post Art. From what I hear he was a troubled man but he very recently began the gradual process of turning his life around and was leaving “la vida loca.” No one, even a hard core banger, deserves to be hit by a stray bullet. I wish some of the other posters and the councilmembers would show a little more compasion for a fallen Latino. He may have turned his life around and then help others get out of gangs if he had only lived long enough to accomplish that goal. May he rest in peace and shame on Tinajero and Martinez.
#3,
Thanks for the info. I had a feeling it was something like that. The man did not deserve to be murdered, plain and simple, and his kids have been badly traumatized by all this.
When will our Council show compassion for this grieving family? Their lack of reaction is just sickening.
Be careful, Michelle: Sal might eat you!!
Art,
What exactly would you do to eradicate gangs in Santa Ana? What exactly could have been done to prevent this murder? What IS the solution Art? Is it Pulido? Ream? Chief Walters? EPIC? The police department as a whole? Lack of parks and open space? Lack of jobs and educational opportunities? Other non-profits? LACK OF PARENTING AND PARENTAL CONTROL? Solutions Art…Instead of restating the problems and blaming in every post.
Has this blog opened a college fund for these kids?
How much did Art contribute?
Didn’t Santa Ana used to have an education slogan once upon a time?
Asking this blog to start an education fund is an idea, but why should that responsibility start w/ Art? He has his own children to raise and educate.
Is the City Council or School Board in SA too busy pandering to developers and other businesses to not bother investing in kids who opt for gang activity for extra-curriculars instead of more classes? If SA wanted to improve the gang problem, they would invest in education and in more jobs for its citizens.
Maybe Martinez and Tinajero have become a little too comfortable in public office and have chosen to ignore the tragic realities of gang violence?
You can’t acquire any intellect with low IQ.
In response to the “homies”, I really didn’t see “gang members” I saw pictures of men remembering their friend. I know plenty of young respectable men that look like that. Just because you are brown with short hair doesn’t mean you are a gang member. If they were white boys I’m sure you would not be calling them gang members. Oh, they would be surfer/skaters!
Art, I bet if Pulido echoed Tony Villar and gave amnesty to all illegal aliens, as you suggest in a more recent post, all gang violence would go away, right? Oh, wait, according to you – immigration has nothing to do with the gang problem.
Riiiiiggghhhttt.
Art, you just don’t have a clue. One minute, righteous indignation and condemnation of Pulido, Sal and Michele for not doing anything about gangs or honoring their victims. The next minute? righteous indignation and condemnation of Pulido, Sal and Michele, etc. for not being more accomodating to ILLEGAL ALIEN CRIMINALS.
How do you look at yourself in the mirror every day?
The odds of SAPD catching this mans murderer are slim to none.
SAPD can catch the criminals who stole stuff from Councilman Sarmientos car within 24 hours, but when it comes to equal protection for the brown man, where are they?
#10
Yeah sure, those guys looked nice and respectable. Drinking beer remembering a buddy…trying to think of how they are going to kill who did that. Open your eyes and quit hiding from the truth. Santa Ana is a city filled with low-lifes and gangsters…and innocent families mixed in. Unfortunately if the families would actually start caring about their children, maybe they wouldnt turn to a life of gang violence. This City is horrible.
I agree with #11, had this crime been committed by a non-brown person it would be worthy of attention.