The L.A. Times put Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez on the front page of their local news section today, in an article that acknowledged that “After more than two decades in office and nearly 14 years as the mayor of Orange County’s largest city, Miguel Pulido finds himself on unfamiliar ground — fighting for reelection.”
Here are a few of the juicier excerpts from the L.A. Times article:
The leader of the city of 350,000 watches over an area with urban ills not seen in other Orange County cities. Santa Ana is an arrival point for Latino immigrants, who make up much of the city and struggle with unemployment, high housing costs and a low-performing school system. Gang violence, which had been on a general decline since the mid-1990s, has resurged with nearly two dozen homicides so far this year, reaching last year’s total in September.
Albert Castillo, an organizer with the neighborhood group Barrios Unidos, has backed Martinez, criticizing Pulido for being out of touch on issues such as immigration reform, crime and poverty, and for too often favoring developers over small businesses.
“In the beginning he was a good councilman, and I supported him back then, but now he’s gone in with the good old boys and played ball with them,” he said.
Martinez, a fourth-generation Latina who grew up in Santa Ana, has styled herself as a grass-roots advocate of “the people’s agenda,” a more responsive representative of a city where the median age is 28 and where many of its problems involve youth living in poverty.
She has pushed the city to address the causes of gang violence and has opposed the mayor on the relaxing of council term limits. The city, she says, needs to do more to promote small businesses and make city services more accessible and transparent.
“I represent the majority: The majority of our kids are poverty stricken, they come from single households, and they’re around an environment that is in total disrepair like I was,” she said.
“She’s giving him a run for his money,” said Tish Leon, a parks commissioner.
Pulido better start packing it up…because it is hard to put 14 years into a cardboard box…
SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT ARE ILLEGAL……
Im sure Pulido & Alvarez have commited illegal acts themselves…
I’m sure they both came into this country ILLEGALLY (I know defenitely Alvarez did….cause that accent is certantly not from Texas)
so I guess now they are all even on “Illegal Activities”
In other words she will make Santa Ana a “Sanctuary City” like San Francisco. We have thousands of gang members in Santa Ana because of the influx of illegal immigrants that come here to no job, not speaking English, and not respecting our laws. Probably more than 50 percent of documented gang members (like in FxTroop’s Michele’s Gang) are illegal immigrants with felony convictions in their criminal records. Lets get rid of this scum instead of fighting for their “rights”. Instead of saying that Mexico is the greates country in the world during the Fiestas Patrias, how about saying THANK YOU to the United States of America that gives rights to people from mexico that come here illegally by violating U.S. laws!!!!!
One way to solve the economic crisis is not to make U.S. citizens the kids born to illegal immigrants in the U.S.
Jose: F Troop has been around since the 1960s, an offshoot of a police-sponsored group. Most of its membership are the American-born children of the original members, themselves mostly American-born. Care to say where you get your stat about its membership being mostly illegal immigrants?
Jose,
THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! I thank the US Constitution from prohibiting such discriminate thoughts from coming to fruition. I am a proud American citizen naturalized by birth. My nationality should not be decided because my parents were born in a different country.
If I were to bring you to a group of American veterans who were born here in the country but whose parents came here illegally, would you spout such bigotry to their faces? I think not. Do yourself a favor and buy a pocket Constitution. I hold that closer to my heart than I do the Bible.
I agree with Ms. Reynaga. I volunteer to help him move.
The current “mayor” needs to take a permanent vacation and move on.
We need change in our national and city levels.
About Ms. Alvarez, well let me just say, she lost my vote
And no comment on her Texas accent
I would rather have Lisann Martinez represent my city (For Ms. Alvarez… no that is not Michele Martinez it’s the other Martinez)
In all, despite all the negative mailers that have arrived and will arrive to my residence (total waist of MONEY), I support Michele Martinez. –Ms. Marinez thank you for representing our city in my sons’ graduations this year and last year (where was our mayor and our other representatives….. oh.. yes taking pictures with the firefighters whose names by the way do not appear in the mailer-sad… very sad. They support them, but no credits)
yes “Jose” so I guess you would be the first one in line getting his citizinship stripped…..NEXT….u r trying too hard…..
José what are you afraid of? This would include you too! HUMAN RIGHT… read into that.
Remember… José what your elementary teacher taught you about illegal immigrants, “the pilgrims and the native Americans, Thanksgiving “ (you were educated in this country, RIGHT!!!) The first people who arrived to this country were not MEXICANS.
“waste”
ohh just one more thing:
Jose we did not arrive here in the USA… we were already here!
and i agree with Mr. Diaz
Jose,
The current economic crisis is due to our national leader’s deregulation efforts. This resulted in rampant white collar crime.
The national economic crisis was produced by CEOS of companies born to US citizens.
Suggest what to do with these individuals responsible for the economic crisis.
Violating our constitution by taking away citizenship from those citizens born to undocumented parents will solve the national economic crisis????????? You ARE A RACIST FOOL.
Santa Ana for the last 20 some years has been governed by segregated development. Development only in affluent sectors of the city. Development isolated to the north and south of the city.
Development has been neglected in central Santa Ana where the majority of the population is located.
This type of government planned development – only in affluent small sectors produces third world economies and infrastructure along with the associated social problems.
The problem is not the Hispanic Majority population of the city.
The problem is third world governance by Pulido and his supporters.
Santa Ana needs new leadership that will direct development through out the city.
Why does Santa Ana not have entertainment venues, cultural centers, Movie multi screen theaters, Major Hotels, Tourist attractions, major size stores, or quality restaurants with banquate and entertainment space. Our neighbor cities do.
Santa Ana needs to enter the 21st century and catch up to our neighbor cities.
ELECT MICHELE MARTINEZ SANTA ANA MAYOR. She will lead the city into the 21st century.
Elect any body of the “New” candidates,but the “Expecienced Team”. Vote Collins For MAyor of Santa Ana. Pedroza, Lisann Martinez and Walker fpr city council!!.
Get Smart! DO NOT VOTE FOR PULIDO AND HIS CABAL: Alvarez,Bustamante and Sarmiento.
Jose,
It seems you haven’t heard about the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution…
Children born here are US citizens, period.
Deporting anti-immigrants like you would be a much better way to jump-start the economy…
Vote for change?
When I was voting this last Tuesday at main place, there where plenty of youthful people walking around and looking at the shops, eating at the food court, etc.
But at the election booth, people voting, There wasn’t anyone under the age of 50.
The time to register to vote has expired. All those youthful non-registered voters wont be voting for change this election.
Well as long as the youths keep working hard and turning over most of their earning to the SS trust fund and the Medi trust fund and the Pensions trust funds. Life will go on.(Just like before)
Got to make sure these funds can keep paying out the dollars to the older generation, no need to change that wealth redistribution.
First of all