When our reader, Rob “Cook” wrote that “Aloha’s personal cart, the one in the picture was taken by the city,” we figured that he knew what he was talking about. He is generally a reliable source of information. In fact since we posted our article about Aloha’s missing cart, we have discovered that Cook sees her just about every single day. If anyone knew what was up with her cart, it HAD to be Cook.
Alas, it would appear that we got “Cooked.” This email was circulated yesterday by the City of Santa Ana:
The City Manager’s Office received several calls today regarding the alleged confiscation of a homeless woman’s shopping cart in the Civic Center area last week. Apparently there is a rumor circulating that City staff confiscated the woman’s cart. We have received confirmation this afternoon from the Santa Ana Police Department, Community Preservation, Public Works and Parks & Recreation that staff did not confiscate the shopping cart in question nor do we have the cart or personal belongings in our possession. Please let me know if you have any questions.
As one might expect, our counterparts at the Liberal OC blog are having a field day at our expense, however they started this whole mess when they posted the picture that was taken by O.C. Republican Central Committee Member Thomas Gordon.
That same Thomas Gordon apparently felt guilt after the fact and he has now reportedly bought Aloha a couple of nights at a local hotel, which is a nice gesture. But the Liberal OC’s Chris Prevatt posted that Aloha is now mad at our blogger Sean Mill. I have a feeling that she was goaded into saying that, but I am sure that if Mill were to buy her a couple of nights at a local hotel, she would likely change her tune. Shame on Prevatt for playing with the emotions of an elderly homeless lady just so he can have something to blog about.
Prevatt also ripped me for a tongue in cheek post I wrote about a fellow in Anaheim with the last name of Bustamante who got drunk and hit a cop. Thing is, I ran that story by none other than Thomas Gordon before I posted it. He thought it was pretty funny. Now he is silent on the issue, which figures since he angrily quit the Orange Juice blog on Nov. 15.
Back to Aloha. As a result of all this attention on her, according to our blogger Vern Nelson, “Aloha has enough money donated to her for this misadventure that she will be able to get a motel room for a day, wash up, and get some new clothes and blankets.” I would say this all worked out in her favor. And we all brought attention on our homeless – in a city that ignores them.
So who took her cart? According to Vern Nelson, “It’s still a mystery what happened to her cart; nobody with any legal authority to confiscate it did so, it just disappeared off the street while she was in a medical building; it was either a malcious thief or a malicious cop who likes to make life difficult for the homeless in general, but it’s pretty unlikely it had anything to do with the photo and the blogs.”
Aloha liked to “weigh her cart down with rocks and bricks to make it heavy for some reason.” I am told it may have weighed in excess of 200 to 300 pounds. So who would take such a thing and how far could they have gotten with it? The City of Santa Ana would have the resources to do this, but they are saying they didn’t do it. This mystery may remain unsolved.
Cook’s latest info about Aloha is that, “Anyone who would like to give something to Aloha or meet her in a protected safe environment, she comes by my home between 5pm and 6pm, 10th and Broadway.”
If you want to help the homeless please consider donating to the Orange County Rescue Mission, at this link. Also, consider helping out on Wednesday, November 26 to the Anaheim Salvation Army at 201 E. Cypress Street, from 10am to 5pm (or whatever time you have available) to help cook and serve during this time of Thanksgiving. if interested you may RSVP here.
Don’t expect any apologies from Chris Prevatt. Here is what he thinks about all this, “I make no excuses for posting the photo of Aloha. I make none, because no excuse is necessary. Be as outraged as you like.You outrage does not change the facts.”
surely you have your own mind and i guess maybe some morals somewhere in there too. Don’t throw people under the Bus for what is posted on YOUR BLOG. Play Nice,you may actually get elected next time.
Rick,
Santa Ana voters had their chance. I won’t be running again.
And what we posted on our blog apparently included misinformation from our reader, “Cook.” For that I am sorry – I won’t be as quick to trust him in the future.
That said, we STILL don’t know exactly what happened to Aloha’s cart, do we? But we DO know that our City Council and Mayor, and particularly our City Manager, are not exactly friendly to the homeless. In fact Pulido just voted to raise our bus fares so that they are higher than any of our surrounding counties. Nice Christmas present for the poor there Pulido…
Art,
Clearly we were duped by Cook. As you know I was suspect of his allegation of the city taking the belongings from the get go. Cook wanted to seize upon an opportunity to come after me and the OJ.
Sadly he is not willing to admit that he was the one that started this rumor and has joined in with the peanut gallery in attacking the two of us. In his world he, Gordon and Prevatt are the heroes of this tail. Whatever!!!
I spoke to Councilmember Tinajero first thing Sunday morning. He was out of town and told me he would look into it as soon as he got back. He made finding Aloha’s cart priority number 1 as soon as his flight landed.
Sal called the Chief and others at City Hall. They all told him the same thing, nobody at the city had anything to do with this.
I know other councilmembers did the same thing. Michele Martinez and David Benevides also jumped to action to help out Aloha. Folks like Paul Lucas spent the day searching for her cart, he went to the city yard and elsewhere.
So thanks to Cook for wasting everyone’s time and efforts.
“I spoke to Councilmember Tinajero…”
Wow. I’m shocked. Quelle surprise.
Sometimes I wonder about this blog; quit the bull *&*!.
Just a thought….Did you maybe stop to think that maybe just maybe cook really thought that was what happened to Aloha and her cart. Maybe he was just thought or assumed that was what happened. I think its bizarre that you all automatically assume people are out to get ya. Concern for a person does not make someone evil maybe he jumped to that conclusion the same I might have jumped to myself. The email that I received from cook seemed to explain the misunderstanding about the cart and it didn’t seem that he told you all to get at anybody, but because he was looking out for Aloha.
Em,
Well, Cook had ample opportunity to explain over at the Liberal OC that he was the one who first said the city took the cart. When he failed to do so, I had to wonder if we were set up.
Who knows? Cook is a Gordonista. Perhaps he thought he was helping out his pal.
Keoniana,
Best thing to do is ignore the posts you don’t like. There are plenty of other posts to read instead. For example, the OCTA board just raised our bus fares – in the midst of the Bush Depression. I have a post up about that. You may want to check it out. Miguel Pulido voted for the fare increase, by the way. OC bus riders will be paying more than bus riders in all our surrounding counties…
I think we’re being too rough on Cook; “The city took Aloha’s cart” was just the first impression he got talking to Aloha; he probably shoulda said “apparently” or something.
As far as him being a “Gordonista,” all I know is neither Cook nor Gordon knew how to get a hold of each other, they had to go thru me.
Vern,
Well, Cook could have explained over at the LOC that he was the source of the “City took the cart” story. But he didn’t. Not cool.
True that, true that. And now Prevatt has closed comments.
CORRECTION: My boo-boo. Prevatt did not close comments. That was a mistake of a too-quick glance. Prevatt in his post quoted ART closing comments on his drunken Bustamante post. Prevatt has requested that I correct my comment here. Hey, is it raining yet? – 4:47 PM, Tuesday.
Vern,
Cook was the source behind blaming the city. I told Art that I was suspect of his claim, but Art believed Cook was truthful and believable.
Cook speaks with Aloha on a regular basis so Art had no reason to believe that this was not the truth so he ran the story. I would not have done so because I was highly suspect of Cook’s claim that the city was behind it.
Since it is clear that the folks at the city had nothing to do with it, it would be nice if Cook would come clean and admit that it was he, not Art, that concocted the story.
He has chosen to remain silent. He even joined in with the others trying to make folks around here the bad guys.
Vern,
That is Prevatt’s usual response when he blows it.
Vern,
Your buddy Cook went a step further, besides pointing the finger at city officials, he insinuated that I was somehow responsible for the whole thing when he wrote the following:
“(I told her just to go to the planning commission meeting Monday night and Sean may take care of everything and find out where her cart is located.)”
Now that we know that Cook was spreading false claims about the taking of Aloha’s cart can we expect him to retract any of his comments? Will he back away from blaming me?
Next time you see him why don’t you ask him that.
All –
It’s possible Aloha gave Cook incorrect information. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t be too surprised if the city had a hand in the conviscation of Aloha’s cart.
Then again, the asbestos abatement, from Harrah’s alleged illegal demolition of a building, directly across from the Cook residence, could be the reason for Cook’s lapse in good judgement.
Hmm, didn’t the city play loose with providing residents the facts about the odd demolition at the One Broadway Plaza site?
Bottom Line: Who Posted the Pictures and Comments and Story? The folks at Liberal OC and Orange Juice. The End.
Art: This isn’t the only blog that has had nothing but squabling going on..and I am entitled to state my opinion….
Thanks for re-directing me to other blogs…I think I can decide for myself what peaks my interest and what doesn’t.
Rick although that is true the reasoning behind its uses were different. Basically what is comes down to is that it blew up in everyones faces. Aloha & or her photograph were used as a ploy by numerous people to get back at or stab in the front (at least it wasn’t in the back right) people having disagreements or as it seems an all out war of words. Childish maybe? Don’t think it actually accomplished much on any front. Accept to progress this fight further and hey why not right the Juice is getting more hits than ever. Woo hoo!
Keoniana,
Since Nov. 23, we have had no less than 15 posts that have nothing to do with Aloha, Chris Prevatt, Thomas Gordon or the Liberal OC. We have been giving our readers plenty to read about if they don’t care to read the above-referenced posts.
We don’t tell our readers what to read. Or what to say. We appreciate you and all of our other readers.
BTW, the posts in question are amongst are top posts currently according to Google Analytics, so someone is reading them. But again, if folks don’t like them, there are over a dozen other new posts to pick from.
Well I don’t think as many people are reading them as you would like to think. I think its the same handful of people checking back to see if someone answered to their comments or to see whats new comments are posted in all the craziness. Just like all the new commenters are just the old commenters with 5 new names. If it makes you number one you can’t really argue with the results right!!!
I said it before and I’ll say it again its like a car accident everybody looks even though they know they should keep their eyes on the road 😉
The city is proactive in trying to keep the area clean and free of abandoned stuff.
I had already searched for her cart from 1st street to 17th and Flower to the train station and did not find it. I called the city to find who I should check with if they took it and was told to check the police evidence or the city yard. I was told they didn’t have it, but I did not go and look myself. (my looking and calling all happened before I posted her cart lost on 11-21)
But in rereading what I posted and Art reposted under its own heading, it looks like I owe some apologies.
To the city of Santa Ana, I apology for saying , “the one in the picture was taken by the city” without any proof.
I still believe, weighting many factors that the city is most likely the ones who removed her cart.
To Art Pedroza, , I apology for misleading him with the same statement.
And to thank him for reposting as a separate post. That has done far more in addressing her missing cart than I could do by myself.
To Sean Mill, , I apology for the comment by Aloha to Chris about “that commissioner” cause she has never met Mr. Mill and those words sounded a lot like mine and out of context.
As to my telling her to go to the commission meeting. Mr. Mill is a stand up guy and would be able to get to the bottom of any city involvement better than I could.
And I apology to all of the readers who’s personal feeling got hurt during all the flaming and roasting associated with the cart posting.
And I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the search for her cart and the other gifts of charity including this morning a drop off of a waterproof jacket.
Hey everyone enjoy Thanksgiving.
“We don’t tell our readers what to read. Or what to say.”
That’s not true. If you arbitrarily decide that someone makes a comment not “germane” to the post (in your eyes), then you have been known to edit comments. That’s telling people what they can say.
Cook-
I’m sure your apologies are greatly appreciated. I feel you were upset and in this you jumped to conclusions, you did not mislead people maliciously but you know how that goes around here instantly you did everything because you have some kind of motive.
To assume what you did isn’t something that everyone else might not have done themselves under certain circumstances. You let your heart do the talking instead of fully thinking it through BFD, the people criticized and been criticized before and they are still kickin. But you know instantly you are the spawn of Satan beyond redemption, but that’s just the way it goes around here.
Thank you Cook.
Yay,Cook! Great apologies.
Actually if you had not brought it here, there would not have been this kind of opportunity to respond to a call to action.
Do you do kind favors for this woman on your own, or thru some kind of organization or charity?
~just asking
Cook,
Muchas gracias. Have a great Turkey Day and thanks for helping the homeless as much as you do.
As long as Dave Ream is running the show in Santa Ana, I think the cart was conviscated by a city employee.
Nonetheless, Cook’s one of the good guys. Thanks for addressing this matter head on.