It’s back. Just when you thought that the Santa Ana Renaissance Plan was gone – the City Council is bringing it back. But now they are doing so under a blanket of embarrassment, after the O.C. Register revealed the extent to which the city abused eminent domain to clear 60 parcels on the City’s East Side, over by the Train Station.
As Councilmember Michele Martinez put it, the City is now a slum. Of course Martinez took that back, but she was right the first time.
“Version 2.0 of the Renaissance Plan allows them to keep their land industrial, but also clears the way for them to develop it for housing if they choose. The new version also spells out some guidelines for affordable housing, and eliminates a proposed road closure that had angered nearby residents, Planning Manager Karen Haluza said,” according to the O.C. Register.
Notice that Haluza does not assure us that the new Renaissance Plan excludes the use or abuse of eminent domain.
As usual, Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez raged at the press, saying that negative press coverage had “sabotaged” the first version of the Renaissance Plan. “I refuse to be manipulated by the press,” she said in response to the recent Register article. “We are moving toward a quality project.”
Sure Claudia. Do you even live in our city at this point? Give me a break! Alvarez is still using her mom’s address as her own – why would a grown woman as old as Alvarez is still be living at her mom’s house? Seriously – I doubt she even lives in Santa Ana.
So here we go again. Time to roll up our sleeves and fight these bastards off once more…
A quality project? Like Bisno’s overpriced lofts with cheap built-in appliances and amenities. The lofts that were sold at auction? Let’s not forget the condominiums aka Twin Towers at Main & MacArthur; those are now going to be rented. Armstrong Ranch million dollar homes are being foreclosed on like the rest of Santa Ana.
Newsflash to Crazy Claudia: There is nothing that screams quality about Santa Ana.
Bravo, ‘Orange Resident’…I couldn’t have said it any better. This city is on it’s way to beat Stockton if we haven’t already.
If Martinez had any ‘kanakas’ she would have stuck to her original statement that SA is a slum..as it is. This is why I did not vote for her..she talks out of her ‘okole’ just like the rest of them.
Thank you smart voters again for re-electing the lamest council west of the good ole’ Miss….
Keoniana,
Yes, it is too bad George Collins did not win. He would have made a difference.
All those that voted againts change in the last election will agree, if asked, that they believe Santa Ana is largely a slum with some isolated islands of beauty.
They have supported the Mayor and, in the last election, Team Pulido because Team Pulido privately acknoledge Santa Ana is largely a slum. This acknowledgment comes with a plan to revitalize Santa Ana.
This plan is at the expense of the economicaly challenged neighborhoods. The plan is to eliminate the residents in these slum condition neighborhoods. The RENAISSANCE PLAN is such a plan if it does not include participation and benefit to those in that development area.
The city government supporters believe the slum conditions are a result of the Hispanic residents. They have been fed this crap in order to retain the political leadership currently in place.
The actual reason for slum conditions in sectors of the city is because city leadership lacks a plan for the economic development of these neighborhoods.
They will never formulate one because this would eleminate what scares their supporters (Hispanics in slum condition neighborhoods).
Economic success in these neighborhoods would eleiminate the Hispanic blame for slum conditions which city leaders use as the political football that is their success.
Well I for one voted for change by voting for Art and George we tried well at least some of us did.
Claudia is talking out of her A**, she says that she will not be manipulated by the press. There is no more freedom of the press, why is it that Santa Ana is the only city that does not have a police blotter that you can see what is really happening in Santa Ana. They suppress the media from reporting the truth. If half the residents knew what is going on in Santa Ana, there would be much more people up in arms. The City tweaks the policies and procedures for infrastructure, they condemn neighborhoods on the premise of creating more housing when in fact they create more housing in low income areas for upper income families. They have been buying up properties in Logan for many years. Now that Claudia is looking forward to completing the Renaissance Plan, with the bail out money. She still has to wait for the Policies and Procedures of the Recovery Act before she can be so sure that the Renaissance Plan will be completed. She can hardly wait to continue on to the Willowick Golf Course negotiations with the U.S. Chivas, and start buying up properties in the Santa Anita Area.
Under the Recovery Act everything has to be made public, because Obama will not tolerate spending of the Public’s Money for Special Interest. I think Alfred is right and they need a oversight committee to over see the projects.
Has anyone ever read the Rand Study At Cal St. Fullerton in 2000?
Affordable housing? Why is the council on a mission to destroy property values? Just look at what Historic French Park has turned into, with their affordable housing and half way homes. Why don’t they put that stuff in their own neighborhoods? I guess they don’t want people with needles and other drugs sleeping on the sidewalks in front of their homes where their children play, like they do in those other neighborhoods. Affordable housing? Living in Santa Ana should be a privilege, not a right. Stop wasting money building homes that will turn into ghettos. William H. Spurgeon (founder and 1st mayor of Santa Ana) would be horrified to see what the council has done to this once great and beautiful city.