The new city manager, Kristine Ridge, said the budget increase is no longer needed to cover the costs because the Police Department is reducing overtime and other expenses. City Councilwoman Ceci Iglesias said staff have not been transparent about how they found the money.
Category: Santa Ana
Santa Ana, the county seat and Orange County’s only sanctuary city, is home to about 313,000 people. We cover the City Council’s votes, its budget, policing and immigration.
Recall Attempt Stalls Against Officials Who Oppose $25 Million Police Raise
It’s the latest twist in a months-long saga over the police raises, which tie up most of the new money from Santa Ana’s recent $60 million sales tax increase approved by voters last November.
Santa Ana Lures Artists With Low-Rent Housing
When it opens in November, the Santa Ana Arts Collective will be the first rent-subsidized complex in Orange County intended specifically for artists.
Surveillance of Councilman Gathered Evidence of Felony Residence Fraud, DA Said
It’s first time in years Orange County DA officials have been known to place a politician under surveillance for alleged residency fraud.
The Mural Scene Expands in Santa Ana
Murals in Santa Ana, many by Shmi and Delt, celebrate the history and spirit of the city’s people.
7,000 Homeless People in OC is a Wake Up Call, Experts Say
The nearly 7,000 people officially homeless n Orange County should be a wake up call to the County and all 34 cities to start building affordable and permanent supportive housing, in addition to shelters, according to experts in the field.
Irvine City Council Will Attempt Complicated Appointment Process to Fill Vacant Council Seat
Irvine City Council members are looking at filling a vacancy on the dais through a complicated appointment process in an effort to avoid a special election that’s still on the table, though it could be costly, according to city officials.
Santa Ana Mayor Accused of Personally Renting Out City Property and Interfering in Pot Shop Enforcement
In sworn testimony, Mayor Miguel Pulido was accused of running a side business personally renting out city-owned property and interfering with police decisions about which illegal pot shops to raid. Pulido denies the allegations.
Police Union Bribery Alleged Under Oath by Two Officials
Two top Santa Ana officials, including a former police chief, alleged under oath the city’s police union leader engaged in bribery of City Council candidates in 2016, saying Sgt. Gerry Serrano told candidates they had to agree to fire then-Police Chief Carlos Rojas in order to benefit from $400,000 in campaign spending.
Santa Ana and OC Officials Bicker Over Stalled New Homeless Shelter
All work and construction on a new homeless shelter has stalled in Santa Ana, as city and county officials continue to point fingers over an apparent lack of public input on the effort to relocate homeless people from the Courtyard shelter in downtown to the new location on Yale Street.









