2017 was a year full of divided – and deeply personal – actions on the Santa Ana City Council, affecting everything from police officer discipline to who runs the city on a day to day basis.
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.
Posted inCollegiate News Service, Outdoors, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana to install security cameras in parks to promote public safety
Hundreds of security cameras will be added to seven parks and monitored by the Santa Ana Police Department in an attempt to combat vandalism, prostitution, gambling, and misuse of drugs and alcohol at city parks.
Posted inAnaheim, Santa Ana
Rising Youth Sexually Transmitted Disease Rates Hit Hard in Santa Ana, Anaheim
In response to a dramatic upswing in sexually transmitted diseases, schools and community groups serving low-income students are responding with no-nonsense educational approaches that factor in cultural beliefs and practices.
Posted inInvestigative, Santa Ana, Water, Power & Waste
Santa Ana’s Lucrative Trash Contract Has Been Extended For 22 Years Without Competition
The city is also charging residents millions of dollars in fees on trash bills and transferring it to the city general fund, which pays for police and other services. Councilwoman Michele Martinez said that violates state law.
Posted inGovernment, Housing & Homelessness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
United Nations Homeless Monitor Hears From OC Advocates
United Nations monitor Philip Alston said many American communities are criminalizing homelessness – and thus making it more difficult for people to find jobs and housing – after a nationwide tour in which he heard from Orange County homeless advocates and civil rights lawyers, among others across the country.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana, Facing Budget Deficit, Approves Another $1.5 Million in Pay Raises
The city is facing a projected $600,000 budget shortfall, without taking into account the new pay raises. City Council members didn’t say how they planned to pay for the additional cost, but previously talked about a sales tax increase.
Posted inCountywide, Economy, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Will Allow Up to 30 Recreational Marijuana Shops
Santa Ana is the only known jurisdiction, out of Orange County’s 34 cities, to authorize the sale of recreational marijuana when that option opens up to California communities starting January 1.
Posted inAnaheim, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Orange, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Housing Shortage Sent Homeless at Transitional Shelter Back to Streets
The shortage of affordable housing in Orange County sent eight homeless people back to the streets last week, because homes weren’t available before they hit the 180-day limit for them to stay at the county’s “Bridges at Kraemer Place” shelter that prepares people to move into housing.
Posted inEconomy, Investigative, Santa Ana, Transportation
Santa Ana to Pay $1 Million for Car Dealers’ New Digital Billboard
The dealerships aren’t required to pay the city back, except if sales taxes paid by buyers don’t replenish the reserves in 10 years, which city staff said was unlikely.
Posted inFountain Valley, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Cache of Bikes at Santa Ana Riverbed Were 2 Miles From Fountain Valley Homeless Camp
The images were widely shared on social media, with a Sheriff’s Department video of the bikes drawing over 130,000 views.
