Santa Ana Council Reels from Protests and Hears New Calls for Police Review, Different Spending
Santa Ana
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Public speakers were unanimous in their calls to move money away from police and reinvest in youth, park and community programs.
In Wake of Raucous Protests, Santa Ana Residents Rally Around Clean Up
George Floyd Protests
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Santa Ana residents — responding to social media posts calling on the community to help clean up — appeared at the sites of the protest the night before.
Two Santa Ana Council Members Flip on Controversial 2525 Development, Possibly Ending It
Economy
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Council members Vicente Sarmiento and David Penaloza have flipped on the project, forming a clear majority against the controversial apartments as a decision makes its way to council members’ desks on whether or not to turn the project over to voters – or rescind their original vote entirely.
Santa Ana Council Member Iglesias’ Push for Tax Relief Roils Colleagues
Orange County Coronavirus
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After city staff said the council didn’t have the legal authority to rescind or suspend the sales tax increase, which voters approved in 2018, council members David Penaloza and Phil Bacerra criticized Iglesias for bringing up the issue.
How Coronavirus Will Affect OC Special Elections This Year
Orange County Coronavirus
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In-person voting has been cancelled for a special recall election in Westminster. It’s still up in the air whether Santa Ana’s special recall election will follow suit. Meanwhile, county elections officials will proceed to review a referendum movement against a controversial Santa Ana apartments project and a ballot initiative to relocate a planned Veteran’s Cemetery in Irvine.
Santa Ana Disbands Public Safety Board Amid Police Union Demand for Council Critics’ Removal
Santa Ana
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The union in a memo to the council last month criticized Villegas and Iglesias and requested their removal from the public safety board, questioning their commitment to the city’s police officers and their ability to make key public safety policy decisions.
County Certifies Recall Efforts Against Santa Ana Councilwoman Ceci Iglesias
Government
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The recall campaign was largely funded by the city’s police union after Iglesias opposed controversial pay raises for police officers last year. It’s one of the city’s first recall campaigns in years that’s been successful enough to go forward with an election.
Santa Ana Police Union Wants Council Critics Off Public Safety Committee
Santa Ana
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Santa Ana’s police union has backed recall efforts against two council members: Juan Villegas and Ceci Iglesias, who vocally opposed the scale of $23 million in controversial raises granted to police officers last February. Now the union wants both off a public safety board, which could be disbanded or restructured by council members today.
Lawsuits, Referendums on Horizon for Santa Ana’s Controversial 2525 Apartments
2525 N. Main St.
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Council members initially approved the project last year, despite a push by some against the much-disputed 2525 N. Main St. apartments in the city’s north-end Park Santiago neighborhood.
Two City Council Recalls to Watch This Year
Recalls
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Two recall movements in two neighboring cities are on the move against elected officials this year – one in Westminster that’s guaranteed a recall election and another in Santa Ana that has gathered the signatures but won’t find out until next month from county officials whether it can move forward.