99 Cents Only Stores files bankruptcy; all locations to close
99 Cents Only Stores operators have decided to file bankruptcy and liquidate all 371 locations starting Friday. The move comes after persistent challenges that remained well after the coronavirus pandemic. “This was an extremely difficult decision and is not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve,” interim company CEO
Youth Commission faces uncertain future
The youth commission is facing tough questions after its Council-picked appointees have failed to attend meetings at City Hall. According to city staff, not enough members have showed up to establish a quorum. The staff report laid out five options: Staff Report's Options 1. Keep Youth Commission as-is.
Newly Released Documents Show Santa Ana Police Union's Grip on Santa Ana Mayor
City records allege Mayor Amezcua ousted two top officials as a favor for cops and violated state open meeting law 📰This article has been re-published from KnockLA with permission. In what appears to be a political favor to the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua played
Council to consider prohibiting short-term rentals citywide
SANTA ANA, Calif. — The Santa Ana City Council will consider adopting and urgency ordinance that would explicitly prohibit short-term rentals (STRs). This includes Airbnb’s and Vrbo’s. Besides the noise complaints reported by nextdoor neighbors of STRs, and added issues to parking and trash, the headfront of the proposed
Governor Newsom extends deadline of FAFSA to May 2
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that extends the deadline for California students to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to May 2. AB 1887, introduced by Assemblywoman Cervantes (D-Riverside) quickly passed through the California Legislature last week and made its way to
City Council votes 4-1 to approve redlined ceasefire resolution
SANTA ANA, Calif. — The City Council voted 4-1 (with two absences by Councilmembers Bacerra and Penaloza) to adopt a redlined resolution by Councilmember Phan calling a bilateral ceasefire, releasing of all hostages, and to establish diplomacy on both sides. As Councilmember Vazquez began his final comments, a part of crowd
Child shot while sitting in car says SAPD
17TH/SPURGEON — A female toddler was shot while sitting in her parents’ car according to Santa Ana Police. The child was rushed to nearby CHOC in critical condition. It is unclear as to how the shooting unfolded late Sunday. Santa Ana Police continues their investigation and has closed off blocks
Press calls City’s media rules unlawful
A comprehensive protest against Santa Ana's new media policy at public meetings has been launched by the First Amendment Coalition, with support from various journalistic entities, including The Santanero. In a detailed letter to Thomas R. Hatch, the interim city manager, the Coalition strongly criticized the city'
OCTA will add trip to 150 route during the morning rush
📰This is an update to an opinion piece written by Daniel Diaz, a 150 bus route daily commuter (and El Santanero’s community reporter), published late last year. After numerous attempts by residents calling on OCTA to add a route to the morning rush of the 150, I reached out
Statement on the City of Santa Ana's media policies
Our emailed statement to Interim City Manager Thomas R. Hatch can be found here. Our social media statement is as follows: “El Santanero acknowledges the city’s regulations regarding media access to public meetings. We believe that these rules might conflict with state and federal laws that safeguard press freedom.
Gerry Serrano promoted to unemployment by City
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Gerry Serrano has “been separated” from working with the City’s police union officials said Monday. “Mr. Serrano has been separated from City service pending retirement pursuant to a confidential personnel matter,” said Paul Eakins, the city’s public information officer. For years, Serrano led a controversial
The Santanero makes its debut
SANTA ANA, Calif. — The Santanero has made it debute online at santanero.org. The long time work-in-progress has finally made it to the web. A first print edition is awaiting April 20th. For the better part of 2022, co-founders Daniel Estrada and Lucy Gonzalez partnered to create an online news