Official newsletter of Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua.
Keeping the community informed about local events, City news, and resources.
Dear Neighbors,
Although it is still summertime, back-to-school season is here! I want to extend my best wishes to all our teachers, students, and parents for a great school year! To ensure our students are well prepared, I co-hosted a Back-to-School Community Resource Fair with community organizations. Over 2,000 students and families received essential school supplies, medical, dental, vision screenings, and routine checkups. The event also connected families to a wide range of health and social services offered by 65 community agencies.
I am excited to share the City of Santa Ana recently received three major grants:
- The first is a $25 million federal grant for the Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project to reconstruct the rail crossing at Santa Ana Boulevard next to the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, improve traffic, and boost emergency response times.
- The second grant is a $2 million state grant to expand our Santa Ana Youth (SAY) Employment Program. This will allow us to provide paid public sector and non-profit work experience to 120 Santa Ana youth ages 16 to 30.
- The Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) awarded a 2024 Climate Adaptation & Resiliency Grant in the amount of $50,000 in support of the City of Santa Ana Air Pollution Monitors and Air Purifiers project.
New Opportunity: The Santa Ana Police Explorers are looking for students ages 14-21 to join their program. The Explorers program provides an opportunity for young men and women to experience and perform a variety of community services such as traffic control at parades, festivals and special events. I invite you to learn more here.
Finally, the City of Santa Ana has several upcoming community events for you, including the final summer Concert in the Park, Chicano Heritage Festival, Summer Luau, and my upcoming Coffee with the Mayor. Find all the information below in my newsletter.
I wish everyone’s final weeks of summer are filled with relaxation, adventure, and cherished moments.
Sincerely,
Mayor Valerie Amezcua
Email: vamezcua@santa-ana.org
Mayor on the Move
Another wonderful evening at Summer Night Lights. I was honored to join Congressman Lou Correa during his check presentation to Neutral Ground for their Gang Intervention Initiatives.
Mayor Valerie Amezcua’s Back-to-School Resource Fair was a wonderful success! We gave away 2,000-plus backpacks full of school supplies, as well as kids received haircuts, eye exams, vision, dental, medical screenings, and so much more.
So excited to have spoken at the Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking ceremony for our West Washington Street homes!
Team Mayor Amezcua was excited to join the Santa Ana Boys & Girls Club Back2School event!
It’s an honor to host our monthly Neighborhood Association meetings. These gatherings are essential for sharing updates, addressing concerns, and brainstorming ideas for a better Santa Ana.
Thank you, OC Rescue Mission, for inviting me to tour the House of Hope and learn about your amazing program.
What a spectacular Summer Night Lights kickoff! Neutral Ground, you’ve done it again! Seven years of pure magic.
Thank you, Riverview West Neighborhood Association, for inviting me to speak at your monthly meeting. I enjoy engaging with our community about issues that concern us all.
Wonderful tour of our Dr. Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum.
Thrilled to be part of the Best & Bravest celebration with the OC Fire Authority! These heroes deserve all the recognition.
Honored to have presented a Certificate of Recognition to Arturo Alvarez for his distinguished military service and exemplary contributions to the nonprofit organization U.S. Vets, Patriotic Hall.
Happy to have joined Councilmember Phil Bacerra’s monthly Community Office Hours at Segerstrom Triangle Park.
Spent the 4th of July celebrating with our community at Park Santiago, Washington Square, and Centennial Park!
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS
Nonprofit Spotlight: Santa Ana Kiwanis Club
The Santa Ana Kiwanis Club is an amazing organization with dedicated volunteers set on improving the world one child and one community at a time. I invite you to learn more about the scholarships, reading programs, activities for kids and special events they provide throughout our community: https://sakiwanis.club/
Small Business Spotlight: Cafe Cultura
Café Cultura just celebrated 10 years in beautiful downtown Santa Ana. They have amazing breakfast burritos and chilaquiles, but my favorite is their Horchata Latte! https://cafecitocultura.com/
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The City of Santa Ana Human Resources Department Talent Acquisition Division works with City agencies and departments to identify staffing needs and hire the best talent to serve the city. The City of Santa Ana is looking for individuals who are results-oriented, possess great attitude, demonstrate creativity and innovation, work efficiently, show a record of success, and have a passion for public service.
CITY NEWS AND RECOGNITIONS
Habitat for Humanity of OC builds project in Santa Ana
On Saturday, July 27, we joined Habitat for Humanity of Orange County to break ground on their new project at 1921 W. Washington Ave. in the Artesia Pilar neighborhood. The Santa Ana City Council approved a $2.2 million grant to make this project possible.
These six duplex units will have spacious living areas, private yards and garages. Six low-income families will get to call this home. Preference is given to applicants who live or work in Santa Ana. Register now for a chance to move into one of these homes!
Apply for Habitat for Humanity housing
City partnered with Wells Fargo for successful homeownership fair
The City of Santa Ana Housing Division partnered with Wells Fargo and the City of Garden Grove to host a homeownership fair on Saturday, July 20, at Santa Ana College. About 200 people came out to get tips and resources that can help them buy a home.
City staff shared information about the My First Home down payment assistance program, which provides 0% interest loans of up to $120,000 to help people buy their first home in Santa Ana. Attendees got to meet a special guest, too – Mexican soccer star Oswaldo Sánchez!
If you’re interested in learning more about the My First Home program, join one of our upcoming workshops at the link below!
Register for Down Payment Assistance Workshops
Fiestas Patrias returns to downtown Santa Ana on September 14-15
Celebrate our local Hispanic and Latino communities as the Fiestas Patrias event returns to downtown Santa Ana! This long-time Santa Ana tradition celebrates the independence of various Latin American countries and commemorates the people who reside within our city with roots from across Latin America. The free, family-friendly event is open to all.
Two days of activities and music will include the Fiestas Patrias Parade at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, and the traditional Mexican Grito de Independencia (Cry for Independence) at 7 p.m. Sept. 15.
Festivities will include:
- Street fair and vendors
- Live music entertainment
- Food and beer garden
- Carnival rides
- Cultural exhibitors and more
The application deadline for exhibitors, vendors, performers and parade participants is 5 p.m. Aug. 9. Find applications at the link below.
This month in Santa Ana History
I love taking a moment to share pieces of Santa Ana’s history and this month I’d like to highlight:
Santa Ana’s UFO Mystery
On Aug. 3, 1965, a truck driver named Rex Heflin was working in an unincorporated area of Orange County very close to the Santa Ana city limits when he spotted a circular silver object hovering over his head. He estimated it to be 30 feet in diameter and 8 feet thick. The object was visible for about 15 seconds. “It silently moved from west to east then accelerated about the same speed as a jet.” The only sounds heard in the area were helicopters at the Santa Ana Marine Corps Air Facility. A beam of white light rotated underneath. Despite the mysterious object’s proximity to the Marine base, radar operators failed to report any unidentified objects that day. Heflin submitted his pictures to the Register along with other national publications. The photos were later reevaluated and described by authoritative UFO investigators as some of the best ever encountered. Mr. Heflin was reported at that time to take a lie-detector test to substantiate his claims, as some believed the photo to be a hoax. However, Heflin did not believe the saucer was an extra-terrestrial product, but on the contrary, thought the military was testing a new flying-machine.
Resources
- Hall, Frank. 1965. “Countian Took Pictures of Unidentified Object.” The Register, September 20, 1965.
- Kirkpatrick, Bob. “The UFO Bombshell Exploded Over OC 7 Years Ago.” The Register, September 20, 1972.
- Kirkpatrick, Bob. Bob Kirkpatrick to Richard Zimmerman, Burbank, CA, May 31, 1979.
City Resources
City Hall main line
Code Enforcement
Emergency Water Services
Graffiti Hotline
mySantaAna app
Public Works dispatch (street sweeping, trees)
Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League (SAPAAL) |
Homeless Services
The city will offer down payment assistance loans to first-time home buyers to aid in the purchase of a home within Santa Ana. Employment Opportunities
Find more phone numbers for all City services Starting a small business |
Have you downloaded the mySantaAna app?
Report issues like:
- illegal dumping
- graffiti removal
- homeless encampments
- trash and recycling missed pickups
- park issues
- potholes
- and more!
Community Resources
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Homelessness support for families and children. Provides assistance with housing placement. |
Provides and ships nutritious, farm fresh produce to communities who need it most. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay for heating or cooling in their homes. |
OCTA Youth Bus Program is a Year-Round Success
Though many use the free pass to travel to school, it can also be used to access jobs, libraries and summer activities. Learn more here
Car-free Options for Clean, Green Summer Travel
Orange County has many cost-effective options that reduce harmful emissions and traffic congestion while providing safe travel. Learn more here.
The Discovery Cube Launches Sensory Friendly Mornings
The Discovery Cube is dedicated to providing every child a safe and enjoyable experience. Because of this commitment, the team officially launched Sensory Friendly Mornings this past Sunday.
Sensory Friendly Mornings will occur every third Sunday of each month from 8 to 10 a.m. OC Sensory Friendly Mornings dates
Upcoming Community Events
Summer Concerts in the Park – August 8
Enjoy a free performance by SAVOR Santana Tribute Band during the last week of our Summer Santa Ana Concerts in the Park series. Join us for a night full of music, dancing, and food!
- Thursday, Aug. 8
- 6-8:30 p.m.
- Memorial Park, 2102 S. Flower St.
Coffee with the Mayor – August 10
Please join me for coffee and to discuss any city issues that are important to you. I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
- Saturday, Aug. 10
- 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Riverview Golf Course Patio, 1800 W. Santa Clara Ave.
Bowers Museum: KCRW Summer Nights – August 10
KCRW is bringing the party back to Santa Ana with Bowers Museum! This event will feature live sets from KCRW DJs Valida & Nassir Nassirzadeh, pop-up bars, kids activities, and more. Tangata Restaurant and the Gallery Store will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. Docents will be available in the galleries. Bowers and KCRW members and Santa Ana residents (with proof of residence) receive free general admission and pay only $10 for the Asian Comics exhibition.
- Saturday, Aug. 10
- 7-10 p.m.
- Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St.
Chicano Heritage Festival – August 11
Join us on a day of culture and music as the City of Santa Ana hosts its third annual Chicano Heritage Festival! Let’s come together as we celebrate the City’s rich Mexican-American history. Guests can look forward to immersing themselves in festivities for the Chicano community including food, carnival rides, arts, a kids zone, cultural exhibits, and much more. This celebration will be free, family-friendly, and open to all. See the musical lineup and more at the link below.
- Sunday, Aug. 11
- 2-7 p.m.
- Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave.
Rent Stabilization Workshops – August 14 & 29
Join our upcoming informational workshops to learn about the City of Santa Ana’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. Attendees will learn about renter rights and protections. The presentation will be given in Vietnamese and English.
- Wednesday, Aug. 14
- 6-7 p.m.
- Salgado Community Center, 706 N. Newhope St.
- Thursday, Aug. 29
- 6-7 p.m.
- Jerome Community Center, 726 S. Center St.
Active Transportation Community Forum – August 15
The Bicycle Tree, in partnership with Santa Ana Active Streets, is hosting an Active Transportation Community Forum to discuss how to make cities better for walking, biking, transit, and other ways of movement without cars. Everyone is invited to attend the forum.
- Thursday, Aug. 15
- 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Garfield Community Center, 501 N. Lacy St.
Register for the Active Transportation Community Forum.
For more information, contact info@thebicycletree.org or Paul Nagel at (714) 760-4681.
City Hall
Upcoming Holiday and Closed Friday schedule: (City Hall non-essential offices are closed on alternating Fridays throughout the year)
- Friday, August 16, 2024 – City Hall closed
- Friday, August 30, 2024 – City Hall closed
- Monday, September 2, 2024 – Labor Day, City Hall closed
The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at Santa Ana Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana. Official City meetings are open to the public and I encourage you to participate. Council agendas and minutes may be accessed here.
City Council Meeting Highlights
At the regular City Council meeting on July 16, 2024, the City Council:
- Authorized a grant agreement with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County for $2.2 million in Inclusionary Housing Funds for the development of six affordable ownership units located at 1921 W. Washington Ave.
- Approved an appropriation adjustment to add $15 million to the automated water meter project and an amendment to the agreement with Aqua-Metric Sales Company for an additional $6 million.
- Adopted resolutions authorizing arguments, rebuttal arguments, and impartial analysis of four ballot measures on the ballot for the November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election.
- Approved an agreement for the rehabilitation of Garden Court apartments, located at 300 E. Santa Ana Blvd., and adopted a resolution approving the issuance of $55 million in revenue bonds by the California Municipal Financing Authority for C&C Development Co. LLC (the City of Santa Ana bears no financial or legal liability and incurs no debt).
You can watch the full meeting in English or Spanish on the City’s YouTube channel.
See meeting agendas, subscribe to receive new agendas, and learn how to attend and participate in City meetings at City Meeting Agendas
Invite me
If you’d like to invite me to attend an event in your neighborhood or in connection with your organization, please feel free to make that request via email: vamezcua@santa-ana.org
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