Official newsletter of Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua.
Keeping the community informed about local events, City news, and resources.
Happy New Year, Santa Ana!
Mayor’s Message: Please enjoy this New Year NEWsletter.
I hope you had a joyful and restful holiday season, filled with special moments and quality time with loved ones. As we step into the new year, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the honor and privilege of serving as your Mayor of our GREAT CITY! I look forward to continuing our work together to make this year even more successful and impactful for our community.
I am proud to reflect on the progress we have made in 2024 in collaboration with our dedicated team at City Hall. Throughout the year, we have remained focused on addressing some of our highest priorities: Public Safety, Economic Development, and Housing. These key areas continue to guide our efforts to build a stronger, more resilient community. As we move forward, I remain deeply committed to fostering an environment that benefits everyone, our residents, businesses, stakeholders, and partners. Together, we will continue working to make Santa Ana safer, smarter, healthier, and more prosperous for all.
Below are a few highlights from our 2024 year-end review, along with links to detailed summaries that showcase the impact these initiatives have had on our city and residents.
- Proposed needle distribution program WILL NOT operate in Santa Ana
- City Council approves quality-of-life measures to protect access to public spaces and connect unhoused individuals to services
- City Council unanimously appoints new City Manager
- Santa Ana City Council supports Proposition 36 to improve public safety and pathways to rehabilitation
- Santa Ana City Council unanimously approves historic $2.9 billion Related Bristol mixed-use urban village
- City of Santa Ana secures $963,000 in federal funding to enhance SMART program, diverting non-emergency calls away from 911 Police and Fire
- Jamboree and City of Santa Ana unveil new affordable housing motel conversion
- ROVE opens first electric vehicle charging center in Santa Ana
- Harvard University housing design book highlights two prominent Santa Ana adaptive reuse projects
- City of Santa Ana announces expansion of youth employment program with $2 million grant
- Santa Ana awarded $25 million RAISE Grant
As we move into the new year, I invite you to join me at the 2025 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast hosted by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce. This event will be on Tuesday, February 11, 2024, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Templo Calvario Church, 2501 W. 5th St., Santa Ana. For more information, please visit the Chamber’s website.
I look forward to continuing to grow together and delivering valuable content straight to your inbox! From the bottom of my heart, I wish every member of our wonderful community a happy and healthy New Year.
Sincerely,
Mayor Valerie Amezcua
Contact My Office
I am here to listen to you and your concerns. If you have any comments, concerns or ideas please send them to my office. Click here for contact information for my office.
MAYOR ON THE MOVE
I am always happy to be invited to join in all the wonderful events happening in our city. I invite you to follow me on social media for daily updates! Please connect with me, and stay tuned for upcoming news, meetings, and events in our community!
Here are a few December highlights:
I am honored to be sworn in for a second term as your Mayor. It was a truly special moment to be surrounded by my husband, father, children, family, and all those who joined us at City Hall to celebrate this momentous occasion.
I had the honor of participating in the announcement event for our new Chief of Police, Robert Rodriguez, at Russell Elementary. It was an inspiring moment as we welcomed Chief Rodriguez, who brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.
At the 5th Annual Downtown Santa Ana Tamal Fest, I co-hosted my 3rd Annual Toy Giveaway with Councilmembers David Penaloza and Phil Bacerra. Together, we distributed over 800 toys to children in Santa Ana.
I co-hosted with Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center a Senior Holiday Luncheon where over 160 seniors came to enjoy live performances that included magic acts, choir performances, and food provided by Polly’s Pies and Wahoo’s Fish Tacos!
Gerardo Mouet Park Grand Opening. My favorite moment was seeing all the children running around enjoying their new playground and skate park. Special thank you to the SEVA Collective who joined us by donating food to almost 60 families. Read more about the Gerardo Mouet Park opening.
I had the privilege of welcoming a large group of city representatives and various police departments to the League of California Cities 4th Quarter OC Division Meetings at Santa Ana College.
I had the honor of participating in the Wilshire Square Christmas Parade! Thank you to everyone who made the parade a wonderful event for everyone to enjoy.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS
City of Santa Ana Department Spotlight: Santa Ana Public Library
The Santa Ana Public Library is committed to serving the needs of Santa Ana residents first and foremost. Their purpose is to respond to our community’s informational, educational, and personal interest needs using books, materials, technology, and professional expertise. I invite you to learn more here:
Non-Profit Spotlight: The Santa Ana Elks Lodge #794
For more than a century, the Santa Ana Elks Lodge has been dedicated to making a positive impact in our community. Through their non-profit efforts, they support special needs children, promote drug awareness for teens, and honor our police, firefighters, and veterans. In 2024, the Elks raised and awarded over $50,000 in scholarships and distributed 3,356 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in our community.
I invite you to learn more about the amazing programs the Santa Ana Elks Lodge offers and how they continue to serve and strengthen our community.
Learn more about the Santa Ana Elks Lodge.
CITY RESOURCES
MY SANTA ANA APP: Download the mySantaAna mobile app to quickly and easily report issues such as potholes, graffiti, downed trees and much more.
Report issues like:
- Illegal dumping
- Graffiti removal
- Homeless encampments
- Trash and recycling missed pickups
- Park issues
- Potholes
- and more through the app!
Request for City Services: Is there a pothole in front of your house? Do you need a tree trimmed or other services? It’s easy! Use the “Request for Service” function on our website to submit your requests for City services.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- City Hall Main line: (714) 647-5400
- Code Enforcement: (714) 667-2780
- Emergency Water Services: (714) 953-8026
- Graffiti Hotline: (877) 786-7824
- Homeless Services: (714) 242-3706 or report it online via the mySantaAna app.
- Project Food Box: Provides and ships nutritious, farm fresh produce to communities who need it most.
- Public Works dispatch: street sweeping, trees: (714) 647-3380
Do you need help with:
Are you starting a small business?
Do you need help with Utility bills?
- Southern CA Edison: 800-447-6620
- Southern CA Gas: 800-207-8567
- Trash pickup: 877-328-2074
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
City of Santa Ana jobs and internships links:
From internships to part-time jobs to full-time positions, the City of Santa Ana offers a range of opportunities to help you grow and advance your career.
Access the full listings and to view all current job openings
Community Resources
The 2025 HEEF Scholarship Application is Now Open!
The Orange County Hispanic Educational Endowment Fund (HEEF) serves students who live in Orange County, California. The HEEF: Hispanic Education Endowment Fund Scholarship is open for OC high school and community college transfers who qualify for need-based financial aid and who enroll at a 4-year college or university in fall 2025. Individual awards begin at $2,500. DEADLINE TO APPLY: 01/17/2025
Learn more or apply for a scholarship
The NHBWA’s Scholarship Program opens January 13, and I encourage young students to review and apply:
OCTA Youth Bus Program is a Year-Round Success
Youth Bus Program
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.
CITY NEWS AND RECOGNITIONS
Santa Ana Main Library Project
he Santa Ana Main Library is undergoing a major, $19.3 million renovation that will reimagine the space to include a custom-designed interactive children’s learning area, new community meeting room, revamped Teen Space and Local History Room, as well as transformation of the east outdoor patio into a vibrant and welcoming community space after years of disuse.
Upcoming Community Events
Santa Ana Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival – January 25
The City of Santa Ana is excited to present the second annual Santa Ana Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival, hosted by the Santa Ana Parks, Recreation & Community Services Agency and the Santa Ana Public Library. Come together and celebrate the Year of the Snake with us during this free, family-friendly event. The Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival will commemorate our community’s Asian and Vietnamese cultures.
- Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025
- 1-6 p.m.
- Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave.
Santa Ana Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival
Bowers Museum Events
Don’t miss two new exhibitions at Bowers Museum on view for a limited time. I invite you to learn more here:
- Fantasy: Realms of Imagination closing 2/16/25
- The Eternal Garden: Titanium Art by Aka Chen closing 4/13/25!
City Hall
Upcoming Holiday and Closed Friday schedule: (City Hall non-essential offices are closed on alternating Fridays throughout the year)
- Friday, January 17, 2025 – City Hall closed
- Monday, January 20, 2025 – City Hall closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no street sweeping)
- Friday, January 31, 2025 – City Hall closed
The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. 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.
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
For more City news, please follow City of Santa on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and share my newsletter with friends and family.