By: Jim Walker, Candidate for Santa Ana City Council, Ward 1
Thank you Art for your invitation to speak up and for this wonderful forum within which to be heard. One of the many reasons why I decided to run for Santa Ana City Council is the lack of meaningful leadership in our city that is in such a desperate condition.
Like so many other citizens, I have seen election seasons come and go – “full of sound and fury” but all too often “signifying nothing” (or all too little). For 20 years I have been, what I like to think of myself as, “a community organizer”. The genesis of “Santa Ana Neighborhood Communication Linkages” started in my living room when many of us felt that the neighborhoods needed to be more independent of city control.
Over two decades many good things have come out of our neighborhoods that have made Santa Ana a better place to live. No small thanks to people like Tom Lutz, who along with Don Cribb, championed the Artist Village that turned around a crime ridden vacant downtown district into the heart of Santa Ana that celebrates the best of our diverse population. Specifically, that is – the creativity and culture of its citizens.
But like the Artist Village, I have always felt that the promise and potential of our neighborhoods still has yet to be fully realized. Tom Lutz came out of the neighborhood movement and provided real leadership that has left us with a downtown we can be proud of. Today only one person on our City Council had proved themselves in our neighborhoods before taking office. And what do we have today as far as leadership that does much more than show up for meetings and parades?
My platform is all about realizing what I and many other community organizers have been working on for years. That is nothing less than what I am calling Community Oriented Government or “COG”. This image and metaphor is most appropriate, as many of us have been called “squeaky wheels”. The most successful squeaky wheels have been those with teeth that engage the system and become an active driving force in making “the machine” move in the direction we all want to go.
Squeaky wheels have produced not only over 5 million dollars of infrastructure improvement in my own neighborhood of Sandpointe, but have cleaned up undesirable impacts like swap meets next to Washington Square or even managed to create a neighborhood culture that has been recognized nationally with the “Neighborhood of the Year Award”, as was Floral Park.
20 years ago we had about 5 neighborhoods and today we have at least 62 here in Santa Ana. Many of these neighborhood associations are in varying degrees of being “organized”. However, now unlike any time in the past, we have technologies and tactics that could not only make safe and healthy neighborhoods throughout Santa Ana, but also would allow our city to transform its image into “The Most Beautiful Place On Earth”.
As a candidate for City Council, I would like people to know my highest priority will be to make the citizens of Santa Ana a vital part (in deed, the heart) of the machine we call the City of Santa Ana. I strongly believe that if we are to ever get true “oversight” and real government “accountability”, then it will only come when citizens are engaged in the politics of our city – at all times. Fully active neighborhood associations can help make this happen with “new” vital programs: like “Preferred Vendors”, where information on outstanding vendors are shared that can save every homeowner thousand of dollars each year and no doubt a lot of grief.
As stakeholders in our homes and neighborhoods, we need to start managing them seriously as if they were businesses; businesses that often have an aggregate neighborhood property value of close to a billion dollars. People need to start appreciating that the return on the investment of a few hours every year in their neighborhood association and protecting the value of their property can realize more value (monetary and otherwise) than most any other investment.
In the past, we had a slogan for the downtown Artist Village, and that was “Santa Ana Is A Place For Art”. I would encourage the visitors to this forum to support the people who have actually walked the talk, proving their commitment to community over the years and vote them into office. Such people have stepped forward and at this time I would encourage your vote for a particular candidate – so that the Santa Ana City Council will be “A Place For Art” – Pedroza!
Jim Walker
http://walkerforcitycouncil.com/issues.html
Good luck Jim! You’ve got my vote. I don’t know about “The Most Beautiful Place on Earth” though, let’s start with a little less trash and urban blight, a lot less crime and a city council that considers the needs of it’s neighborhoods and residents over the latest developer scheme to raise tax revenue.
I met Jim one evening in Santa Ana. I was impressed with his calm demeanor – so unlike many of us political junkies – and his intelligence. We talked freely that evening about a range of topics and Jim had a good grasp of each and lots of information about Santa Ana.
We didnt talk about his neighborhood council idea though, probably because I dont live in Santa Ana, but reading it here it seems like exactly what the city needs. Many of us have writtten about the need for community policing in Santa Ana and his idea goes one better. Not just community policing but community participation in governance, what a great idea!
Jim points out that not many on the current council have come up through the neighborhood councils which is too bad. Community Organizers like Jim not only learn firsthand what their neighbors are concerned about but they also demonstrate to a portion of the electorate how hard they are willing to work, which, given the current photo-op bunch, should be a requirement for office.
So it may never become a requirement formally, but the voters of Santa Ana can refuse to vote for anyone who hasn’t proved themselves in the neighborhood council first. I think thats a great idea!
New face in Santa Ana!
Good luck Jim and congratulations on your determination to get your message out by using this blog!
Anonyms its almost bizarre how many times I read your comments and agree or at least understand or see your point. I know our views often differ but on this I agree with you. Santa Ana needs a change and Art and Jim are just the men to bring.
Jim,
The problem in Santa Ana is and has been the lack of a representative government.
The problem in Santa Ana is and has been that attention is given only to select “squeaky wheels”.
The Downtown’s current improved appearance is not due to the Artist Village concept and because of those you mention that supported it’s formation.
The downtown merchants and their patrons are responsible for it all. The merchants self assess a tax which they reinvest in the downtown:
1. The new hardscape and soft scape of the downtown was paid by the merchants along with matching funds from the city. The merchants and their patrons are responsible for this tax based contribution.
2. The ambassador cleaning crew responsible for maintenance of the downtown is paid by the downtown merchants.
3. The downtown sidewalk steam cleaning is mostly paid by funds the merchants generate.
4. The downtown east side Hispanic business district contribute the bulk of the funds the Artist Village uses to market and promote itself.
The Hispanic residents that are responsible for the bulk of the tax based city budget are responsible for:
1. The subsidy to the Cal State University Fullerton Grand Central Art venue.
CSUF pays the city a lease of one dollar a year for the building they occupy.
2. The city subsidized theMemphis restaurant in the Artist village $400,000 to open their restaurant at the Santora Building.
3. The $400,00 the city paid for the purchase and installation of the fountain in the Artist Village 2nd street promenade.
The Downtown Hispanic merchants and their patrons are the ones responsible for the improved appearance of the downtown, not the individuals you mention.
The squeaky wheel concept did not work in this area. Very little to no help has been offered by the city’s leadership.
The business owners had to take matters into their own hands.
Now through the Renaissance Plan an effort is underway to replace them.
The under achievement of the downtown including the Artist Village, that you refer to is actually a strategy by the city leadership for economic and political manipulation.
Lomeli do you ever stop beating the drum?
Yeah, the downtown businessmen do pay to have the sidewalks cleaned, because their patrons drop food, spill drink, spit and litter the handbills passed out on every corner.
You want to lionize them for basic maintenance.
THANK YOU ART LOMELI!!
Artist’s Village slogan should really be “Santa Ana Is A Place For (Certain Kinds of) Art.” Jim, it’s not as open as you write it, nor is it this great answer to all of Santa Ana’s woes.
The idea and practice of art is a vital element to reaching out to the community and a fantastic vehicle for connecting the community.
There are other (non Artist Village) organizations/businesses that do this and do it well (and all throughout Santa Ana, which is key): Calacas Inc. on Bristol, SolArt, Cantera, Breath of Fire Theater Co., El Centro Cultural de Mexico, Libreria Martinez Books, Orange County Children’s Theraputic Art Center, Delhi Center. And almost all of these organizations do it while paying thousands in rent per month, not the $1 Fullerton Grand Center Art is so blessed to receive.
And I love how initially, the fountain was taken out of Artist’s Village only to be put back in…good job City Gov.
Jim I do like your “COG” acronym. That’s a motto everyone needs to adopt, Dems, Repubs, Indies, and everyone in between. Let’s replace “Downtown of Orange County” with it! Although I appreciated “Education 1st” a lot more, but I guess the City gave up on that as well.
Just a thought for your consideration. How about blocking Fourth St. from French to Ross St. and make it a pedestrian only shopping corridor?
This worked wonders for the LoDo area of the City of Denver. Have you ever attempted to drive through downtown SA on Fourth St.??
With drivers parking and backing out of parking spaces – making turns – and illegal stops to pick up or drop off – it takes about a half hour to travel those few blocks. It is not an enjoyable experience.
Also reduce the number of cross streets – leave only French, Main, Broadway and Ross as the open cross streets.
Business for the Fourth St. merchants would pick up at least 50% if it was pedestrians only on Fourth St. and several cross streets were eliminated.
Downtown SA shopping would once again be an enjoyable experience.
Hugh, I love the idea!
4th Street is too narrow for general traffic anyway. Plus it would create the open space that Downtown Santa Ana desperately needs. If the city gov really wants to make Santa Ana the Downtown of Orange County, it needs open space.
Look at Downtown L.A.: Pershing Square, California Water Court, Plaza Olvera, Little Tokyo Plaza, Chinatown Central Plaza.
Can you imagine how much easier (in theory) it would be to organize the 16th of September, Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Muertos, Dia de los Ninos, 4th of July, etc. events that happen in that area. There would be greater public safety with those cylindrical, cement posts at the end of each street.
This is a main reason why I drive all the way out to the Santa Monica Promenade. We enjoy such great weather, anything that would get me outdoors and window shopping is a plus.
Quick, someone attach an addendum to the Renaissance Plan!!
Disgusted,
No, I won’t ever stop beating the drum, if beating the drum means correcting information presented for public consumption.
Why do you you have a problem with this?
I did not say the merchants should not contribute. On the contrary my statement was only to acknowledge the correct party responsible for the improvements in the downtown.
They deserve congradulations for their efforts not minimizing comments like yours.
Why are you disgusted with facts?
What agenda do you have ?
What drum do you beat?
Disgusted, you are disgusting.
By the way the city assists and subsidizes other business where their patrons drop their food, spill their drinks, use human signs and pass out handbills:
1. Millions of dollars to Santa Ana Honda Dealership.
2. Millions of dollars to Santa Ana VMW dealership.
3. Millions of dollars to Bowers museum
4. Millions of dollars to The Main Place Shopping Mall.
4. There are many more examples.
There are no examples liket these for businesses serving the Hispanic community. The Downtown Hispanic Business District is an example of recieving no such assistance as those above. WHY IS THAT?
Lomeli
You are a piece of work!
What ?….. Can’t hispanics buy a Honda or a BMW, or go to Bowers Museum, and shop at Mainplace? Are you afraid some of your “people” may wake up and realize there is a whole world of shopping/ consumer opportunities out there for them. Maybe they will even venture out and find a new dentist
Stop already with your divisive, segregation, isolation agenda.
Why is it that you feel it is OK to call your little clique “Downtown Hispanic Business District”. Talk about racisim, you are the worst. Why are you compeled to lable everything? It would be fun watching your head explode though, if we had a “Downtown Anglo Business District”
How does that sound to you Art, has it got a nice ring to it?
Disgusted,
“Downtown Anglo Business District” is exactly what your agenda is. Many of us are simply saying we want inclusion. This will cause your head to blow up.
The Hispanic community does not wish to be segregated. This is done against the community’s wishes.
Organizing as a Hispanic group is only in response to others attempts at marginalizing, demeaning and demonizing this community.
If you do not see this then there is no talking to you.
My point on my last post was to point out the discrepency in how the City assists and encourages some businesses and not others.
No where did I say Hispanic’s do not or should not patronize these businesses.
For your imformation these businesses acknowledge the presence of a Hispanic market , embrace it, market to it and value it.
Why don’t you?
I feel it is OK to refer to the downtown area you mention the “Downtown Hispanic Business” for the obvious reason – the patrons are Hispanic and the businesses service their needs.
Litllle Italy, Korea Town, China Town, Little Siagon And other ethnic districts also do not have a problem with their name for the same reason – they celebrate that culture. What problem do you have with this?
I have no problem if you want to call an area “Downtown Anglo Business District”. I will know to go there if I want to buy something Anglo.
You are a funny guy , in a sad way.