An Open Letter to Anti-Gentrification Activists in Santa Ana Who Now Support Pendeja Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez

By Gustavo Arellano Tue., Sep. 6 2011 at 8:30 PM

Categories: Notes from the Banana Republic, The Hilarious Haters

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Dear Anti-Gentrifiers: Crazy times in SanTana, ¿qué no? Didja hear about the Brave New Urbanist who just slammed Fourth Street's quinceañera shops? ¡Qué pendejo!

But tonight, something even crazier happened: a chingo of you went before the SanTana City Council and, instead of blasting councilwoman Claudia Alvarez for her anti-Semitic stupidity, hailed her as our new Adelita, as our savior against the continued gentrification of downtown SanTana, all because 11 years into her political career, she's just now asking pointed questions about the machinations of some downtown developers to drive out the poor Mexicans in the neighborhood.

What the fuck?!

Gente: where the fuck do you get this idea? Must I remind you that Alvarez is by far the biggest lap dog for developers on the council outside of Mayor Don Papi Pulido, getting hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations over the years from evil, gentrifying developers like Mike Harrah and Robert Bisno? That Alvarez and the rest of the council pushed on SanTana voters the reprehensible Measure D, which extended Alvarez's tenure on the council by another four year term, that claimed such an action would limit the influence of developers--but was funded almost exclusively by developers?

Must I remind you that, earlier this year, Alvarez called anyone opposed to gentrification "Chicken Littles"? Have you forgotten that in 2009, when when we beat back the Renaissance Plan (remember that?), that Alvarez blamed the press for it and claimed "We are moving toward a quality project" that would see even more Latinos displaced?

And yet now, she's some type of hero to y'all. She's supposed to address Los Amigos tomorrow--Los Amigos, chaired by the same man that once called Alvarez a puta for accepting money from unacceptable sources. If the group had any integrity, they'd laugh Alvarez out for her newfound radicalism--but betcha that won't happen, because she's now a newfound Aztlanista.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, I understand, but DO NOT trust Alvarez. She's using your support as cover for her many sins--and it's working. Understanding the gentrification debate in SanTana is all about taking the long view, people--and your myopia is downright disturbing. Don't say I didn't warn you...

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Sorry.. the journalistic integrity of this paper went completely sideways over the last few years. Between the slanted stories of illegal immigrants and making them look as if they have done nothing wrong, and Gustavo's blatant disregard of fact checking and using ethnic derogatory terms for races and people is about the only reason I read his slop. Its about as entertaining as listening to John and Ken on KFI 640... purely entertaining. Seriously tho, this whole issue.. is a non issue. No one wants to live in a shit hole city.. hence why Santa Ana (as its pronounced by the majority of non crackpot journalists) has been improving the area in which it is in. I use to never go to that end of town because quite frankly.. its was a dirty, unsafe, crime ridden city. Over the last 3 years it has made huge improvements. Mainly because of the new businesses and new people moving into this area and pumping up the local economy. I was also looking at purchasing a loft there.. but I will gladly take my money else where if needed. Your culture and heritage isn't going anywhere, contrary to the belief the latino/hispanic population is growing so you have nothing to worry about.. get with the times. Adapt.
Shame on the OCWEEKLY for allowing staff writers to disrespect women of Mexican descent. Calling Councilwoman Claudia C. Alvarez a 'pendeja' and worse a 'puta' is vile, crude and abominable. This is worse than how the Irving M. Chase's fraternity Zeta Beta Tau insulted Mexican women at Cal-State Northridge in 1992. Irving Chase was the National President of the Jewish fraternity at he time. See the virulent anti-Mexican lyrics of Zeta Beta Tau's drinking song at: http://www.aztlan.net/racist_ZBT_jewish_fraternity.htm
".. it is difficult to forget claudia's frigid willingness to attack people from the dais." That is the quote of the day - and that tendency of Claudia's will not go away. Some one said that Claudia has no soul - I think that is true. I find her apologies lacking a real committment for her to change - they were just enough to rescue herself.
Whoa, linkage fail. http://www.theonion.com/articles/sometimes-i-feel-like-im-the-only-one-trying-to-ge,11249/
Here, this Onion classic will cheer Gus up. Sometimes I Feel Like I'm The Only One Trying To Gentrify This NeighborhoodSometimes I Feel Like I'm The Only One Trying To Gentrify This Neighborhoodhttp://www.theonion.com/articles/sometimes-i-feel-like-im-the-only-one-trying-to-ge,11249/
You guys you guys, it is time to go to our happy place!
I totally disagree with you. I live in Santa Ana, bought a beautiful historic home, in a beautiful neighborhood and have good neighbors. A large part of SA is in fact, very nice but everyone can only see the shit-hole 3rd world neighborhoods. That would be the fault of those neighborhood residents! Idiots.
I looked her up. Says she got arrested several times protesting fwy projects. Also says her ideas were the cause of gentrification: "In examples such as the West Greenwich Village, the factors that she argued would maintain economic and cultural diversity have instead led to gentrification and some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Arguably, her own white, white-collar family’s conversion of an old candy shop into a home was indicative of the gentrifying trend that would continue by employing Jacob’s ideas."
gentrification in downtown is a myth
Ha! Too funny for words - Gustavo calling another foul-mouthed !
This is exactly what the Administration is trying to pull with the students at the University of California, it is called co-optation of public rhetoric and downright double-agent fuckery.
For being an elder, you sure have a foul mouth...vaffanculo!
Va te faire foutre, trouduc.
Because she said to a reporter after the meeting was over that Chase uses his Jewishness to deflect accusations of ethnic cleansing. She knew.
Geez, where to begin...start with Jane Jacobs!
Gracias, but no thanks.
Not very charitable considering your ongoing struggles with English.
Where's the Klanorama? Monday being a holiday is no excuse.
Does it matter? Are there any good examples where gentrification was stopped?
LOL -- 100% correct.
Your report may be a good source of info about a local politician, but I wish you would not mix Spanish with English in your reporting, especially vulgar words such as ones you used in describing her actions or personal character.
It's amazing that all these years in SanTana, and you STILL don't know Spanish—talk about PENDEJO!
Google translation: "Click marshmallow cheeks .............. Chicano grabs the gun the first to leave. Gustavo hard on her!" I think that it lost somethoing in the translation - maybe Gustavo has a hard on for her?
Pinche chicana cachetes de malvavisco..............le agarra la pistola al primero que se deje. duro con ella Gustavo!
Boy that Sal Tinejero is a brilliant speaker no? Talk about what the fuck?
slum perpetuation has always been a tool used by the powerful to keep the problems in one place so they are more manageable liberals are their useful idiots
Santa Ana is 3rd world and sucks. The UN is on it's way. Redevelopment has always meant, "Cover up and move the ghetto Beaners out of sight, and let's pretend it's not a slum"
"Why are we so sure that Alvarez compared Chase to Hitler knowingly that he was jewish." WHAT THE FUCK difference does it make if Chase is Jewish or not ??? For a council person to compare ANYBODY to Hitler is a grievous violation of common decency - much less a violation of the fucked up SA Code of Ethics.
amen. this is on point. i was cringing yesterday watching the council meeting. it is difficult to forget claudia's frigid willingness to attack people from the dais. atleast this seems to have humbled her a slight bit. It is difficult to forget watching her berate laid off workers as they respectful presented budget alternatives to the city council. If she was so 'passionate' about gentrification, where was she when there was strong movement from the community to propose a Community Based Agreement for development in the station district? Oh, I forgot, she didn't like some of the people in the coalition... and she decided instead to jump on the right side of the issue to only f-it up. If there is any good arising from this politically in this exercise of back-stepping, it's watching the rest of the council act like a bunch of punks. Michelle Martinez didn't even place Claudia's name on her listed supporters for her run for the Assembly (despite their chuminess over the past year). The whole city council gives the impression of being so image-conscious that they have rendered themselves ineffectual. What are their values?
Absolutely right G. No mas palabras hoy.
Why are we so sure that Alvarez compared Chase to Hitler knowingly that he was jewish. Could it be that she compared Chase to Hitler, as the name being synonymous to Evil and had nothing to do with Chase being Jewish? Why are we so quick to term everything anti-semitic when the name of Hitler is involved? I remember when UCI students wanted to wear Green Sashes with Islamic Verse written on it. The same verse (called shahadah) is on the flag of Saudi Arabia (which is also green). Shahadah means "to know and believe without suspicion, as if witnessed". ADL and local right-wing activist compared it to the headbands Hamas wears. They linked Shahadah to Shaheed (martyr) and said that the sashes were an ode to Hamas. I remember Bill O'Reilly invited Mark Levine from UCI, hoping that Levine being a Jew himself would take the right-wing side. The opposite happenned (http://www.ocweekly.com/content/printVersion/41432/).