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Notes from the Banana Republic

Can Alfredo Amezcua Take Down Santa Ana's Perpetual/Invisible/Perpetually Invisible Mayor?

By Gustavo Arellano, Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 3:26PM
Comments (19)
Categories: Notes from the Banana Republic
AlfredoAmezcua.png
Photo from the Santa Ana Business Bank website, where he sits on the board alongside a bunch of pendejos...
​
The Friday night before Thanksgiving isn't exactly the best time to hold a kick-off for a political campaign, but that didn't stop an enthusiastic crowd of about 60 to cram into Libreria Martinez yesterday to rally 'round Alfredo Amezcua. He's the SanTana attorney and longtime man-about-town who's running against longtime Mayor Don Papi Pulido in next year's election for the right to run Orange County's largest city. Not a single sitting councilmember showed up to cheer on Amezcua, a telling sign of the uphill battle Amezcua faces to dethrone the Don Papi. But three key people spoke before Amezcua, representing the strategy he needs to take for victory.

First up was Libreria Martinez's owner, Macarthur Genius Rueben Martinez. "Welcome to a new day," Martinez told the crowd in his ever-inspiring tones. He shared other inspiring thoughts, but I took notes on a "My Name Is..." sticker that I lost. But following him was Amin David of Los Amigos, and while Los Amigos is more effective in Anaheim than SanTana, their network of activism is legendary. After David was the most under-appreciated activist in the town, America Bracho of Latino Health Access, the group that basically reduces the city and county's medical bill by millions with their health programs. She spoke on her own accord lest the IRS start sniffing around her non-profit, but those three make a formidable activist-philosophical counterpoint to the Don Papi's usual cabal of developers, cretins, and gentrifiers.

Amezcua finally spoke, and emphasized his campaign wasn't about dwelling on the past or negativity, but rather confronting the future. One concrete, brilliant promise he made: if elected mayor, he would push for term limits on his own office to escape the current Groundhog Day afflicting SanTana City Hall. Another point: bring in business--no specifics on it, but I'm reporting here!

My final point after the jump!

Unlike Don Papi, Amezcua can easily move from Aztlanistas to corporate types and politicos (see my caption to his picture for proof). In a way, Don Papi took Amezcua's advice from long ago a bit too close to heart. From a 1994 Los Angeles Times profile of Don Papi as he was preparing to become SanTana's mayor:

Attorney Al Amezcua, who is putting together a committee of community leaders to serve as the mayor's "eyes and ears,"remembers meeting Pulido at the muffler shop when he brought his old Honda there for repairs. Shortly after, Pulido called Amezcua for advice in mounting a challenge to the city's plan to raze Ace Muffler for a shopping mall.

"I remember him really for the first time taking a very strong position on what he believed in, and doing things the smart way, not screaming, not yelling, but making presentations stating his positions in a very calm, a very sound way," Amezcua said.

He said that while Pulido is not "a flag raiser for the Mexican community," he has shown great talent in working with "every segment of the community," from staunch Republicans to Democrats, from Korean business owners to Vietnamese senior citizens and wealthy whites.

"That's why he's the man of our times," Amezcua said. "This city needs someone who is able to pull everyone in, and almost be at the pulpit to ensure that all voices and all perspectives and everybody's position is taken into consideration."


Can Alfredo do what so many pray for yet none have accomplished? We shall see...
Comments (19) Write Comment
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More About:

  • Alfredo Amezcua
  • Don Papi Pulido
  • Libreria Martinez
  • Politics
  • Local Politics

Comments (19)

petit bourgeois says:

Great. The attorney who represented the racist Student Movement for the Liberation of Aztlan. Does not get any more racist than that.

Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 7:06PM
Cesar says:

Better to have a real 'rascist' than a pauper one, right petit bourgeois? F- you and Pulido.

Al: You know why I like you? I have seen you around in some little restaurants, dive bars, and corporate dog n pony shows and you def know how to wear the right hat to the right place. Do us a favor and take down that cacique, will ya?

Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 9:31PM
Gotzon Yarritu says:

I believe that he has a better chance than Michelle Martinez last time!

Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 9:48PM
Gab says:

This is the best this city can do? Some ugly freak attorney, whose name is impossible to say, spell or remember? This guy does not stand a chance. I would fare better, and I am gay and white.

Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 9:57PM
art pedroza says:

Gab,

Why are so many gay people in the OC anti-Mexican?

Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 10:56PM
Gustavo Arellano says:

Petit: Maybe you should run and restore dignity to your city instead of wasting time whining racism on every comment on this godforsaken blog!
Gab: Say what?

Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 21 2009 @ 10:57PM
MARCIAL VASQUEZ says:

CALL HIM WHAT YOU WANT.BUT U DO NOT KNOW THIS MAN. HE IS A SMART ENOUGH NOT TO BE INTIMIDATED BY ANYONE,I HAVE KNOWN HIS FAMILIA FOR 30yrs. AND HE COULD HAVE BEEN JUST ANOTHER STATISTIC; CHALE BIG HOMIE WE R PROUD OF YOU.

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 12:14AM
Indio says:

Hey, let's get this city right! Let's start from the center out instead of the outside in. Latinos are majority here and we must take this power and move our city to new heights.
I would start by taking our non-english speaking mexicanos and get them involved in our cities politics and give them understanding so they don't just stand around scared and stay silent, let's get them involved too so they can vote. We have too many intellegent english speaking chicanos per se' that keep them out of the mix. If we want to get it right, "we" need to go out to the communities and speak w them not at them. I still see a division in that respect, so let's close that gap. All I hear is, "no, los chicanos no los gustan" or
" those stupid ch__aros are dirty and stupid" etc.. Anyway, before jumping on Amezcua's d__k let's do our research and see
what he's all about first. I'm a Pulido pendejo.
Yes, I was just happy that a Latino was voted our Mayor. I didn't do any research on him and by me just going around Santana talking to other Illuminated latinos I have heard many disturbing things such as gentrification and alot sucking up to the wealthy gringo groups in the area etc...
So in parting all I have to say that it starts w me and hopefully I can inspire a few people and so on... grassroots goes along way and makes the following stonger.
Asta luego,
Indio

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 4:14PM
angel fan says:


Man, he's gotten older! He was pretty swift in the field, but never much of a hitter. I do remember his grand slam, though!

Man, he aged fast.

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 6:53PM
petit bourgeois says:

Gustavo,

What sane rational white person would want to deal with the reality of this city:

http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/pd/mostwanted.asp

Notice how no asians, blacks or whites turn up here, yet we all live here.

Gee, I wonder what segment of the population commits the most crime disproportionate to the population? Even after 3 generations, the majority of your paisanos cannot even graduate high school.

Every time I give you a dose of reality, you skirt the issue. You are so disconnected with reality you need to have your head examined.

Take another look, and tell me why it is beneficial to have a mexican chicken-and-snake-flag mentality instead of an American one:

http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/pd/mostwanted.asp

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 8:57PM
Gustavo Arellano says:

Hey, Petit: I merely asked if you'd rather bitch about SanTana on a lowlife blog than do something about it. Gracias for answering!

Oh, and you're "dose of reality" using most-wanted lists is HILARIOUS. Surf City has its share of wab gangsters, yet if I use your rubric, they're law-abiding citizens and whites are the true menace:

http://www.surfcity-hb.org/government/departments/PD/crime_info/most_wanted.cfm

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 9:13PM
petit bourgeois says:

Pulido does not offend white people with radical rhetoric of aztlanistas. He comes from DF, so he his parents may have imbibed some diplomatic skills in his pompous ass. He is the way better of two evils.

He does not have an overt hatred of white people, like Gustavo does.

I will NEVER vote for a racist MEChA lawyer like that ghost. por la raza todo my ass.

This candidate is dead in the water.

We need an Arpaio character in Santa Ana (law and order type) and not that wussy Paul Walters. That guy is so limp-wristed he makes my hairdresser look straight.

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 9:17PM
petit bourgeois says:

Selective sampling of one city? Thats great and all that you concentrate on HB, but look at the county. I have a much larger sample size. I included two counties. You cannot refute the larger sample size with one shithole like HB, therefore you lose. Let's move north to Long Beach:

http://www.longbeach.gov/police/most_wanted.asp

Three for three. You cannot do any better when it comes to crime statistics gustavo. You have become intellectually bankrupt.

You produce one city, not enough to convince anyone, no matter how many smear pieces you write. I had two counties, and only one non hispanic on LA and OC county lists. The reality of your paisanos' criminal nature always seems to escape you. Your constant denial of mechista beliefs reminds me of Tony Villar.

I haven't blogged in years. You know that. Do NOT get me started writing again, unless you are going to pay me, you freaking comic book villain.

Why do you ask me to run for office when you are the one who is so politically connected? You could have your campaign office at the center cultural de mexico rent free, thanks to the mexican government. Ted Moreno almost got away with finding a way into office, and he was a dumbshit. Surely you could do better.

PB

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 9:43PM
Jim Beam says:

Small middle class man,

You posted the Santa Ana most wanted list twice. I don't see where you posted two counties as you posted the same city twice. Then in you next post you included Long Beach but that would still be two cities and not two counties.

Please blog more as we sane people all get a laugh from your recockulous rants.

What is the real reason you hate Gustavo anyway? Did your wife leave your for a hispanic journalist?

Hugs and kisses

Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 22 2009 @ 10:09PM
Gustavo Arellano says:

Me, politically connected? HA! My coverage of the Catholic Church sex-abuse scandal, coupled with ¡Ask a Mexican! and my endless critiquing of Loretta for not being a true Aztlanista, has me permanently blacklisted from the political scene—and if you don't believe me, go talk to the pedophile-protector apologists over at the OC Hispanic Bar Association, or the Dems at large.

Walters a limpwrist? I don't see you putting your neck on the line to protect people, to actually deal with fighting crime. No, you'd rather bitch endlessly because you're brave like that.

Posted On: Monday, Nov. 23 2009 @ 6:58AM
Sean H. Mill says:

"We need an Arpaio character in Santa Ana (law and order type) and not that wussy Paul Walters. That guy is so limp-wristed he makes my hairdresser look straight."

petit bourgeois,

Ya that's just what we need in Santa Ana, a rogue racist moron who violates the rights of people and costs the taxpayers millions do to the lawsuits that come out of his actions.

Chief Paul Walters is one of the most respected law enforcement officials in the nation amongst his peers in the law enforcement community. He runs a first class jail that is the model for jails elsewhere and he needn't put prisoners in pink undies to keep them in line.

Walters a "limpwrist"? Wow! Now that's a bit of a stretch. Ask any officer on the street and they will tell you that he is a "cop's cop".

I have had the pleasure of riding along with the elite "Strike Force" unit of the SAPD. These are the toughest and smartest cops out there. Each and every one of them has nothing but the highest praise for Chief Walters.

As a resident of Santa Ana I am thrilled to have Chief Walters running the PD in my city. Obviously you spend too much time hating on the immigrant community to do your homework on the Chief.

Shame on you!

Posted On: Monday, Nov. 23 2009 @ 8:03AM
art lomeli says:

I believe change in leadership can only occur through community solidarity.

All communities( business and residential) with their diversities within neighborhoods want the same things......opportunity to develop economically, educationally and culturally.

We all want to experience and enjoy the fruits of our labors........a high quality of life!

Our mutual interests provides the solidarity necessary to overcome the divide and conquer strategy that has kept the city from realizing it's awesome potential based on it's most precious natural resource...... the city's residents.

Posted On: Friday, Nov. 27 2009 @ 3:04PM
Change says:

This city needs new leadership.

Mr.Pulido had enough time to improve our city Construction project such as Bristol expansion is not good ENOUGH!

Your days are limited

Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 2 2009 @ 2:04PM
Lauren says:

What is this world coming to? Is this the best we can do? Heck why don't I run for Mayor?

Posted On: Sunday, Jan. 31 2010 @ 12:58AM

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