Santa Ana's Grand Choo-Choo Conspiracy Continues
Back in January, I theorized out loud about a SanTana scandal of Chinatown-esque proportions: the introduction of a light-rail system most likely involving the Cordoba Corporation, whose CEO sits alongside SanTana conflict-of-influenza-afflicted councilmember Carlos Bustamante on the board of the Santa Ana Business Bank. Last month, SanTana announced they would join Garden Grove in asking the Orange County Transportation Authority for about $300 million to make their choo-choo dreams a reality.
Today, we received an email blast from SanTana councilwoman Michelle Martinez announcing a charity basketball game this Saturday at Hector Godinez High School as part of the city's Nutrition and Fitness fair. The teams will feature "Elected Officials and Community Leaders," a fairly accurate statement (the rosters include politicos and non-profit types) save for one person: Cordoba Vice President of Transportation Jose de Jesus Martinez.
As we explained in January, Martinez was hired last year by SanTana officials to consult on their mass-transit plans to the tune of at least $10,000. He and other Cordoba workers accompanied City Manager Dave Ream, director of planning Jay Treviño and other SanTana bureaucrats to a Portland conference advocating mass transit solutions (thankfully, public records show Martinez and his crew went on their company's dime).
Martinez is the only participant in Saturday's game highlighted by his ties to a private practice. Even other people who have their own private practices (such as dentist Arturo Lomeli) don't bother putting their business' name out there. I say Martinez's participation is the beginning of Cordoba's efforts to ingratiate itself to sanTaneros--but then again, it's Chinatown. Wait, SanTana officials burned that down in 1906...
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Bob Squalonero says:
Hey Gus,
Does this proposed "choo-choo" by any chance go anywhere near the "Renaissance Blob", that you wrote about back in January '08?
Posted on Tuesday, Apr. 15 2008 @ 11:19AM
Gustavo Arellano says:
You know it does!
Posted on Tuesday, Apr. 15 2008 @ 1:27PM
redperegrine says:
"public records show Martinez and his crew went on their company's dime"
Do public records indicate if he turned around and billed the City for the trip? Maybe it was included in his contract. I've never heard of a consultant doing anything for free.
Posted on Tuesday, Apr. 15 2008 @ 4:44PM
cook says:
I rode on a train once, Can I consult on this too?
Posted on Tuesday, Apr. 15 2008 @ 7:22PM
Anonymous says:
You are only scraping the surface with George Pla and the inept people at Cordoba. Cordoba Corp. fashion itself as, among other things, transit planners. Instead, they are influence peddlers more akin to lobbyist than consultants.
Cordoba has a great track record of trading on their political connections, but they are far from consultants.
I'm not surprised they have made their way to Mr. Pulido and the Santa Ana trough. Hell, since Mr. Pulido associates with people like David Lizarraga from TELECU and former LA City Councilperson Richard Alatorre, it's not surprising that he's cozied up to Mr. Pla.
Posted on Tuesday, Apr. 15 2008 @ 8:44PM
Art Pedroza says:
Great reporting Gustavo! Clearly the entire Santa Ana City Council is corrupt and compromised.
When you factor in Pla's involvement in the Santa Ana Business Bank, on whose board S.A. Councilman Carlos Bustamante sits, you just have to wonder how many of these politicians will end up in el bote.
Posted on Wednesday, Apr. 16 2008 @ 12:37PM