July 2011

There is controversy involving the City of Santa Ana leaders, our city council and the lack of transparency. It could affect our neighborhood and quality of life directly which is why we're reporting on this issue. It's rumored that the City has been secretly negotiating with a professional soccer team to move it's operations to Santa Ana and temporarily use Eddie West Field until a new facility is built for them. The rumor goes on to say that Eddie West Field will be expanded to seat 6000 more people and the local schools and sports teams that currently use the stadium will be displaced. Ultimately they plan to build a soccer complex on the site of Willowick Golf Course (owned by Garden Grove) and build a trolley system to serve it from the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center.

This would be a significant negative impact our neighborhood and rumor or not, something to stay on top of. If nothing else, the lack of transparency of Mayor Miguel Pulido, the City Council and the interim city attorney is reprehensible. The council member representing our neighborhood hasn't responded to two formal letters from resident Bobby Keenan (reprinted in the WSNA Summer Newsletter). A citizens group has been formed to stay on top of this issue headed by WSNA Vice President Tom Lutz and former WSNA President Tim Rush. They're circulating a petition demanding that the mayor and council "cease and desist all discussions and negotiations with Chivas USA regarding relocation to SA Stadium and Willowick GC. of a professional soccer team. " They also filed a formal request for all public records dealing with the "secret" negotiations.

At the WSNA Summer General Meeting on July 14th, both Tom Lutz and Tim Rush made a passionate appeal to WSNA residents to join them in opposing the project and holding the City accountable for their lack of transparency.

Their website can be found here. Their blog can be found here. There are sign ups on their website and blog to participate and for more information.

 

KOCE's Real Orange has done preliminary coverage on the issue. Below.