The city of Santa Ana is facing a “reshaping” as we get closer to the 2020 National Elections. This process will complete 2 main elections before the country decides if Donald Trump stays in power or not : The November SAUSD (Candidates for SAUSD School Board Special Election) and the key race for the empty city in the City Council for Wad 4 (SNA Special Election for Ward 4: Who Will Win?). But at the same a “double recall” might be on course for next March Primaries. Here is why.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Two Santa Ana City Council members, Cecilia Iglesias (Republican) and Villegas (Independent and former Republican) are already dealing with the effects of a recall pushed by two different committees of Neighbors Supporting this type of intiatives, which will put both of them in question. But why?
According to the latest information coming from the recalling petitions, these two members of the City Council are not fully addressing key issues for the city like: Trump’s policies on immigration, affordable housing projects, the defunding of the Police Department and different projects towards improving homeless services (New Homeless Survey Counts Nearly 7,000 in OC: Maybe More?), after school programs, etc. Are this Council Members doing their job? They will have to answer this soon and the community will be aware of this.
In a response to this petitions both Council members explained in the past: “I stood with the residents of Santa Ana and was fiscally responsible when I took the vote against raising wages that the city cannot afford” said Villegas to the OC Register. Regarding Villegas, a recent decision from the Superior Court of California, Orange County, validated the Recall Committee ‘s proposal after the Santa Ana City Clerk’s Office refused to accept the petition.
At the same time, through Social Media, Iglesias said about the recall: “Today I was told not to worry about this recall. And that if anything, I should run for Mayor in 2020. Your thoughts??”
But for some, the main question is not around the Police Department’s budget or the new sales tax but the immigration policies and the feeling about Trump that surrounds OC in Santa Ana: In a Latino-Majority city (with a growing Vietnamese community starting to feel identified with the Democratic Party) the fact that this members, especially Iglesias, are pointed as being “strong supporters” of the White House might be a problem.
