Ten days, 87 questions, little answers

Transparency has been the key to keeping equilibrium between Santaneros and local officials. It is what keeps the relationship trustworthy when times get tough.

Over the past ten days, The Santanero has taken the necessary steps to engage with public officials, submitting a total of 87 questions meant to inform the community accurately and fairly. To date, only about seven questions were answered via text or press release, and three more during Tuesday’s council meeting. The overwhelming majority remain unanswered.

The questions answered had to do with June 9th's protest, Santa Ana's drone operations at Mater Dei High School, and numbers of arrests of protesters, which was promptly posted on our social media to inform the community.

Paul Eakins, the city's Public Information Officer, received a total compensation of $167,297.16 in 2023, according to Transparent California. That’s about $458 a day paid by taxpayers.

As of Day 10, the bulk of our questions to him remain unaddressed.

Similarly, Natalie Garcia, Public Information Officer for the Santa Ana Police Department, received $167,966.48 in total taxpayer-funded compensation in 2023—roughly $460 a day—but key questions specifically directed to her department have not been answered.

Despite this, the City Council at Tuesday’s meeting directed criticism at members of the public and social media accounts for spreading "misinformation." However, from our side, The Santanero has made every effort to pose clear, relevant questions to the appropriate officials. We’ve done our part; the answers, unfortunately, have not followed. No public press conference has been held, and the silence from the city’s communications team continues.

In contrast, The Santanero also reached out to federal agencies, including ICE and the office of U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. While Essalyli's office declined to comment, they at least issued an official “no comment” response. ICE has not responded to our media inquiries as of publish.

Eakins replied Friday, June 13 to remind The Santanero that he was "working on providing more information."

In an effort to prompt a response before publication, The Santanero sent a joint message to both Mr. Eakins and Ms. Garcia, informing them we’d move forward with or without their input. As of publish, no reply has been received from either official.

Below is the full list of questions we submitted via email to both PIO's—per Eakins’ request on June 10—along with timestamps for transparency:

Email correspondence from The Santanero to Eakins, Garcia from June 10-16, 2025

SENT VIA EMAIL ON JUNE 10, 2025 2:05 PM

• What has Mayor Amezcua been up to the last 36 hours? Where has she been?
• Mayor Amezcua was invited to attend Lou Correa’s press conference this morning, why did she leave?
• The City’s joint statement claims that U.S Attorney Essayli contacted the city because feds were being “overrun”, what did “overrun” mean?
• Who did Essayli speak to from the City? [ANSWERED DURING MEETING]
• Did whoever Essayli speak to witness the federal agents being overrun or just took his word for it?
• What was the City Manager’s role during the protests?
• Was Chief Rodriguez present at the protest or station?
• What time was the mutual assistance given by SAPD to surrounding departments?
• Who responded to the mutual assistance? [ANSWERED VIA TEXT]
• How many Santa Ana Police officers were deployed the first time?
• Who ordered SAPD officers to form a line in front of the federal gate?
• How many Santa Ana Police officers were deployed the second time (when it was declared an unlawful assembly)?
• Who ordered SAPD officers to form a line in front of the federal gate?
• What is the protocol for SAPD officers to shoot rubber bullets at very close range (as witnessed by The Santanero)?
• When an unlawful assembly is declared and as the joint statement says it’s the goal of SAPD to “deescalate” the situation, when the protest does become lawful, is the unlawful assembly order rescinded or will police just continue to roll everyone out regardless if the protest becomes lawful/peaceful again? (Moments in between did occur Monday, but this question is mainly hypothetical.)
• How is the City protecting its employees?
• Is the City training or giving guidance to employees of when ICE wants to enter a City facility, center, etc.?
• Did City financial staff account for the loss of revenue due to many electing to stay home now that immigration enforcement is active in Santa Ana?
• Will the City amend the budget to account for loss of revenue due to many staying home and not shopping, etc.?
• How many officers were injured Monday?How many officers came from Anaheim, Garden Grove and OC Sheriffs?
• The Santanero witnessed the bearcat or military grade truck, was that SAPD SWAT or just SAPD on the vehicle?
• What is the purpose of using a military grade vehicle during these protests?
• What is the costs of these weapons used by Santa Ana Police (rubber bullets, the guns used to shoot the rubber bullets, etc.)?
• At 7:29 PM Monday, The Santanero witnessed federal ICE agents begin to make a line directly behind Santa Ana Police. Was this support from federal agents requested from Santa Ana Police or offered by the agents themselves? Would this aid have violated the statue that SAPD does not collaborate with ICE? [ANSWERED DURING MEETING]
• Will a joint-press conference occur with SAPD, City staff, and City Council present? If so, when and where?
• Of those 11 arrested by SAPD Monday, how many were from Santa Ana? How many were from elsewhere and from where?
• How will the City conduct city business amid National Guard members stationed at one of the entrances, requiring work ID to enter the premises?
• Who ordered SAPD to form a line in front of the federal entrance/exit gate after the initial line of officers were dismissed?

— 28 questions were sent Tuesday, June 10 —

SENT VIA EMAIL ON JUNE 12, 2025 3:49 PM

"TUESDAYS PROTESTS

• How many injuries were reported?
• How many officers were hurt or hospitalized?
• How many arrests were made? [SORT OF ANSWERED]
• Were any businesses looted?
• Were any cars set on fire?
• Who ordered police to stage a lines on First Street?
• Who issued the mutual aid alert on Tuesday?
• Who responded to the request (assisted SAPD) on Tuesday? [SORT OF ANSWERED]
• Why did police ultimately leave on Tuesday?
• Is it standard for police to begin blocking protestors from moving on streets despite it remaining peaceful?
• What is the standard practice, procedure, or standard that Santa Ana Police uses during protests when declaring an unlawful assembly? Such as vehicles and weapons used?

"WEDNESDAYS PROTEST

• Who ordered police to stage a line behind the National Guard on Wednesday at approximately 8:10 PM?
• How many injuries were reported?
• How many officers were hurt or hospitalized?
• How many arrests were made? [SORT OF ANSWERED]
• Were any businesses looted?
• Were any cars set on fire?
• Who sent out the mutual aid response alert on Wednesday?
• Which departments arrived to aid SAPD on Wednesday? [SORT OF ANSWERED]
• How many from each department assisted SAPD on Wednesday?
• Who ordered police to form lines on 4th and French at approximately 10:45 PM?
• Is it standard for police to form lines even when the protest hasn’t been declared unlawful?
• On Monday, before much of the chaos, Santa Ana Police did form a line of officers on Santa Ana Blvd., but it was said over the PA that they wanted protestors to move to Scasser Park, giving them a chance to move. Why wasn’t this done on Tuesday or Wednesday?

"GENERAL/BOTH PD AND CITY

• Why was Thursday’s police oversight commission meeting cancelled?
• The Mayor said she’s been “working hard behind the scenes,” what does that mean? With whom has she been working with and what was done?
• How will commission and city council meetings allow the public to attend despite the National Guard blocking Santa Ana Blvd.?
• What does the City have to say about Santa Ana Police’s actions (specifically at being deployed when a protest is peaceful/not an unlawful assembly)?
• What does the City and Police Department (specifically Chief Rodriguez) have to say on what unfolded early Thursday morning [Police firing without warning at protestors/not declared an unlawful assembly yet]?
• How can Santaneros help their undocumented parents or bosses to continue to sell as the parent or boss hides in fear? Is there a rule for this? For example, we’ve seen a teen takeover for a parent who sold flowers on the side of the road, would code enforcement have to say anything about that?
• What’s the status on the ICE notifications measure? What has City Attorney Sonia Carvahlo said to City staff or Council since Essayli’s letter? [ANSWERED DURING MEETING]
• Is it acceptable by the code of ethics for police officers to cuss out a journalist who is not interfering with their duties and simply documenting with both hands visible?
• How is the City of Santa Ana supporting businesses affected by National guard presence/protests?
• What does the Council, Mayor, and Police Chief have to say about The Santanero’s report on police opening fire on protesters without warning?
• Has the City been notified of a targeted raid happening at City Hall?

FOLLOW UP EMAIL SENT JUNE 12, 2025 6:25 PM

• Santa Ana PD does not own a drone. Do they contract it? How are drones being used during protests?
• Who suggested Mater Dei?
• What took place at Mater Dei? What did the operation entail?
• The Santanero witnessed a drone fly over a peaceful protest on Monday and saw it again on Tuesday and Wednesday. Who was operating this drone? This drone was not media-owned and had the same build as the one seen on Monday.
• Who sourced the drones? As in who paid for it and what company did it come from?
• How long did the operation at Mater Dei last?
• What’s Santa Ana Police’s relationship like with Mater Dei?

— 41 questions were sent Thursday, June 12, 2025 —

RESPONSE FROM EAKINS JUNE 13, 2025 10:54 AM

"Hi Daniel, we are working on providing more information in response to your questions. Thank you for your patience.

Respectfully,

Paul Eakins | Public Affairs Information Officer"

EMAIL SENT ON JUNE 16, 2025 3:42 AM

• Did police kettle on Saturday?
• If officers were ordering protestors to leave, why were some prevented from going into the parking structures to get in their car and leave?
• Why didn’t police use the Emergency Alert System, which allows meta-data to be sent such as a map picture to show the exact area of dispersal?
• How many were arrested and please provide the charges (“various” isn’t sufficient)
• Is police and the city aware of destruction caused by police shooting rubber bullets and such towards at least one confirmed business (Vibes Boutique)
• Protestors leaving asked officers where they could leave since most of the streets were blocked, officers responded saying they didn’t know. Was there a lack of communication between officers/commanders on Saturday?
• According to video, police confronted a young male in his car, what occurred and was that person detained on Saturday?
• When the dispersal order is given, are businesses allowed to continue operating?
• A community teach-in occurred by the Federal Building on 4th and Birch, feds asked people to stay on the other side of the concrete car blockers, however is there a distinct property line? The side walk which has bricks appears to be Santa Ana jurisdiction and grass area federal property. Can this been confirmed with a surveyor map?
• How many officers were injured Saturday (and basically everyday since Monday)
• How many injuries were reported (of protesters or others not partaking in the protest) on Saturday and all other days for that matter
• Were any police vehicles burned, tagged, or broken this week?

ADDITIONAL EMAIL SENT JUNE 16, 2025 8:17 PM

• How much in overtime is the city paying out to officers?
• What did Essayli say during the phone call on Monday, June 9th (The Santanero humbly requests the audio recording of the phone call, with attendance of who was present at the call). [HALF ANSWERED]
• Did the raids occur because Essayli sent the letter to Carvalho regarding the proposed ICE notifications measure? [Essayli declined to comment, City has not responded to this question.]
• A Santa Ana business’ window was struck by officer fire Saturday night. What did the department do or respond to the business owner? What is the department’s message to other businesses?

— 18 questions were sent Monday, June 16, 2025 —

The Santanero will continue to ask for answers and file public records requests to effectively inform the community.