GET THE FACTS
The recall is CORRUPT and will cost taxpayers MORE THAN $1 MILLION
Paid canvassers (like this guy) from a made up group called “Residents for Responsible Leadership” are coming around and spreading false information to you and your neighbors. Their mission is simple and cynical: to overturn the will of the voters and recall Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez through a special election that will cost the taxpayers more than $1 million dollars.
These canvassers are paid for every signature they collect and will say just about anything to trick voters into supporting their corrupt recall.
DON’T BELIEVE THEIR LIES. GET THE FACTS HERE:
LIE #1: This recall is about law enforcement in Santa Ana.
FACT: This recall is about protecting the special interests of Gerry Serrano, the President of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association. Gerry is trying to buy a majority on the city council with unprecedented election spending to ensure that the council votes and acts however he wants, even if it’s at the expense of taxpayers.
Gerry Serrano and the POA spent more than $1 million in the 2022 election cycle to win a council majority that would do his bidding. Now he is trying to recall Councilmember Jessie Lopez to flip control of the council. Get the full picture on who Gerry is and why he’s backing the recall:
GERRY DOESN’T WORK AND HE WASTES TAXPAYER MONEY: “Serrano is one of the city’s highest-compensated employees with total pay and benefits exceeding $500,000 as of 2019, all while doing NO work for the city.” Santa Ana taxpayers are footing the bill for Gerry’s salary and benefits and get nothing in return.
GERRY WAS ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: “Westminster police arrested Gerry for a DUI after he plowed into the back of a Subaru Impreza carrying two passengers, including a 7-year-old… Serrano was arrested for driving under the influence and hit-and-run misdemeanors.” After Gerry allegedly avoided prosecution through political connections, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer went on record to admit that Gerry should have faced charges.
GERRY ATTEMPTED TO SUBVERT STATE LAW TO SPIKE HIS PENSION: “Gerry Serrano, the police union president for the city of Santa Ana, has attempted to strong-arm CalPERs into allowing him to include his union salary as part of his pension, which would boost his retirement payouts by tens of thousands of dollars annually. CalPERS is a multi-billion-dollar system that makes retirement possible for millions of Californians. For the system to truly work effectively, it must be protected from those who attempt to bolster their public pension payouts despite not doing public work.”
GERRY WAS SUBPOENAED AND INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI: “The city of Santa Ana received two federal grand jury subpoenas mentioning Serrano… Federal authorities have been looking into the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, specifically seeking information about Gerry Serrano.”
LIE #2: Councilmember Lopez supports dangerous street racing.
FACT: Street racing is and always has been illegal in the city of Santa Ana, and Councilmember Lopez strongly condemns street racing. Jessie has advocated that law enforcement resources focus on the actual drivers of street races by impounding their vehicles. During a 6/1/2021 city council meeting, the majority of the council voted against a measure that would require police officers to cite spectators of street racing with a $1,000 fine after first giving them a written warning. The majority of the City Council voted against this proposal due to concerns that this would distract law enforcement away from who they should really focus on: the driver behind the wheel who engages in street racing.
LIE #3: Councilmember Lopez has supported policies that have “encouraged landlords to raise rent” by as much as 15%.
FACT: Councilmember Lopez has led efforts on the city council to vote and approve the strongest laws that protect renters from unjust rent hikes in the history of Santa Ana. Jessie has championed renter protections, implementing law that limits annual rent increases where legally possible, provides just cause protections for residents, and increases legal support options for residents facing unjust evictions.
Now, the California Apartment Association, which is a deep-pocketed lobbyist group that sides with corporate landlords, has joined forces with the Santa Ana POA to try to recall Councilmember Lopez. So far, the CA Apartment Association has contributed $20,000 to the Santa Ana POA’s recall effort.
LIE #4: Councilmember Lopez doesn’t live in Santa Ana’s Ward 3
FACT: Unlike some elected officials, Councilmember Lopez was proudly born and raised in Santa Ana, and Jessie’s the only renter on the council. Jessie has lived in Ward 3 for over a decade, and last year she moved to her current home near Fairhaven. Online blogs run by disgraced political consultant Matt Cunnigham have been funded by the SAPOA and other recall backers to spread lies about her residency and rental history.
LIE #5: Councilmember Lopez supports defunding the police.
FACT: Councilmember Lopez is in 100% support of our hardworking police officers who make our neighborhoods safe. Councilmember Lopez did not vote to defund the police department. The Santa Ana Police Department has received additional funding each year since Jessie has been in office, including Jessie’s vote to support increasing the authorized police officer positions from 376 to 400.