Santa Ana punts question of admonishing a councilman until after election

Santa Ana Councilman Johnathan Ryan Hernandez blasted the investigation into him as “systemic racism.” With Election Day a week away, the Santa Ana City Council met to discuss but ultimately delayed taking any action, including censure, against Councilman Johnathan Ryan Hernandez. At the same time, another probe into a complaint made against Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua by former City Manager Kristine Ridge did not sustain its discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims. Amezcua called for Monday afternoon’s special meeting but denied its timing had anything to do with the election, as Hernandez is currently campaigning for another term against a Santa Ana police union-backed candidate. Hernandez defended himself as an advocate for the three events in question and blasted the probe as “retaliation” for a Brown Act complaint he made against Amezcua alleging that she conspired with other council members to sack Ridge as a means to fire former Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin. The mayor denied making any hostile remarks about Ridge being a white woman or her status as a non-Spanish speaker, including an allegation that she told Ridge “you don’t understand my community or culture.” Amezcua surmised that Ridge was opposed to her as a Santa Ana police union-backed politician and claimed she called her “Gerry’s Girl,” in reference to former Santa Ana Police Officers Assn.