Voice of OC Brings Home Top Awards From OC Press Club

The Voice of OC team was given numerous awards at the 2018 Orange County Press Club Awards Gala June 15. View a full summary of Voice of OC’s awards here »

David McQuay Award for Best Columnist – 1st Place – Norberto Santana, Jr.

Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr., was awarded the David McQuay Award for Best Columnist. He was awarded for this series of columns on Orange County government:

• Public Wins, Politicians Lose on Secrecy in OC
• Santana: Phantom Government
• Santana: Orange County Faces a Public Safety Leadership Crisis
• OC Vets Cemetery in Irvine Stuck?

Best Political Columnist – 1st Place – Norberto Santana, Jr.

Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr., was awarded for these columns related to local government:

• OC Contract Cities Rebuke County Supervisors Over Spiraling Sheriff Costs
• Could a Housing Bond End Homelessness in Orange County?
• OC Auditor Controller Leads CA Public Accountants Uprising
• Something Smells at The Mesa Water District
• Santana: Inaction Can Kill

Best Beat Reporting – 1st Place – Nick Gerda

• Homeless in the OC
• Homelessness and Poverty Keep Growing in Orange County, Studies Find
• Sheriff to Step Up Patrols of Riverbed Homeless Camp, But Say They Will Not Clear It Out
• County to Block Homeless Camping on Large Sections of Santa Ana Riverbed
• Housing Shortage Sent Homeless at Transitional Shelter Back to Streets

Best Environmental News Story

First Place: To Desalinate or Not to Desalinate: UCI Debate Over Controversial Huntington Beach Plant by Amy DePaul

Best Investigative Story

Third Place: Hundreds of Dollars in ‘Gifts’ From Contractors to Supervisor Nelson Raise Legal Questions by Nick Gerda

Best News Story

Third Place: Airport Controversy Heats Up as Supervisors Award Contract to Low-Ranked Firm by Nick Gerda

Best News Photo

Third Place: Sheriffs patrolling homeless camp by Jeff Antenore

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