From minimum wages to recalls – this year was just a taste of what’s to come in next year’s larger elections.
Author Archives: Brandon Pho
As a Voice of OC reporter, Brandon Pho covered north/central Orange County, as well as broader regional issues around law enforcement, transportation, the environment, the OC Fair and Little Saigon.
He joined in 2018 as an intern, shedding light on turmoil and corruption claims in Westminster and uncovering a now-fired OC Fair executive’s suspect fundraising relationship with a nearby, private Christian college that the Fair had sponsored with public money.
Later, he published a number of investigative stories on local law enforcement agencies; detailed political jockeying around a controversial seawater desalting plant proposal in Huntington Beach; narrated a racial reckoning inside one of the county’s largest school districts; and tracked various quality of life issues across the region.
Before Voice of OC, Brandon worked as a reporter and editor at Cal State Fullerton’s independent student newspaper, the Daily Titan, and won a number of accolades for his reporting in 2018, including a 1st and 2nd place Los Angeles Press Club award and 1st place national College Media Association award.
While at Voice of OC, Brandon was a member of Report for America, a national network of local reporters committed to bolstering democracy throughout the U.S.
Posted inWater, Power & Waste
2023: The Year of Orange County Water Woes
Across OC, water agencies have grappled with bad finances, neglected infrastructure and coastlines of sewage. Residents are the ones being forced to pay.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana City Council Kicks Public Out of Meeting After Ceasefire Chants
A chorus of audience members calling for a ceasefire in Gaza prompted city council members to clear the chambers and cancel public comments.
Posted inOutdoors
OC Fairgrounds Officials to Explore New Model for its Equestrian Center
Fair officials denied any intent to close the stables, saying they want more control over ensuring public benefit from a facility of private horse owners.
Posted inCountywide
OC Fair Officials Consider Fate of Equestrian Center
The fate of the 44-year-old stables now sits between a debate over whether or not the equestrian center serves a public benefit or is a gift of tax dollars.
Posted inWestminster
Westminster Voters to Consider Another Tax Increase Measure in March
Westminster voters will decide whether they should pay more taxes to combat a fiscal crisis and save public services just one year after voters approved a 1-cent sales tax increase.
Posted inCountywide
A Fight for Local News: OC Register Workers Plan A Walk Out Over Stagnant Pay
Journalists hope to turn a page in the fight for the future of local news in Orange County and Southern California.
Posted inSanta Ana
Less Executives, More Street Staff: Santa Ana Rethinks Homeless Services
There are increasing questions in OC about paying homeless nonprofits to help get unhoused people off the streets when much of the money is going to nonprofit executive salaries.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Council Deadlocks on Israel & Palestine Statement
With different council members introducing different resolutions, there wasn’t enough support to bring back a single one for a formal vote at a future meeting.
Posted inWater, Power & Waste
Laguna Beach Spills More Sewage Into Ocean Than Anywhere Else in OC
The city has spilled more than 2.7 million gallons of sewage since 2007. The city recently made a series of investments to overhaul its sewage system, raising residents’ rates along with it.
