Santa Ana faces increasing legal challenges for blocking street-level sources of assistance for the homeless through the zoning code and permitting process.
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 inSanta Ana
How to Give Back to Your Community
Seventeen-year-old Selina Mendez’s journey through a youth leadership competition taught her all the recognition she needs is that of the Santa Ana community she’s from.
Posted inGovernment
More OC City Officials Look to Crack Down on Street Vendors
Officials in Orange and Stanton are the latest elected leaders in Orange County to look at tightening regulations on street vendors in their cities.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
OC Officials Want State Housing Credit for Motel-Home Conversions
OC Supervisors have been tasked with zoning for over 10,000 new homes in unincorporated areas – and along with half of OC cities have yet to get their housing plan approved.
Posted inEducation
Orange School District Hit With Two Brown Act Lawsuits Over Superintendent Firing
The two lawsuits take issue with the ousting of a superintendent, whose replacement chosen by the board majority resigned after weeks on the job.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
OC’s Top Public Health Leader Dr. Clayton Chau Announces Resignation
Chau’s leadership through a turbulent early pandemic response – and as an Asian American public health figure at a time of heightened racism – was controversial and symbolic.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
After Surf City Housing Lawsuit, Which California Counties Get to Be Suburban With Softer Mandates?
Critics of state-mandated housing goals point to special protections for the governor’s home of Marin County. On this, some of the fiercest of housing proponents can agree.
Posted inGovernment
Laguna Beach City Leaders Vote to Release Footage of City Manager Traffic Stop
After outcry over public records stonewalling, officials said the footage points to no impropriety, yet some were still opposed to its release.
Posted inEquality & Equity
Lost in Translation: OC Cities Shut Out Non-English Speakers From Online Public Meeting Broadcasts
As a city corruption scandal forces major conversations in English about Anaheim City Hall dealmaking and special interest influence, some Spanish speakers have pushed for a change.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Santa Ana Eyes Using a Firehouse for Police Program, Some Residents Want Library
While some council members pushed for more community input on using an old fire station for a police athletic league, others this week were ready to move on.
