Officials in Santa Ana might become the first in Orange County to pass a resolution in support of a permanent ceasefire as more elected officials weigh in on Israel and Palestine.
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
Garden Grove Joins in on Orange County’s Water Rate Hikes
As water officials across OC hike rates due to aging infrastructure, the Garden Grove City Council called the increases a bitter pill that residents would have to swallow.
Posted inALL TOP STORIES
Orange County Continues Funding Santa Ana’s Homeless Services Center Despite Protest
More than 30 people – including council members – complained that Santa Ana’s predominantly working-class and Latino residents were being unfairly treated compared to wealthier OC residents.
Posted inCountywide
Will the OC Fairgrounds’ Equestrian Center Become a Parking Lot?
The prospect has local equestrians questioning whether they’re up against an effort to push the fairgrounds further from its history.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Police Union-Fueled Santa Ana Recall on Track to Fail; What’s in the City’s Future?
Residents are now asking what Councilmember Jessie Lopez’s apparent recall survival says about the political future of a Latino city split at its governing level over what “saving your community” looks like.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Election Night Results on Police Union-Backed Santa Ana Recall of Jessie Lopez
The result of the effort to unseat Councilmember Jessie Lopez – also driven by landlords – could tip the scales of power in Santa Ana on issues like rent control and policing.
Posted inCountywide
Will the Heart of OC See A Decisive Shift Tomorrow on Rent Control, Policing?
A controversial special recall election – funded by Santa Ana’s powerful police union – could see an early end to the term of Councilmember and police union critic Jessie Lopez.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Voters to Decide If Undocumented Residents Can Vote Alongside Them
City Council members narrowly approved sending the question to voters as a ballot measure in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Posted inCountywide
How Beholden Are Santa Ana Lawmakers to the Powerful Police Union?
Santa Ana’s police union has become a powerhouse in city elections, floating its preferred candidates. City politicians insist contributions don’t buy votes. But a look at local campaign finance raises questions.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Santa Ana Recall Election Survives Temporary Restraining Order, Still On
The question of whether the wrong electorate is voting on Jessie Lopez’s fate this November will be settled in court after the election.
