The new data clearly shows the virus has hit working class communities hardest but it’s also clear that increased county outreach to affected neighborhoods is stemming the tide.
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 inNEWS
OC, State Regulators Raise Concerns Over Public Access in Dana Point Harbor Developers’ Plans
California regulators and local stakeholders are raising concerns over whether developers will ensure boating and harbor access to the general public – not just the wealthy.
Posted inNEWS
Huntington Beach Extends Outdoor Dining Street Closures, Discusses Making Them Permanent
Huntington Beach officials cited the success of downtown’s outdoor overhaul in attracting business and moved forward with keeping the status quo.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
OC Reopening Plans Lack Engagement of Worker Groups, Enforcement of School Reopening Rules
OC officials haven’t discussed reopening plans with the region’s labor groups on the eve of more business reopenings.
Posted inREGIONS
OC Democratic Party Vice Chair Resigns from Leadership Amid Uproar Over Ho Chi Minh Post
Jeff LeTourneau’s resignation came after he shared a Facebook post praising the late Communist leader as someone who “liberated an entire poor, colonized nation from 2 of the most powerful military forces in the world.”
Posted inNEWS
OC Democratic Leader’s Praise for Ho Chi Minh Sends Little Saigon Into Uproar
It’s the latest incident where public statements revolving around the Vietnam War and ideas about communism have sent this area of OC into a political frenzy.
Posted inNEWS
Santa Ana Relaxes Affordable Housing Laws; Declines Residents More Time for Rent Control Petition
A majority of Santa Ana City Council members declined to give residents more time for citizens’ signature-gathering efforts.
Posted inNEWS
Santa Ana, San Clemente Approach Different Stages of Affordable Housing Debate This Week
Santa Ana and San Clemente, cities in two different regions of Orange County, will debate the same component of affordable housing policies at different stages this week.
Posted inNEWS
Long-Dormant County Police Watchdog Plans First Set of Probes into OC Agencies in Years
It’s the first set of probes the Office of Independent Review, which has sat vacant since 2018, has announced in years. An Aug. 27 report announced three investigations.
Posted inNEWS
South Santa Ana Gets More Voting Access After City Officials Question OC Registrar of Voters
Officials have revised plans to now include four drop-off boxes in the south end for residents to access.
