Brandon Pho

Author Archives: Brandon PhoFormer Reporter

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.

NEWS

Cypress Officials Approve Ramped Up Salary Range for Next Police Chief, Whoever it is

by Brandon Pho Aug 25, 2020Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Public agencies for years have justified these salary spending increases by arguing that high quality personnel demand competitive pay.

NEWS

Orange County’s Outsourcing of Public Transit to Lyft Nearly Left Residents Stranded

by Brandon Pho Aug 24, 2020Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Some people were almost left stranded last week when Lyft threatened a total shutdown of its services across the state.

Economy, Housing & Homelessness, NEWS, Santa Ana, Top Stories

Santa Ana Moves Forward With Reduced Affordable Housing Requirements

by Brandon Pho Aug 19, 2020Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Santa Ana City Council members in an initial vote relaxed affordable housing requirements for builders, despite dozens of public commenters raising concerns.

Countywide, Education, Investigative, Top Stories, Westminster

Criminal Charges and Residency Questions Amp Up Westminster School Board Races

by Brandon Pho Aug 19, 2020Oct 4, 2026 Why you can trust Voice of OC

As officials reel from charges brought by Orange County prosecutors, community members envision new possibilities for the district.

CENTRAL COUNTY, Countywide, Economy, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, Health & Wellness, Laguna Beach, NEWS, NORTH COUNTY, Orange, Outdoors, Placentia, REGIONS, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, SOUTH COUNTY, Top Stories, Transportation

Has Coronavirus Transformed Orange County’s Streets for Good?

by Brandon Pho Aug 18, 2020Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The Coronavirus has to some extent given Orange County’s streets back to the pedestrian, resulting in an overhaul to local cities’ urban aesthetic. Will it stay this way after the pandemic?

CENTRAL COUNTY, Economy, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, Health & Wellness, Housing & Homelessness, NEWS, Politics & Elections, REGIONS, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories

Santa Ana Poised to Relax Affordable Housing Obligations on Developers

by Brandon Pho Aug 18, 2020Jul 8, 2021 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Santa Ana officials could make it easier for developers to build for-profit apartments in the city, while lowering affordable housing requirements.

Education, Investigative, NEWS, NORTH COUNTY, Orange, REGIONS, Top Stories

Chapman Faculty Petition Slams Fellow Professor, Who Stands By Controversial Kamala Harris Op-Ed

by Brandon Pho Aug 17, 2020Jul 9, 2021 Why you can trust Voice of OC

An op-ed about U.S. Senator Kamala Harris by a former dean and Chapman law professor has prompted his colleagues to push for stronger university inclusion policies.