The meeting ended, and the window closed, without enough support by policymakers to put the question before voters in time for the November election.
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 inInvestigative, NEWS, Politics & Elections, Top Stories, Water, Power & Waste
Questions Over Water Official Who Took Money from Interests Pushing Desal Project She’s Voting On
State and local officials agree that Kris Murray’s upcoming vote for a desalination project pushed by groups she took money from is legal.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Huntington Beach, NEWS, Outdoors, State, Top Stories, Water, Power & Waste
Public Protest, Questions Push Water Board Decision on Huntington Beach Desal Permit to Aug. 7
If the permit is approved, Poseidon Water, the company proposing the desal plant, would clear a major hurdle after two-decades of pushing it near the final stretch.
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Huntington Beach, Outdoors, Top Stories, Water, Power & Waste
Public Argues For, Against Huntington Beach Desalination Plant, Decision Near
A series of public hearings on a controversial desalination project are set to take place over two days.
Posted inCountywide, Newport Beach, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
With Community Concerns Lingering, Newport Beach Takes Stance on John Wayne Airport Leases
Newport Beach City Council members on Tuesday were in agreement that OC officials need to curb any additional noise, flyovers or private jet increases.
Posted inCENTRAL COUNTY, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, Health & Wellness, Huntington Beach, NEWS, REGIONS, Safety, Security & Justice, State, Top Stories
Huntington Beach’s Anti-Mask Bastion Status Puts its Latino Neighborhoods on Edge
Huntington Beach residents’ defiance of health orders raises concern amongst the city’s Latinos, who more often work in industries with greater Coronavirus infection risk.
Posted inCountywide, Government, NEWS, Politics & Elections, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Police Contracts and Spending Coming Under Much More Scrutiny in Orange County
After recent protests calling for reforms on law enforcement spending, it appears even the most routine of police contracts at OC’s public meetings are coming under public scrutiny.
Posted inCENTRAL COUNTY, Countywide, Government, Newport Beach, NEWS, REGIONS, Top Stories, Transportation
Newport Beach Officials and Residents Raise Issues Over John Wayne Airport Land Lease Bids
Newport Beach City Council members are set Tuesday night to vote on recommending an aviation company to deliver services to hundreds of aircraft at John Wayne Airport.
Posted inAnaheim, CENTRAL COUNTY, Countywide, Garden Grove, Government, NEWS, NORTH COUNTY, REGIONS, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Criticism Mounts Around Police Response at Recent Protests in Orange County
An increasing number of protesters in OC are voicing concern over police officers’ recent conduct in cities where demonstrations against nationwide police violence have occurred.
Posted inCENTRAL COUNTY, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, Health & Wellness, Housing & Homelessness, NEWS, News Briefs, REGIONS, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Renters Get a Few More Months of Eviction Protections
An executive order signed by City Manager Kristine Ridge extends a citywide order that bans landlords from serving their tenants with eviction notices until Sept. 30.
