The new measures fall in line with the actions of other cities in the county like Costa Mesa and Irvine, which took it upon themselves to enact mandatory mask laws this month and last month, respectively. City officials are also weighing small business loans and rental assistance for residents.
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 inAnaheim, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, NEWS, REGIONS, Top Stories
Anaheim City Manager Chris Zapata Might Be Headed Out
Zapata took his post in 2018, and has since overseen the city’s day-to-day administration.
Posted inCosta Mesa, Emergencies & Disasters, NEWS, Top Stories
Orange County Fair Could Be Cancelled This Year Due to Coronavirus
The possible cancellation falls in line with other fairs across the state wary of public health guidelines discouraging mass gatherings for months, at least, as people are already staying at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Posted inEducation, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, Huntington Beach, NEWS, REGIONS, Top Stories
Huntington Beach Parents and Activists in Uproar Over Proposal to Close School Serving Many Latino and Low-income Kids
It’s the second time the school’s fate was thrown into question by officials concerned over low of enrollment.
Posted inCountywide, Emergencies & Disasters, NEWS, Top Stories, Transportation
As Countywide Toll Road Traffic Drops, Transportation Officials Cap Rate Increases and Account Fees for 91 Express Lane Drivers
Toll revenues have fallen with the traffic by about 60%, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), which operates the 91 lanes and will operate the I-405 Freeway toll expansions when they open up.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Investigative, NEWS, REGIONS, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Two Santa Ana Council Members Flip on Controversial 2525 Development, Possibly Ending It
Council members Vicente Sarmiento and David Penaloza have flipped on the project, forming a clear majority against the controversial apartments as a decision makes its way to council members’ desks on whether or not to turn the project over to voters – or rescind their original vote entirely.
Posted inEconomy, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, Housing & Homelessness, NEWS, REGIONS, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Freezes Rent Increases for Residents
The new protections add to existing emergency measures the city enacted back in March, banning utility shutoffs and the eviction of tenants over an inability to pay rent due to the financial constraints of the health crisis.
Posted inCountywide, Emergencies & Disasters, NEWS, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana, State, Top Stories, Westminster
Gov. Orders Santa Ana Recall Election To Be Mail-in Ballot Only, Westminster Majority Survives Recall
Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered that Santa Ana’s special recall election –deciding the fate of Councilwoman Ceci Iglesias’ seat — will happen entirely through mail-in ballots. Meanwhile, final election numbers on Westminster city council recall shows majority faction retaining their seats.
Posted inCosta Mesa, Countywide, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, NEWS, REGIONS, Safety, Security & Justice, State, Top Stories
OC Fair Getting Travel Trailers, Looking at Buildings on Property for Coronavirus Emergency Medical Use
The OC Fair is getting travel trailers and is looking at three buildings on its 150-acre state property in Costa Mesa for potential emergency housing and medical services, as county officials try to find ways to stretch out hospital capacity for coronavirus response.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Housing & Homelessness, NEWS, REGIONS, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Residents’ Referendum Against Controversial Apartments Project Qualifies for Election
County elections officials have certified a referendum petition by residents who oppose and live next to the 2525 apartments project, a 256-unit development by developer Ryan Ogulnick that got the City Council’s final approval on January 23. At the time, residents opposed to the project had warned they would challenge it with a referendum petition, which they filed with the city in late February.
