The exclusive nights of short ribs and tri-tip have sparked criticism from local residents who say the burden shouldn’t be on the public to grapple with the agency’s financial concerns, while Fair Board members spend public money on perks and sit on approximately $55 million in financial reserves.
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 inCountywide, Government, NEWS, REGIONS, Santa Ana, Top Stories, Transportation
Santa Ana Pushes for Expansion of Streetcar Project
The existing OC Streetcar project has faced scrutiny by some city and transportation officials who say the it is too expensive for its relatively short, four-mile route, when there are less expensive options like buses.
Posted inCountywide, Culture, NEWS, News Briefs, Outdoors, State, Top Stories
OC Fair Board Turns Down Ticket Price Hike For Now
Fair Board directors at their first nighttime meeting on Thursday didn’t vote to approve any ticket price hikes at the fair gates for this summer, following public backlash and uncertainty by some directors that they had enough information to make such a decision.
Posted inGovernment, NEWS, News Briefs, REGIONS, Westminster
Westminster City Manager To Retire Next Month for Private Sector Job
Eddie Manfro’s planned retirement from his city manager post was made public by City Councilman Tai Do on Facebook, who called it “totally unexpected news.”
Posted inCENTRAL COUNTY, Costa Mesa, Countywide, Culture, NEWS, REGIONS, State, Top Stories
OC Fair Officials Consider Hiking Ticket Prices
Potential admission price hikes come as some community members ask: does the OC fair really reflect Orange County? Or is it losing its way as a callback to the county’s farming origins and drifting instead toward a more Disneyland-like business venture focused on vendor contracts, concerts, and being a major event venue?
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, NEWS, State, Top Stories
OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa Could Be Used To House Local Homeless People
As a local housing and homelessness crisis continues to claim lives, Orange County officials may soon look to the 150-acre county fairgrounds for help by sheltering homeless people on the property.
Posted inPolitics & Elections, Top Stories, Westminster
Westminster Special Recall Election Set for April 7
It’s the earliest possible election date allowable under state law following the certification of the recall efforts by county elections officials, and gives prospective candidates hoping to replace the majority faction council members – Kimberly Ho, Charlie Nguyen and Mayor Tri Ta – just 14 days to pull nomination papers and gather between 20-30 signatures from registered voters to qualify as a candidate.
Posted inFullerton, REGIONS, Top Stories
Controversy Erupts Around Fullerton Restaurant Permit Request
A conditional use permit for Florentine’s Grill seemed to be on track for approval Wednesday night, until questions arose over City Attorney Dick Jones’ owning a nearby property as well as the property owner’s opposition to the application.
Posted inCountywide, Top Stories
Two City Council Recalls to Watch This Year
Two recall movements in two neighboring cities are on the move against elected officials this year – one in Westminster that’s guaranteed a recall election and another in Santa Ana that has gathered the signatures but won’t find out until next month from county officials whether it can move forward.
Posted inGovernment, NEWS, News Briefs, Politics & Elections, REGIONS, Westminster
Westminster Petitions to Recall Council Majority Qualify for Election
Council members Kimberly Ho, Charlie Nguyen, and Mayor Tri Ta — who comprise a majority voting bloc dubbed by critics as “the Gang of Three” for frequently clashing with minority council members over ethics and power at City Hall — are now officially at risk of being unseated.
