Construction of the Orange County Streetcar has begun in Santa Ana, and it’s forced closures along 4th Street that downtown business owners say plummeted their sales.
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 inGovernment, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Westminster
Allegations of Vietnam Interference in Westminster Now Official City Policy
Westminster Mayor Tri Ta’s allegations that the Vietnamese government is disrupting City Hall are now part of an official city policy, despite critics’ claims it labels his political opponents “communists” in an attempt to turn Little Saigon against them.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Top Stories, Westminster
Westminster Mayor Claims Vietnam Interference at City Hall
The Vietnamese government is behind more than six months of political turmoil at Westminster City Hall, according to Mayor Tri Ta. He did not provide specific evidence for his claims, which could become an official city statement.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana’s Old YMCA Building will Become a Hotel
Developer Mike Harrah will turn the old YMCA building in downtown Santa Ana into a boutique hotel despite calls to make it a community center.
Posted inCountywide, Politics & Elections, Top Stories, Westminster
Countywide Interest Grows in Westminster City Council Recalls
Two different campaigns target all five council members.
Posted inGarden Grove, Santa Ana
Critics Decry Secrecy Around Future of Willowick Golf Course
Development is on the horizon for some of the last remaining open space between Santa Ana and Garden Grove, and resident complaints are mounting about City of Santa Ana efforts to shut out the public while exclusively considering private companies’ bids to build on the area.
Posted inEconomy, Government, NEWS, REGIONS, Santa Ana
Santa Ana Sets More Pot-Shop Friendly Policies
Santa Ana City Council members approve tax relief and other policies aimed at bringing more legal marijuana businesses into the city while backing off a proposal to require businesses to go further in hiring local.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, NEWS, Westminster
Westminster Budget Struggles Ahead
Facing growing budget shortfalls in the next few years, Westminster residents will soon face tough choices on whether to keep up higher local sales taxes or start cutting services.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
State Senator’s Bill, Backed By County Officials, Aims To Boost County Jail Mental Health Services
Orange County jails could widen their funding to treat inmates with mental illnesses while they’re incarcerated, under a bill proposed by California State Senator Tom Umberg (D – Santa Ana).
Posted inGovernment, Santa Ana
Proposed Apartments in North Santa Ana Still Opposed by Residents Despite Revisions
City officials will revisit a controversial apartment complex proposal in north Santa Ana that the developer has scaled down after public outcry, though nearby residents say the project is still too large and shouldn’t move forward.
