A host of OC’s largest cities struggled to pass a balanced budget this year with officials in some places warning of a bleak fiscal outlook in the years ahead that could threaten public services.
Author Archives: Hosam Elattar
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC/ Report For America reporter covering Anaheim & North Orange County, food insecurity, housing & homelessness, the Arab & Muslim American community and education.
Elattar started at Voice of OC as an intern in January, 2020 and has covered local food banks’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, School board debates on how to teach history, the decades long push by Arab American business owners to recognize Little Arabia and a corruption scandal at Anaheim City Hall.
He has won several awards from the OC Press Club including Best News Story, Best Political Story and Best Religion Story.
Elattar is Egyptian American and has lived in Botswana, Nepal, Uganda, The Dominican Republic and India.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Federal Judge Orders Immigration Agents to Halt Stops Based on Race
A federal judge Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to stop making immigration arrests solely based on a person’s race, the language they speak or their occupation – an order covering much of Southern California.
Posted inWestminster
Westminster Sues Cop Who Allegedly Ran 5k Races While on Disability
City officials are suing a former Westminster police officer for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in worker compensation payments.
Posted inGarden Grove
ICE Raids Spur Calls for Community Aid in Another Orange County City
Some Garden Grove residents want city leaders to alert the community about ICE raids as well as support immigrants with resources in a town where roughly half the population is foreign born.
Posted inLaguna Beach
Evacuation Orders Lifted After Laguna Beach Brush Fire
Residents can return to their homes after evacuation orders in Laguna Beach were lifted for a brush fire that started Monday afternoon.
Posted inLaguna Beach
Laguna Beach Brush Fire Prompts Evacuations
A brush fire in Laguna Beach has sparked evacuation orders in parts of the city Monday.
Posted inWestminster
Will Little Saigon Finally Get an Archway as Businesses Reel From ICE Raids?
Despite decades of failing to erect a gateway that displays Little Saigon’s nearly 50 year history, Westminster city officials are again looking to add an archway as businesses and residents continue to deal with ongoing federal immigration raids.
Posted inSanta Ana
As ICE Raids Continue in OC, Santa Ana Creates $100,000 Aid Fund for Impacted
Santa Ana city council members created an aid network for families and residents impacted by the federal immigration sweeps that’s upending life in immigrant communities. Will more funding come?
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Lawsuit Alleges OC Sheriff’s Department Violated Two Muslim Women’s Civil Rights
Two Muslim women are suing the OC Sheriff Department for allegedly violating their first amendment rights by forcibly removing their religious head coverings after being arrested at a protest last year. Sheriff officials deny those claims.
Posted inOrange
Another OC City Looks to Paid Parking to Help Plug Budget Holes
Officials in Orange are moving forward with paid parking and enforcement in Old Towne after making tens of millions of dollars in cuts to adopt a balanced budget.
