Pushback from city officials and business interests against a proposed regional ban on new gas-powered water heaters and furnaces is forcing air quality leaders to reconsider two prospective rules aimed at reducing emissions from gas appliances.
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 inSanta Ana
OC Developer Fined by State Officials for Dark Money Campaign in Santa Ana
Local developer Ryan Ogulnick is being fined for violating state law by allegedly laundering campaign money and failing to disclose the original source of over $300,000 spent on mailers in the 2018 Santa Ana election.
Posted inStanton
Stanton Boots City Commissioner For Ignoring Ethics Training
Stanton officials removed a city commissioner after he neglected to take two state-mandated trainings focused on preventing ethics violations and sexual harassment for almost two years.
Posted inCountywide
Orange County Bans Whippets
OC Supervisors introduced a new law banning the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational drug use in unincorporated territories in the county.
Posted inHuntington Beach
Huntington Beach City Attorney Heads to Trump Administration
City Attorney Michael Gates is leaving to join the U.S. Department of Justice as a Deputy Attorney General amid multiple ongoing lawsuits between Huntington Beach and the state.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Officials Ban Family Contracts After OC Bribery Scandal
After OC Andrew Do Supervisor pleaded guilty to bribery over county contracts, Santa Ana officials are banning giving out city contracts to their family members.
Posted inSanta Ana
Will Santa Ana Relaunch an Advisory Group to Strengthen Immigration Protections?
Amid a federal immigration crackdown, it remains unclear if OC’s only Sanctuary City will bring back an expert advisory group to recommend ways Santa Ana can better protect immigrants from deportation.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana School District to Lay Off Nearly 300 Teachers and Staff
Facing an over $180 million budget deficit, Santa Ana Unified School Board members voted to lay off around 280 teachers and other staff members at the end of the school year.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Looks to Boost Immigrant Protections Amid Federal Crackdown
One Santa Ana councilwoman is looking to reinstate an advisory group that is intended to recommend policies to local officials aimed at protecting immigrants.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana School Board Considers Laying Off 280 Teachers, Other Staff
With declining enrollment, Santa Ana Unified school board members are the latest public education leaders considering laying off hundreds of teachers and staff to keep their budget afloat.
