Cypress may be the next Orange County city to settle a California Voting Rights Act lawsuit after taking a stand against the change more than a year and a half ago.
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 inAnaheim
Next Exit Little Arabia: Will Official Signs go up in Anaheim’s Ethnic Enclave?
More than a year since Anaheim City Council members officially recognized Little Arabia, business owners are still waiting on signs. Will that soon change?
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
The Year of The Renter: Orange County Tenants Get Some Relief
In 2023, renters in cities like Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Buena Park saw elected officials go to bat for them and introduce new forms of rental protections and assistance.
Posted inEquality & Equity
Orange County’s Children Confront Poverty, Hunger and Absenteeism
While child poverty has decreased, a new report from the county highlights how thousands of children are still barely getting by.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim’s Free Tickets Increasingly Go to Nonprofits, But Insiders Still Benefit
After a previous Voice of OC investigation found most of the tickets went to city staff and political insiders, Anaheim officials increased the number going to nonprofits and volunteers. Now they’re expected to overhaul the disclosure system.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
The 2023 Food Cliff: Orange County Continues Confronting High Food Demand
Amid the holiday season, OC food bank and pantry leaders expect to see the elevated need for food locally continue into 2024.
Posted inHuntington Beach
Huntington Beach Nixes Black History Month, Other Ethnic Celebrations
Less than a week before Christmas, a majority of Surf City officials are moving to create a calendar of monthly history themed celebrations that is “free of identity politics.”
Posted inOrange
Orange Becomes the Latest City in OC to Strengthen Lobbyist Rules
Officials in Orange are joining at least two other OC cities who are reexamining their lobbyist rules in light of one of the largest scandals of public corruption to rock the county.
Posted inStanton
Stanton Issues Moratorium on New Motels Over Prostitution, Drugs and Crime
In effort to protect public safety and decrease police calls, Stanton officials are putting a temporary moratorium on motels – which they say have become crime hot spots.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim City Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava Quietly Out as State Assemblyman’s District Director
Amid recall efforts and a corruption scandal, Anaheim City Council Natalie Rubalcava is quietly no longer working for California Assemblyman Avelino Valencia as his district director.
