While child poverty has decreased, a new report from the county highlights how thousands of children are still barely getting by.
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
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.
Posted inStanton
Stanton Council Condemns Terrorism as OC Officials Weigh in on Palestine and Israel
Officials in Stanton are the latest in Orange County to take a stance on the bloodshed in Israel and Palestine that started over two months ago.
Posted inCypress
OC Judge Rules Cypress Did Not Violate State Open Meeting Law
The lawsuit stems from a closed door decision against switching to district elections. Cypress officials still face a separate lawsuit alleging they are violating the California Voting Rights Act.
Posted inCulture
OC Jewish Community Celebrates Hanukkah – a Festival of Lights
Tens of thousands of Jewish residents in Orange County are kicking off Hanukkah celebrations amid a sharp spike in antisemitism locally and violence in the Middle East.
