Santa Ana Unified School District officials promise to revise ethnic studies materials on Palestine and Israel amidst backlash from Jewish groups. Arab American leaders question whether the district will erase Palestinian history.
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 inEducation
Fullerton School District Removes Nazi Symbols From 6th Grade Play
Fullerton School District officials are censoring a 6th grade play because the superintendent said images of students in Nazi uniforms could be used negatively.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Council Refuses Minimum Wage Increase For Hotel Workers
Officials ordered a study of the proposed ordinance that could impact the same resort interests the FBI alleges having outsized influence over city hall. Voters will likely decide its future.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Hotel Maids Are Tired of Rowdy Guests and Low Wages; Will Officials Intervene?
One year after revelations of an FBI corruption probe in Anaheim, officials are expected to weigh in on a proposed law aimed at increasing pay and protections for hotel maids.
Posted inAnaheim
Is Anaheim Looking to Secretly Negotiate Another Angel Stadium Deal?
Anaheim City Council members secretly rejected a lawsuit settlement that would’ve forced them to publicly construct any new Angel Stadium deal.
Posted inCypress
New Agenda Setting Rules in Cypress Could Limit Policy Discussions
A new agenda setting rule in Cypress has City Councilwoman Frances Marquez worried she won’t be able to initiate policy discussions.
Posted inLaguna Niguel
Another Laguna Niguel City Council Member Abruptly Resigns
A couple months after Sandy Rains stepped down from the mayoral role, the former councilwoman is leaving office altogether. It’s the second resignation since April.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Are OC’s Street Vendors ‘Unfair Competition’ or Fuel for the Community?
More OC officials are cracking down on street vendors with some calling these typically immigrant merchants unfair competition to storefronts as opposed to entrepreneurs.
Posted inEducation
Anaheim High School District Looks to Keep Arabic Program For Now
Efforts by students to save Orange County’s only Arabic public high school program pushed school district officials in Anaheim to commit to keep the class for at least one more year.
Posted inAnaheim
Will Anaheim Require Better Pay and Protections for Hotel Housekeepers?
Anaheim city council members could either adopt an ordinance giving hotel workers pay raises and workplace protections or put the question to city voters.
