After vaccinating people during the pandemic, pharmacists at grocery store chains are ready to strike as they push for wage raises, better staffing and minimum hours for part-time workers.
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
Borrowing to Meet Budget, Anaheim Passes on Disneyland Ticket Tax
Despite facing budget deficits and increasing pressure to deliver on things like pools, parks and libraries, Anaheim’s city council majority takes an entertainment venue tax off the table.
Posted inCypress
Cypress Sued For Violating Voting Rights Act After Refusing District Elections
The small northwest city is the most recent OC municipality to undergo a legal challenge for hosting at-large elections, which some say promote racially-polarized voting.
Posted inFullerton
Fullerton Grapples With Building New Homes, While Hanging Onto Neighborhood Retail
It’s a debate cities throughout Orange County grapple with during the housing crisis: Should old commercial centers be replaced by housing or should they be a mix of housing and retail?
Posted inAnaheim
What Made Anaheim’s Chamber Tick?
A look at the history and leadership over the years of a local business organization now sitting frozen in the spotlight of an FBI corruption investigation.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim’s Little Arabia Could be Officially Recognized
Councilman Jose Moreno asked for the recognition to be added to a future meeting – a debate the Arab American community and residents have been long advocating for.
Posted inCypress
A Public Records Battle Brews in Cypress as a Councilwoman Demands Records From Colleagues
Following a censure for allegedly not responding to a public records request, Frances Marquez had filed her own information request, saying it’s an effort to root out alleged corruption.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Might Reform Campaign Finance to Curb ‘Significant Influence’ From Special Interests
Facing intense resident pressure to make various reforms after an FBI corruption probe surfaced in late May, city officials are deadlocked on making changes to their campaign finance policy.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do Faces $12,000 State Fine Over ‘Pay to Play’ Politics
Do lands on state radar for attempting to steer lobbyist contracts to two donors and also failing to report his fundraising for statues at Mile Square Park. The FPPC takes up his case on July 21.
Posted inWater, Power & Waste
Will OC’s Green Energy Agency Release the Findings of CEO Whistleblower Complaint Investigation?
As member cities support an audit into the agency and criticize its leadership, some board members are calling for the release of an investigation into the CEO’s concerns.
