A new report released today by the Grand Jury found that an unnamed OC Supervisor put a hiring freeze on the Office of Independent Review after they called out the Sheriff’s Department.
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 inState
OC’s First Veterans Cemetery Clears Another Hurdle After State Legislators Unify Bills
The next step is for the California Department of Veterans Affairs to study the county’s proposed site in Anaheim. One state legislator said the cemetery could be opened by 2024.
Posted inCypress
Cypress City Council Censures Councilwoman Frances Marquez
Frances Marquez was formally reprimanded by her colleagues for various alleged infractions, including violating the state’s public records laws despite resident pushback.
Posted inAnaheim
Little Arabia: The Struggle to Get Anaheim to Recognize Its Arab American Business Community
For over a decade, Anaheim’s Arab business community has called on various rosters of their city council to recognize them – only for them to be ignored. Could that soon change?
Posted inCypress
Cypress Moves to Censure Dissenting Council Member While Facing Transparency Lawsuit
Amid a lawsuit against the city over a secret vote and legal pressure to get Cypress to switch to district elections, France Marquez could be the latest city council member in OC to be censured.
Posted inTop Stories
Anaheim City Council Rule Change Could Bring A Wave of New Policy Discussions
Disneyland gate tax and officially recognizing Little Arabia could soon be debated by Anaheim City Council members — proposals some residents have been pushing for.
Posted inAnaheim
Unsilencing the Minority: Anaheim Residents Might be Able to Push for More Policy Discussions
If a rule implemented under former Mayor Harry Sidhu is tossed out, Anaheim City Council members would be able to single handedly bring up any issue they want for a formal discussion.
Posted inAnaheim
Will Anaheim’s Little Arabia be Officially Recognized After More Than a 10-year Push?
The push for Anaheim officials to recognize Little Arabia reignited after the resignation of former Mayor Harry Sidhu – an opponent against the designation – following an FBI corruption probe.
Posted inBuena Park
Another North OC City Tries to Curb Illegal Street Racing By Cracking Down on Spectators
In an effort to deter illegal street racing in Buena Park, city officials are looking to punish people who come out and watch the increasingly popular types of exhibitions.
Posted inEducation
OC Board of Education Member Beckie Gomez Resigns Amid Lawsuit
Gomez’s resignation comes after she was sued for holding two offices at once, and her replacement will be chosen by the board majority she regularly disagreed with.
