One by one, police departments across Orange County are disclosing their inventory of military equipment and weaponry following a new state law requiring them to do so.
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 inHuntington Beach
Huntington Beach Begins Process To Remove City Attorney, Clerk, Treasurer From Ballot
Residents may get to decide if they want to give up their power to directly elect three city official positions including the city attorney. Critics call the move political.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Commissioner’s Firing Raises Questions About Standards For Serving on City Panels
Commissioner Leonard Lahtinen raised concerns about a chamber of Commerce backed-resident group, Anaheim First. He was fired the same night the group made its return.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Local Lawyers Vying To Become OC’s Next Top Prosecutor Sound Off
Candidates in a heated race to become Orange County’s next district attorney participated in a debate this week answering questions from the public – except Incumbent DA Spitzer.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim City Council Agrees to Pay $96 Million Fine for Illegally Selling Angel Stadium
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu claims the fine will be paid for in “new cash” from the team’s owner, but the city’s own documents show money will be reshuffled on the back end of the deal.
Posted inGovernment
Orange County Cities Start Disclosing What Kinds of Military Equipment Are Used By Local Police
A new state law is forcing police departments across California to publicly disclose the military equipment they own and create policies regulating how they are used.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
City Officials Throughout OC Try to Tackle a California Problem: Catalytic Converter Theft
With a rise in catalytic converter thefts, city council members across Orange County are passing ordinances in efforts to prosecute a common crime they say state laws fail to address.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Could Two of OC’s Smaller Cities Buck California’s Trend Toward District Elections?
Brea and Cypress officials are publicly resisting legal threats to change their at-large election systems, one that critics argue inherently disenfranchises minority voters.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
Grocery Store Quality Food or Rotten Bologna? State Inspects Food Conditions in OC Jails
Despite a contradictory report that sparked uproar about food conditions in local jails, state inspectors say the OC Sheriff Department is serving quality food to inmates.
Posted inEquality & Equity
Strike Averted: OC Grocery Workers Vote on New Contract After Fighting for Better Pay
After coming close to a strike, OC grocery workers are voting on a contract this week that they say will offer them better pay and safety precautions at their stores.
