Council members will now have individualized budgets of $100,000 apiece, instead of one collective fund following public concerns over transparency in the election.
Author Archives: Noah Biesiada
Noah Biesiada serves as Voice of OC’s county reporter, covering the county board of supervisors and the $9 billion government they oversee.
Biesiada started as an intern in July 2019, helping launch Voice of OC’s disaster news coverage and report on the cities of south Orange County such as Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, and other coastal cities like Huntington Beach and San Clemente.
Currently, Biesiada’s reporting is focused on county agencies such as the sheriff’s department, the courts, and other departments along with the cities of Irvine and Huntington Beach.
His reporting has led to a host of reforms across Orange County governments including the Orange County Power Authority, the OC Fire Authority and Irvine’s Great Park.
He’s won several awards from state and local press organizations for his reporting on the county’s disaster preparedness, breaking news and other investigations and won 2023 Online Journalist of the Year from the LA Press Club.
Languages spoken: English
Contact: nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Short Term Rentals See Countywide Crackdown Following Resident Complaints
City council members across the county are moving to regulate or remove short term rentals after complaints from residents.
Posted inSan Clemente
San Clemente City Council Struggles Over Keeping Public Records Secret
Some city council members want to adopt new restrictions that would make it illegal for colleagues to release certain records while others question that kind of penchant for secrecy.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine Settles First Amendment Lawsuit Brought Against Former Mayor
Just weeks after former mayor Christina Shea left office, her City Council colleagues voted to settle the lawsuit that ignited controversy over the summer during the Black Lives Matter protests in Orange County.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine City Council Approves New Public Participation Measures After Months-Long Debate
Members of the public will be able to speak with the panel live for the first time in nearly a year during council meetings.
Posted inCountywide
Failure to Communicate: Orange County Wildfires Highlight Long Standing Emergency Communication Problems
With thousands of county residents forced to evacuate during three wildfires in the last months of 2020, public agencies struggled to coordinate and get timely information to the public on where to go and what to do.
Posted inSan Clemente
San Clemente Councilwoman Considers Suing Her Own City Over Official Censure For Releasing Records
Councilwoman Laura Ferguson is considering going to court to force a more public discussion.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine City Council Reaffirms Controversial Agenda Setting Policy Over Public Concerns
The rule now permanently require at least two council members move to agendize an item for discussion, residents fear that voices in the council political minority will be silenced.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine Council To Vote On Controversial Agenda Setting Policy After Initial Delay
After punting on the topic at their last meeting to allow input by the new council members, Irvine leaders will decide who ultimately has the power to start a discussion.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters
As OC Bond Fire Evacuations End, Residents Call Out Failures in Wildfire Emergency Communications
After their second evacuation in two months, canyon residents note poor public communication in evacuations.
