After a presentation by Police Chief Mike Hamel, the City Council expressed comfort that the police are practicing proper de-escalation tactics and appropriate use of force.
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 inGovernment, Investigative, Irvine, Top Stories
OC State Legislators Clash With State Senate Veterans Affairs Chair Over Proposed Veterans Cemetery Site
Veterans groups have been attempting to build a cemetery on the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station for nearly seven years.
Posted inIrvine, Top Stories
Calls Mount For Irvine Mayor to Recant Criticisms of Protestors
Mayor Christina Shea has indicated she won’t issue any apology or retraction of her previous statements.
Posted inIrvine, Top Stories
Thurgood Marshall Bar Association Criticizes Comments by Irvine Mayor
Mayor Christina Shea says that the press conference is part of an orchestrated effort to discredit her ahead of the 2020 election after opponents call her comments “out of touch.”
Posted inCountywide, Economy, Top Stories
Cities Allow Orange County Businesses to Expand Outdoor Dining Into Public Spaces
As the state begins to reopen, restaurants are struggling to learn what requirements they have to meet to reopen legally under state and local regulations.
Posted inIrvine, Top Stories
Student Protests Spur Irvine City Council To Discuss Rent And Housing Options
Mayor Christina Shea ordered city staff to prepare a report regarding a potential rent suspension in response to a protest organized by UCI students.
Posted inIrvine
Irvine City Manager Resigns Abruptly, Cites Family Concerns
City Manager John Russo’s resignation comes just after a series of controversies including the Veterans Cemetery and a Voice of OC series on the Great Park.
Posted inIrvine
Location of Veterans Cemetery In Irvine In Play Again
The state senate’s Veteran Affairs chair is looking to examine multiple sites for the cemetery weeks after the Irvine City Council chose a location.
Posted inSan Clemente
San Clemente Removes Beach Fencing After Pressure From The Sheriff’s Department
In a letter sent last Thursday, Sheriff Don Barnes threatened to cancel the city’s contract with the department, stating their interests were no longer “mutually aligned.”
Posted inIrvine
Irvine City Council Criticizes Great Park Developer For Lack of Transparency
In a unanimous vote, the council requested more regular updates from Five Point Holdings, their partner in developing the Park, stating that their current communication was failing to inform the council and the public.
