Despite county-wide shutdowns of nonessential government offices and encouragement to stay indoors, nonprofits and other local organizations are still searching for volunteers and funding.
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 inEmergencies & Disasters, Top Stories
Coronavirus Updates: To Slow Spread, Public is Asked to Stay Home When Possible
Public life in OC changes to put brakes on coronavirus’ spread. Health experts say lives will be saved from the people staying 6 feet from others as much as possible, and washing hands frequently.
Posted inCountywide, Emergencies & Disasters, Top Stories
While Coronavirus Risk Low in OC, Officials Confront Public Fear
Orange County confronts the Coronavirus scare with officials keeping public agencies open despite cancelling events throughout the region.
Posted inIrvine, Top Stories
Irvine City Council Expands Bond Indebtedness For Great Park Neighborhoods
Irvine City Council members voted to establish a new tax district in the Orange County Great Park on Tuesday night, expanding the total potential bond amount in the park neighborhoods to just over $1.1 billion.
Posted inTop Stories
Irvine’s Great Park Residents Often Times Don’t Know What Their Special Taxes Fund
While residents in the Great Park Neighborhoods are paying millions of dollars every year towards the development of infrastructure in the Park, many don’t know where their tax dollars are going.
Posted inTop Stories
Irvine’s Great Park Fails Transparency Test
While city officials have touted the Park as the most transparent project of its type, questions still remain about how public money is being spent to develop Orange County’s largest public works project.
Posted inEconomy, Irvine, Top Stories
Irvine Council Prepares To Authorize More Debt For Future Great Park Homeowners
Irvine’s city council members tonight will vote to consider whether to establish a new tax district in the Orange County Great Park, pushing the total amount of potential bonds to over one billion dollars if approved by the council.
Posted inTop Stories
The Great Park Tax: How Irvine Homeowners are Paying for the City’s Big Dreams
Homeowners in Irvine’s Great Park neighborhoods are currently on the hook for over half a billion dollars in debt to build Orange County’s most iconic public works project, and the total cost for the project could come out at as much as $2 billion according to projections.
Posted inCountywide, Top Stories
Contreras Widens Lead Over Pulido for Supervisor Runoff Against Do
Westminster Councilman Sergio Contreras widens lead ahead of other Democrat competitors in the race for the Board of Supervisors 1st District seat. If he holds his lead, he’ll face off against incumbent Andrew Do in November.
Posted inCountywide, Top Stories
Republicans Holding Lead in OC Supervisor Results As Democrats Narrow Gap
Republicans are still holding healthy leads from Election Night, but several Democratic challengers in the 1st and 3rd districts are moving up to take the second spot or fight for the lead.
