The Trabuco Canyon Water District says the spike was needed to help keep up maintenance on their equipment, while residents questioned why officials couldn’t reign in expenses.
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 inSafety, Security & Justice
OC District Attorney Refuses to Release Racial Prosecution Data Despite Judge’s Order
While the ACLU has been slowly getting records on racial prosecution data, officials at the county prosecutor’s office have refused to publicly release anything – citing “ongoing litigation.”
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Two OC Cities on Track to Put Two Opposite Voting Eligibility Questions Before Voters
Santa Ana leaders are looking to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, while Huntington Beach considers voter ID laws.
Posted inHuntington Beach
Huntington Beach Creates Panel To Decide What Books Go Into City Library
The exact rules on how the panel will function are unclear, but they won’t publicly meet and will be aimed at filtering out sexual content.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
San Clemente Bussed Homeless People Out During Surf Competition
City staff say the homeless residents asked to be put up in motels during the event, but wouldn’t confirm if that was a regular practice for the city.
Posted inEducation
Huntington Beach Considers Restricting ‘Obscene’ Books in Libraries
The city council majority says children are accessing too much sexual material in the library, while opponents of the measure say it’s an effort to throw out books they disagree with.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Voter IDs, Noncitizen Voting: Two Orange County Cities Fuel Opposing Debates on Voting
Santa Ana considers asking its voters if non-citizens should be allowed to cast ballots. Meanwhile, Huntington Beach debates asking voters if they want to adopt voter ID laws.
Posted inOutdoors
Orange County Soccer Club To Stay at Great Park; Will Irvine Break Even?
The club nearly left last year after a fight between fans and the city over how much control the city should have of the stadium, but now the team is poised to stay for the near future.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Irvine Becomes Latest Orange County City to Consider District Elections
The proposed switch in Irvine’s election system heads to the March primary ballot as some cities in Orange County have recently been fighting back against legal threats over the issue.
Posted inInvestigative
Orange County’s 911 Dispatchers Are Chronically Overworked; Can They Handle the Next Disaster?
While OC Fire Authority says the problem is fixed and there is no risk of an impact to 911, dispatchers say they’re not ready for a disaster response. A former dispatcher said the situation could kill someone.
