Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/author/ngerda/)
Nick covers the city of Santa Ana, as well as the County of Orange, often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health, and the role of money in politics. Since joining Voice of OC in 2011, Nick has regularly shed light on topics that are often kept in the shadows. He’s reported on systemic problems in the county’s mental health system. He also led a reporting team that produced sophisticated looks at how the Disney corporation campaign contributions influenced recent elections in Anaheim. Nick also revealed evidence of elected leaders using their official powers to apparently pressure government contractors into donating to their election campaigns, in an article that was awarded best news story of the year by the Orange County Press Club. He firmly believes journalism should inform the public and help hold the powerful accountable. An Orange County native, Nick first started covering local government in his mid-teens, before attending Santa Ana College, the American University in Cairo, and UC Irvine, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Languages spoken: English, elementary Spanish, minimal Arabic and minimal Japanese Areas of expertise: Local government, local politics, homelessness, mental health policy, campaign finance, California Public Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, County of Orange government, Santa Ana city government and municipal finance.
The Sheriff’s Department has faced controversy in recent weeks over revelations that an internal audit found hundreds of cases where deputies failed to follow policy in booking drugs, cash, photos, and videos in criminal cases by the end of their shift.
City and school district officials say the grant cuts are payback for their public concerns about a proposed county homeless shelter, which county officials dispute. A final decision on the grants is scheduled for next Tuesday, Dec. 17.
And audit found that more than 60 reports alleging misconduct or crimes by sheriff officials had not been not investigated, Sgt. William West said in testimony reported by the Orange County Register.
A host of congressional seats across Orange County are in play along with two county supervisors’ seats for the March primary. Here’s our rundown of all the candidates who have started the process of running in the March election, and which have qualified for the ballot so far.
Sheriff Don Barnes’ spokeswoman declined to say why county supervisors and the district attorney weren’t told of the scale of the issue sooner.
Supervisor Andrew Do confirmed he asked Angie Cano to resign, but declined to say if it was because of her public comments.
Much of the frustration centered on plans to put the shelter in a low-income city that long has hosted more shelter beds than any other Orange County city, while wealthier south county cities have refused to open a shelter.
The 425-bed Yale shelter would replace the Courtyard shelter in the Santa Ana Civic Center. It’s generated concern from Santa Ana residents, many of whom feel the city has long done more than its share to shelter homeless people.
Several Democrats are challenging First District County Supervisor Andrew Do. Meanwhile, Third District County Supervisor Don Wagner has drawn a sole challenger, Asheigh Aitken – who lost a close battle for Anaheim’s Mayor’s seat last year.
Bacerra won the Ward 4 seat he lost last year to Roman Reyna, who later resigned and pled guilty to election fraud after Bacerra pursued legal action against him.
