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 new investigations are in addition to 17 criminal investigations that previously were referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
A lawsuit alleging Orange County supervisors have unconstitutionally restricted public comments got the green light to move forward Wednesday.
The U.S. Supreme Court granted a request by OC sheriff officials to block a federal judge’s order requiring physical distancing and other pandemic safety measures at the OC jails
After Todd Spitzer took office as district attorney, he took a starkly different approach towards the same prosecutors he criticized as a candidate.
Four months into the pandemic, OC Health Care Agency officials still struggle to get the public timely, accurate data about how many people are dying from or in the hospital.
The move was proposed by supervisors’ Chairwoman Michelle Steel and approved unanimously by the other four supervisors.
The effort comes as the county is sheltering hundreds of homeless people at local motels leased through the state’s Project Roomkey.
Doctors and hospital officials say they’re cautiously encouraged that hospitalizations are not rising, while urging the public to wear masks and physically distance.
A new report confirms and expands on an appeals court’s 2016 findings of misconduct.
OC public health director: Dine-in closures aim to curb infections.