Officials were supposed to bring a shelter beds contract to county supervisors today, but nothing is on the agenda.
Author Archives: Nick Gerda
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.
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Santa Ana
Santa Ana Embarks on Push for Arts and Culture Plan
Officials will launch a public outreach campaign next week to gather public input for a long-term arts and culture master plan for the city.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
Grindle: Wording ‘Snuck’ Into Ethics Measure Legalizes Controversial Fundraising
Political watchdog Shirley Grindle says language in the upcoming ethics commission ballot measure would legalize questionable fundraising by Supervisor Shawn Nelson that she and others say is now barred under the county’s campaign finance law.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories, Transportation
Do Pushes to Fast-Track Bus Terminal Purchase for Temporary Homeless Shelter
With more El Niño storms coming, Supervisor Andrew Do wants to shorten the 90-day escrow period so the structure can provide shelter to homeless people sooner rather than later.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
Supervisors Wrangle Over Cost of Ethics Commission Proposal
As voters gear up to decide on an ethics commission proposal in June, county supervisors are wrangling over how much the commission will cost and how to present that to voters.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories, Transportation
Bartlett Chosen to Lead Supervisors in 2016
Incoming supervisors’ Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett wants to continue progress the county has made on issues like homelessness and bring more transparency to the board’s public meetings.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Top Stories, Transportation
OC Supes Step Up Scrutiny of DA After Informants Scandal Report
Among other things, they demanded reports from District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Sandra Hutchens on reforms outlined in the review and issued an order banning destruction of informant-related records.
Posted inAnaheim, Top Stories
Video: Anaheim’s Battle Over ‘The People’s Map’
In a special video report, Voice of OC examines a watershed moment in Anaheim politics, as residents and activists confront the city council majority over a voting districts map that could change the city’s electoral landscape.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
Nelson Facing More Scrutiny Over Campaign Cash
Political watchdogs are accusing Supervisor Shawn Nelson of breaking local campaign finance law as he tries to position himself to become a judge.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Approve New Labor Deal With County Workers
Nearly 11,000 county workers are now slated see their first significant raises since the Great Recession, after supervisors unanimously ratified a new labor deal Wednesday.
