Approvals of property acquisitions by Orange County supervisors this week set the stage for a temporary homeless shelter and new animal shelter.
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 inGovernment, Investigative, News Briefs, Top Stories
Supervisors Choose Interim Public Defender
As Public Defender Frank Ospino gets ready to become a judge, his second-in-command, Sharon Petrosino, was chosen this week to temporarily take the reigns.
Posted inEconomy, Government, News Briefs, Top Stories
Supervisors Reach Tentative Labor Deal With County Employees Union
The deal terms call for workers to receive an immediate 4.5 percent raise and collaborate with management on ways to make the county run more efficiently and reduce taxpayer costs.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories, Tustin
Supervisors Scrap Controversial Housing Project in North Tustin
It was a major turn in a years-long development battle, with a split Board of Supervisors narrowly voting to kill the proposed senior housing project by the Catholic Church.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, News Briefs, Top Stories
Supervisors to Take Final Vote on Expanding Their Oversight of Law Enforcement
The proposal expands the Office of Independent Review’s purview, which is now limited to the Sheriff’s, Department to also include the District Attorney’s office, Probation Department, Public Defender’s office, and Social Services Agency.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
Orange County to Conduct Active Shooter Training for Employees
The move comes in the wake of last week’s mass shooting terrorist attack in nearby San Bernardino, which took place at a county government holiday party.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
Supervisors Approve $500k for Homeless Shelter Services
The increased funding for shelter beds comes amid warnings of intense El Niño rains this winter that could be especially dangerous for homeless people who encamp in the Santa Ana River bed.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories
Supervisors Discuss Possibility of Feds Investigating Jailhouse Informants Scandal
Supervisors Tuesday discussed in closed session the possibility of the U.S. Justice Department investigating alleged misconduct by prosecutors and sheriff’s deputies involving evidence gleaned from jailhouse informants.
Posted inCountywide, Economy, Government, News Briefs, Top Stories
Two OC Labor Leaders Appointed to State Board
The California Labor Federation appointed Jennifer Muir of OCEA, and Julio Perez, executive director of the local labor federation, to its ranks. For the first time ever, two Orange County labor leaders will serve together on the statewide board.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
Supervisors to Appoint Interim Public Defender
A temporary head of the county Public Defender’s office is slated to be named Tuesday to repolace Public Defender Frank Ospino, who was appointed to a judgeship.
