Orange County Employees Association officials showed up to the board meeting en masse to vent anger regarding COIN decision, which has delayed labor contract talks. Supervisors recessed the meeting and walked out.
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
Super Secret Whistleblower Lawsuit on Supervisors’ Agenda
The suit, which is identified only as “Under Seal v. Under Seal” on the supervisors’ agenda, was filed in Sacramento Superior Court and has been the subject of closed-door discussions in at least two other jurisdictions.
Posted inCountywide, Top Stories
County Commits to New Animal Shelter Policies After Lawsuit
The lawsuit argued that county officials are too quick to euthanize dogs and cats, and alleged a pattern of abuse and neglect against animals at the county’s World War II-era shelter.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, News Briefs, Top Stories
County’s Ousted Internal Audit Director Appointed Head of Performance Audit
Peter Hughes, who was pushed out as Orange County’s internal audit director following audits that impacted several top government officials, was appointed this week as director of the county’s much smaller performance audit department.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, News Briefs, Top Stories
County Hires Expert to Help Create New Sheriff’s Oversight Model
Michael Gennaco’s contract was approved on a split 3-2 vote, with supervisors Shawn Nelson and Michelle Steel opposing.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
Supervisors Draw Fire With Closed-Door Decision on Labor Negotiations Law
The supervisors abruptly reversed course on plans to suspend a labor negotiations ordinance that was largely invalidated by a judge.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
Supervisors Slated to Delay Plans to Ax OIR Director
The Orange County Board of Supervisors was planning to show Office of Independent Review head Steve Connolly the door by the end of this month. But the board is now scheduled to give him another four months.
Posted inBuena Park, Health & Wellness, Santa Ana
Activists Condemn ‘School-to-Prison Pipeline,’ Call for Prisoner’s Release
The activists say the case of Jesus Aguirre, Jr. is a glaring example of what they call a “school-to-prison pipeline” that ensnares many Latino youth in working-class communities.
Posted inHealth & Wellness, News Briefs, Santa Ana
Man at Center of Santa Ana Police Beating Case is Arrested Again
Edgar Vargas — an undocumented immigrant whose beating by Santa Ana police officers drew national attention and a federal grand jury investigation — was arrested last week for allegedly running through homes and being high on drugs.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Unified Expands Restorative Justice Efforts
The school board unanimously approved more than $400,000 for services that focus on underlying issues behind student misbehavior.
