Supervisors debate whether the county should be spending money to promote businesses in and around Dana Point Harbor as the area undergoes a facelift.
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 inEconomy, Government, Investigative, Top Stories
Five Things to Know About the County Budget
Here is a rundown of what Orange County residents need to know as supervisors gear up to pass a $5.8 billion spending plan next month.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories
Audit: DA Deficient in Training and Oversight of Major Cases
A review, sparked by revelations of prosecutorial misconduct involving a jailhouse informants system, found the office is significantly behind other local counties in the level of training provided to prosecutors.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Health & Wellness, Investigative, Top Stories
Grand Jury Again Slams County for Deplorable Conditions at Animal Shelter
The panel issued a scathing report, saying the county’s leadership has allowed the 74-year-old structure to fall into a state of “utter disrepair,” with the health of animals and people being put at risk.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
County Officials Remain Mum on Details of Xerox Cost Overruns
As costs for a massive technology upgrade project continue to spiral, officials still have not released breakdowns of what’s being spent.
Posted inGovernment, Health & Wellness, News Briefs, Top Stories
Should Supervisors Have Greater Say in Work of Human Relations Council?
Supervisor Andrew Do said he wanted supervisors to get more involved before OC Human Relations’ contract is renewed next year. That didn’t sit well with Supervisor Todd Spitzer.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
OC Register: Former Sheriff Mike Carona Released From Prison Early
Former Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, who was convicted of witness tampering in 2009 following a federal corruption investigation, has been released from prison early.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
Orange County Approves $10 Million-Plus Settlement With Attorneys’ Union
The deal comes after a ruling that county supervisors illegally imposed labor terms on county attorneys in 2013.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
New County CEO Starts by Reaching Out to Employees
On his first day as the county’s top executive, Frank Kim said he plans to work hard to deal with concerns raised by a recent worker survey.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Orange County Officials Unveil $5.8 Billion Budget Proposal
The 2015-16 spending plan includes the biggest revenue and spending increases since the Great Recession.
