The bill is politically significant in that it’s proposed by the state Assembly’s top legislator at a time when the supervisors want Sacramento to boost Orange County’s share of property tax revenue.
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, Top Stories
Officials Working to Prevent ‘Phase Out’ of County Children’s Shelter
A proposal to overhaul California’s foster youth system is receiving support from Orange County officials, while also sparking an effort to prevent the closure of the Orangewood Children and Family Center.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
New County Budget to be Released Monday
The spending plan for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, will outline how the county CEO believes money should be used for services like law enforcement, public health, social services, parks and libraries.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Top Stories
Frank Kim is Appointed New County CEO
The widely-respected finance official, who recently served as acting CEO, is slated to take over permanently next week. He replaces Mike Giancola, who abruptly moved up his retirement last month, citing health issues.
Posted inGovernment, News Briefs, Top Stories
Supervisor Nelson Confirms Desire to Become Judge
In an interview with Voice of OC, Nelson said he plans to apply and/or run for a judicial seat when his term as supervisor ends in 2019.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories, Tustin
Spitzer Client at the Center of Controversial Zoning Change
In January, Supervisor Todd Spitzer convinced his colleagues to reverse a zoning approval that was vigorously opposed by one of his clients, who pays him as much as $100,000 annually.
Posted inNews Briefs
OC Execs Top List of Biggest Educator Pensions in State
A new ranking of public pensions for California’s retired K-12 and community college educators puts three former Orange County executives at the very top.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories
Legal Careers of Two County Supervisors Draw Questions
Supervisors Shawn Nelson and Todd Spitzer are both prominent local attorneys and report significant income from their legal careers, but their public disclosures reveal little about how it is generated.
Posted inGovernment, Health & Wellness, Top Stories, Transportation
Supervisors Finally Make Decision on Ambulance Firms
The drawn out and controversial process ends with the supervisors increasing Care Ambulance’s dominance of ambulance service in Orange County.
Posted inCorrections, Government, Health & Wellness, News Briefs, Top Stories, Transportation
Supervisors to Revisit Controversial Ambulance Contracts
The process for awarding the contracts, which cover about 800,000 people in 19 cities, has been drawn out.
