While Latinos are 34% of OC residents, for the last decade Latino voters were split in half on the old map – something county attorneys say would now be illegal.
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
OC’s Covid Surge Impacting Staffing at Hospitals; Outbreaks Hit Public Agencies
Hospitals say they’re facing staffing shortages worse than last winter’s surge, while one in five people getting tested in Orange County are now testing positive for COVID.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Local Politicos Fuel Takeover of Orange County’s Health Plan For the Poor
A longtime political aide to county supervisors’ Chairman Andrew Do with less than a year of work experience in healthcare administration has just moved into a $282,000 job as a top advisor to the health plan’s CEO.
Posted inGovernment
Do OC Residents Deserve More Transparency On COVID-19 Bailout Spending?
Some cities have detailed their spending plans, while others can’t quite say where the federal money has gone. Meanwhile, the county hasn’t detailed how its departments spent the money.
Posted inGovernment
Why Do Orange County’s Firefighters and Deputies Have Some of the Lowest COVID Vaccination Rates?
Six months into being eligible, just 16% of Sheriff’s Department staff reported being vaccinated. At vaccination clinics held by the Orange County Fire Authority, only 53% of the agency’s frontline workers chose to get vaccinated.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
OC Sheriff Staff Have Biggest Share of COVID Worker’s Comp Claims Among County Workers
It’s unclear whether the higher COVID rates are due to deputies working in jails, low vaccination rates or both.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Orange County Eyes Another $34 Million to Turn Motels into Homeless Housing
County officials move closer to their goal of building 2,700 units of housing for homeless people, eying state grants to help them.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice
OC’s Top Prosecutor Under Fire For Allegations That He Knowingly Promoted a Pervert Who Later Harassed DA Staff
Eight lawsuits are expected after a county investigation confirmed harassment of subordinates by former District Attorney executive Gary LoGalbo. DA Todd Spitzer disputes a lawsuit claim – rooted in the county’s own investigation – that he promoted LoGalbo despite knowing he was a “pervert” in his personal life.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
OC’s New Mental Health Director is Promising Transparency, Collaboration
Veronica Kelley said she’ll have a major focus on hearing from local residents and explaining the mental health system and spending in an understandable way.
Posted inGovernment
OC Supervisors Make Controversial Hospital Executive Appointment to Public Health Plan Board
A narrow majority of OC supervisors ignored concerns from a regional hospital association when they made a CalOptima board appointment last week.
