Congress is holding hearings today, tomorrow and Monday about potential law changes over the spill, which is drawing scrutiny of the original 1979 permit records obtained by Voice of OC.
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 inEmergencies & Disasters
Why Didn’t an Auto Shut-Off System Prevent the Massive Oil Leak off OC’s Coast?
Records show regulators expected the pipeline to have an auto shut-off device. Yet officials dodged questions on whether the device was installed and maintained when last weekend’s massive spill hit.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
OC Lawmakers Call For New Bans On Offshore Drilling, Creating a New Election Campaign Issue
Some legislators are now calling for an end to the existing drilling, while the debate is kicking off the campaign season early for one Orange County Congressional district.
Posted inCountywide
Pipeline Operator Waited Over 3 Hours to Shut Down Oil Leak, 6 Hours to Report It, Feds Say
Federal investigators say preliminary reports indicate a ship anchor likely clipped the pipeline.
Posted inGovernment
Did Lax Federal Oversight Fail to Prevent the Massive Oil Spill Off OC’s Coast?
Environmentalists are questioning if a federal safety bureau overlooked inspections of the oil pipeline off OC’s coast, which has leaked an estimated 126,000 gallons of oil.
Posted inGovernment
OC Residents Are Speaking Up on How $616 Million in Bailout Money Should be Spent by County
Supervisors already decided how to spend most of the money, largely on Sheriff’s Department salaries and a government office complex. Many residents want spending directed elsewhere.
Posted inGovernment
Sources: OC’s Having a Hard Time Finding a Mental Health Director Who’s Qualified and Wants the Job
The troubles in filling the deputy director job – who oversees 1,000 employees – is related to concerns about how the Health Care Agency is being run, according to people close to the agency. The agency’s director, Clayton Chau, didn’t answer a message asking if that’s true.
Posted inTransportation
South OC Toll Road Extension Worries Emerge as Supervisors Back New Roads for 14,000 Homes
A new plan for South County roads raises the possibility of a toll road extension, while some question why the developer isn’t paying for the streets that accommodate their project.
Posted inGovernment
Millions in No-Bid Contracts Delayed as OC Supervisor Questions Why There Was No Competition
OC Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau was recommending the county hire a vendor he advises on the side for over half a million dollars of work – all without competitive bidding.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Flush With Federal COVID Cash, OC Plans Major Spending on 2nd Mental Health Campus
County officials haven’t said much publicly about plans for a $75 million health operations center and $40 million mental health campus that’s slated to be built at the Great Park in Irvine.
