While county supervisors have gotten monthly lists of such contracts, the public has not – until now.
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 inSafety, Security & Justice
How Did OC Sheriff Officials Spend $90 Million in Covid Response Funds? Mostly on Jail Staff
In response to Voice of OC questions, sheriff officials are answering questions about where the money went – questions not asked publicly by county supervisors elected to have budgetary oversight over the sheriff.
Posted inCountywide
Judge Says ‘Wildfire Spread’ of Virus in OC Jails, Which Killed Two, is Now Far Less Likely After Court Intervention
After scolding Sheriff Don Barnes for saying a December judicial order threatened public safety, Judge Peter Wilson credits the sheriff’s plan to protect against jail coronavirus outbreaks.
Posted inCountywide
Victim of OC’s Deadliest Mass Shooting Says DA Defamed Him in Retaliation for Peaceful Protest
Paul Wilson, whose wife Christy was one of eight people killed in the 2011 Seal Beach salon shooting, says DA Todd Spitzer defamed him in retaliation for criticizing Spitzer at a peaceful protest.
Posted inCountywide
Top OC Official Complains About Public Records Requests for Secretly-Approved Covid Contracts
Andrew Do, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, says reporters are asking too many questions and requesting too many public records.
Posted inCountywide
Orange County Already Had a Secret Contract for Vaccine PR Before Firm Was Publicly Hired
It turns out the county already had secretly hired the firm for COVID-19 outreach and secretly expanded the contract by $500,000 to include vaccine outreach.
Posted inCountywide
OC Residents Can Now Address Their County Supervisors By Name in Public and Even Question Them
A recent settlement in a lawsuit against Orange County supervisors required them to delete their ban on public commenters questioning supervisors or addressing supervisors by name.
Posted inCountywide
Judge Scolds Sheriff Barnes for Claiming Court Ordered Dangerous Inmates Released to Streets
The court order said Sheriff Don Barnes could transfer inmates to other types of custody.
Posted inCountywide
Amid Split in Coastal OC Supervisors Seat, Who’s Backing Who? Voting Starts Next Week
It’s the most crowded field in recent history for a vacant supervisor’s seat. Here are each candidate’s top endorsements for the race to replace Michelle Steel.
Posted inCountywide
Over 400 Homeless People Infected and One Dead from Coronavirus Outbreaks Across 17 Shelters in Orange County
The ongoing outbreaks are prompting calls from activists for the county to reinstate a program that sheltered at-risk homeless seniors in motels, now that federal officials are agreeing to cover 100 percent of the costs.
