Donna Boston, who directs emergency management, emailed colleagues Thursday to announce she’d be leaving at the end of the day.
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 inCountywide
Charges Dropped in 67 Criminal Cases Due to Sheriff Evidence Mishandling, DA Reveals
The dropped charges include assault, battery and smuggling a weapon into the Orange County jail, according to prosecutors.
Posted inCountywide
Vaccine PR Effort for County of Orange Moves Forward With No Budget, No Plan
Like much of the county’s coronavirus spending, the ultimate details will be filled in by county bureaucrats, in private, over the next few days.
Posted inCountywide
Will You Take the Covid Vaccine? Orange County is Hiring a PR Firm to Reassure Public
It’s unclear if the contract will be brought for a public discussion or a public vote by county supervisors.
Posted inCountywide
Sheriff Officials Had Major Vulnerability in How They Handled Cash, Auditors Found
Auditors found the problem could lead to misuse of government funds in units that handle records and concealed gun licenses.
Posted inCountywide
Judge Pushes Back on OC Sheriff Over Jail Releases, Prepares to Appoint Expert
Judge Peter Wilson poked holes in the sheriff’s contention that moving inmates out of group living areas is a major threat to the community.
Posted inCountywide
OC Sheriff Faces Tough Questions in Court Today About Jail Outbreak
The hearing comes as over 1,000 inmates are currently infected with coronavirus. Four are hospitalized, and one has died from the outbreak as of Wednesday.
Posted inCountywide
Orange County Jail Outbreak Explodes to Over 1,000 Inmates Currently Infected With Covid
One out of every three inmates is currently infected. Sheriff Don Barnes is about to face questions about it from a judge.
Posted inCountywide
High Stakes Election for Orange County’s Coastal Cities Goes Public Next Week
Voting is expected to start Feb. 8 and run through March 9.
Posted inCountywide
OC Approves Millions for New Homeless Shelters, as Lawsuit Alleges Harassment at Existing Ones
The funds will help create new homeless shelters in Costa Mesa and Anaheim.
