Both West Anaheim and Santa Ana are home to many Latino immigrant families for whom English is not their first language.
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, Government, Top Stories
Orange County Officials Plan to Buy DA Headquarters from DA’s Campaign Co-Chair
The purchase would be for OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s headquarters and garage from Mike Harrah, a local developer who co-chaired Spitzer’s campaign.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Emergencies & Disasters, Health & Wellness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
South County Cities Top OC Coronavirus Cases by Percent Increase; Santa Ana, Anaheim Remain Hardest Hit
In terms of percentage growth in cases, six of the top 10 cities were in south county, led by Lake Forest, Dana Point and San Clemente.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Sheriff Evidence Booking Scandal Expands With 15 More Investigations of Deputies Disclosed
The new investigations are in addition to 17 criminal investigations that previously were referred to the District Attorney’s Office.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Top Stories
OC Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Orange County Public Comment Policies to Move Forward
A lawsuit alleging Orange County supervisors have unconstitutionally restricted public comments got the green light to move forward Wednesday.
Posted inCountywide, Emergencies & Disasters, Health & Wellness, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
U.S. Supreme Court Puts Brakes on Order Requiring Six-Foot Distancing at OC Jails
The U.S. Supreme Court granted a request by OC sheriff officials to block a federal judge’s order requiring physical distancing and other pandemic safety measures at the OC jails
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Top Stories
DA Spitzer Praised Ethics of Snitch Scandal Prosecutors After Promising Voters Accountability
After Todd Spitzer took office as district attorney, he took a starkly different approach towards the same prosecutors he criticized as a candidate.
Posted inCountywide, Emergencies & Disasters, Government, Health & Wellness, Top Stories
Confusion Reigns Around Orange County’s Coronavirus Death Counts and Hospitalizations
Four months into the pandemic, OC Health Care Agency officials still struggle to get the public timely, accurate data about how many people are dying from or in the hospital.
Posted inCountywide, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Orange County Supervisors Approve Law Enforcement Appreciation Events
The move was proposed by supervisors’ Chairwoman Michelle Steel and approved unanimously by the other four supervisors.
Posted inCountywide, Emergencies & Disasters, Health & Wellness, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
OC Goes After $60 Million in State Grants to Buy Motels for Homeless Supportive Housing
The effort comes as the county is sheltering hundreds of homeless people at local motels leased through the state’s Project Roomkey.
