A judge will decide whether to unseal records about a deputy who was found to have made false statements about evidence in 74 different reports.
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, Housing & Homelessness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Momentum Grows Around North OC Shelters as Shortage Remains
Another 100 shelter beds will be coming online in Placentia on March 19, followed by a further 100 beds in Buena Park in June, officials said.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Residents Say They’re Tired of Being Dumping Ground of OC’s Homeless
Residents said the county was moving forward with its Yale St. shelter plans without spreading the burden to south county cities that don’t host any shelters. County officials said the shelter would be an improvement over the existing Courtyard shelter that’s being replaced.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Stay Silent on Evidence Misconduct Revelations While Authorizing More Sheriff Spending
While authorizing new spending this week for the Sheriff’s Department, county supervisors continue to remain silent about mounting revelations of Sheriff’s Department evidence booking misconduct that could weaken thousands of criminal cases.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
At Least 91 Convictions Involved Missing Evidence, DA Says, Casting Doubt on Sheriff’s Statements
An ongoing review by prosecutors – as well as court documents – are prompting questions about whether Orange County’s top law enforcement officer has been telling the whole truth.
Posted inCountywide, Government, News Briefs, Top Stories
Steel and Do Are Chosen as OC Supervisors’ Chair, Vice Chair for 2020
Andrew Do and Michelle Steel are running this year for what are considered the toughest election races that any of the five supervisors are seeking.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Homelessness in Orange County: 2019 Year in Review
After years of pressure from activists and the courts, Orange County picked up the pace of addressing street homelessness last year, though going into 2020 officials acknowledge the scale of the issue is much larger than current efforts are tackling.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Orange County Draws Criticism For Over 200 Homeless Deaths This Year
The deaths have drawn unanswered questions from activists about why the county’s main strategy to end homelessness has gone mostly unfunded.
Posted inCountywide, Education, Government, Investigative, Santa Ana, Top Stories
State Could Intervene After OC Supervisors Halt Census Funds for City and School District
Santa Ana is home to the highest amount of hard-to count areas in Orange County, and the supervisors’ move has prompted blowback from state and federal elected officials.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Who’s Running in OC’s March 2020 Election
Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley demonstrates Orange County’s new voting machines to reporters on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. VOTER GUIDE Click here to read Voice of OC’s guide to all […]
