The new city manager, Kristine Ridge, said the budget increase is no longer needed to cover the costs because the Police Department is reducing overtime and other expenses. City Councilwoman Ceci Iglesias said staff have not been transparent about how they found the money.
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 inGovernment, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana
Recall Attempt Stalls Against Officials Who Oppose $25 Million Police Raise
It’s the latest twist in a months-long saga over the police raises, which tie up most of the new money from Santa Ana’s recent $60 million sales tax increase approved by voters last November.
Posted inCosta Mesa, Countywide, Newport Beach, Top Stories
Newport Residents, Citing Campaign Cash, Win Pause on Private Jet Expansion
Newport Beach residents and small plane owners succeeded in getting county supervisors to step back from controversial plans to add more private jet spaces at John Wayne Airport.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Surveillance of Councilman Gathered Evidence of Felony Residence Fraud, DA Said
It’s first time in years Orange County DA officials have been known to place a politician under surveillance for alleged residency fraud.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Mayor Accused of Personally Renting Out City Property and Interfering in Pot Shop Enforcement
In sworn testimony, Mayor Miguel Pulido was accused of running a side business personally renting out city-owned property and interfering with police decisions about which illegal pot shops to raid. Pulido denies the allegations.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Police Union Bribery Alleged Under Oath by Two Officials
Two top Santa Ana officials, including a former police chief, alleged under oath the city’s police union leader engaged in bribery of City Council candidates in 2016, saying Sgt. Gerry Serrano told candidates they had to agree to fire then-Police Chief Carlos Rojas in order to benefit from $400,000 in campaign spending.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories, Westminster
‘Slurred’ Speech and a Blood Test Refusal: Report Details Police Leader’s Alleged DUI
Sgt. Gerry Serrano went from facing potential DUI hit-and-run charges to leading one of the larger police unions in California. Voice of OC is publishing portions of the DUI police report for the first time.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Gives Sheriff Sole Control of Crime Lab, Against National Recommendations
The move to put the crime lab scientists under a law enforcement agency directly contradicts the national best practices Sheriff Don Barnes and DA Todd Spitzer cited to justify the change.
Posted inTop Stories
OC Apparently Left Millions in Homeless Health & Housing Grants on the Table
Smaller counties than OC have asked for and received tens of millions more in state and federal funds for preventative health and housing programs that studies have shown save taxpayer dollars overall, help homeless people get off the streets, and save lives.
Posted inAliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Countywide, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, Safety, Security & Justice, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda
Federal Judge Presses OC Officials on Lack of Mental Health Shelter, Housing
One of OC’s next homeless shelters could be headed for the affluent south county suburbs, the judge warns after citing a lack of progress by elected officials to create a mental health shelter.
