The suit alleges union president Gerry Serrano held a grudge stemming from then-Police Chief Carlos Rojas’ discipline of Serrano for a 2011 hit-and-run DUI arrest, and later worked to oust Rojas as part of an “illegal scheme.” Serrano and the city deny the claims.
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 inAnaheim, Countywide, Investigative, Irvine, Orange, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda
New OC Supervisor Don Wagner to Take Office Wednesday
He comes into office as supervisors face a host of issues ranging from homelessness to where a veterans’ cemetery should go, to problems with mental healthcare delivery.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Top Stories
DA Charges Protesters, Including Prominent Democrats, With Blocking Traffic
Anaheim Councilman Jose Moreno and OC Democratic Party Chair Ada Briceño are among 21 people facing misdemeanors for blocking traffic during a January protest supporting higher wages for hotel workers.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Confronts City Leadership Vacuum
Santa Ana is now set to get a new city manager May 1, but will hold a special election this November to fill the vacant City Council seat formerly held by Roman Reyna.
Posted inInvestigative, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana
DA Investigating Residency Fraud Claims Against Ex-Councilman Roman Reyna
District Attorney investigators served search warrants at multiple locations in recent weeks to obtain documents, including text messages involving Reyna from multiple cell phones.
Posted inEconomy, Government, NEWS, REGIONS, Santa Ana
Kristine Ridge Set to Become Next Santa Ana City Manager
Santa Ana City Council members will vote Tuesday on appointing Kristine Ridge as the new city manager, as the city faces a leadership vacuum that began three months ago with the deputy city manager leaving for another city and City Manager Raul Godinez pushed out by the mayor and other council members.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Government, Irvine, Orange, Politics & Elections, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda
Strong Wagner Lead Fuels GOP Hopes of Holding OC Supervisor Supermajority
The ongoing trend prompts Wagner to declare victory. Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent, former Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, awaits a final count.
Posted inAnaheim, Government, Irvine, Orange, Politics & Elections, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda
Republican Wagner Strengthens Lead in Key OC Supervisor Race
Irvine Mayor Don Wagner’s lead now exceeds all of the known ballots that remain to be counted. The closely-watched election will influence the power and policy dynamics on the powerful county Board of Supervisors.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Government, Irvine, Orange, Politics & Elections, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda
Irvine Mayor Leads First Night’s Results for Key OC Supervisor Election
The result will impact Democrats’ chances of gaining a majority on the powerful Orange County Board of Supervisors in next year’s general election.
Posted inTop Stories
Firm Accused of Mishandling Homeless Healthcare Gets $2 Million Expansion
Telecare Corp. has repeatedly declined to comment on complaints it failed to provide health treatment it was supposed to, didn’t clean dirty rooms at a facility it was overseeing, and unnecessarily escalated a situation with a patient into a physical confrontation.
