In a break with their usual practice, the three supervisors who approved the ordinance did it without a cost estimate or funding identified to pay for the county staff time and outreach.
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, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Close to Opening 200-Bed Shelter; Suit Preps for Shift to South County
At the hearing, Santa Ana officials said they were able to design and construct the new 200-bed shelter in less than a month and that it will be opening soon at a location they haven’t yet disclosed publicly.
Posted inAliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Countywide, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, 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, Politics & Elections, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda
Corporate PAC Money Flows to All Candidates in Contested OC Congressional Races
Over $2 million from corporations and corporate PACs, whose donations have become a campaign issue this year, has flowed to all the campaign accounts of candidates from both parties in the four hotly contested Orange County Congressional seats, according to federal campaign disclosures.
Posted inInvestigative, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana
OC Democrats Pull Endorsement of Santa Ana Candidate Phil Bacerra
An investigation commissioned by the party found no independent evidence substantiating claims of physical violence committed by Bacerra, but did find evidence of verbal abuse Bacerra and his ex-girlfriend directed at each other, according to a person who has seen the report.
Posted inGovernment, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
Supervisors Order Destruction of Campaign Money Enforcement Emails
Government emails and text messages about enforcement of Orange County’s campaign finance laws will be destroyed two years after they’re sent or received, under a policy county supervisors approved Tuesday.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Health & Wellness, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
Small Portion of OC Rehab Homes Must Register Under New Ordinance
Officials noted the move is unnecessary because state law already requires it.
Posted inInvestigative, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana
Domestic Violence Claims Prompt Investigation in Santa Ana Council Race
The Democratic Party of Orange County, which endorsed Phil Baccera, has hired an attorney to investigate the allegations, ahead of an Oct. 22 decision on whether to revoke the endorsement.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Approve New $400 Million County Headquarters
The new building will roughly double the amount of floor space for the county supervisors’ offices, to 32,000 square feet.
Posted inGovernment, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Back Cash Bail; Want New Law Overturned
The top county elected officials backed a bail industry referendum to overturn a new law that replaces the cash bail system with public safety risk assessments.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Millions in ‘Dark Money’ Flowing to OC Congressional Races
Voters have no way of seeing who provided the $2.6 million-plus in dark money supporting or opposing candidates in the four Orange County races key to the battle for control of Congress.
