The vendor, Global Tel-Link, potentially jeopardized criminal cases by improperly recording phone calls between attorneys and their clients.
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, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
Nelson Called Spitzer ‘Outrageous’ And More; Now He Endorses Him for DA
OC Supervisor Shawn Nelson broke with most of the other supervisors and endorsed Todd Spitzer, whom he repeatedly has criticized for his actions in office.
Posted inAnaheim, Costa Mesa, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Orange, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Homeless Shelters to Open in Santa Ana and Anaheim by End of December, Cities Say
South Orange County also is set to be brought into the federal case, as the judge expressed frustration at the lack of a south county shelter site.
Posted inGovernment, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
OC Leaders Face Scrutiny After Federal Court Ruling on Homelessness
A federal appeals court this week supports what U.S. District Judge David O. Carter has been warning county and city leaders about for six months: If they don’t offer a realistic option for homeless people to stay overnight, police can’t enforce anti-camping ordinances. On Friday, Carter is bringing OC civic leaders back to court to gauge progress.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Top Stories
Improper Jail Phone Recordings Put OC Sheriff Under Scrutiny
Orange County law enforcement, already under investigation by state and federal authorities for the illegal use of jailhouse informants, are facing a new round of accusations that they violated the constitutional rights of inmates after the improper recording of more than 1,000 jail phone calls.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
OC Moves to Actually Count Homeless People
Prior “point-in-time” counts – which play a key role in policy and funding decisions – are actually estimates, officials now say.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, State, Top Stories
OC Homeless Housing Bill Clears Legislature as Leading Advocate Leaves Job
AB 448 would create a regional agency to finance 2,700 homes for homeless people. It cleared the state Legislature unanimously last week, on the same day Heather Stratman suddenly left her job.
Posted inAnaheim, Costa Mesa, Countywide, Garden Grove, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Orange, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories, Tustin, Westminster
Santa Ana Police Should ‘Harass’ Homeless People to Move to Other Cities, Mayor Says
Federal judge David O. Carter has warned cities against pushing homeless people to other areas, saying it raises constitutional issues.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
DA Under Scrutiny for Not Disclosing Private Jet Trip from Billionaire Henry Nicholas
Federal authorities previously seized Nicholas’ Gulfstream G-IV jet, alleging he used the plane to transport and distribute illegal drugs around the country and internationally.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
In Wake of Dog’s Abuse and Killing, County Exploring ‘Do Not Adopt’ List
The discussion was prompted by the recent sexual abuse and killing of a 5-year-old pit bull that was adopted last month from a free county program.
