Nick Gerda

Author Archives: Nick GerdaReporter

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.

Location

Orange County

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
Municipal finance

Location Expertise

Santa Ana
Orange County

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Countywide, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Huntington Beach, Investigative, 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, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda

Grand Jury to Cities & County: Stop Fighting, Form Regional Homelessness Board

by Spencer Custodio, Thy Vo and Nick Gerda Jun 1, 2018Jul 8, 2021 Why you can trust Voice of OC

It’s time for the county and cities to stop the infighting that’s plagued recent efforts to build housing and shelters and instead form a regional body to address homelessness, according to an Orange County Grand Jury report released Thursday.

Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Countywide, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Politics & Elections, Top Stories

North OC’s Open Seat for Supervisor Draws Six Candidates

by Nick Gerda May 30, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The June 5 primary election comes as Republicans look to preserve their five seats on the five-member county Board of Supervisors, which officially is non-partisan. Democrats are aiming to gain what would be their first full supervisor term in three decades.

Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, 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 Sets June 13 Deadline for OC Cities to ID New Shelter Sites

by Nick Gerda May 25, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The judge, David O. Carter, pointed to Santa Ana and Anaheim residents and businesses who, he said, are grappling with hundreds of homeless people who formerly lived at the Santa Ana riverbed but now are in their cities due to a shelter shortage.

Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories

DA: Jail Inmate Killed by Cellmate Who Previously Confessed to Murder

by Nick Gerda May 23, 2018Oct 22, 2026 Why you can trust Voice of OC

In the days leading up to Danny Pham’s death, jail staff placed him with a man who police say confessed about two months earlier to murdering a homeless man.

Anaheim, Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Investigative, Top Stories

Dozens of Mentally Ill Homeless People May Leave County Treatment Motel

by Nick Gerda and Spencer Custodio May 22, 2018Jul 9, 2021 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Homeless people staying at a motel, which the county is leasing as a mental health treatment facility, expressed confusion and uncertainty about what would happen next.

Investigative, Politics & Elections, Santa Ana

Santa Ana Halts City Council Redistricting, Points to New Lawsuit

by Nick Gerda May 21, 2018Jul 9, 2021 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The suit seeks to ban the city from holding any more at-large elections for City Council members, and require the city to adopt “fairly constituted districts” that don’t dilute Asian American voting power.

Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Top Stories

Mayors Seek State Audit of OC Homeless and Mental Health Money

by Nick Gerda May 11, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The announcement came as county and city officials said the county is working on a proposal for adding shelters at three yet-to-be-named locations.

Government, Health & Wellness, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories

Over 60 of OC’s Sickest Homeless People to Be Housed with Health Services

by Nick Gerda May 9, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The goal, officials said, is to help homeless people move off the streets, stabilize their health issues, develop positive relationships with other community members, and save public money in hospital emergency services and other costs.

Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories

Santa Ana Budget Shortfall May Mean Cut in Services, Tax Hike

by Nick Gerda May 4, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Among the options being considered are closing the city’s main library on Sundays, issuing more parking tickets, and asking voters to hike the city’s sales tax rate.

Government, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories

OC Grapples With $33 Million in Sheriff Cost Overruns

by Nick Gerda May 1, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The mid-year overruns could end up eating into millions of dollars in county discretionary money that could pay for other services, according to budget documents.