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

Santa Ana Asks Court to Order All OC Cities to Provide Homeless Services

by Nick Gerda Apr 30, 2018Jul 9, 2021 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Santa Ana said it’s seeking “a fair and equitable distribution of responsibilities for homeless services among the County and all Orange County cities.”

Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, State, Top Stories

OC Cities to Ask Legislature for Regional Agency to Speed Up Homeless Housing Projects

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

The proposal would create a regional agency of city, county, and public representatives to speed up the financing of 2,700 proposed homes with support services for homeless people.

Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Santa Ana, Top Stories

Santa Ana Wants All 34 OC Cities Included In Federal Homeless Lawsuit

by Nick Gerda Apr 26, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The move could grant U.S. District Judge David O. Carter the ability to follow through on his warnings about banning enforcement of anti-camping laws if city officials, particularly south county mayors and city managers, don’t make progress in picking one or more shelter locations.

Canyons, Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Irvine, Lake Forest, Top Stories

Supervisors Reject Mayors’ Proposal For Homeless Shelter in Remote Canyon

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

The move sends the issue back to south county mayors to recommend another site or sites for a homeless shelter.

Canyons, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Irvine, Lake Forest, Top Stories

Canyons Homeless Shelter Opposed by Two Supervisors

by Nick Gerda Apr 23, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Shawn Nelson said they are opposed to a proposal by south Orange County mayors to put a new homeless shelter on county-owned property in rural Silverado Canyon.

Canyons, Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories

South OC Mayors Propose New Homeless Shelter at Former Silverado School

by Spencer Custodio and Nick Gerda Apr 19, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

South Orange County mayors, under pressure from a federal judge, on Thursday chose a closed elementary school along rural Santiago Canyon Road as a site they’d like to see become a new homeless shelter.

Politics & Elections, Santa Ana

Santa Ana Council Now Wants District Elections on the November Ballot

by Nick Gerda Apr 19, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

The council also may ask voters to change the city charter to add punishments for a mayor if he or she doesn’t sign ordinances and resolutions approved by a majority of the seven-member council.

Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Santa Ana, Top Stories

Santa Ana Wants Irvine, Huntington Beach and Laguna Niguel Added to Homeless Lawsuit

by Nick Gerda Apr 19, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Santa Ana council members and residents have said the three cities’ refusal to accept emergency shelters revealed a double standard: It’s okay to put shelters near poor kids in Santa Ana but not near kids from wealthier families.

Countywide, Economy, Government, Housing & Homelessness, State, Top Stories

OC Should Get Ready to Compete for State Homeless Housing Money, Say City and Business Leaders

by Nick Gerda Apr 18, 2018Dec 8, 2020 Why you can trust Voice of OC

Hundreds of millions of dollars in state grants could become available next year, and some community leaders want to compete for it to help build 2,700 homes for homeless people.