The dealerships aren’t required to pay the city back, except if sales taxes paid by buyers don’t replenish the reserves in 10 years, which city staff said was unlikely.
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 inFountain Valley, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Cache of Bikes at Santa Ana Riverbed Were 2 Miles From Fountain Valley Homeless Camp
The images were widely shared on social media, with a Sheriff’s Department video of the bikes drawing over 130,000 views.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Irvine, Top Stories
County Opts For Hotel, Shops, and Market-Rate Homes, Not Homeless Shelter on Irvine Land
The impending legal battle with the city of Irvine could answer a question: Are government agencies subject to a local city’s land use authority when the agency builds a large commercial project on land it owns inside the city?
Posted inEconomy, Government, Irvine, Top Stories
Irvine City Council Votes to Sue County Over Big Commercial Development Near Great Park
The Irvine City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to sue the County of Orange over a huge development plan on 108 acres south of the Great Park, hours after the Board of Supervisors moved forward with the project.
Posted inCanyons, Fountain Valley, Government, Outdoors, Top Stories
‘Anonymous’ $50,000 Donation to County Sparks Debate Over Public’s Right to Know
An “anonymous” $50,000 donation to the county to improve an archery range at Mile Square Park is sparking debate over whether government agencies should keep donors’ names secret and whether it could become a way for people with business before the county to secretly curry favor with the elected officials who make decisions.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Top Stories
After Backlash, Disney Lifts Ban on LA Times’ Movie Access
Walt Disney Company officials Tuesday lifted their ban on Los Angeles Times access to early movie screenings following intense pushback from movie critics around the country, many of whom vowed not to write about Disney movies until the ban was lifted.
Posted inAnaheim, Economy
Disney Stops LA Times Movie Preview Access, Citing Anaheim Reporting
Walt Disney Corp. officials, upset at a Los Angeles Times series about their business deals with the city of Anaheim and election spending for the city’s top decision-makers, have banned the newspaper from advance press screenings of its movies.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Take Direct Control Of Anti-Hate Group’s Staff
The changes give supervisors the power to fire the commission’s executive director at any time, for any reason, and pick the replacement.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Government, Investigative, Orange, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories, Yorba Linda
Fire Dispatcher Misrepresented Early Report of Flames From Canyon Fire 2
Recordings of the dispatcher are raising further concerns about the Fire Authority’s initial response to the fire, which damaged or destroyed nearly 60 homes.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Fountain Valley, Housing & Homelessness, Huntington Beach, Orange, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
County to Block Homeless Camping on Large Sections of Santa Ana Riverbed
Orange County officials announced plans Monday to shut down most of the Santa Ana River bank to overnight homeless camps, but said the largest camp, near Angel Stadium and home to over 400 people, will stay open for the time being.
