The proposal would grant supervisors direct authority over the commission’s staff, who seek to reduce hate crimes and improve community relations with police.
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 inGovernment, Top Stories
OC Supervisors OK Broad Powers to Destroy County Emails, Texts
The policy says officials may “at any time” destroy emails and text messages they consider to be internal memos or “working notes.”
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Two OC Supervisors Seek Direct Authority Over Pro-Diversity Group’s Staff
The Human Relations Commission effort is the third attempt this year by Andrew Do and Michelle Steel to increase the influence county supervisors have over other organizations.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
County May Allow Immediate Destruction of Texts and Email
The plan could be illegal, according to two attorneys who specialize in California public records law.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Irvine, Orange, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Wants County to Shelter Homeless People on Vacant Irvine Land, Considers Suing
The Santa Ana City Council is considering filing a lawsuit against the county – and inviting other cities to join – alleging mismanagement of the millions of dollars in federal homelessness money the county gets each year.
Posted inAnaheim, Government, Investigative, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Sex And The Supervisors
While sex scandals have rocked the Santa Ana and Orange County governments in recent years, both continue to allow managers to date people they supervise and whose promotions they oversee. But new policies are in the works, officials say.
Posted inAnaheim, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
A View From the Riverbed Homeless Camp as Sheriff Starts Patrols
Orange County’s largest homeless camp, home to hundreds of people living along the Santa Ana River near Angel Stadium, has a new set of visitors: twice-a-week patrols by a contingent of two dozen sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement officers.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories
OC Ethics Commission Can Now Meet After Third Member is Appointed
Orange County’s ethics commission now can legally meet for the first time – over 15 months after voters overwhelmingly approved its creation – after a retired judge was appointed as the third member.
Posted inGovernment, Housing & Homelessness, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Sheriff to Step Up Patrols of Riverbed Homeless Camp, But Say They Will Not Clear It Out
The stepped-up patrols by sheriff’s deputies are scheduled to begin Friday, according to a Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
County Officials Didn’t Protect Computer Systems from Obvious Hacking Risks, Auditors Say
The problems left the county unnecessarily vulnerable to hacking, according to the auditors.
