A county grand jury found a widespread perception within the investigations bureau that promotions and favorable treatment went to employees as a result of sexual relationships with superiors.
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, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
DA’s Monitor on Use of Informants Didn’t File Reports He Promised
Stephen G. Larson and his law firm have been paid at least $140,000 in taxpayer funds, but did not file the two reports he promised for the first half of this year. He said they weren’t required by his contract and his time was better spent working on the informant issues.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Report on DA’s Office Reforms on Informant Use Expected Soon
The reforms were recommended as the result of an ongoing scandal in which jailhouse informants were illegally used and relevant evidence was not provided to defense attorneys.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories
Supervisors Appoint Lawyer as Second Member of Ethics Commission
H. Josh Ji, an attorney with Greenberg Gross LLP, was appointed unanimously. More than a year after voters approved the panel, county supervisors have yet to create it.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Investigative, Top Stories
Second OC Ethics Commissioner Up for Appointment Tuesday
H. Josh Ji said he will bring his experience as an attorney to the table. The five member commission still hasn’t been formed by county supervisors, more than a year after voters ordered its creation in June 2016.
Posted inAliso Viejo, Anaheim, Buena Park, Canyons, Cypress, Dana Point, Government, Irvine, La Palma, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda
Fire Chief for Most of OC Suddenly Resigns After Managers Demand It
Orange County Fire Authority Chief Jeff Bowman stepped down after a group of managers called for his resignation. It’s unclear what their concerns were, and an effort is underway to bring Bowman back.
Posted inCountywide, Economy, Investigative, Top Stories
County Rejects DA Investigators’ Corruption Claims, Setting Stage for Court Battle
County Counsel Leon Page said Tom Conklin and Abraham Santos’ claims of wrongdoing were found to be false in an independent investigation. Their attorney disputes the investigation and says his clients will be filing suit.
Posted inEconomy, Santa Ana
Santa Ana To Require Union Labor on City Construction Contracts
Santa Ana is the first city in Orange County to have such an agreement, which requires construction contractors to hire workers through a union referral system.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Top Stories
Hundreds of Dollars in ‘Gifts’ From Contractors to Supervisor Nelson Raise Legal Questions
Nelson received $539 worth of wine from Potomac Partners, a Washington D.C.-based lobbying firm, a few weeks after he cast a deciding vote to award them a county contract. He says his approach is legal because he paid the contractors for the items out of campaign funds and will use them at an office event.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
County Supervisors Vote to Pay Voice of OC $121,396 in Legal Costs After Losing Public Records Case
County Supervisors Tuesday unanimously voted to pay Voice of OC $121,396 in legal fees after losing a Superior Court case for refusing to release public records about Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s handcuffing a preacher at a Wahoo’s restaurant.
