The donations were made in 2016 at Rackauckas’ request to the office’s nonprofit, the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP). He filed the reports more than six months after the deadline.
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
OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Embroiled in Jailhouse Snitch Scandal, Says She Won’t Seek Re-Election Next Year
The news comes as her department faces multiple controversies ranging from a federal investigation into the use of jailhouse informants to the recent misidentification of a dead body.
Posted inGovernment, Politics & Elections, Top Stories
First OC Ethics Commissioner Up for Appointment Tuesday
Supervisor Shawn Nelson nominated Peter Agarwal, a bank manager and Anaheim Chamber of Commerce board member whom county supervisors have previously appointed to positions like board member of the CalOptima health plan for poor and disabled residents.
Posted inSanta Ana, Water, Power & Waste
Is Santa Ana Illegally Overcharging for Trash Collection?
New concerns are being raised about whether the city has been illegally overcharging residents and businesses for trash collection and using the money for other services like police, firefighting, and parks.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana
Santa Ana Changes Acting Police Chief For Second Time in Two Months
Santa Ana’s acting police chief was suddenly switched Tuesday for the second time in as many months. Officials said the change was completely unrelated to the possible hiring of a former CHP officer who made national headlines when video showed him repeatedly punching a woman in the face who was on the ground along the 10 freeway in Los Angeles.
Posted inTop Stories
OC Grapples With Homelessness, Sheriff Funding and Sex Assault Evidence Backlog
The proposed budget has a large discretionary increase for the Sheriff’s Department and comparatively tiny discretionary increases for social and health services.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Grand Jury Wants Jailhouse Informant Hearing to Stop, Saying There’s No Widespread Violations
Orange County’s civil grand jury said ongoing court hearing about possible misuse of jailhouse informants have turned into a “witch-hunt,” and should stop after the grand jury determined there is no “systemic, widespread informant program.”
Posted inEconomy, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Confronts Big Budget Shortfalls That Could Last Years
If the deficits continue and the city has to draw from rainy day funds, it could be pushed to the brink of bankruptcy a few years from now. City officials say they’re working hard to find ways to save costs and grow revenues.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Investigating OC Law Enforcement: Orange County’s DA and Sheriff Are Under Rare Scrutiny
The question now is, what, if anything, will result from the investigations.
Posted inGovernment, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Noting Public Pressure, OC Supervisors Approve Homeless Services and Housing
The top county officials are moving in a new direction to address the county’s growing homelessness, authorizing new housing and support services in a unanimous decision this week.
