Mayor Miguel Pulido canceled the meeting Thursday morning, citing a lack of enough council members to hold it. The meeting had sparked claims of illegal vote-trading from one of his colleagues.
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 inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Mayor Calls Emergency Meeting on Police Chief Search and Housing Projects
Mayor Miguel Pulido called a special City Council meeting exactly 24 hours before it’s scheduled start time Thursday afternoon. His move sparked claims of wrongdoing by one of his colleagues.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
DA Tony Rackauckas Defends His Prosecutors’ Handling of Informants
In a live radio interview, the DA said the rulings against his office came from “one judge” who allowed an extensive search through cases that “had nothing to do with” the trial he was presiding over.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Homeless Porta-Potties Not Supported by Most OC Supervisors, Spitzer Says
“There is not a board majority at this time” to support a permit for the restrooms, Spitzer told Voice of OC. He said he hopes to introduce an alternative idea Wednesday.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
DA’s Former Top Investigator Seeks Records of Pulido, Do, and Nguyen Probes
Investigations into the Santa Ana mayor, county supervisor, and state senator are the subject of a records request by Craig Hunter, who alleged in a legal claim this month that District Attorney Tony Rackauckas “interfered in political corruption criminal investigations.” A spokeswoman for Rackauckas disputes the claim.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Argue Over Request for Federal Takeover of DA’s Office
Some supervisors criticized Todd Spitzer’s request as pointless and misguided, while Spitzer called on his colleagues to take action when they learn of corruption allegations.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Politics & Elections, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Spitzer Calls for Federal Takeover of OC District Attorney’s Office
Spitzer requested the federal takeover Monday, citing “continuing revelations of scandal” under DA Tony Rackauckas. Rackauckas’ office fired back, accusing Spitzer of using his position as county supervisor to campaign for his own run for District Attorney.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Homeless Toilet Dispute Heads to OC Supervisors Amid Sewage Concerns
County officials say homeless people should use restrooms at the Courtyard shelter, more than three miles from the Santa Ana river bank encampment. But the shelter closes its doors at 8:30 p.m.
Posted inTop Stories
Homelessness and Poverty Keep Growing in Orange County, Studies Find
There’s been a 54-percent increase in homeless people living on the streets in the past four years, according to data released last week from the county’s Point in Time count.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Rackauckas ‘Interfered’ in Political Corruption Investigations, Says Former Top Investigator
Craig Hunter, the former chief investigator to District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, claims the DA interfered in political corruption investigations of his political allies. The DA’s office is disputing Hunter’s legal claim.
