The proposed $6.2 billion Orange County budget for the next fiscal year calls for a large increase in discretionary funds allocated to the Sheriff’s Department and comparatively tiny discretionary increases for social and health services. Public budget hearings will take place in June.
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 Expand Immigration Detention in County Jails
The unanimous decision came after more than three dozen public commenters spoke against the expansion and none supported it. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said the expansion will bring an additional $5 million in revenue to the county without requiring more staff.
Posted inGovernment, Top Stories
$315 Million Plan for New Civic Center Building Up for Approval Today
Orange County supervisors are scheduled Tuesday to move forward with the county government’s first new Civic Center building in decades, a $315-million proposal to replace a long-empty building across from Santa Ana City Hall.
Posted inInvestigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana
Santa Ana Police to Start Wearing Body Cameras This Summer
Officials still are drafting rules for when the cameras must be turned on, what the repercussions are for not using the cameras and whether any videos will be made public. The City Council also is considering increased oversight of the police department, including possibly creating a civilian review panel.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Faces Major Budget Shortfall, Officials Say
City officials described a troubling financial future, with a projected $14 million shortfall for city operating costs in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Top Stories
OC Sheriff Wants to Expand Immigration Detention in County Jails
If approved by supervisors at their public meeting Tuesday, Hutchens’ proposal would allow her department to hold an additional 120 immigration detainees.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Order Crime Data Not Be Sent to Sacramento
Two supervisors claimed Sacramento is using misleading statistics to justify a shift of prisoner parole and probation responsibilities to counties. Orange County appears to be the only large county in California to withhold the data.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Leaders Collaborate on Reducing Shootings, Gangs and Other Youth Violence
A meeting last week drew a wide cross-section of city leaders and residents – including top officials from the city, schools, police, and nonprofit groups – amid a tripling of shootings in recent years.
Posted inEconomy, Government, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
District Attorney’s Chief of Investigations Suddenly Leaves Job
The DA’s office says it cannot reveal why Craig Hunter is departing, but indicated the “action” taken involving him happened quickly.
Posted inSanta Ana
Divided Santa Ana Council Removes Acting City Manager Before He Chooses Acting Police Chief
The decision came on a 4-3 vote just as Mouet was preparing to announce his process for choosing an acting police chief, following Chief Carlos Rojas’ announcement last week that he’s leaving the city for a different police chief job.
