In a news release, Spitzer calls the allegations by Christine Richters “false,” “disheartening, misleading, and simply untrue.” He says he fired Richters because she refused to learn basic computer skills that were necessary for her job.
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
Former Spitzer Aide Alleges Hostile Treatment of Staff
Christine Richters claims Supervisor Todd Spitzer ran his supervisor’s office through “fear and aggression,” forced his staff to be on-call at all hours of the night, and required them to work shifts of up to 24 hours at a time.
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Youth Need More ‘Positive’ Spending, Says New Study by Health Advocates
Santa Ana spends more money arresting young people than developing them positively through libraries, mentorship, job skills and other initiatives, according to a new study commissioned by health advocates.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Shawn Nelson Had Homeless Camp Removed From Riverbed Near Honda Center, Emails Show
The emails raise questions about whether Nelson also directed a similar removal this winter of a large homeless encampment along the river south of Angel Stadium.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Top Stories
ACLU Threatens to Sue OC Supervisors Over Alleged Free Speech Violations
In recent months, Orange County supervisors put tighter and tighter restrictions on speakers who try to address them at public board meetings. The ACLU’s letter is prompting county officials to consider possible policy changes.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Top Stories
Supervisors Increase Their Influence Over County Contractors
Under new rules, county contractors will get shorter terms for their agreements and must return more often to the Board of Supervisors for approval of extensions.
Posted inCountywide, Economy, Investigative, Top Stories
OC Gets Its First Ethics Director, But No Recruitment Yet for Commission
Denah Hoard, an attorney with the city of Orange, was hired as executive director for the upcoming county ethics commission. Nine months after being approved by voters, the commission still hasn’t been created.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, News Briefs, Top Stories
Grand Jury Finds No Signs of Major Voter Fraud in Orange County
President Donald Trump’s allegations of widespread voter fraud in California not true in the OC, the OC grand jury says.
Posted inCountywide, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Santa Ana Cop Fired After Pot Shop Raid to Rejoin Force Due to Court Ruling
Officer Brandon Sontag still faces criminal charges in connection with the raid of Sky High Holistic.
Posted inCountywide, Economy, Orange, Top Stories
OC Supervisors Have Chosen an Ethics Director
County supervisors picked Denah Hoard, the senior assistant city attorney for Orange, as the first executive director of the county’s still-unformed Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission.
