While many challenges remain, 2016 will go down as a year in which Orange County officials finally began to address one of the county’s most shameful realities — its ever-increasing homeless population.
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 inAnaheim, Countywide, Garden Grove, Government, Investigative, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Holding the Powerful Accountable in 2016
In 2016, Voice of OC delved into how corporations spend to influence public policy, the ways in which politicians pull the levers of government to stay in power, and how they use their public offices for private gain.
Posted inSanta Ana, Tustin
Affordable Housing Advocates Outraged Over Santa Ana Council Vote for Developer
The Santa Ana City Council this week voted to allow the developers of a large upscale residential project to postpone required payments toward the construction of homes for low-income families.
Posted inSanta Ana, Top Stories
Activists Score Victories at Santa Ana City Council Meeting
Activists helped beat back, at least for the time being, an effort involving the police union to oust City Manager David Cavazos, and convinced council members to strengthen their “sanctuary city” policy.
Posted inCountywide, Economy, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Santa Ana, Top Stories
Incidents Raise Concerns About Security Staff at Homeless Shelter
The Midnight Mission, which runs the county’s new homeless shelter, prides itself on hiring formerly homeless people. But a few altercations have raised questions about employees’ lack of licensing for security work and their criminal histories.
Posted inSanta Ana
Ciertos Miembros Del Consejo De Santa Ana Planean Remover Al Administrador De La Ciudad
Fuentes cercanas a la alcaldía dicen que un tema de la agenda del ayuntamiento del martes representa un esfuerzo de los nuevos miembros del consejo, apoyados por el sindicato policial, para expulsar al administrador de la ciudad David Cavazos y al jefe de policía Carlos Rojas.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana Council Members Might Move to Oust City Manager
Sources close to City Hall say new members of the council, who were backed by the police union in November’s election, want to put City Manager David Cavazos on paid leave. Councilwoman Michele Martinez appears to be the swing vote.
Posted inAnaheim, Government, Housing & Homelessness, News Briefs, Top Stories
After Delays, Anaheim Homeless Center Now Slated to Open Before Summer
The services center in Anaheim promises to provide up to 200 homeless people at a time with a safe sleeping space and support services like mental health treatment and housing referrals.
Posted inEmergencies & Disasters, Government, Top Stories, Yorba Linda
Drama on the Dais as Supervisors Narrowly Reject Development Plan
The personality conflicts that often bubble just under the surface on the county Board of Supervisors spilled onto the public dais Tuesday as supervisors considered plans for a controversial development in Yorba Linda.
Posted inSanta Ana
Santa Ana’s City Council Majority Pushing for District-Based Voting
The effort is being led by Councilman Sal Tinajero, who says a switch from the current at-large system would lessen the influence of deep-pocketed interests like the city’s police union in Santa Ana politics.
