Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/author/nsantana/)
Orange County backcountry activist and land use attorney Gloria Sefton talks about the constant development pressures on Orange County’s land use specific plans, especially those in the canyon areas, and her numerous successful lawsuits to defend the public planning process for canyon residents.
Voice of OC today stands alongside hundreds of news organizations across America, pushing back against President Trump’s assertion that reporters are enemies of the people, defending the notion that a free and independent press is central to our democracy, our freedom.
After Anaheim PD confronts a Voice of OC reporter who clearly identified himself, questions arise about Anaheim’s commitment to the First Amendment and the tone of neighborhood homeless sweeps.
Matt Holzmann, vice chair for Orange County’s Mental Health Board, talks about the unique opportunity facing public officials in Orange County to create a national funding and programming model for mental health programming at every spectrum, from those facing an immediate crisis, to those in need of permanent supportive housing.
Steve Danley, a former Performance Auditor for the County of Orange talks about the lost art of checking under the hood inside the halls of county government, what makes a good auditor as well as the future of his former office, now on life-support.
Hairo Cortes, executive director for a new political action committee in Santa Ana called Chispa and Santa Ana activist Idalia Rios both talk about why city residents need to enact reasonable rent control limits, such as a 5 percent cap on rent increases as well as upcoming state and local ballot drives on the issue.
Paul Cook, general manager for the Irvine Ranch Water District and Brian Lochrie, a spokesman for Poseidon, which is proposing a desal plant in Huntington Beach, both talk about the pros and cons for taxpayers and residents about desalinated water.
Voice of OC works with a reporting boot camp for middle schoolers in Santa Ana, producing a podcast where kids sounds off on life in Santa Ana as well as the immigration debate that is playing out in their living rooms and neighborhoods.
Chapman University Political Science Professors Fred Smoller and Mike Moodian explore the election trends that fueled the June primary along with offering insights on what trends to keep watch over as congressional and local races heat up as we head into November.
A series of recent state fire and safety inspections are triggering questions about the safety of this year’s summer fair. Officials insist the property is safe. Activists are demanding more information.