On OC talks with Lloyd Pendleton, who headed up a Utah state task force that reduced chronic homelessness by more than 90 percent in a decade by providing rapid housing to people living on the streets.
Author Archives: Norberto Santana Jr.
Norberto Santana, Jr. is an experienced investigative reporter, serving as founding publisher and editor-in-chief for Voice of OC, overseeing newsroom, engagement and fundraising operations.
He’s also an award-winning columnist, focusing his efforts on First Amendment issues and local government, being recognized multiple years by the Orange County Press Club as the region’s best columnist.
The LA Press Club has named him a Journalist of the Year (2018) and the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has recognized him as a “Distinguished Journalist.” The California Chicano News Media Association has honored him with a lifetime achievement award and the national News Leaders Association has recognized him for his commitment to diverse staffing and coverage.
Santana is a pioneer in the field of nonprofit news having served on the board of directors for the national trade group for nonprofit newsrooms, the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). He also has served on boards of the national nonprofit advocating investigative journalism, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and the California First Amendment advocacy group, CalAware.
In addition to journalism, Santana also teaches public affairs and investigative journalism as an adjunct faculty professor at Chapman University.
Before founding Voice of OC in 2009, Santana was a lead investigative reporter for the Orange County Register, focusing on county government. He spent nearly two decades covering local governments across Southern California, previously as a staff writer at the San Diego Union Tribune and San Bernardino County Sun.
Santana began his journalistic career as an apprentice reporter with Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C. covering daily floor action in the U.S. Congress and followed that up with a stint covering the territorial Senate for the U.S. Virgin Islands Daily News.
Languages spoken: English and Spanish
Posted inOn OC
On OC: Housing affordability is residents’ top concern in new Chapman University poll
In this week’s On OC Podcast, Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr., brings on Chapman University Political Science Professors Fred Smoller and Mike Moodian who released a new poll about homelessness and housing.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: The New OC
Homelessness, housing and traffic have replaced crime and race as chief concerns amongst the new demographic majority of residents taking root in Orange County, a new Chapman poll finds. So what do we do about it?
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: The Day of Reckoning
After freaking out residents across Orange County last week with a half-baked homeless sheltering plan aimed at Laguna Niguel, Irvine and Huntington Beach – which triggered mass protests – county supervisors this week turn to what they do best, ideology. Now it’s time to debate sanctuary city status and the federal lawsuit against the State of California.
Posted inOn OC
On OC: County Supervisors Get Lambasted at City Halls over Homeless Shelters
Our weekly news round up from across Orange County with Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. joined by VOC reporters, Nick Gerda, Thy Vo and Spencer Custodio. The group talks about the […]
Posted inOn OC
Feet to the Fire 3: 48th Congressional District
The race for the 48th Congressional District turns into a personal knife fight amongst former friends with former Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh entering the race against his longtime friend Dana Rohrabacher.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: It Takes a Federal Judge
With every passing hearing, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter keeps drilling into the reality of homelessness in Orange County: Tax resources and public worker expertise are there. County supervisors are the problem.
Posted inCosta Mesa, On OC, Politics & Elections
Feet to the Fire 2: Costa Mesa Politics
Editors Note: This episode was taped in late February and posted this week. The first mayoral election in Costa Mesa history and who is running for elections this fall in […]
Posted inOn OC
On OC Episode 8: United to End Homelessness
United Way of Orange County’s Carla Vargas talks about a plan to help fight OC homelessness with a coalition of local business leaders, non-profits, faith-based groups and community leaders.
Posted inOn OC
On OC: Election Season Kickoff
“Feet to the Fire,” a 2018 election series in partnership with the Los Angeles Times, starts this week. Co-creators, John Canalis, executive for the Los Angeles Times’ Community News section […]
