As part of a nationwide funding challenge led by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Democracy Fund and the MacArthur Foundation, Voice of OC is creating an advisory board of special civic leaders who will meet twice a year with the Publisher to talk about the future of Orange County and how the newsroom can best be equipped to meet the civic challenges ahead.
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 inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Something Smells at The Mesa Water District
With the Mesa Water District board of directors ready to vote tonight on spiking water rates, questions linger about expensive lobbying and public affairs spending, high executive salaries and recent board compensation hikes.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Could Seek as Much as $45 Million in Public Subsidies
With Orange County supervisors poised to approve a developer to remake Dana Point Harbor this week, two different approaches appear for a public/private sector partnership to build hotels, docks and shops at the harbor. One bidder – Dana Point Partners – wants a $45 million subsidy from taxpayers while another, Dana Point Harbor Partners, seeks $20 million, both largely to fund parking garages and potential nearby street improvements.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Could OC College Republicans Save the GOP?
With a car tax recall potentially on the ballot next year, four congressional races in Orange County and a campus-friendly central committee, young Republicans like UCI’s Ariana Rowlands could become a force on the local campaign scene across Orange County. Could they make the difference in 2018 for the GOP?
Posted inIrvine, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Vets Cemetery in Irvine Stuck?
Irvine City staff are asking questions about the future of idle portions of a proposed 125-acre veterans’ cemetery – possibly eyeing vacant parcels for commercial development. Veteran leaders are publicly worrying that an expected Tuesday vote to finalize a controversial land swap for the vets cemetery could be in doubt along with key aspects of the deal to bring a state veterans’ cemetery to Irvine.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr., Santa Ana
Santana: Inaction Can Kill
Orange County Supervisors keep wasting precious time with an anemic response to the homelessness explosion along the Santa Ana riverbed and downtown civic center. With Hep A outbreaks prompting action in both LA and San Diego Counties, how much longer will it take county supervisors to step up and protect public safety in Orange County?
Posted inCountywide, Mission Viejo, Norberto Santana Jr., Safety, Security & Justice
Santana: OC Contract Cities Rebuke County Supervisors Over Spiraling Sheriff Costs
Following significant salary hikes granted by Orange County Supervisors to Sheriff Deputies, fueling a 33 percent increase in costs over the past decade, contract cities are now starting to publicly question whether they need to look into alternatives. OC’s biggest contract city, Mission Viejo, takes leadership on a new audit of Sheriff’s patrol services. Big questions also loom over whether city or county taxpayers own the long-term pension obligations for both Deputy Sheriff’s and Firefighters if cities bolt from current regional policing and fire protection models.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Orange County Faces a Public Safety Leadership Crisis
Orange County’s Sheriff Sandra Hutchens’ credibility has been destroyed by Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals. Meanwhile, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas stands accused of political corruption by his own senior investigators. Regional fire service also is in full crisis mode after executives at the Orange County Fire Authority apparently ousted Fire Chief Jeff Bowman against the will of rank and file firefighters.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Workers Get A Front Row Seat at the OC Fairgrounds
This month, Orange County’s state fairgrounds in Costa Mesa formally opened a memorial to agricultural workers – a far cry from where the agency stood nearly a decade ago when fair board members led the charge to privatize what they termed “an underutilized asset.”
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: The Lack of Ethics Commission
It’s been more than 14 months since Orange County voters approved an ethics commission. Still, only one county supervisor – Shawn Nelson – has appointed a board member to the important oversight panel, which has yet to publicize any actions or the appointment process.
