A nasty fight over a fuel contract at John Wayne Airport could get even nastier today as county supervisors engage in a last-minute agenda scramble to re-approve a contract for a low-ranked bidder amidst calls for a federal probe into the process.
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 inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Is Throwing Rocks the New Homeless Response in OC?
Last week county work crews pushed rocks in the way of a homeless tent city near Angels Stadium between the Santa Ana riverbed and the 57 freeway, prompting public protests, an ACLU lawsuit and numerous civic actions.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Anatomy of a Police State
Whether it’s before the Republican Orange County Board of Supervisors or the Democratic Santa Ana City Council, the public safety debate at the local level is one characterized by a toxic mix of unchecked spending and secrecy.
Posted inCorrections, Countywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: County Government’s Full Employment Act for Local Politicos
County Supervisor Andrew Do’s chief of staff, Brian Probolsky, is the latest top-level staffer to depart from the fifth floor of the Hall of Administration and take a job in the county bureaucracy, again fueling speculation about how political patronage plays a role in hiring.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Orange County’s Criminal Justice Complex in Crisis
Jeff Lalloway’s departure as Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s chief of staff is another window into the dysfunction that is Orange County government. It’s fitting that it comes as more records violations come to light in the jailhouse snitch case.
Posted inInside the Newsroom
Meg Waters Joins Voice of OC
Meg Waters, one of Orange County’s top public relations and outreach strategists, has joined Voice of OC as Marketing Director.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Searching for Watchdogs in Orange County
Three central countywide oversight agencies — the Office of Independent Review, the ethics commission and the performance auditor — are all funded but remain vacant.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Local Officials Have the Power to Alleviate Housing Crisis
Orange County residents carry the highest housing cost burden in California, according to a new state report. Local elected officials can change that by developing smart policies and engaging with the communities they serve.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Focusing Homelessness Policy is Biggest Challenge of 2017
In 2017, county officials have the opportunity to build on the successes of last year — notably the Courtyard shelter in downtown Santa Ana — and fashion a full-fledged, realistic policy to combat homelessness.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Superior Court Judge Cools County Attack on First Amendment
OC Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm this past week granted a Voice of OC motion to quash a county government interrogation demand for Publisher Norberto Santana Jr., in connection with an open records lawsuit against the County of Orange involving County Supervisor Todd Spitzer and his handcuffing of an evangelist at a Wahoos restaurant.
