County supervisors seem poised this week to take the long overdue step of setting up a homelessness triage center in downtown Santa Ana. Let’s hope the good will lasts beyond the November election.
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: Failing to Show Up for Work
Should county supervisors should be part-timers? Is Sheriff Sandra Hutchens exploiting the Police Officer’s Bill of Rights? Should Mercy House have received the homeless center contract? Questions from Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: End Political Hackery, Focus Local Government
The homeless tent city in downtown Santa Ana and the lack of debate on public safety funding raise the question of whether politicians themselves are the problem.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Labor Day Reminds Us Government Is Fueled by People Not Politicians
After being upbraided on air by two conservative radio hosts, Orange County supervisorial candidates Andrew Do and Michele Martinez are taking action aimed at alleviating the homeless crisis at the county Civic Center.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Lack of Warning on Civic Center Gun Threat Is Symptom of a Larger Problem
The delay in alerting county employees of a shooting at Santa Ana’s Civic Center grounds this month is connected to county supervisors’ politicking and fundraising and lack of effectiveness on issues like IT and homelessness.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Government Goes Corporate
Orange County Supervisors debate bringing corporate sponsorships to government. Voice of OC continues fight against deposition request; and jobs for county ethics watchdog and performance auditor remain empty.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Who’s Driving the Bus at the County of Orange?
As things get worse at the Civic Center, the most recent example being a police shooting of a homeless person, the county leadership void remains. Meanwhile, Supervisor Shawn Nelson criticizes the county’s approach to a public records lawsuit by Voice of OC.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Supervisors Wage War on First Amendment
Just like Hillary Clinton, Orange County Supervisors don’t want you to see their raw emails. Yet instead of private servers, they use their lawyers and your tax dollars to attack journalists and shield themselves from disclosure.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: OC Animal Shelter Born From Engagement
Efforts by Orange County residents to engage county supervisors on animal care led to a new animal shelter. Now it’s time to make a difference for humans, starting with the situation at Santa Ana’s downtown civic center.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: The Tricky Debate Surrounding Supervisor Term Limits
Supervisor Shawn Nelson wants to limit county supervisors to three terms for life. But a campaign finance watchdog wonders whether quick legislating could give current office holders 12 more years beyond what they’ve already served.
