Santana wonders whether a $25,000 contribution from the Orange County Board of Supervisors to a county veterans museum at the OC Fairgrounds will be held up by an angry Supervisor Andrew Do, who wants to limit public comment.
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: Civic Center Shows What Politicization of County Board Brings
As the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors votes to take on a bigger management role within the government it oversees, Santana warns that Orange County provides a cautionary tale about what happens when you put politicos in charge.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Xerox Collapse Should Fuel Calls for Outside Oversight
Santana writes that the total collapse of the county’s largest IT contract with Xerox should refocus the debate on adding oversight to county contracting.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Tired of OIR, OC Supes Refocus on Appointing a Party Planner-in-Chief
After failing on topics like police oversight or animal control, Santana notes that Orange County supervisors are now formally focusing on what they do best: Events.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Political Appointees Are Behind OC’s Rotting Animal Shelter
Santana notes that another scathing grand jury report on animal control should prompt OC taxpayers to consider downsizing the Orange County Board of Supervisors and their politicized approach toward local government.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: What’s Next After Demise of Independent Police Review in OC?
Santana argues the defunding of the county Sheriff’s Office of Independent Review has been a long time coming. Question is what comes next?
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: Meet OC’s Biggest NIMBY on Homelessness; County Supervisors
Santana challenges county supervisors to address the homeless situation on their front steps by offering the civic center’s homeless community a better transition center at a nearby abandoned bus shelter.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Meet the County Cleaner
Santana writes that county supervisors are set to reauthorize a murky program – set up to investigate top officials’ misdeeds. Except, no one’s ever heard much about how these are done, how much they cost. And the biggest probe in recent memory, involving the County COO, seems stalled.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Animals Remain Low on OC Supervisors’ Priority Lists
Amidst video game violence summits, sea lion legislation, judicial recalls, Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. notes recent grand jury report on county animal shelter is a stark reminder to electeds to stay focused on the job at hand.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Gaffe or Not, Sanchez’s Train Has Left the Station in Senate Race
While Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is under pressure for racially insensitive remarks, she isn’t likely to back up as the crowd of challengers builds for her congressional seat.
