Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/author/scustodio/)
Spencer Custodio joined Voice of OC as a full-time reporter covering south Orange County and Fullerton in August 2017. Previously, he worked as one of Voice of OC’s first interns starting in 2010, covering Fullerton and general assignment stories. During his time with Voice of OC, Custodio covered the Joe Felz election night car crash that lead to him being charged with a DUI (the case is ongoing). He also has been covering the Irvine Veteran’s Cemetery, a first for Orange County, that led to a land swap with a developer that divided many veterans and residents. Recently, he covered the sudden resignation of former Laguna Niguel Mayor Jerry Slusiewicz over claims of bullying and intimidation that started when Slusiewicz found a tree trimming contract that was overpaid by $410,000. Custodio graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with extensive education in Constitutional law, public policy, economics and international law. He worked as the news editor at the student newspaper, The Daily Titan, during his last semester. Languages spoken: English Areas of expertise: Voter registration and turnout, data analysis, homelessness, Irvine and Fullerton.
Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva announced Tuesday she will amend her legislation to include a proposed golf course that could be the home Orange County’s first veterans cemetery after a five-month battle between state Legislators and Irvine City Councilmembers.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu paid off his 2016 Assembly campaign debt and a portion of his 2018 mayor campaign debt by fundraising for both campaign committees beginning in December. It’s a move some local politics experts said is an example of loopholes in campaign finance regulations.
The appraisal of the 155-acre site of Angel Stadium is still in draft form, but the Anaheim City Council will be discussing the lease reinstatement it authorized in January and potential negotiating framework in the upcoming weeks.
Orange County’s top watchdog, Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery, died Wednesday evening, according to a county spokeswoman. Woolery, first elected in 2015, clashed with County Supervisors.
The Fullerton City Council decided to hold onto a temporary rent control ordinance to see if promises by Rancho La Paz senior mobile home park owner John Saunders work for the residents, while the city is looking to create its own rental subsidy fund for mobile home residents.
Orange County Democrats took a slight lead in voter registration Wednesday, the first time in over 40 years, but the biggest trend has been the rise of the No Part Preference voters.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu has limited the time for Council debate, despite the Council not voting on the rule, and experts said it sets a bad precedent and sends a bad message.
Irvine Mayor Christina Shea told residents at a private townhall meeting July 18 that the golf course site was a diversion so the state doesn’t force the veterans cemetery at the original site. But she said, on Wednesday, she was talking about diverting the residents’ anger over the original site.
The Irvine City Council picked a planned golf course within the Great Park as the future home of the state-run veterans cemetery, but a state bill looking to name another site conflicts with Irvine’s decision.
Irvine City Council members could end a two-year battle over where to locate Orange County’s first veterans cemetery if they decide on a site Tuesday.