Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) managers secretly lowered performance standards for a bus contractor with a history of late buses and missed trips, effectively making the contractor look better in monthly performance reports.
Author Archives: Thy Vo
Thy is a reporter covering the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Westminster as well as transportation issues and the courts. She’s the daughter of two Vietnamese refugees and grew up in Anaheim and Orange County’s Little Saigon community. She speaks Vietnamese and conversational Mandarin Chinese.
During her time at Voice of OC, Thy has investigated nepotism and illegal contracts in the city of Garden Grove, an illegal pension arrangement by the Westminster city attorney and controversy over the use of publicly-funded mass mailers by county supervisors.
Thy has received accolades from the Orange County and Southern California Press Clubs, including a second place Best Public Affairs Story award from the OC Press Club for her story “Dick Jones’ Sweet Deal in Westminster,” and a third place Best Feature Story award from the SoCal Press Club for “Struggles of Second Generation Reveal Long Shadow of War.”
Before working for Voice of OC, Thy interned at the Santa Barbara Independent; China Economic Review in Shanghai, China; and Orange County Register. She graduated from Haverford College with a degree in political science.
Languages spoken: English, Vietnamese and Mandarin
Areas of expertise: Anaheim, Garden Grove, Westminster, immigration, pension issues, court coverage and transportation.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Seal Beach, Top Stories
Dekraai Sentenced to 8 Consecutive Life Terms in State Prison
Scott Evans Dekraai, who committed the worst mass shooting in Orange County history at a Seal Beach beauty salon in 2011, was sentenced Friday to eight consecutive life terms in state prison without the possibility of parole, one term for each of his eight victims.
Posted inCountywide, Government, Health & Wellness, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Amid Hepatitis A Outbreaks, Orange County Focuses on Vaccination
While Los Angeles and San Diego counties have declared outbreaks of hepatitis A, local health officials say an outbreak has not come to Orange County, although they are “very concerned.”
Posted inAnaheim, Economy
Anaheim’s Lobbyist Sunshine Ordinance Will Be Largely Self-Enforced
New restrictions on lobbyists now are in effect in Anaheim, although enforcement of the law – known as the sunshine ordinance – will be largely self-reported.
Posted inSafety, Security & Justice, Westminster
Westminster Police Officers Get Salary Increases
Westminster police officers will get a salary increase each year over the next three years, after the City Council approved a new three-year-agreement for sworn and civilian Police Department employees.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
DA Prosecutor Files Federal Lawsuit Against County, DA
A deputy district attorney and former judicial candidate, Karen Schatzle, has filed a federal lawsuit against the County of Orange and the District Attorney’s office alleging DA Tony Rackauckas retaliated against her and threatened her career because she ran against a judge he had endorsed.
Posted inAnaheim, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Anaheim Doubles Down on Homeless at Santa Ana Riverbed
The Anaheim City Council will double down on existing efforts to provide services to homeless people before eventually clearing out large encampments along the Santa Ana River.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Top Stories
Last of 12 Defendants Found Guilty in OC Court Bribery Scheme
Javed “Joey” Asefi was found guilty by a federal jury last week of participating in five-year racketeering scheme that paid $250,000 to an Orange County Superior Court clerk in exchange for resolving more than a thousand criminal cases and traffic violations without the knowledge of prosecutors and judges.
Posted inGovernment, Health & Wellness, Top Stories
CalOptima Takes Mental Health Administration In-House
CalOptima, the county’s health care plan for low-income and elderly residents, will now administer its own mental health care services, after the agency voted to phase out its $41 million-a-year contract with Magellan Health.
Posted inWestminster
Former Westminster Planning Commissioner Found Guilty of Accepting $15,000 Bribe
David Vo, a former Westminster Planning Commissioner, was found guilty by a federal jury Thursday of one count of bribery for accepting a $15,000 bribe to help push through a liquor license.
