For the first time in years, the city of Westminster will step out of austerity mode and put more money into its budget for staff and services, thanks to an infusion of revenue from the one-cent sales tax increase approved by voters in November 2016.
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 inAnaheim
Anaheim City Manager Paul Emery Resigns
The council voted 4-3, with council members Kris Murray, Lucille Kring and Stephen Faessel voting no, to request Emery’s resignation, which became effective immediately.
Posted inAnaheim, News Briefs
Anaheim City Council To Consider Resignation or Removal of City Manager
The agenda description does not say which employee is being considered for removal, but does list a separate item to appoint an interim city manager.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Sheriff Hutchens Testifies At Court Hearing on Informants Scandal
She testified she believes there was no widespread misuse of jailhouse informants by her department, but sheriff’s deputies moved confidential informants in the jails to elicit incriminating statements from defendants over the course of years.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Sheriff’s Deputy Says, Despite Gap in Jail Log, Deputies Never Stopped Making Entries
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jonathan Larson testified at a court hearing Thursday that he recalled continuous use of the Special Handling log, daily notes kept by jail deputies, during his year in the Special Handling unit, the same year there is an unexplained six-month gap in the log.
Posted inAnaheim, News Briefs
Anaheim Teen Involved in Altercation with Off-Duty LAPD Officer Files Civil Rights Lawsuit
The 13-year-old Anaheim resident involved in a physical struggle with off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer Kevin Ferguson in February has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Anaheim and LAPD.
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Four Year Delay in Providing Jailhouse Snitch Records Won’t Happen Again, Sheriff’s Commander Testifies
“This has been an embarrassment for us and um, nobody wants this to happen again,” testified Commander William Baker. “It’s not going to happen again.”
Posted inGovernment, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Grand Jury Report Details Allegations of Sexual Harassment and Favoritism Within DA Investigations Unit
Sex between supervisors and subordinates, sexual harassment, and perceptions of a “good old boys club” that receives promotions and favorable treatment may contribute to a hostile work environment within the Orange County District Attorney’s investigations bureau, according to an Orange County Grand Jury report released Tuesday.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Safety, Security & Justice, Top Stories
Court of Appeals Says OC Prosecutors Withheld Evidence in Another Jailhouse Informants Case
The Fourth District Court of Appeal Friday unanimously upheld a ruling that Orange County District Attorney prosecutors improperly withheld information from defense attorneys and misused a jailhouse informant.
Posted inAnaheim, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Anaheim Wrestles Over Homeless Anti-Camping Ordinance
Anaheim City Council members failed to endorse an existing anti-camping ordinance aimed at people living on the streets, tabling a request by Councilwoman Kris Murray to “reaffirm” the city’s existing approach to addressing homelessness.
