The city’s budget deficit is $2 million more than city leaders anticipated, after a costly accounting mistake by the city’s now fired finance director came to light. Officials won’t explain the mistake and how it occurred.
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, Government, Inside the Newsroom, Investigative, News Briefs, Santa Ana
Voice of OC Podcast: Everybody (in Santa Ana) Must Get Stoned
This week we delve into Santa Ana’s increasingly entertaining medical marijuana scene and more problems with the county’s animal shelter.
Posted inCountywide, Garden Grove, Top Stories
Water Park Project Brings Hope, But Garden Grove Budget Picture Still Bleak
Officials had to once again draw from reserves in the current year to fill a $5.3 million budget hole and they are projecting a shortfall of just over $6 million for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Posted inGarden Grove
Garden Grove Picks Midwesterner to Lead City Away From Scandal
In the wake of nepotism and contract scandals, members of the Garden Grove City Council have settled on an official from Cincinnati who they say has a reputation for high ethics and transparency to take over as city manager.
Posted inAnaheim
Anaheim Council Approves Another Hotel Subsidy Deal
City will kick back 70 percent of room tax revenue to developers who build new luxury hotels. Members of council majority say deal will spur development. Mayor calls it “corporate welfare.”
Posted inGarden Grove, Health & Wellness
State Ordered to Pay Residents Displaced by Garden Grove Waterpark Hotel
More than two dozen poor households displaced by the construction of the Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark Hotel in Garden Grove will finally receive relocation assistance, ending a six-year battle in county and state courts.
Posted inCountywide, News Briefs, Top Stories
OC Weekly: Hundreds of West OC Court Cases May Have Been Tampered With By ‘Rogue’ Worker
Court begins investigation into altered records of hundreds of cases like traffic tickets and drunk driving citations.
Posted inInside the Newsroom, News Briefs
Voice of OC Podcast: Pappas on Policing Pot
Reporter Adam Elmahrek talks with attorney Matthew Pappas about controversial new video of Santa Ana Police raiding his client’s marijuana dispensary.
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Investigative, News Briefs, Top Stories
Grand Jury: Rate of Dropped Calls on Child Abuse Hotline Triples
The number of people calling to report the possibility of a child being neglected or abused who hang up while waiting to talk to an social worker has increased, from 5-8 percent in 2012, to 15-25 percent in 2014.
Posted inGarden Grove, Investigative, News Briefs
Garden Grove To Pick New City Manager from Cincinnati
Scott C. Stiles, the assistant city manager for the city of Cincinnati, is likely to be appointed as Garden Grove’s permanent city manager on Thursday.
