Anaheim City Council members Tuesday will consider appointing Chris Zapata, the former city manager of San Leandro, as the city’s top executive, less than a week after Zapata announced he would step down from leading the city of 90,000. Zapata had been accused, and cleared, of sexual misconduct while city manager.
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 inGarden Grove, Irvine, Placentia
Facing Budget Problems, Garden Grove Considers Move to OC Fire Authority
Garden Grove city leaders are considering merging their fire department with the Orange County Fire Authority, a move aimed at cutting costs as the city faces a growing budget crisis and discusses a possible sales tax increase.
Posted inAnaheim, Garden Grove, Westminster
Westminster Oks Tax Subsidy for “Bolsa Row” Four-Star Hotel & Housing
A local developer will receive a 25-year tax subsidy from the city of Westminster to build a four-star hotel, banquet hall and mixed-use residential project on a vacant lot on the corner of Bolsa Avenue and Brookhurst Street, the city’s first full-service hotel project.
Posted inAliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Countywide, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Government, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Politics & Elections, Rancho Santa Margarita, Safety, Security & Justice, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda
Final Results For OC’s Highest-Turnout Midterm Primary in More Than Three Decades
The election saw OC voters eliminating the Democrats’ supermajority in the state Senate; setting up competitive runoff elections for four Republican-held congressional districts and 4th District county supervisor; and delivering the first runoff elections for district attorney and sheriff in more than a quarter century.
Posted inAnaheim, Countywide, Economy, Housing & Homelessness, Top Stories
Anaheim’s New Oversized Vehicle Parking Ban Leaves RV Dwellers Wondering Where to Live
A new ban on parking oversized vehicles on city streets in Anaheim has sparked concerns among people living in recreational vehicles, many who say they otherwise cannot afford housing in Orange County.
Posted inAnaheim, Economy
Anaheim $18 Minimum Wage Initiative Advances to November Ballot
A split Anaheim City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday to place a union-backed initiative on the November general election ballot. If approved, it would require Anaheim Resort-area companies that receive city subsidies to pay their employees $18 an hour by 2022
Posted inAnaheim, Safety, Security & Justice
Jorge Cisneros Appointed Anaheim Police Chief
Jorge Cisneros, currently Police Chief for the University of California, Irvine, will assume the position in mid-July.
Posted inAnaheim, Safety, Security & Justice
Anaheim Council to Consider Head of UCI Police for City Police Chief
If city council members approve his appointment Tuesday, Jorge Cisneros, the chief of the University of California, Irvine police department, will become Anaheim Police Chief in mid-July.
Posted inAnaheim, Economy
Anaheim Council to Vote Tuesday on Minimum Wage Ballot Measure Aimed at Disney and Other City-Subsidized Businesses
A ballot initiative to require Anaheim Resort-area businesses receiving city subsidies to pay workers a minimum $18 an hour by 2022 has met a signature requirement to qualify for the November general election ballot.
Posted inAliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Countywide, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Government, Housing & Homelessness, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, Safety, Security & Justice, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Top Stories, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, Yorba Linda
North OC Commits to 700 New Homeless Shelter Beds; South County Identifies Zero
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter two months ago called on south county cities to identify and develop additional shelter beds, and gave them until Wednesday to identify locations.
