Orange County Supervisors are right to talk openly about the future of the Civic Center. But they should focus on things like transforming the abandoned bus terminal into a homeless service center before embarking on a building spree.
Category: Norberto Santana Jr.
Columns by Norberto Santana Jr., Voice of OC’s publisher, on Orange County government, public records and the habits of the people who run the county. He has written this column since the newsroom started.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: The Demise of OIR Should Trigger Calls to Feds
With the head of the county’s Office of Independent Review abruptly resigning last week, and problems ranging from a “failure of leadership” in the DA’s office to jailbreaks on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens’ watch, bringing in federal investigators might be the only prudent thing to do.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Where Will Bartlett’s Power Play Lead the County?
County Supervisors Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett has quickly created the most powerful board chair in Orange County history. What’s comes next — more accountability or more politicization?
Posted inCountywide, Health & Wellness, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr., Orange
Santana: Presidents Day a Time to Reflect on Civic Action of Lorenzo Ramirez
Ramirez, a labor leader from the El Modena neighborhood in Orange, first stood up in 1944 against segregated “Mexican Schools” in Orange County. Now his statute stands at Santiago Canyon College as a source of inspiration.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Will Bartlett Step Up to Lead on Homelessness?
While Chairwoman of Supervisors Lisa Bartlett defended the county’s recent effort to provide temporary shelter to homeless people at the Civic Center during El Niño storms, she agrees that more needs to be done.
Posted inCountywide, Investigative, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: County Supervisors Need to Start Supervising
The recent escape from the Santa Ana Jail and the scant offerings for homeless people at the bus terminal show that hard questions should be in store for Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and OC Community Services head Karen Roper.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: Do Jail Escapes Reveal Funding Gap?
After a weekend jailbreak, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens says OC jails might not be up to challenge of new state mandates. Meanwhile, one of Supervisor Lisa Bartlett’s firsts moves as chairwoman of the board is an attempt to make the position more powerful.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr., Transportation
Santana: County Officials Moving Slowly to Help Civic Center Homeless
Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. urges county officials to move quickly to secure federal approvals to get Santa Ana Civic Center homeless population under a covered roof before the El Niño storms return.
Posted inCountywide, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Bartlett Meets the OC Old Boy Network
Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett is already dealing with horse trading even before being named chairwoman, as a controversial appointment to the county retirement board is on this week’s board agenda.
Posted inCountywide, Housing & Homelessness, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: 2016 Promises to be a Year of Fresh Starts for County Government
It will be up to supervisors and other county officials to hammer out the details on last year’s policy progress, which includes such things as worker relations, homelessness, animal shelters and ethics reform.
