Safety, Security & Justice

Calls for Reform Grow in OC After Supervisor Admits to Bribery in Plea Agreement

Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:58:00 +0000

Orange County sign in Brea.

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A plea agreement on bribery and the resignation of OC Supervisor Andrew Do is sparking demands for reforms and accountability weeks before the November election. What changes could follow?

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

OC Supervisor Andrew Do Charged With Corruption by Federal Prosecutors

Noah Biesiada and Spencer Custodio — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 17:12:43 +0000

Board of Supervisor Andrew Do during a Jan. 10, 2023 meeting.

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Federal prosecutors are charging Supervisor Andrew Do with corruption, which could carry a maximum of 5 years in prison. Officials say Do has agreed to plead guilty.

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Huntington Beach Police Chief Rejected Metal Detectors at City Hall

Noah Biesiada — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:58:00 +0000

The Huntington Beach City Council meeting on Sept. 17, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

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While some council members have asked to install metal detectors at the entrance to the city council chamber, the police department did not move forward after studying that issue.

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Anaheim Bolsters Anti-Camping Laws, Clears Out Parks

Hosam Elattar — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0000

A homeless encampment at an Anaheim public park on Jan. 24, 2024.

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Anaheim officials are moving forward with three new laws aimed at keeping public spaces safe as they clear homeless people out of parks and railways across the city.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Orange County Supervisors Jump Into Street Crime Debate

Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 21:00:00 +0000

The Orange County Central Women’s Jail in Santa Ana on Aug. 28, 2020.

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OC Supervisors are the latest local officials to publicly support a statewide November ballot measure that aims to increase punishment on certain drug and theft crimes.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Santa Ana Calls on OC Supervisors to Help Fund Crossing Guards

Hosam Elattar — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 12:58:00 +0000

A crossing guard walks a young boy across Springdale Street from Enders Elementary School on Aug. 22, 2023. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

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Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua is asking OC leaders to help pay for local crossing guards after county supervisors – including her predecessor – allocated funds for crossing guards in Orange.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Orange County Debates How California Should Address Street Crime

Hosam Elattar — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:58:00 +0000

Santa Ana Police assist in a city cleanup effort on May 13, 2021.

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Some local officials are in support of a statewide measure on the November ballot that would increase penalties for certain drug & theft crimes. Critics say it will over crowd prisons.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

OC Supervisors Help Fund Crossing Guards in Orange Amid City Budget Cuts

Hosam Elattar — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:00:00 +0000

A crossing guard on the morning of Friday, Dec. 9, 2022 at the intersection near Coto de Caza where 8-year-old Bradley Rofer was hit and killed by a pickup truck in September 2022.

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OC Supervisors Vicente Sarmiento and Don Wagner are supporting the program as city officials ask voters for a 0.5% sales tax increase in November to help keep their budget afloat.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

OC Sheriffs Ignores New Use of Force Policy Recommendations

Noah Biesiada — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:37:04 +0000

An Orange County Sheriff at the OC Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 27, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

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Top sheriff officials insisted the department’s existing policies addressed use of force adequately, but the Office of Independent Review found some gaps.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Who is the OC Judge Married to the County Supervisor in the Middle of an FBI Probe?

Noah Biesiada — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Orange County First District Supervisor Andrew Do, right, and his wife, Orange County’s number two judge Cheri Pham at the 2022 Little Saigon Tết Parade in Westminster.

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Orange County’s number two judge Cheri Pham is married to county Supervisor Andrew Do, and the home they share together was raided by the FBI last month.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Santana: OC Supervisor Andrew Do’s Political Journey That Ended in FBI Raids

Norberto Santana Jr. — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:58:00 +0000

Supervisor Andrew Do poses with the American flag during a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 8, 2021.

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During his long tenure, embattled Supervisor Andrew Do took over the reins at the County of Orange, crafting a high profile - one that eventually landed him and his family on the FBI’s radar.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Buena Park Looks To Crack Down on E-bikes

Hugo Rios — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0000

A rental and e-bike store in Orange County on on Dec. 7, 2022.

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Buena Park city council members are considering options to restrict electric bicycles on public streets, joining a growing list of Orange County officials trying to regulate e-bikes in recent years.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

San Clemente Tightens E-Bike Regulations

Angelina Hicks — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:58:00 +0000

An e-bike rental shop on the Newport Beach coast in in Newport Beach, Calif. on Dec. 7, 2022. Credit: AMIR GHANI, Voice of OC

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San Clemente city officials approved new regulations for electric bicycles that would hold parents liable if their child is riding recklessly or is cited by the sheriff’s department.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Orange Reinstates Crossing Guard Program After Budget Cuts

Gigi Gradillas — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:00:00 +0000

A Santa Ana crossing guard walks through a pedestrian walkway on April 27 . 2021.

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Orange City Council members voted unanimously to reinstate the crossing guard program with Orange County Supervisors Don Wagner and Vicente Sarmiento pledging to help the city with the cost.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Orange Residents Call for Crossing Guards to be Funded Instead of Annual Halloween Event

Gigi Gradillas and Hosam Elattar — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:00:00 +0000

The city of Orange Civic Center on Wed. April 12, 2023.

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An annual Halloween event that would have cost the city nearly $68,000 has been canceled amid a budget crisis in Orange. City officials are now considering bringing back crossing guards.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Orange County Firefighters Battle 8,500-Acre Wildfire in Trabuco

Spencer Custodio and Angelina Hicks — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:21:15 +0000

People lookout from Coto de Caza neighborhood to the smoke from the airport fire on Sept. 9, 2024.

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OC Fire Authority officials say what started as a vegetation fire Monday has grown to roughly 8,500 acres Tuesday morning, forcing evacuations in the area of Trabuco Creek Road.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

FBI Executes Searches on OC Supervisor, His Daughter & Others in Missing COVID Money Case

Noah Biesiada — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:50:47 +0000

JULIE LEOPO, Voice of OC

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Federal Courthouse in Santa Ana on May 18, 2020.

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Federal agents began executing search warrants on Supervisor Andrew Do, his daughter and other people tied to nonprofits entangled in a series of alleged misspending of federal COVID funds.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Santana: Orange County’s Bankruptcy of Oversight

Norberto Santana Jr. — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 20:00:00 +0000

Orange County sign in Brea.

Months ahead of the 30-year anniversary of the nation’s first county default, OC officials confront a similar crisis fuelled by an apparent lack of internal auditing and whistleblowing.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Calls Mount For OC’s District Attorney To Figure Out Where $13 Million in COVID Funds Went

Noah Biesiada — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:58:00 +0000

District Attorney Todd Spitzer at his swearing-in event on January 2019.

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While two county supervisors are calling on DA Todd Spitzer to intervene, it remains unclear whether he will.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate

Orange County Sues County Supervisor’s Daughter and Nonprofit Over Missing COVID Money

Noah Biesiada — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 01:25:38 +0000

The main courthouse of the Orange County Superior Court, known as the Central Justice Center, in Santa Ana.

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The lawsuit from the county alleges a nonprofit – along with four people – took at least $10 million from taxpayers and enriched themselves through buying houses across Orange County.

Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom. We rely on donations from people like you to sustain our news agency. Please make a contribution today: https://voiceofoc.org/donate