Another 21 people died “without fixed abode” in OC last month, 289 for the year to date. This corresponds to a 28% decrease from last year’s record 400 homeless deaths at this time of year. However, the OC homeless death rate remains over 1 homeless death per day, every day.

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Housing–rising costs, limited new supply, and lack of affordability–is the existential issue facing Costa Mesa. It not only affects people’s daily lives and pocketbooks, but also impacts the community’s prosperity and growth. Costa Mesa is on the right track to reduce homelessness and create more housing opportunities.

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A number of county executives connected to the Andrew Do – Viet America Society scandal left quietly. Two key figures implicated in the scandal still hold high office. One is Andrew Do himself, whose term will end this year. The other is Dylan Wright, Director of OC Community Resources.

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Much of California’s intermittent wind and solar power never makes it to the market. This problem is exacerbated by Orange County Power Authority, which loads excessive amounts of unreliable renewables onto the power grid. In the process, OCPA needlessly undermines California, putting it on a crash course with regular blackouts.

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For decades, Anaheim’s affordable housing crisis has forced long-time residents out of the city we've called home. The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance is a necessary step to ensure that our residents can continue to live and thrive in the communities we’ve built, instead of being priced out by rising rents and unchecked development.

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While employed with the Rancho Santiago CCD, two senior administrators served at the same time as directors of a Hawaii based insurance company that received millions of dollars in premiums from the college district for bond construction insurance related to the $337 million Measure E. There were never votes recorded or minutes of any kind memorializing this company’s involvement with the RSCCD.

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Another 33 people died without fixed abode in OC in August, significantly lower for the year than the last two years, but continuing at 2021 levels.  In the meantime, Los Angeles with a significantly larger homelessness problem has begun to plot out seriously a plan to end homelessness there in ten years.

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American democracy right now is a polarizing turn-off for my nine-year-old daughter, and yet recently she told me, “I really want to vote.” I want to start a productive conversation with other Orange County parents about how to interest kids in voting by the time they’re twice her current age.

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The lack of oversight and overconcentration of residential recovery homes is threatening the health and safety of patients and residents in Orange County. The Governor has an opportunity to sign legislation protecting residents and holding bad actors accountable. These bills are good for our communities, neighbors, and those receiving care.

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The county bureaucracy prefers political spinning over operational knowledge and experience.  That’s why they chose Monica Schmidt for OC Animal Care Director.   She overstated her animal sheltering qualifications to get the job, and she habitually misleads the community and elected officials. 

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Orange County Power Authority is selling “more green, low-cost, less-risk” energy to potential city members. OCPA’s record reveals the opposite while cities have lost millions of dollars.

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Another 27 people died without fixed abode in OC during the month of July, down 25% for the year.  The reasons for the decrease are presently unclear but should be looked into by Sheriff Barnes’ Commission.  Then the County and rest of the state continue to try to discern how best to apply the recent Grants Pass Supreme Court decision as well as Governor Newsom’s subsequent executive order regarding homelessness.  Many do appreciate that shuffling people around who have no place to go doesn’t seem to be a useful approach.

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Complete Streets aims to make roadways safe for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders, not just motorists. For Beach Boulevard to become a safe and equitable corridor, Caltrans needs to fundamentally shift its priorities and ensure that future projects incorporate comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

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Are county contracts being issued without proper oversight? A former OC Animal Care employee, now living out of state, received a contract that seems to have produced no tangible results. Meanwhile, OC Animal Care is understaffing kennels and ignoring the majority of their very expensive 2018 Strategic Plan.

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Not only do other transportation options exist, but the frailty of the coastal rail segment suggests it would be one of the least likely solutions for transporting San Onofre’s waste.

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Residents of Dana Point and Laguna Beach witnessed OC Public Works using public funds to apply truckloads of glyphosate in San Juan Creek, home to endangered Southern California Coast Steelhead. This toxic practice harms wildlife and public health. It’s time to ban glyphosate in Orange County.

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Another 31 people died without fixed abode in OC. For the first six months of the year, the death rate has been 24% lower than last year, yet this month the death rate was comparable to previous June. Why this would be in both cases is unclear. Then, what would it cost to solve the County’s and State’s homeless problem? We’ve batted around 5-10% solutions for years. What would it take to solve it all?

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Animal Care Attendants at the OC shelter are compassionate and hard-working. But the county has reduced the number of attendants, making it impossible for them to provide adequate animal care.

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Nuclear energy is not clean or cheap energy - it leaves behind highly-radioactive waste and costs billions in taxpayer subsidies. In Orange County, we have nuclear waste being stored 108 feet from breaking waves. California must stop producing nuclear energy and expand the use of renewable energy options.

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While all of us focus on national politics, unnoticed and unchallenged local politicians “win” re-election, often propped up by corporate interests or fringe activists.

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