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Voice of OC • March 26 2025

Laguna Beach Keeps Homeless Shelter, Potential Service Cuts Loom

Laguna Beach’s homeless shelter is one of the only facilities in South Orange County where unhoused people can find free meals, a shower and a warm bed 365 days a year.

But now city officials are taking a closer look at the shelter — named the Alternative Sleeping Location (ASL) — to see what services, if any, could be cut in the future to save money and reduce the facility’s regional draw.

The shelter, located at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road, was created in 2009 and features 35 beds. It’s run by...

Voice of OC • March 26 2025

Will Rancho Santa Margarita Officials Launch Their Own After School Program?

Rancho Santa Margarita officials may look to start their own after-school program after the local Boys & Girls Club branch abruptly ended contract negotiations with the city following accusations of political indoctrination and cost concerns.

City Manager Jennifer Cervantez said staff is researching what other kinds of recreational programming could replace the club. A proposal is expected to be presented to council members during the budget study sessions in May.

“The city’s community service...

Voice of OC • March 19 2025

San Clemente Officials Seek Money For Sand Replenishment

San Clemente city leaders are scrambling for ways to fund sand replenishment projects and restore the city’s dwindling beaches.

It comes after city voters narrowly rejected a sales tax increase that would’ve funded sand replenishment efforts.

San Clemente city officials are now turning toward the state to help provide enough cash to widen the beaches and reverse some of the effects of coastal erosion over the past several decades.
At the same time, a group of residents is pushing forward a cit...

Voice of OC • March 17 2025

What’s the Best Approach to Pickleball Courts in Orange County?

As pickleball becomes more and more popular in Orange County, some cities are taking a closer look at the best way to offer courts without creating excess noise or spending too much money.

A 2024 review by Chapman University students in partnership with Voice of OC found the county had approximately 220 public courts available with plans to add dozens more in different cities across the county.

[Read: OC Pickleball Courts Swell to Meet Demand]
While cities like Newport Beach and La Palma are o...

Voice of OC • March 14 2025

Why Did a South OC School Board Member Say the N-Word?

A South Orange County school board member’s use of the N-word at a recent public meeting – while supporting approval of a book about an enslaved man – has triggered concerns and debate across one of Orange County’s largest school districts. 

James, the book discussed by board members, is a reimagining of Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck Finn down the Mississippi River.

At their March 12 meeting, Capistrano...

Voice of OC • March 12 2025

Rancho Santa Margarita’s Boys & Girls Club Slated to Close This Summer

Rancho Santa Margarita’s branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley is on its way out of town after negotiations with city leaders to renew their contract abruptly ended last month.

It comes after officials in the past year raised concerns about the cost of the youth recreation programs that the city pays $120,000 annually to help fund, decreased attendance and outside residents utilizing the club’s services.

There have also been accusations the Boys and Girls Club was politically i...

Voice of OC • March 12 2025

Orange County’s Troubled Animal Shelter Slated for Overhauls

Orange County Supervisors are moving forward with a slate of reforms at the county’s embattled animal shelter after years of complaints from residents and activists about poor conditions for pets in the county kennels and a lack of animal viewing hours. 

But while supervisors unanimously agreed to expand shelter hours, appoint a new community liaison and require more transparency around what happens to the animals, they were split over whether they should neuter and release feral cats.

Supervi...

Voice of OC • March 10 2025

Orange County Considers Overhauling Animal Shelter Operations

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss overhauling operations at OC Animal Care during Tuesday’s meeting, including expanding viewing hours and reinstating catch and release services.

Supervisors Janet Nguyen and Vicente Sarmiento are calling for a discussion that includes four recommendations for potential changes at the county-run animal shelter in Tustin.

The first recommendation would direct leaders at OC Animal Care to prepare a plan for expanding viewing hours to a...

Voice of OC • March 4 2025

Why is There No Catch and Release Program for Orange County’s Cats?

As Orange County animal shelters gear up for peak kitten season, the county-run shelter still refuses to offer catch and release services for feral cats.

Trap, neuter and release — often referred to as TNR — is the practice of trapping feral or community cats living outside, spaying or neutering the animals to prevent reproduction and returning the cats back where they were found since they’re unsocialized to people. 

Animal shelters and municipal animal care centers across the nation offer ca...

Voice of OC • March 3 2025

Irvine Again Considers Building an Aquatic Center in the Great Park

Irvine city officials are revisiting a plan that’s aiming to bring a new public aquatic center to the Great Park — after resident concerns that the city’s existing aquatic facility can’t meet demand.

During the Great Park Board meeting on Feb. 25, city council members directed staff in a 5-0 vote to expedite a previously approved aquatic center at the Great Park and return back to the board with a proposal in 30 days. Councilmember Mike Carroll was absent from the meeting.

Staff’s report back...

Voice of OC • February 26 2025

Irvine Looks to Connect Great Park With Public Transit Through Land Swap

Irvine officials have approved another land swap with the Great Park developer — this time securing a 60-acre parcel with the goal to connect the park with the nearby train station.

FivePoint Holdings – the city’s developer at the Great Park – is set to receive two different parcels of land near the Great Park, totaling about 27 acres, while the city is set to receive about 60 acres of land right next to the Irvine train station.

City council members approved the swap 5-0 Tuesday night, with C...

Voice of OC • February 20 2025

San Clemente Backs Off Regulating Handing Out Food in Public

San Clemente City Council members narrowly struck down a proposal that would have prevented residents from distributing food to strangers in public, including handing out food to homeless people.

The item failed in a 3-2 split on Tuesday night — with Councilmembers Rick Loeffler and Victor Cabral voting in support of the proposed regulations.

The change would have required residents to obtain a permit from the city before handing out any food or drink items to strangers on public property. To...

Voice of OC • February 13 2025

Irvine Looks to Scrap Warehouse Plan, Build Housing Instead

A plan to construct a 500,000-square-foot warehouse in the Irvine Business Complex has already been approved by the planning commission — but negotiations between Irvine city staff and the property owners could replace that plan with housing at the 11th hour.

As city leaders discuss cracking down on large warehouse developments, this specific project was approved by planning commissioners in a 3-2 vote on Nov. 21. 

The move prompted concern from residents regarding noise, air pollution and tra...

Voice of OC • February 11 2025

Will Orange County’s Animal Shelter Overhaul its Operations?

Orange County’s animal shelter could be on track to overhaul its operations after officials moved forward with a consultant that’s expected to identify potential improvements. 

It comes after residents and activists have criticized the shelter in recent years for not being open to public walkthroughs — something shelter officials changed in January 2024, allowing people to come see the animals at certain hours during the day. 

[Read: OC Animal Shelter to Allow More In-Person Visitors]
The coun...

Voice of OC • February 10 2025

Will Irvine City Council Members Nearly Quadruple Their Pay?

Irvine City Council members are expected to discuss their monthly stipend during Tuesday night’s meeting — a discussion that could see the current compensation amount increase by nearly four times.

Currently, Irvine City Council members are compensated $880 each month for serving on the council. That amount was set in 2009.

According to the staff report included with the agenda, the council could increase the monthly stipend to as much as $3,308 per month.
“Given the significant growth in Irvi...

Voice of OC • February 5 2025

San Clemente Backs Off Joining Lawsuit Against State Sanctuary Law

San Clemente city officials voted down a consideration Tuesday night that would have joined the city into a lawsuit challenging California’s state sanctuary law.

Huntington Beach leaders are suing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, challenging this state law that designates California as a sanctuary state.

San Clemente officials discussed joining this legal effort against the state but voted down the consideration 4-1 during Tuesday night’s meeting. Mayor Steve Knoblo...

Voice of OC • February 3 2025

San Clemente to Consider Joining Lawsuit Against State Sanctuary Law

San Clemente could be another Orange County city to challenge California’s sanctuary laws in court — echoing the wave of OC cities jumping on a similar, but unsuccessful, lawsuit in 2018.

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, San Clemente elected officials are slated to discuss joining Huntington Beach’s recently filed lawsuit against the Golden State.

Huntington Beach leaders are suing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, challenging state sanctuary laws that limit local...

Voice of OC • January 30 2025

Irvine Strips Double Pay for Heavy Workloads From Housekeepers

Irvine City Council members voted to roll back some hotel worker laws meant to protect housekeepers from strenuous workloads without proper compensation — a process that began before voters elected new members to the council this past November. 

In 2022, Irvine became the first Orange County city to pass a law protecting maids from harsh working conditions and other dangers like sexual harassment.

[Read: Irvine Boosts Hotel Housekeeper Protections Following Safety Concerns From Workers]
The fi...

Voice of OC • January 29 2025

Orange County Sees More Elected Officials Get Censured

More elected officials in Orange County have been formally reprimanded at a public meeting, through what’s known as a censure. 

This time it’s two school board trustees.

It comes after a spate of elected officials have been censured for various reasons throughout Orange County — mostly city council members for things like allegedly sharing sensitive information or berating residents. 
In the Anaheim Elementary School District, board members voted to censure board member Mark Lopez on Jan. 15 a...

Voice of OC • January 28 2025

A South Orange County City Grapples With State Housing Mandates

San Juan Capistrano is the latest Orange County city to grapple with state housing mandates and building enough homes to help curb California’s housing crisis. 

Last week, city officials approved a five-story apartment building near city hall and the city’s historic downtown region.

Echoing concerns by officials in other Orange County cities, some San Juan Capistrano City Council members expressed worries over the size of the building, but the proposed building does not exceed the city’s heigh...

Voice of OC • January 27 2025

More Pickleball Courts Are Coming to Orange County

Orange County features over 200 pickleball courts for public access — but with the boom of popularity over the past several years, cities continue looking for space to construct new courts or restripe existing facilities to give pickleball lovers more spaces to play.

A previous review by Chapman University students in partnership with Voice of OC found the county had approximately 220 public courts available with plans to add another 59 courts in different cities across the county.

[Read: OC P...

Voice of OC • January 24 2025

OC Animal Shelter Expands Weekend Visiting Hours

Weekend visitors at OC Animal Care in Tustin will have more time to walk around the kennels and meet the different dogs and cats starting this Saturday with the launch of multiple pilot programs.

Currently, the shelter has viewing hours daily from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Starting tomorrow, viewing hours on Saturdays and Sundays will begin at 12 p.m and last until 5 p.m.
The expanded hours are part of three new pilot programs expected to last for the next six months at the shelter as staff looks fo...

Voice of OC • January 24 2025

Traveling Through the Irvine-Laguna Wildlife Corridor

Wild animals in South Orange County are at risk. 

Limited space within the South Coast Wilderness threatens inbreeding — lacking genetic diversity can spread disease among populations of coyotes and bobcats.

Although 22,000 acres of open space were established in the ‘90s to protect local habitats and ecosystems in South County, it’s not enough for many species.
Environmentalists and biologists have spent decades imagining a wildlife corridor passage stretching from the Santa Ana Mountains to...

Voice of OC • January 22 2025

Tustin City Council Member Pleads Guilty to Battery, Sentenced to 1-Year Probation

Over the holiday season, newly-elected Tustin City Councilmember Lee Fink pled guilty to battery after an incident where he was filmed on camera shoving and shouting at an elderly man.

Fink was sentenced to one year of probation on Dec. 23, according to case documents from the Orange County Superior Court.

D.A. officials didn’t put out any press release or statement on the case. 
The incident occurred on May 18, 2024, during the Old Town Tustin Home and Garden Tour. 

Fink stated his behavior...