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Voice of OC • April 28 2025

Irvine Expands Free Shuttle System Bus Routes

Irvine residents looking for public transportation options will have more routes to ride on the city’s free shuttle service after officials approved an extension and expansion to the program.

Irvine City Council members authorized an expansion of the Irvine CONNECT shuttle service — originally approved as a one-year pilot program last April — and directed staff to research additional routes.

The current route uses five buses to connect the Irvine Station and Spectrum Center down Barranca Parkw...

Voice of OC • April 24 2025

Retail and Restaurants Finally Coming to the Irvine Great Park

Residents living in Irvine’s Great Park neighborhoods are expected to get nearby shopping options by 2027, after years of waiting and driving to surrounding neighborhoods for groceries and cuisine.

City leaders are taking steps to finalize the Great Park’s retail center that’s expected to feature grocery stores and other shopping options.

The city had already selected Almquist as the developer to create the new center in a two-pronged plan.
[Read: Are Retail and Restaurants Finally Coming to t...

Voice of OC • April 22 2025

Irvine Rolls Out Affordable Housing Program For Homeless Students

Students and their families struggling to get enough to eat or keep a roof over their heads could soon get some relief in Irvine after city officials refocused their approach to some of the city’s neediest residents. 

It comes as Irvine officials are taking a closer look at their efforts to build affordable housing in the city and rethinking how those projects can better serve the local community, especially homeless students in local school districts.

During the city council’s April 8 meeting...

Voice of OC • April 21 2025

San Clemente Opposes State Bill that Would Ban Bussing Homeless People Out of City

San Clemente officials have opposed a state bill that would prohibit government employees from transporting homeless people outside the city and leaving them there.

The practice is often referred to as “dumping” — when governments or other institutions release unhoused people onto the street without providing any resources, support or a place to go.

It’s often done to shift responsibility for homelessness or reduce how many homeless people are visible in a certain place.
The proposed bill, cal...

Voice of OC • April 15 2025

State Grants Orange County Emergency Permit For Surfliner Rail Stabilization

Orange County transportation officials got approval from one of the state’s top commissions to speed up efforts to place sand and rock along the Pacific Surfliner rail line that runs through San Clemente to protect it from landslides and coastal erosion. 

The application focuses on four main areas most vulnerable to failures from landslides and erosion. Leaders from the Orange County Transportation Authority plan to place both sand and rock, also known as riprap, with the rock coming in first a...

Voice of OC • April 15 2025

Environmental Groups Raise Concerns Over OC School District Property Lease Near Banning Ranch

The proposed lease of an 11.36-acre site in Newport Beach is gaining the attention of local environmental groups, who are claiming an Orange County school district violated state law during the search for developers.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District put out a call for bidders in January, looking for a group to enter a long-term ground lease to develop the site — a move district officials say is allowed under state law.

The property is surrounded on three sides by the nearly 400-acre Ra...

Voice of OC • April 9 2025

Newport Beach Clashes With State Over Offshore Moorings Pricing

Newport Beach boaters are still fighting for fair rents in Newport Harbor as city officials coordinate with state agencies on the future of offshore moorings — permanent structures surrounded by water for owners to store their boats.

The California Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission have both stepped in as Newport Beach city officials attempt to make some changes regarding mooring field layout and monthly rent prices for offshore moorings.

A majority of the waterways in Newport Harb...

Voice of OC • April 7 2025

Aliso Viejo Rejects Pride Flag Ban at City Hall After Public Pushback

Aliso Viejo city officials threw out a flag-flying resolution last week that would have banned the rainbow LGBTQ+ Pride flag at city hall, after dozens of public comments kicked off a five-hour debate about the banner.

Councilmember Mike Munzing brought forward the resolution at the April 2 council meeting that would have restricted city-owned flag poles to fly only the federal, state and local flags.

But council members ended up unanimously voting against the proposed changes, allowing the ra...

Voice of OC • April 1 2025

Another Orange County City Cracks Down on Sober Living Homes

City leaders in Mission Viejo are pushing forward new rules for sober living homes, requiring a new permitting process and distance requirements for these transitional facilities.

Sober living homes — also called group homes — are meant to provide residential space for people with alcohol or drug addiction so they can stay clean and participate in a recovery program. 

However, these facilities can often draw complaints from locals about noise and other disturbances in residential neighborhoods...

Voice of OC • March 31 2025

Lake Forest Officials Approve Another Affordable Housing Project

Lake Forest officials are moving forward with a new affordable housing project for low-income residents as cities across California begin to file their annual housing reports to the state.

City Council members unanimously approved a $4.35 million housing loan agreement with National Community Renaissance (National CORE) to create a four-story, 50-unit affordable housing project called Aspan Court.

The project will be funded using $3.7 million worth of in-lieu fees — money the city collected fr...

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...