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Southern California Animal Care

Voice of OC •

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 •

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 •

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 •

Judge Rules OC Fairgrounds Can Boot Equestrians Without Rental Agreement

An Orange County Superior Court Judge sided with the OC Fairgrounds in a ruling last week, finding that Equestrian Center staff are allowed to remove occupants who don’t hold a valid contract.

It’s the newest update in a months-long battle between equestrians and the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, which features a public horse boarding facility where owners store their horses and business owners operate riding lessons.

In March, the OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors narrowly app...
Voice of OC •

Judge Orders OC Fairgrounds Staff to Reopen Equestrian Center

Horses that were locked out of certain areas at the OC Equestrian Center have regained access to arenas, turnouts and round pens — allowing equestrians to properly exercise the animals while a lawsuit plays out in court.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Recio granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, making OC Fair & Event Center staff unlock the facilities for equestrians who were locked out of these areas for about a month. 
It’s the newest development in the battle between...
Voice of OC •

These Pets at Mission Viejo’s Animal Shelter Are Looking for a Home

Patty Cakes has been at the Mission Viejo animal shelter for two months. She’s still a puppy and will likely continue growing, and she’s currently available for adoption.
Staff notations describe her as a loving dog with a big heart. Since she’s still growing, staff recommend basic training classes for her. Patty Cakes was originally part of a bonded pair with her sister, but they were approved to be separated and her sister has already been adopted.

Here are Patty Cake’s details:
Porter has be...
Voice of OC •

OC Animal Care Aims to Convene a Community Conversation

County officials are launching a process to take input and figure out how they can improve their procedures at OC Animal Care in Tustin.

The county-run shelter’s current strategic plan, which lays out the facility’s priorities, was created in 2018. Six years later, county officials say the animal care field has seen dynamic shifts after the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide staffing shortages.
In response, county officials are looking for a consultant to review the shelter’s operations and curre...
Voice of OC •

OC Animal Care Volunteers Still Can’t Walk Dogs Offsite After Tustin Hangar Fire

It’s been nine months since volunteers have been able to walk dogs offsite at OC Animal Care in Tustin.

That’s because of the Tustin hangar fire in November 2023, when flames burned a World War II-era hangar at the former Marine Corps Air Station.

After the fire, over 300 dogs housed at the county-run shelter across the street from the hangars needed to be moved indoors.
[Read: OC Animal Shelter Calls for Emergency Dog Fosters After Tustin Hangar Fire]
Nine months later, dogs are able to retur...
Voice of OC •

OC Officials Again Claim Animal Shelter is Fully Staffed Despite Scathing Report

Orange County Supervisors are claiming their animal care center is fully staffed after OC Grand Jurors questioned how well the county was taking care of abandoned animals last year. 

The discussion comes to a department that’s had three different directors in the last five years and has faced mounting criticism from activists for not being open to visitors much of the time.
The animal shelter has also faced scathing reviews over its work for decades.
[Read: Grand Jury: OC Animal Shelter Needs U...
Voice of OC •

Concerns Mount About Horses Held Hostage at OC Fairgrounds

Horses whose owners are in the midst of a tense rent contract dispute at the OC Fairgrounds have now been prevented from exercising at equestrian center arenas — with activists increasingly worried about the horses’ health.

For months, boarders and trainers at the Equestrian Center, located at the OC Fair & Event Center, have been fighting skyrocketing rental rates that many say they won’t be able to afford.

Renters who previously paid $644 monthly for a 12-by-12-foot boarding stall for their...
Voice of OC •

New OC Animal Shelter Director Looks to Reconnect With Public

After nearly a year-long search, county officials hired a new animal shelter director — one from within their own walls.

The new director, Monica Schmidt, has been working at OC Animal Care in Tustin since 2020 as the assistant director. When former Director Andi Bernard stepped down last May, Schmidt took over as interim director.

Last month, county supervisors formally hired Schmidt — the third director in the last five years for the agency.

It’s a role that’s undergone criticism over the l
Voice of OC •

Lost a Dog During Storms? They Might be at the OC Animal Shelter

This week’s rain and flooding across Southern California have triggered an increased number of lost dogs surrendered at OC Animal Care in Tustin.

Over the past week, there have been 111 dogs surrendered at the shelter — 82 of them stray, according to county spokesperson Alexa Pratt.

Of those listings, 51 of the dogs were brought to the shelter this month.

In response to the increased intake of lost dogs, animal shelter officials are advising pet owners to bring their animals indoors during da
Voice of OC •

OC Animal Shelter to Allow More In-Person Visitors

Orange County Animal Care is gearing up to open its shelter doors for more people looking to adopt a new pet.

It comes as activists spent years calling for more walk-in availability and after the shelter’s director stepped down last year.

County officials announced Thursday that the shelter will open kennels for walkthroughs three hours each day starting Jan. 17.

Visitors can schedule adoption visits from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day or walk through the kennel areas during daily viewing hours
Voice of OC •

OC Animal Shelter Calls for Emergency Dog Fosters After Tustin Hangar Fire

The dogs at OC Animal Care need help.

There are more than 300 dogs currently housed at the Orange County animal shelter in Tustin.

But after a fire at the former Marine Corps Air Station — just across the street from the shelter — all the dogs had to be moved inside.

That means no outdoor kennels, no walks and no outside playtime.

The dogs have already been stuck inside since Nov. 7, when the hangar burned to the ground.

Shelter officials put out a call for emergency fosters Wednesday to ge
Annenberg Media •

AUDIO: L.A. looks to pause issuing animal breeding permits

The problem has gotten so bad that a trip down to one of the city-run shelters reveals the severity with just a quick glance around. L.A. Animal Services General Manager Staycee Dains describes this issue at the L.A. City Council’s Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee meeting this morning.

Dains: Right now we are putting animals in every single available cage. We are purchasing cages. We are using donated cages and crates and popping them up in the hallways and in areas where animal
Annenberg Media •

New L.A. animal shelter manager lays out plan to address overcrowding, understaffing

Activists have been criticizing the six L.A. city animal shelters for being overcrowded and understaffed, which has affected the way shelters can care for animals that come through their doors.

But now, the new general manager is looking to take the first steps to address some of these issues and increase the quality of their care.

Staycee Dains, who was appointed to the position in June, spoke at the shelter’s board of commissioners meeting last Tuesday about how she is looking to fix some of
Annenberg Media •

L.A. animal shelters still overcrowded, new manager looks to tackle space issues

Los Angeles city animal shelters are still overcrowded under recent leadership changes, and the city’s six shelters are on track to kill about 40% more animals this year than last year.

But now there’s a new general manager ready to address these issues that activists have been calling out over the past year.

Staycee Dains, the new general manager appointed in June, has admitted that there’s a lot of work to be done. She spent her first month in the role touring each of the six city shelters a
Voice of OC •

OC Officials Dispute Scathing Grand Jury Report on Increased Kill Rates at Animal Shelter

Orange County officials are disagreeing with the majority of findings in the recent grand jury report that called for the county-run animal shelter to update policies, like increasing visits for residents.

Grand jurors also found the shelter has been euthanizing animals at higher levels than in previous years.

It marks another chapter of the OC Grand Jury’s critical look at the shelter over the years, with the County of Orange receiving five scathing reports over the past 24 years.

The newest
Voice of OC •

Orange County Animal Shelter Reopens Kennels For Five Hours Each Week

After years of protests and advocacy, visitors at Orange County’s animal shelter can view the dogs and cats in some kennels during select hours twice a week.

This is the first time the kennels have opened to public access since before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the shelter’s doors.

But it’s limited to five hours a week.

OC Animal Care’s new “Kennel Connection” program opens designated kennels to the public Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. starting on July 19. No appointment is nee
Voice of OC •

Grand Jury: OC Animal Shelter Needs Updated Policies to Stop Killing More Animals

Few public agencies attract Orange County Grand Jurors’ attention like the county-run animal shelter.

From 1999 to 2015, the shelter warranted five investigations by the impaneled civil watchdog body.

This year, another Orange County Grand Jury report released Wednesday — the first to address the shelter’s current Tustin location — is echoing community advocates’ calls to reopen OC Animal Care to the public, reduce kill rates and reinstate a trap, neuter and release program which animal offici
Voice of OC •

Head of OC Animal Care Steps Down as Activists Fight for Open Shelter Policies

OC Animal Care Director Andi Bernard has stepped down from the position effective immediately after facing a rise in criticism for keeping the shelter on an appointment-only basis and not reopening kennel visits to the general public.

Bernard’s leave comes less than a week after animal activists protested outside her home on May 20, calling for the former director to reopen the shelter’s kennel areas to the public and reduce kill rates.

County officials say recent attention has been highly foc
Voice of OC •

Are Appointment-Only Policies in Animal Shelters Across America Driving Up Kill Rates?

It’s getting harder for people to adopt animals from local public shelters and surrender strays they find on the street.

That’s because appointment-only policies make it more difficult for people to see as many animals.

At the same time, public animal shelters are changing intake policies and accepting fewer animals.

Policies meant to keep people from congregating indoors created more steps for residents to adopt or surrender animals, raising alarm bells among animal activists.

The concern i
Voice of OC •

Years of Resident Concerns Spark Lawsuit Against OC Animal Shelter

Local activists continue to heavily criticize the county-run animal shelter in ongoing litigation currently playing out in Orange County Superior Court.

It’s been a years-long battle between residents and county shelter officials.

[Read: Activists Fed Up With OC Animal Shelter, Sue For Animal Abuse]

Now, three nonprofit organizations are taking action against OC Animal Care, with court filings claiming the county-run shelter is failing to adequately care for the animals by providing clean liv
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Environmental Reporting

Voice of OC •

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 •

Bringing Sand Back to San Clemente’s Beaches

Replenishing sand and widening the beaches in San Clemente is one of the current city council’s biggest priorities after decades of coastal erosion have left the Spanish Village by the Sea sinking into the waves.

Beaches in the South Orange County town have slowly dwindled into narrow strips of sand as waves erode the shoreline, leaving some areas inaccessible to lifeguards during high tide.
It’s gotten so bad that waves are often seen crashing against the train tracks and bluffs that run adjac...
Voice of OC •

Fire Season Begins in Orange County

As peak fire season begins in Southern California, eyes are turning to Orange County’s hills.

Flames began this week when a fire broke out in Trabuco Canyon Monday afternoon, forcing mandatory evacuations for some south OC residents.

As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, the flames — dubbed the Airport Fire — burned nearly 20,000 acres as it moved east towards Riverside, according to the CalFire website. 
Officials have called for mandatory evacuations in parts of Rancho Santa Margarita’s Robinson Ranch. Home...
Voice of OC •

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

Orange County Fire Authority officials are evacuating areas in Trabuco Canyon and Rancho Santa Margarita after a vegetation fire that started at 1:21 p.m. Monday grew to 1,900 acres nearly five hours later.

By 10 p.m. the fire increased to an estimated 5,432 acres. 

By 6 a.m. Tuesday, the blaze spread to 8,510 acres, moving east towards Riverside, according to the CalFire website.  
As of 10 p.m. Monday evening, officials have called for mandatory evacuations in parts of Rancho Santa Margarita...
Voice of OC •

San Clemente Needs More Money For Sand

San Clemente’s beaches are in desperate need of sand.

As trucks begin dumping up to 50,000 cubic yards of new sand on North Beach — a project that’s costing the city $2 million — council members are grappling with how they’re going to be able to fund future sand replenishment efforts.

Officials are now considering if a sales tax increase could be the additional revenue needed to build up the city’s beaches.
Coastal erosion has been chipping away at San Clemente’s shoreline for decades as the c...
Voice of OC •

Laguna Beach Debates Beachgoers Digging Out Sand Berm at Aliso Beach

A line has been drawn in the sand in Laguna Beach.

There’s been a growing debate over whether or not beachgoers should be allowed to dig out the sand berm at Aliso Beach.

It’s a discussion that’s been ongoing since the city acquired control of all south Laguna beaches from the county on March 1.

Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your o
Voice of OC •

Toxic Algae is Stranding Sick and Aggressive Sea Lions on OC Shores

As the heat wave reaches Southern California for summertime, more Orange County residents are heading for the beaches.

But rising temperatures are also pushing other creatures onto local beaches: sick and sometimes aggressive sea lions.

Off the California coast, toxic algae blooms — a rapid increase in harmful algae caused by a combination of water runoff and rising temperatures — are poisoning sea lions and dolphins, causing stranded marine animals onto local beaches.

Dozens of sea lions aff
Voice of OC •

Banning Ranch Officially Preserved as Open Space and Future Public Park

After decades of advocacy, Banning Ranch — Southern California’s largest privately-owned, unprotected coastal space south of Ventura — is slated to become a public park.

Located near Newport Bay, Banning Ranch will be renamed the Randall Preserve and officially become the latest protected area in Orange County’s fight to maintain and preserve open space.

The Trust for Public Land, partnered with the California Natural Resources Agency, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and th
Voice of OC •

Are Community Gardens Becoming Orange County’s Next Town Squares?

Community gardens throughout Orange County are part of a broader push to create more open space and a sustainable environment for people in areas where such space is dwindling due to development.

Cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach and Fullerton have community gardens either run by the city, a church or a community nonprofit group – many are operated in park-poor areas.

Advocates say the gardens help serve as a type of town square for residents while also teaching people how to ga
San Diego Union-Tribune •

Fire causes $200K in damages to El Cajon home

Firefighters knocked down a residential fire early Monday morning that damaged an East County home, authorities said.

The fire caused an estimated $200,000-worth of damages at the house on Brockton Street near Hacienda Drive in El Cajon, said Andy McKellar, a spokesperson for Heartland Fire & Rescue.

McKellar said the department received a call reporting the fire around 1:15 a.m.

Firefighters from Heartland Fire, San Miguel, San Diego and Santee were able to extinguish the flames. Authorities
San Diego Union-Tribune •

Damage estimate for National City warehouse fire grows to $8M; second largest fire in city history

An accidental fire sparked by an electrical device inside a National City warehouse caused $8 million in damage, making it the second-largest fire in city history, a fire official said this week.

The fire started in an area where several power strips, cords and electrical devices were plugged into outlets, said National City fire Battalion Chief and Fire Investigator Robert Hernandez.

Hernandez said the fire is thought to be the second largest the South County city has seen in recent history,
San Diego Union-Tribune •

Fire destroys garage in Santee

A neighbor called the Santee Fire Department around 11 a.m. after seeing smoke coming from the building on Princess Marcie Drive near Princess Arlene Drive.

Fire Chief John Garlow said the blaze started in the garage and firefighters were able to keep the flames away from the rest of the home.

The garage was completely destroyed, and a van inside the garage was heavily damaged, Garlow said. Video from OnScene TV shows the garage roof collapsed and the entire space was burned.

Much of the sing
San Diego Union-Tribune •

Crews working vegetation fire in San Carlos neighborhood

Firefighters are working to extinguish a brush fire that ignited Friday morning in the San Carlos neighborhood, San Diego fire authorities said.

The blaze was reported shortly after 11:30 a.m. off Margerum Avenue near Navajo Road, according to a tweet from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The first fire crews arrived on scene about five minutes later.

Just after 12:45 p.m., the fire had burned about 2 acres and authorities said they had stopped the forward progress of the flames, accordin
San Diego Union-Tribune •

El Cajon youth organization uses grant funding to plant trees

El Cajon received grant funding from the California Urban Forests Council and West Coast Arborists — two tree preservation organizations — to plant more trees and increase the city’s urban canopy.

The $1,625 grant was awarded to the city’s Teen Coalition and used to plant 55 trees at Wells Park and John F. Kennedy Park.

The Teen Coalition consists of middle school and high school students who develop community service projects toward various local efforts.

The City Council unanimously approved receipt of the grant funding last week.
Voice of OC •

Orange County Cities Wrestling With Southwest Drought Look to Conservation Policies

In the face of a regional drought, many Orange County cities are trying to cut back on water consumption by rolling out conservation policies – echoing efforts from the previous drought that ended a few years back.

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in October 2021 based on the state’s drought condition. In May, the State Water Board adopted regulations that require all local water suppliers to heighten water conservation policies.

According to the National Integrated Drought Info
Voice of OC •

Banning Ranch is One Step Closer to Becoming Preserved Open Space

A piece of land near Newport Bay — Southern California’s largest privately-owned, unprotected coastal space south of Ventura — could be the latest area to be officially protected in Orange County’s fight to maintain and preserve open space.

After facing housing development proposals by the city last year that could’ve impacted the area, enough funding has been acquired to secure the land and officially establish Banning Ranch as a public park.

The Trust for Public Land and the Banning Ranch Co
The Panther Newspaper •

California senate bill seeks to ban offshore drilling

There are 11 actively producing offshore oil and gas leases in state waters. The legislation would not affect oil rigs in federal waters.

Senate Bill 953 comes after October’s oil spill when an undersea pipeline connected to drilling platforms off Orange County ruptured. The oil leaked onto sensitive beaches and wetlands, harming or killing local animal and marine life.

Among the hardest hit areas were California’s coastal wetlands and protected marshes, including the wetlands of Huntington Be
Voice of OC •

Battle for the Dana Point Headlands Pits Coastal Access Against Endangered Animals

A complex Southern California coastal access battle is playing out on the Dana Point headlands, an environmental preserve and recreational area overlooking almost the entire Orange County coastline up to Palos Verdes.

The oceanside bluff is a bastion of public coastal access – a place for joggers, hikers or those who just want to sit at one of the trail’s breezy lookout points and gaze at the commanding views.

But the area is also home to various endangered animals and plants, some of which we
Voice of OC •

Officials From Two OC Coastal Cities Join Growing Calls to Ban Offshore Oil Drilling

A couple of weeks after an oil spill off the Orange County coast, City Councilmembers in Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach passed resolutions supporting a ban on offshore oil drilling at their meetings on Tuesday night.

“In a lot of ways we dodged a bullet with this one but we can’t be naive and think that this won’t happen again,” said Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr during the meeting.

The Huntington Beach City Council members voted 5-1 to approve a resolution supporting a ban on new offshor
Voice of OC •

Chino Hills State Park is Slated to Expand By 1,530 Acres

Chino Hills State Park — a 14,000-acre urban wilderness park at the juncture of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties — is set to grow by roughly 1,530 acres, more than 10% of the park’s acreage.

After more than a decade of state park growth stagnation, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 266 on Sunday, which expands the park.

The bill requires the California Department of Parks and Recreation to accept the transfer of ridgeline acres along Chino Hills State Park.

“The a
Voice of OC •

$11 Million Grant Gets Banning Ranch Closer to Becoming Public Park

A piece of coastal land near Newport Bay is one step closer to reaching the $97 million dollars needed to turn the space into a public park and avoid it being sold for real estate development.

The Trust for Public Land, a national non-profit conservationist group, reached an agreement in May with the private owner of Banning Ranch to purchase the land if they can raise enough money.

The organization has until next April to raise the $97 million, which would then be passed on to the Mountains R
Voice of OC •

Reward Reaches $25,600 for Information Regarding Continued OC Pelican Attacks

Two more pelicans have appeared dead on the coast since the original $5,600 reward for information was announced earlier this month, bringing the total to 34 pelicans found deceased or severely injured along the Orange County coastline.

The Northern California-based Animal Legal Defense Fund is offering an additional $20,000 on top of its original $5,500 reward for any information regarding the violence against the birds, which experts believe is being inflicted purposely due to the pelicans’ c
Voice of OC •

What Are Orange County Cities Doing to Prepare for Climate Change?

As experts warn the climate crisis could bring the next test for Orange County officials’ public health response, residents are increasingly questioning what they have done to prepare.

International organizations point to cities as some of the biggest drivers of climate change and its looming health threats.

Cities consume 78% of the world’s energy and produce 60% of greenhouse gas emissions — all while taking up 2% of the earth’s surface, according to the United Nations.

[Read: From Covid to

Campaign Finance

Voice of OC •

How Transparent is Your Local OC School District?

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a three-part series looking at the transparency of school districts. Day One looked at how disclosures are handled and why gaps occur. Today’s story offers specific rankings for school districts. Day Three ranks video streaming accessibility for school board meetings.

When Chapman University journalism students partnered with Voice of OC to look at how often local school board members do their own homework and file disclosure documents about who’s financing
Voice of OC •

Who’s Financing the Elected Officials Overseeing Your Local School?

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series looking at school district transparency. Day Two offers specific rankings on financial disclosure documents. Day Three looks at video streaming accessibility for school board meetings.

Orange County’s school boards are getting more political than ever, with election campaigns becoming more costly and contested.

Yet it’s really tough for parents to check on who’s financing the politicians vying to oversee the educators administering local
Voice of OC •

Placentia Joins Orange County’s Most Transparent Cities on Campaign Finance

Orange County cities have become more transparent over the past few years about who’s financing their elected officials, making it easier for residents to see who’s backing their city council members.

Placentia is the latest city to move up in Voice of OC’s transparency rankings.

“I’m happy to see Placentia making strides to move up in the rankings. It means those who live in Placentia will be able to get the information they need to be informed voters,” said Jodi Balma, a local politics exper
Voice of OC •

Who’s Financing Orange County’s Politicians?

Orange County cities are getting more transparent.

As voters enter the final day of the election season, it’s getting easier for residents to track who exactly is helping finance their incumbent elected leaders – and their challengers – across the region.

And regardless who wins on Tuesday, residents can now more easily check up on the financial interests and donors backing their new local elected officials.

Over the course of several years, Chapman University students have been working with
Voice of OC •

Cypress Considers Doing More To Help Residents Understand Who’s Financing Local Elected Officials

Cypress officials may soon make it easier for residents to decipher who is financing their local elected officials by posting campaign disclosures dating back a decade or so on their city website as residents call for more transparency.

Councilwoman Francis Marquez, who requested the change, will work with city staff to consider whether to expand direct access for residents on the city website to better understand how local elected officials fundraise for the campaigns, disclose conflicts and r
Voice of OC •

Cypress Ponders How Easy it Should be For Residents to Understand Who’s Financing Local Elected Officials

How easy should it be for a resident to decipher who is contributing to city council candidate campaigns?

That’s the debate Cypress Councilwoman Frances Marquez, often the dissenting vote in the city, is prompting at tonight’s 6 p.m. city council meeting.

Marquez has requested that a discussion be held on putting campaign disclosure statements as well as economic interest statements for candidates and elected officials on the city website.

The meeting will be held today at 6 p.m. at Cypress C

Housing & Homelessness

Voice of OC •

Irvine to Consider Killing Proposed Homeless Shelter

Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan is calling her colleagues in for a special meeting on Election Day to reverse course on buying land for a homeless shelter she approved less than two weeks ago. 

The last-minute meeting, hours ahead of the polls closing, comes after years of debate on where a homeless shelter could go in town or whether they should have one at all. 

The council voted 4-1 last month to approve purchasing two buildings in the Irvine Business Complex for $20 million. The buildings are sla...
Voice of OC •

Irvine Officials Approve Plans to Develop Homeless Shelter

Irvine officials have approved the initial step in building the first homeless shelter in town — a location.

The council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to approve a $20 million purchase of two adjacent buildings in the Irvine Business Complex. 

The homeless shelter is expected to offer beds in addition to medical care, case management and other services. 
City Manager Oliver Chi said the city has already hired a Chief Health and Wellness Director who will build out a staff that’s embedded in the faci...
Voice of OC •

Is a Homeless Shelter Coming to Irvine?

Irvine city officials are considering purchasing some property to create what could become the first homeless shelter in the city.

It’s not the first time a homeless shelter has been considered in the city. 

During the countywide federal lawsuit over homeless policies in 2018, Orange County Supervisors considered building a county-run shelter in the city – ultimately killing the proposal after staunch opposition from Irvine residents. 
[Read: OC Supervisors Back Off New Homeless Shelters, Make...
Voice of OC •

Irvine Rejects Airport Commission, Wants New Housing Near John Wayne Airport

Irvine officials overruled a notice from the Airport Land Use Commission that some planned housing will be too close to John Wayne Airport, risking noise and safety concerns in an attempt to boost housing numbers and push forward the city’s newest general plan update.

It’s become somewhat of a routine vote for South Orange County cities over the past decade as officials struggle to meet state-mandated housing goals and look for where they can build more housing.
For cities near John Wayne Airpo...
Voice of OC •

San Clemente Moves to Crack Down on Homeless Encampments

San Clemente officials are cracking down on homeless encampments in the city after a landmark Supreme Court ruling gave cities more power to enforce anti-camping laws.

The city council unanimously approved an update to the city’s anti-camping law that prevents people from sleeping on public streets and parks.
It’s one of the first Orange County cities rolling out the change after the ruling and subsequent calls from Gov. Gavin Newsom to start cracking down on encampments.
Supreme Court Justices...
Voice of OC •

Aliso Viejo Strengthens Anti-Camping Law After Supreme Court Ruling

Aliso Viejo city officials are tightening their anti-camping law following a Supreme Court ruling that gave cities more power to clear homeless encampments.

It’s one of the first Orange County cities to make any changes after the ruling and subsequent calls from the governor to start cracking down on encampments.
Supreme Court Justices’ ruling in the Grants Pass v. Johnson case earlier this summer reversed the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal ruling in Martin v. Boise, which mandated that cities mus...
Voice of OC •

Is An Anti-Camping Crackdown Coming To Santa Ana?

A new U.S. Supreme Court ruling is clearing the way for cities to enforce anti-camping laws — a move that has Orange County cities rethinking their homelessness response.

In Santa Ana, Mayor Valerie Amezcua said U.S. District Judge David Carter gave the city “his blessing” on homelessness enforcement after a recent meeting.
“The last time I met Judge Carter he said, ‘Mayor Amezcua, your city has done enough. It’s time for enforcement,’” she said at the council’s July 16 meeting. “Those were his...
Voice of OC •

San Clemente Considers Curbing Homeless From Beaches

San Clemente city officials are looking to extend tent restrictions to city beaches in a move that could push more homeless people off the sands.

The council moved forward with an ordinance Tuesday night that would restrict the use of certain tents from local beaches, effectively blocking homeless people from taking shelter in these areas.

The restrictions prevent the use of any tents that are closed on more than two sides. Tents can be used as long as they have openings on two sides and offic
Voice of OC •

San Clemente Holds Off on Private Security to Clear Out Homeless People, For Now

San Clemente city leaders pushed off a decision on how to respond to what residents are calling a homeless crisis at North Beach, opting not to bring in private security to push homeless people off the beach for the time being.

The discussion came after Councilmember Gene James called for the special meeting at last Tuesday’s regularly scheduled council meeting, suggesting the city hire Gatekeepers Security Services to police the city beaches and help ensure homeless residents didn’t camp out t
Voice of OC •

San Clemente Considers Private Security to Push Homeless People Off the Beach

San Clemente City Council members are slated to consider hiring a private security firm to push homeless people off city beaches, yet aren’t offering any sheltering or housing options.

“They’re not victims, they’re victims of their own doing,” Councilman Gene James said at the council’s Tuesday meeting. “These people have to live under our standards, under our morals. We can’t allow a whole group of people to defecate on our sidewalks.”

“The people living on our beaches are vagrants, they’re c
Voice of OC •

Huntington Beach Moves on New Laws Targeting Homeless People in Parks and Parking Structures

The Huntington Beach City Council is approving new rules limiting activity for homeless people in city parks and parking structures amidst a promise to residents that big changes are coming.

Last Tuesday, the council unanimously introduced two new ordinances that would enforce stricter rules in parks and parking structures with minimal discussion.

The proposed rules come as a new council majority campaigned on a 90-day plan to end homelessness in city limits, pledging in a January meeting to r
The Panther Newspaper •

New residence hall ‘Chapman Court’ slated to open for occupancy in fall 2024

Chapman University’s new residence hall is set to open in the fall 2024 semester to about 800 students, according to administration.

Chapman announced the purchase of the Anavia Apartments — which will be renamed Chapman Court — last November. In the meantime, current residents of Anavia have many unanswered questions.

Zach Hess, a second-year graduate student pursuing a master’s in film and television producing, said both Chapman and Essex — the company that owns Anavia — haven’t been answeri
Voice of OC •

Huntington Beach Leaders Consider Enforcing Anti-Camping Laws on Homeless People

A newly seated Huntington Beach City Council took a look at the city’s homeless plan last week and is pushing forward with new enforcement plans.

Last Tuesday’s discussion was the first time since the new majority took office that they’ve discussed policy for the homelessness crisis after making a pledge in their campaigns to implement a 90-day homeless plan to clean up the streets.

So far, that majority’s plan appears to be enforcing anti-camping laws and pushing homeless people toward the Na
The Panther Newspaper •

Chapman purchases $160 million apartment building, date of student occupancy unknown

Chapman University announced the $160 million acquisition of a new apartment building yesterday to address the lack of housing for upperclassmen students.

The Anavia Apartments, which will be known as Chapman Court, is located in Anaheim, two blocks away from the Chapman Grand Apartments at 2045 S. State College Boulevard.

It’s not yet known when students will be able to move into the building, but the university will begin renovations in the coming months.

The purchase was meant to address t
San Diego Union-Tribune •

Oceanside man beats homelessness, runs thriving business

Shoppers drawn into 101 Marketplace on Coast Highway in Oceanside are greeted by rows of shelves packed with odds and ends, toys, jewelry, historical artifacts and so much more.

On the back wall is the best-seller — stacks of vinyl records that customers love to browse.

Among it all is Roy Cisneros, 34, who opened the store in 2020. It was his dream to own a shop in his hometown, but that dream seemed far away at times.

Cisneros said he and his wife and five children spent almost three years
San Diego Union-Tribune •

Nonprofit fights homelessness by training individuals in construction careers

As a former foster youth who grew up surrounded by drugs and violence, Roberto Lopez, 28, struggled to hold a job.

Lopez’s caseworker encouraged him to look into a new two-week program through HomeAid San Diego, a nonprofit working to fight homelessness, that trains people experiencing homelessness in construction skills, helps them start a career in the industry and addresses the labor shortage in homebuilding.

Lopez didn’t think a job in construction would work out at first.

“I always doubt
San Diego Union-Tribune •

Homeless court pop-up in Carlsbad clears barriers for a new start

Among all the challenges homeless people face in getting off the street, sometimes their first step toward a new life can be blocked by something as simple as an unpaid traffic ticket.

Mike Pursel, 62, has been homeless in Oceanside for about three years. He has been anxious that he could lose his license, and even the vehicle he lives in, because of the $378 in traffic fines he cannot pay.

“Hopefully, they’ll squash three parking tickets I got,” he said Friday morning while sitting on a chair
The Panther Newspaper •

University community, local residents discuss conflicts as student enrollment grows

Chapman University looms in the middle of Old Towne, bringing modern changes and thousands of students each year to the city. What might have remained a secret to only local citizens who knew the joys of Old Towne can now be enjoyed — or some might say exploited — by tourists, students and their families who come to visit.

“It’s kind of like siblings; 80% of the time you love them, especially when they’re little, but the other 15% or 20% (of the time) you want to kill them,” Tony Trabucco, who
Voice of OC •

As OC Cities Spur Affordable Housing Near Airport, County Commission Expresses Safety Concerns

Orange County cities have struggled for years to meet their affordable housing goals, falling short of state mandates to create the most affordable units amid a housing crisis.

But city council members surrounding local airports appear to have found a new idea:

Sandwich affordable housing up against the airport.

While OC officials struggle to find new areas for affordable housing, Newport Beach and Irvine are moving to build housing units closer to the airport.

But that shift has put them up
Voice of OC •

Fountain Valley City Council Members Will Soon Take on OC’s Housing Debate

Fountain Valley is one of the latest cities to tackle the growing housing shortage crisis throughout the state, with City Council members expected to vote on a new apartment project soon.

Last week, the city’s Planning Commission approved a mixed use housing development across the street from city hall – a move some city officials say will help meet the state’s mandated new housing goals for cities throughout Orange County.

And like similar projects approved in other cities, commissioners face
Voice of OC •

New Housing Plans Pit OC Cities Against Sacramento Over State Mandated Housing Goals

Orange County city officials are adopting updated housing plans that together will have cities zone for almost over 180,000 new homes in roughly the next eight years amid pressure from state officials to address California’s housing shortage.

Over 75,000 of those homes have to be designated for very low income to low income households.

But it comes as some OC city officials say they have run out of space to build new housing and are scratching their heads over where to zone for the mandated ho
Voice of OC •

Some North OC Cities Face an Identity Crisis When Building New Housing

New housing plans across Orange County are often caught in a debate about whether cities should overhaul their landscapes or stick with how they already look.

It’s another point of contention in the ongoing battle to combat the worsening housing crisis, with two separate housing projects in two north OC cities that have played out differently in recent months.

It also comes as cities across OC wrestle with updating their housing plans to meet home numbers set by the state.

[Read: OC Cities Ad
Voice of OC •

Orange County’s Housing Shortage Debate Flares in Brea

Some Brea residents are concerned a new residential development will worsen their existing struggle to drive through their city near the 57 Freeway because of the daily congestion on Imperial Highway.

It’s another chapter in the housing debate city councils are wrestling with throughout Orange County — balancing the need to meet demand during the housing shortage crisis, while looking out for existing neighborhoods’ quality of life.

It also brought other crucial debates around town into focus,
Voice of OC •

Santa Ana to Consider Reversing Past Relaxation of Affordable Housing Law

Santa Ana City Council members could make housing developers pay more into a citywide affordable housing fund if they don’t include such units in their own projects after the previous council lowered them by roughly 33%.

Last year, Santa Ana City Council members relaxed regulations on housing developers in the city in an effort to encourage more construction during the Coronavirus pandemic — making it easier for developers to build luxury and market-rate housing with less requirements to accomm
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Voice of OC •

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 •

These Pets at Mission Viejo’s Animal Shelter Are Looking for a Home

Patty Cakes has been at the Mission Viejo animal shelter for two months. She’s still a puppy and will likely continue growing, and she’s currently available for adoption.
Staff notations describe her as a loving dog with a big heart. Since she’s still growing, staff recommend basic training classes for her. Patty Cakes was originally part of a bonded pair with her sister, but they were approved to be separated and her sister has already been adopted.

Here are Patty Cake’s details:
Porter has be...
Annenberg Media •

AUDIO: More delays with Hub L.A. Figueroa, students still displaced

Students who paid to live at the Hub L.A. Figueroa apartments were forced to move into another transitional living space over the weekend.

Tenants were promised an August move-in, but because of multiple construction delays, the Hub still isn’t ready.

Many of these students were placed at the J.W. Marriott and Moxy hotels for the time being, courtesy of Hub management who picked up the cost.

Over the weekend, students were notified that the hotels could no longer accommodate them and they nee
Annenberg Media •

AUDIO: L.A. looks to pause issuing animal breeding permits

The problem has gotten so bad that a trip down to one of the city-run shelters reveals the severity with just a quick glance around. L.A. Animal Services General Manager Staycee Dains describes this issue at the L.A. City Council’s Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee meeting this morning.

Dains: Right now we are putting animals in every single available cage. We are purchasing cages. We are using donated cages and crates and popping them up in the hallways and in areas where animal

Mission Viejo Downtown Revitalization

Voice of OC •

Amid Secrecy Complaints, Mission Viejo City Council Considers First Step Toward Renovating Downtown

After talking about revitalizing Mission Viejo’s downtown since 2007, city officials recently took a first step forward after a key property at the older shopping center across the street from city hall went on the market.

Yet, it’s unclear how acquiring the one property might play into city plans to transform the entire shopping center.

That’s because most of the discussion is being kept secret.

Since the start of 2021, city officials have met privately twice to discuss negotiations and the
Voice of OC •

After Closed Session Talks Raise Questions, Mission Viejo Creates Two-Person Committee to Continue Secret Negotiations

After being called out for discussing secret negotiations about city efforts to purchase a downtown building in Mission Viejo, city council members moved late last month to craft a two-person, temporary committee — which is allowed under state law — to keep talks behind closed doors.

Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Youth Media program, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you have a response or news tip related to this w
Voice of OC •

Downtown Mission Viejo Property Owner Challenges Government Secrecy

A Mission Viejo property owner recently stood up to city officials’ secrecy and might bring legal action against the city.

At an April 13 meeting, the Mission Viejo City Council extended negotiations with the Stein Mart property owners to potentially purchase the building on Marguerite Parkway.

City officials also specified plans to renovate the space, but legal action looms over potential Brown Act violations.

Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Youth Media program, worki
Voice of OC •

Downtown Mission Viejo Property Owner Challenges City Hall Secrecy in Court

After months of secrecy complaints against Mission Viejo city officials, one property owner has filed a lawsuit against the city council’s lack of transparency.

Six alleged violations of the state’s open meetings law, called the Ralph M. Brown Act, concern closed session property negotiations and possible illegitimate agenda notices when presenting plans for the redevelopment and extending negotiation rights.

The action comes during negotiations between the Kinstler Family Trust — the owners o
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Moves Ahead With Stein Mart Purchase, Locking In Millions Of Bond Debt

Mission Viejo is moving ahead on a controversial real estate project in the city, using millions in taxpayer dollars for a project plagued with transparency concerns.

Since 2016, the city council has been trying to complete their new core vision plan for the city, with a new focus on the Oso Creek trails and revitalizing the shopping center across the street from city hall.

In February, the council started negotiations with the Kinstler Family Trust to purchase the vacant Stein Mart building i
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Looks to Redevelop Golf Course Following Controversial Stein Mart Purchase

Mission Viejo City Council members are looking to redevelop another piece of land in the city, this time at Oso Creek Golf Course.

Their last redevelopment efforts at the Stein Mart property were met with controversy when officials issued $19 million in revenue bonds earlier this year.

[Read: Mission Viejo Moves Ahead With Stein Mart Purchase, Locking In Millions Of Bond Debt]

The city originally purchased the golf course for $13 million in 2019.

Now, officials are looking to convert the lan
Voice of OC •

OC Judge Says Mission Viejo’s Secret Property Negotiations Don’t Violate Transparency Law

An OC Superior Court Judge determined that Mission Viejo City Council members didn’t violate transparency law when they negotiated Stein Mart redevelopment plans behind closed doors.

OC Superior Court Judge James Crandall’s ruling denied a lawsuit against the Mission Viejo City Council Jan. 13 after a property owner challenged city hall secrecy surrounding a land deal purchase.

It comes 11 months after Mission Viejo city officials began closed-session negotiations to purchase a Stein Mart buil
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Considers Changing Downtown Office Complex to High Rise Apartments

A controversial zoning change for a Mission Viejo high-rise development that would bring a Whole Foods and 234 apartments to the city’s downtown makes its way to the planning commission tonight, along with a crowd with lots of questions.

The Garden Plaza Project is proposed to stand at 48,000 square feet in the heart of Mission Viejo’s busy civic center and commercial area.

Many residents say that part of the city can’t handle the traffic it will generate, while developers argue the project wi
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Planning Commission Rejects Controversial Whole Foods and Apartments Project

The Mission Viejo Planning Commission rejected a zoning change that would pave the way for a highly contested development in Mission Viejo’s downtown area and potentially allow for more such developments that could change the town’s skyline.

The Garden Plaza Project, proposed to stand just north of city hall, would replace an aging commercial center in the city’s downtown area. The plans for the development feature 234 apartment units built above a Whole Foods store.

After hours of public comm
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Halts Controversial Six-Story Development, Keeping Small Town Landscape

Mission Viejo residents can expect their city to keep its small town landscape for a while longer after city council members nixed a necessary zoning change for a controversial six-story development.

It’s a move welcomed by many residents after city planning commissioners and staff said allowing for a combination of residential and commercial zoning would lead to similar projects and change the city’s skyline.

The project, proposed by ValueRock Realty, would have added a Whole Foods, with apar
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo’s $12 Million Redevelopment Effort Raises Cost and Transparency Concerns

The Mission Viejo City Council is yet again taking steps forward in its downtown redevelopment efforts, but officials are facing questions over cost and transparency surrounding the plans.

The council voted 4-1 at a March 14 meeting to enter a $12 million agreement with the Santa Margarita Water District to construct an office building and storage space on district land, near the city’s downtown area.

The city will be spending $4 million to help construct the building and another $8 million to
Voice of OC •

Does Mission Viejo Need Two Dozen New Pickleball Courts?

The Mission Viejo City Council is considering building a four-level parking structure near Oso Creek Golf Course.

But tentative plans for that structure also include 28 pickleball courts and a clubhouse on the top floor — along with the approximately 370 total parking stalls.

Council members voted 4-1 on July 11 to approve a contract with a consultant to evaluate the funding and financial feasibility of the structure.

The analysis will include cost estimates to construct and operate the parki
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Redevelopment Overhaul Could be $20 Million More Than Estimated

Mission Viejo officials are moving forward with an ongoing plan to redevelop and update a 200-acre stretch in the middle of the city connected by Oso Creek – but at a roughly 32% cost increase than initially planned for.

It’s expected to cost about $68 million – $20 million more than estimates from two years ago.

City officials say the increase is in line with inflation for construction materials and labor costs.

“We feel that that is completely within the realm of where things have gone in t

Mission Viejo Term Limits Lawsuits

Voice of OC •

OC Judge Orders Mission Viejo to Pay $700,000 in Fees After Term Limit Lawsuits

Mission Viejo could pay over $700,000 in legal fees after two lawsuits from a resident challenged that council members had illegally extended their terms.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm ordered the city to pay a total of $715,137 in the two cases.

The payments were handed down in four separate orders over the past month, the most recent on Oct. 6.

Schwarm previously ruled to remove the council majority and made all five council members appear on the 2022 ballot in response
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Poised to Become Newest OC City to Form Election Districts

Despite aiming toward a cumulative voting system for more than three years, Mission Viejo elections will occur using districts starting November 2022.

The City Council decided to move to a district-based election system Tuesday night during a closed session discussion and reported the action afterward.

During the past few years, many Orange County cities have made the change from the plurality voting system to district elections in order to comply with the California Voting Rights Act and laws
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Resident Alleges Three City Council Members Illegally Extended Their Terms

A Mission Viejo resident is calling for the removal of three city council members who have been in office beyond a two-year limit, just as the city begins its switch to district elections.

Council members Wendy Bucknum, Council Members Ed Sachs and Greg Raths were elected to their council seats in 2018 – but they were only supposed to serve two-year terms, according to a 2018 stipulated judgment from OC Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm.

That judgment stems from a 2018 Voting Rights Act laws
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo To Again Discuss Extending Council Member Terms Ahead of November Election

With roughly nine months to go before November’s election, Mission Viejo City Council members are about to vote on whether or not they’ll be on the ballot this fall.

While Councilmembers Trish Kelley and Brian Goodell were elected to two year terms in 2020, the city council is now looking at potentially extending their terms to 2024 after the council’s plans for a new voting system failed.

However, the council signed a legal agreement in July 2020 that all five council members would be up for
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Looks To Adopt Controversial District Election Map

After years of debate, the Mission Viejo City Council is slated to finally adopt a district map at their meeting Tuesday night.

But it’s not the map many residents want.

Although many Mission Viejo residents who participated in the public hearing process voiced support of Map E, created by resident Aramis Vela, the council is going with a revised version of Map A, which was created by a city-hired demographer instead.

Some residents are critical of the proposed map, claiming it was purposely
Voice of OC •

OC State Senator Joins Chorus Questioning Why Mission Viejo Council Members Don’t Have To Stand For Election

A state senator is joining the chorus of people wondering why three Mission Viejo council members were able to extend heir terms in 2020 without standing for popular election.

The council members were elected in 2018 to two-year terms, but decided to push off the re-election to 2022.

And now, it looks like the city council is thinking about doing it again, extending the terms of two incumbent council members who are presumably up for election this year.

Earlier this year, Michael Schlesinger
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Resident Looks to Stop City Council’s Second Term Extension

A Mission Viejo resident is challenging two council members after they announced they won’t be up for reelection until 2024, despite both being elected for two-year terms in 2022.

Councilmembers Trish Kelley and Brian Goodell were elected to two-year terms in 2020, but their seats won’t be contested this year. The city’s new election ordinance describes that only three seats will be on the ballot this year.

The council signed a legal agreement in July 2020 that all five council members would b
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo’s Entire City Council Might be up for Election This November

Mission Viejo residents might get a rarity in local elections – the chance to elect an entire City Council at once this November.

Later this month a judge will decide whether or not two Mission Viejo City Council members will need to head to the ballot after a resident sued the council earlier this year claiming that all five city council members should be on the ballot for the November 2022 election.

The lawsuit stems from the city’s switch to district elections in response to a voting rights
Voice of OC •

OC Judge Orders All 5 Mission Viejo Council Members Must Stand For Election in November

Mission Viejo residents will have the opportunity to vote on their entire city council this November — a rare occurrence in local elections.

Although the city only wanted three members on the ballot this year, Orange County Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm ruled that all five must be up for a vote.

It wraps up a long battle between the city and one resident, who claimed the city illegally decided two council members did not need to stand for reelection this year, despite their terms ending.
Voice of OC •

Local Judge Throws Majority of Mission Viejo's City Councilmembers Off Dais

Three of the five Mission Viejo City Councilmembers were pulled off the dais by an Orange County Superior Court judge on Monday, leaving the city without a city council majority until the November election.

Council members Ed Sachs, Greg Raths and Mayor Wendy Bucknam will all be removed from office at the end of September.

“Removal of the majority of the City Council members is a drastic measure which the court does not take lightly,” said Judge Walter Schwarm in his ruling. “The Court orders
Voice of OC •

Tentative Ruling Removing Mission Viejo City Council Members Stands, Who Might Fill Their Seats?

Today, an Orange County judge stood by an earlier tentative ruling to remove a majority of the Mission Viejo City Council but it’s still an open question on who’s going to fill those seats ahead of the November election.

Judge Walter Schwarm’s tentative ruling came after several lawsuits against the city by Mission Viejo resident Michael Schlesinger, alleging councilmembers illegally extended their terms of office after they told voters they would only sit for a two year term.

Voice of OC firs
Voice of OC •

OC Judge Removes Majority of Mission Viejo City Council Members, City Moves to Appeal

A majority of the Mission Viejo City Council were tossed off the dais by an Orange County Superior Court judge Wednesday, but they won’t be officially removed until a state appeals court reviews the case.

Voice of OC first reported on the removal of Mayor Wendy Bucknum and Councilmen Ed Sachs and Greg Raths earlier this week when Orange County Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm issued a tentative ruling saying they’d overstayed their terms in office.

Schwarm formally approved the ruling in co
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Appoints City Manager to Run the Town After Judge Boots Council Majority

Three Mission Viejo City Council members showed up for their last meeting Tuesday night and handed the city manager a blank check in contracting powers to run the city.

An Orange County Superior Court Judge ruled in favor of their removal earlier this month in a lawsuit claiming they illegally extended their terms – meaning there will no longer be enough council members to establish a quorum.

After this story was published, a California Appellate Court delayed the removal order. Read about it

Chapman University Sexual Assault

The Panther Newspaper •

On-campus sexual assault shocks students; suspect in custody

Ava Sirignano was half-asleep in her bedroom on the second floor of Henley Hall when screams jolted her awake.

Her roommate snoozed across the room. Sirignano, dazed, pressed ‘‘pause’’ on her laptop, which was streaming Netflix, and froze. Screams saying, “I don’t know you, get away from me” squeezed through the closed window’s thin glass barrier, spilling into the room. When Sirignano and her roommate finally rose out of bed and peered out the window, they saw the shadow of a figure running aw
The Panther Newspaper •

Lawyer alleges on-campus sexual assault is cover-up for hate crime

Questions regarding an on-campus sexual assault incident from September 2021 are playing out right now in the Orange County court system.

Chapman University released a Sept. 24, 2021 email alerting students of a sexual battery report from the night before. A follow-up email sent Sept. 27 included a photo of the suspect walking down Glassell Street. The alleged assault occurred on campus in the lower courtyard of Henley Hall between a visitor and a Chapman student, who has opted to remain anonym
The Panther Newspaper •

Jury convicts 22-year-old man of on-campus sexual assault

After nine days of trial and testimony, a jury convicted Dalante Jerome Bell — a 22-year-old Garden Grove resident accused of sexually assaulting a Chapman University freshman in September 2021 — of two felony charges: assault with intent to commit sexual offense and sexual penetration with a foreign object.

The verdict came this morning at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana under the supervision of Judge Michael J. Cassidy and followed two days of deliberation from the jury. Members of th
The Panther Newspaper •

Man who sexually assaulted Chapman student sentenced to six years in prison

The man who was convicted March 30 of sexually assaulting a Chapman University student in September 2021 will spend six years in state prison.

According to the OC Sheriff Department’s inmate database, Bell has been held in custody at the Central Women’s Jail, which has been used since 2020 to quarantine incoming male inmates prior to placing them at a permanent facility. Bell was previously housed in the Theo Lacy Facility between the assault and the court verdict.

At this time it is unclear i

Orange City Council Vacancy

The Panther Newspaper •

Judge rules Orange City Council member termed out, ineligible to serve

The shock set in when he heard the ruling.

Orange City Council member Mike Alvarez knew there’d be a chance he could lose his District 3 seat when he ran for a third consecutive term — an action prohibited by the City’s 1996 two council terms limit law, which his own biography references. But that didn’t stop his “disappointment,” when an Orange County judge ruled that he was ineligible to run in the first place.

That ruling came Feb. 4 courtesy of Orange County Superior Court Judge Nathan Sco
The Panther Newspaper •

Judge confirms Orange City Council member termed out, possible appeal looms

Judge Nathan Scott of the Orange County Superior Court, confirmed a ruling from earlier this month that Orange City Council member Mike Alvarez must vacate his seat due to a violation of Orange’s 1996 limit law of two consecutive terms on city council. At a Feb. 24 conference, Scott ordered a 10-business-day period for Alvarez’ legal team to file an appeal. If no such action is taken, the Orange City Council will decide whether to appoint someone new to fill the seat or to hold a special electio
The Panther Newspaper •

Orange City Council member resigns, council to replace vacant seat

The Orange City Council declared its District 3 seat vacant after council member Mike Alvarez resigned from his position March 8. Alvarez had a 10-day period to file an appeal against a previous court ruling stating he must vacate his seat due to term limits, but no further legal action was taken. The council will now either appoint a replacement within 60 days or hold a special election in November, but no decision has been made.

Alvarez was not present at the March 9 council meeting. The vast
The Panther Newspaper •

Former Orange City Council member reflects on 13 years of service

Alvarez’s newfound family time is a result of two election challenges and a judge ruling he was not eligible to have run for a third consecutive term in 2020 for his District 3 Orange City Council seat, despite winning with 50.8% of the vote. Alvarez originally contested the decision, claiming his eligibility stemmed from Orange County’s transition to district elections in 2020. The council has yet to fill the vacant seat or decide whether the replacement will be appointed or elected.

“I never
The Panther Newspaper •

Orange City Council direct appointment over special election upsets residents

“My brother was a high school teacher at Orange High School for 18 years,” Tavoularis told The Panther, tears brimming in her eyes. “He gave so much to the City of Orange. He’s given us so much. I decided it’s time to give back.”

In response to her brother’s unexpected death and reflecting on his service as a teacher, tennis coach and devoted volunteer for the City of Orange and the Republican Party — as described in a letter from former President Donald Trump’s administration — Tavoularis deci

COVID-19 & Education — Op-eds

San Diego Union-Tribune •

San Diego's Class of 2020: 'I’ve cried, questioned, prayed and cried some more'

The night before I found out, I stayed up all night packing. I trudged onto the Cathedral Catholic High School campus carrying a suitcase, a duffel bag, my softball gear, a snack bag and a garment bag containing my various uniforms. The softball team was leaving that day for our first Las Vegas tournament since 2017. As a senior, I couldn’t wait to spend the week playing the sport I love and bonding with my teammates.

Then, just four hours before we were supposed to leave, we received notice th
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | The “new” freshman experience

A few days ago, I had a thought: Am I going to recognize any of my new friends when they finally take off their masks?

Seriously, are the friendships I’m making real if I’ve only ever seen half of their faces?

As a freshman at Chapman University, every experience is new to me. Despite this year’s unprecedented circumstances, I’m not entirely sure what I’m missing out on. I’ve never attended a class on campus or lived in a dorm room. I finished my first-ever college class sitting in my private
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | Maybe Chapman wasn’t the right choice, but that’s OK

If you had told me back in March 2020 that the pandemic was going to last more than a year — meaning I wouldn’t be able to enter a classroom a single time during my first year of college — I would have never come to Chapman University after I graduated from high school last May.

There’s no reason for me to go to a private university during this time. I should’ve gone to a community college and saved a ton of money while getting nearly the exact same experience.

But now it’s too late.

When the
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | My first Chapman class did not go as planned

I was gasping for breath after climbing the endless stairs of Chapman University’s Keck Center for Science and Engineering. After a year of staying inside, I definitely am not used to any kind of physical exertion. I attempted to steady my breathing as I pushed open a balcony door on the third floor. Still fighting for air, the view took my breath away again.

Staring down at Wilson Field under a bright blue sky as the men’s lacrosse team rounded up for practice below, I finally felt like a coll
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | Am I ready to be an RA?

It was 9:01 a.m. and I had just clicked onto my first Zoom class for the day. I had only woken up six minutes earlier, still yawning and rubbing my eyes awake when I heard that horrible Outlook ding.

I physically cannot ignore emails, so I quickly opened it, my eyes widening to the words: “Congratulations! We are happy to inform you that you have been selected as a Resident Advisor (RA) for the 2021-2022 academic year!”

I was overjoyed to say the least, but I forced myself to contain the emoti
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | My first real day on campus

“Hundreds of bodies circle me when so recently none existed.”

“Twenty-six eyes meet mine; this didn’t happen through my computer screen.”

“Remind me, how am I supposed to talk to other people again?”

I wrote those three sentences after my first day of the semester. Known as “American” sentences, they’re modeled after the haiku and each contain 17 syllables. I was given an assignment in my creative writing class to experiment with this type of poetic structure while reflecting on something unu

Mary's Kitchen Forced Closure

The Panther Newspaper •

Orange residents protest license termination of Mary’s Kitchen

Natasha Fucile stood in front of the Orange City Council July 13 pleading with the members to keep Mary’s Kitchen — the local soup kitchen that saved her life — open and operating.

“Seven years ago my life was devastated,” Fucile said at the council meeting. “(I) suffered multiple devastations, which left me out on the street, homeless, jobless and — by the bad choice of my own — addicted to drugs … I would have never made it without Mary’s Kitchen. Closing Mary’s Kitchen is issuing the homeles
The Panther Newspaper •

Court order temporarily blocks Orange eviction of Mary’s Kitchen

A court order from U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter will temporarily prevent the Orange City Council from terminating the licensing agreement with Mary’s Kitchen, a local soup kitchen that was previously required to vacate the premises by Sept. 18 due to excessive criminal activity in the area.

The civil minutes — filed on Sept. 17 — barrs Orange city officials from ending the agreement with Mary’s Kitchen until the hearing, which is scheduled for Sept. 30 at 9 a.m.

“The employees and
The Panther Newspaper •

Mary’s Kitchen struggles to relocate before May 1 eviction deadline

In November 2021, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter gave Mary’s Kitchen — an organization that prepares meals for the local unhoused population — six months to find a new location. Now, the deadline is only weeks away: May 1.

The kitchen, which has been operating in Orange since 1984, was forced to relocate when city officials terminated the licensing agreement in July 2021. The nonprofit’s original agreement would have allowed them to stay in the city until 2024, but the city council decided
Voice of OC •

Mary’s Kitchen Searches For New Place Before June 10 Eviction

Mary’s Kitchen has until June 10 to feed and provide supplies to local homeless people, while the organization struggles to find a new location for its operation.

But the city also needs to continue providing the existing services for one year to local homeless people under a fresh agreement made between Orange and Mary’s Kitchen in federal court.

Lawyers representing Mary’s Kitchen and the City of Orange met Thursday with U.S. District Court Judge David Carter to hammer out an agreement.

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LGBTQ+ Issues

Voice of OC •

Largest Orange County School District Rejects Parental Notification Policy

Orange County’s largest school district will not be adopting a parental notification policy after two other districts approved similar policies over the past two months — policies that have caught the eye of state Attorney General Rob Bonta.

School boards across the state have been passing policies recently that require schools to alert parents if their child is transgender or if they are experiencing mental health issues.

Bonta’s been focused on the policies, saying they discriminate against
Annenberg Media •

The latest battlefield over transgender policies: local school districts

Across the U.S., school districts are passing policies that activists say are organized attacks against transgender youth. Supporters champion the policies as a win for parental rights.

Andrea Weber will never forget the week her daughter came out as transgender. Initially, she had a lot of learning to do. She joined parent support groups to do everything she could in order to be there for her daughter. She felt clueless, but at the same time, she knew if she put in the effort, everything in he
Voice of OC •

An OC School District Adopts New Parent Alert Policy; Will it Impact LGBTQ+ Students?

School board politicians throughout Orange County are increasingly looking at adopting policies that require school staff to alert parents if their children are transgender – or alert parents to mental health struggles.

The notification policies have gained traction in school boards across California despite state Attorney General Rob Bonta warning officials that policies forcing the disclosure of a student’s gender identity will be met with legal action.

Those warnings did not stop Orange Uni
Voice of OC •

An OC School District Adopts Transgender Notification; State AG Issues Legal Threat

Orange Unified School District became the latest school district in California to require school officials to notify parents if their children are transgender — a policy that’s being increasingly adopted by school boards throughout the Golden State.

On Thursday, Orange Unified school board majority members voted to adopt the notification policy, with Board President Rick Ledesma arguing the move is a reaction against the state taking away parental rights.

“I warn parents, current parents and a
Voice of OC •

Will Orange Unified Approve a Transgender Outing Policy Despite State Legal Threats?

The Orange Unified School Board is set to consider a policy that could inform parents their children are transgender as the California Attorney General is mounting a legal challenge against a similar policy at a Chino Valley school district.

The policy would require schools to notify parents after discovering their child is transgender or wishes to be treated as a gender that differs from their biological sex.

That includes if a student requests to use a name that differs from their legal name
Voice of OC •

Orange Unified School District Considers Notifying Parents of Transgender Students

Teachers and staff members in Orange Unified School District may be forced to inform parents if their children identify as transgender or request to be treated as a gender that differs from their biological sex.

The school board first considered the proposal at its meeting last Thursday with dozens of public comments on both sides of the issue.

The item was brought forward by board members Rick Ledesma and Madison Miner. The discussion was the first reading on the board’s agenda and will retur
Annenberg Media •

Turning the page on banned books: LA libraries widen access to restricted titles

After a number of book ban attempts across California, Los Angeles aims to make these materials available to students of all ages state-wide through the county’s e-book program.

As book bans increase across the country, California school boards have brought a number of challenges against certain titles. These books — typically focused on LGBTQ+ identities or the experiences of people of color — are being removed from California classrooms and libraries to a degree that has warranted attention f
Voice of OC •

Two Orange County Schools Grapple With Racism And Battles Over Sexual Orientation

Two South Orange County schools are dealing with the fallout over two separate controversies – one stemming from racist remarks against a student and another from a student clash over sexual orientation.

Racist remarks against a Black student at a basketball game last Friday spilled over into the community – and even an Irvine City Council meeting this week.

And student arguments over the Pride flag took place last Thursday and Friday in Mission Viejo. There was also a student fight at the sam
The Panther Newspaper •

LGBTQIA+ History Month begins after city officials refuse to fly Pride flag

At the Orange City Hall, a Pride flag has sat in a storage cabinet since last June, when city officials refused to hoist the banner onto their flagpole.

The flag was a gift from Nancy Brink, Chapman University’s Director of Church Relations, and served as a message: the people in Orange want the flag flown, an action that would not cost the city anything and would also serve as a symbol of unity for the local LGBTQIA+ community.

Despite hundreds of testimonials from community members, the coun
Voice of OC •

As More OC Cities Fly Pride Flag Each Year, Others Still Concerned it Could Divide Residents

Cities across Orange County have been debating whether or not to fly the Pride Flag at city hall, with many hoisting the banner, while some city officials decided against it, saying it’s too divisive in the community — a common argument against the flag.

The flag has also pushed a broader resident-driven discussion centered on the LGBTQ community in cities throughout OC.

At least nine cities in Orange County fly the rainbow flag during Pride Month in June.

Other cities — including Rancho Sant
Voice of OC •

On Harvey Milk Day, Rancho Santa Margarita Residents Rally to Join Other Orange County Cities Flying Pride Flag

This Harvey Milk Day, a group of Rancho Santa Margarita residents are memorializing the first openly-gay man elected to higher office in America by calling on their city to fly the LGBTQ+ Pride Flag at city hall.

Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Youth Media program, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your own student media project related to Orange County civics or if you have any response to th
El Cid •

Religious divisions

A diverse counsel of the United Methodist Church recently proposed a split due to conflicts regarding LGBT believers and gay clergy members.

When First United Methodist Church of San Diego lead pastor Rev. Trudy Robinson thinks about Christianity and the LGBT community, she welcomes all people.

“[FUMC] will remain a place where all are welcomed as beloved children of God, and our pastors will continue to focus on the discipleship of the congregation,” Rev. Robinson said.

However, a diverse co

Ethnic Studies

Voice of OC •

OC Board of Education Hosts Second Ethnic Studies Panel; Misinformation Concerns Persist

Orange County’s Board of Education will host its second ethnic studies forum tonight at 6 p.m. after the first event last month faced criticism that panelists were stacked to speak against the classes.

Ethnic studies courses are designed to teach the history, the culture, the plight and the contributions of people of color in the United States.

The forum is taking place amid a heated debate that has been going on across the country and in Orange County over how U.S. history is being taught and
Voice of OC •

OC Board of Education Hosts Second Ethnic Studies Forum as Debates Over the Course Persist

The Orange County Board of Education held its second ethnic studies forum amid a heated debate between local parents, teachers and community members who are battling over ethnic studies courses being incorporated or expanded in local school districts’ curricula.

Throughout recent months, ethnic studies has been the topic of fiery debate on both a local and national level with community members at odds about how — or even if — ethnic studies should be included in public education.

On Tuesday ni
Voice of OC •

OC Board of Education, County Education Department Host Dueling Ethnic Studies Forums

The Orange County Department of Education plans to host a “colloquium” at 2 p.m. tomorrow, where educational leaders will define Ethnic Studies — a course that has become subject to fiery debate across the country in the past few months.

The colloquium is being held less than a week before the County’s Board of Education holds their own forum to provide information on the course and Critical Race Theory on July 27.

The dueling forums are the latest in a long string of faceoffs between the boar
Voice of OC •

Ethnic Studies Moves Forward in Placentia-Yorba Linda, While OC Board of Education Hosts Upcoming Forum

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District will look to develop a high school elective ethnic studies course amid a debate that has parents, educators and students at odds with each other across the country.

“This is about teaching empathy and when I look at ethnic studies and what I want to see out of this course is: how do we teach empathy to our students and to our community. We all come from different places and it’s important that we recognize that and that we celebrate it,” said Truste
Voice of OC •

OC Board of Education to Host Ethnic Studies Forum Amid Misinformation Concerns

Orange County’s Board of Education will hold a much anticipated forum Tuesday on ethnic studies courses as local districts add them to their curriculum amid a national debate on how history should be taught in America.

The forum is taking place as state lawmakers consider making ethnic studies a graduation requirement for high schoolers across California.

The ethnic studies debate has in part been sparked by the police killing of George Floyd last year and an increase of violence and hate crim
The Panther Newspaper •

Placentia-Yorba Linda becomes first OC school district to ban critical race theory

Trustees from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) voted earlier this month to prohibit instructors from utilizing critical race theory when discussing race-based topics in class at district schools.

The decision narrowly passed with a 3-2 vote at the board meeting April 5. The scope of PYLUSD public schools affected by the ban encompasses 21 elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools and four alternative schools, including the district’s online, special edu

Election Coverage

Voice of OC •

Here’s Where OC Voters Stand on Sales Tax Increases in 2024

Election Results Wednesday evening showed voters in three North Orange County cities were overwhelmingly in support of raising how much they pay in sales taxes to help dig out their cities from deficits that are millions of dollars deep.

Officials in some of those cities, like Buena Park, pitched the measure as a way to hire more police officers and protect various quality of life aspects. 

But in Orange, results continued to show a slight majority of voters so far were narrowly against bumpin...
Voice of OC •

Irvine City Council Election Night Results 2024

Tonight, Irvine voters will elect three new city council members and a new mayor in the city’s first by-district election.

Here is where the tallies were on Wednesday morning around 9:30 a.m., according to the OC Registrar of Voters.

In the mayor’s race, Larry Agran was in the lead over Tammy Kim by 4,848 votes — 39.56% over 33.26% of the overall votes tallied so far. There are seven candidates running for mayor, including two current city council members and five newcomers.
In District 1, Joh...
Voice of OC •

San Clemente Sales Tax Measure Election Night Results 2024

Tonight, San Clemente voters decide on a half-cent sales tax increase to generate funds that would be used exclusively for sand replenishment efforts along the city’s disappearing coastline.

Initial results at 11:30 p.m. showed 63.29% of voters — 18,065 votes — were for the sales tax measure, while 36.71% — 10,477 votes — were against it.
The measure needs a supermajority — at least 66.7% of voters supporting it — to pass since it’s an earmarked tax.

The city’s sales tax is currently 7.75%. If...
Voice of OC •

Today is the Last Day to Vote

Today is the last day for Orange County voters to cast their ballot in the 2024 presidential election.

All 184 in-person vote centers will open today at 7 a.m. and stay open until 8 p.m.

All vote center locations are featured on the Orange County Registrar of Voters website, organized by city. 
To view the complete list of vote centers, click here.

Still unsure about some of the races?
Voice of OC put together a 2024 voter guide that gives a rundown on some of the county’s most critical races...
Voice of OC •

All Orange County Vote Centers Open This Weekend

The 184 vote centers across Orange County will open for in-person voting beginning Saturday at 8 a.m.

All vote center locations are featured on the Orange County Registrar of Voters website, organized by city. 

Vote centers will open daily at 8 p.m. and close at 5 p.m. 
On Election Day — Nov. 5 — voting centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

To view the complete list of vote centers, click here.

Still unsure about some of the races?
Voice of OC put together a 2024 voter guide that gives...
Voice of OC •

Orange County Begins Opening In-Person Vote Centers This Weekend

Nearly 40 vote centers across Orange County will open for in-person voting beginning this Saturday at 8 a.m.

At least one vote center will open at this early date in nearly every Orange County city. The complete list is found on the Orange County Registrar of Voters website, organized by city.
To view the complete list of vote centers, including locations and opening dates, click here.
The vote centers that open this weekend will function daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All remaining vote centers...
Annenberg Media •

Iowa caucusgoers shrug off record-breaking temperatures

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — In the days leading up to the Iowa caucus, the Republican presidential candidates all had a similar message: brave the cold and get out to your caucus meeting on Jan. 15.

With weather forecasts depicting record-breaking, subzero temperatures, turnout numbers came into question: would a state-wide freeze keep people from heading out to caucus?

Asked if she ever considered staying home because of the weather, Marshalltown local Jennifer Bryant had a simple answer: “Heavens n
Voice of OC •

Orange County’s Election Pushes Some Big Changes to Small Cities

While much of the attention has been on Orange County’s larger elections like Congress and the Board of Supervisors, the results and turnout in the county’s smaller cities show the county is only growing more politically competitive as time goes on.

Democrats won a few big seats in some of the smaller cities, touting victories like that of Stephanie Oddo, who’s poised to become the first endorsed Democrat on the Laguna Niguel council dais in the city’s history alongside four Republicans.

In Se
The Panther Newspaper •

Election results: OC congress, board of supervisors

Orange County is in the midst of four major congressional races for the 40th, 45th, 46th and 47th districts. While the county used to be primarily Republican-dominated, residents have been seeing purple in recent years due to the mixture of Democrats and Republicans holding seats throughout the county’s districts.

As of Nov. 22, some races are still close. Although not all ballots have been counted, the current results reflect about 97% of all ballots cast in Orange County. The Associated Press
The Panther Newspaper •

Election results: 2022 Orange City Council candidates

Twelve candidates ran for five open seats on the Orange City Council this year — the mayor and Districts 1, 3, 4 and 6.

Mark Murphy was the incumbent, running against Dan Slater, a real estate broker and business owner. The mayoral race is the only seat elected at-large.

The mayoral race is currently very close, but Slater was ahead with 50.5% of the votes as of Nov. 16. Murphy, who had 49.4% of the votes, has served as mayor and a city councilor for numerous terms, the first of which was in 1
Voice of OC •

Mission Viejo Sees First Election With Districts: Who’s Winning So Far?

Tonight, Mission Viejo residents will decide whether to reelect city council members who’ve been on the dais for years, or vote in a slate of new candidates.

Here’s where the vote is at, according to initial returns from the OC Registrar of Voters.
• In the city’s first district, Robert “Bob” Ruesch led with 51.7% of the votes counted so far. Deborah Cunningham-Skurnik had 28.6% and Linda Shepard was behind with 19.69%.
• In the city’s second district, Brian Goodell was ahead with 54.67% of the
The Panther Newspaper •

Q&A | 2022 Orange City Council candidates

Twelve candidates are running for five open seats on the Orange City Council this year — the mayor and Districts 1, 3, 4 and 6. The Panther sent a questionnaire to all 12 candidates asking for their best responses on why they should be elected, notable components of their campaign and what initiatives they want to push for if they were to be elected. The candidates’ answers have been lightly edited for length, clarity and stylistic standards. Mark Murphy is the incumbent who is running against D
Voice of OC •

Election Night Roundup: DA Todd Spitzer Trounces Opponents; On Track to Win Without Runoff

Orange County’s Republican DA Todd Spitzer is on track to win re-election outright – trouncing his Democrat-supported opponent by a massive margin – while Democrats advanced to have a chance in November to take a majority on the powerful Board of Supervisors for the first time in decades.

Democrats had hoped to oust Spitzer with former prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Peter Hardin – who raised over $800,000 for the campaign.

Yet Spitzer generated a wide lead in vote counts, with 64% of the v
Voice of OC •

2022 Primary Election Night Results: Who Will Join Orange County's Judicial Bench? 

Orange County voters picked a new slate of judges in this election, setting up their new judicial officers with six year terms.

While races for judge rarely draw any evaluation or review from voters, their main observer is the Orange County Bar Association, who interview and rank candidates anywhere from “Not Qualified,” to “Exceptionally Well Qualified.”

As of 8:06 p.m. Tuesday, here’s where the votes stood.

Claudia Alvarez was in the lead, with 58% of the 211,896 votes counted so far, accor
Voice of OC •

2022 Primary Election Night Results: HB, Newport Beach and Westminster Ballot Measures

OC residents in three cities had the opportunity to vote on various city ballot measures that could alter the way their city operates in the cities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Westminster.

Cannabis businesses are currently illegal in Huntington Beach, but voters had the option of implementing a cannabis tax, a change that could pave the way for allowing these businesses in the city.

So far, 70% of residents have voted for the measure, while 29% have voted against out of the 20,238 v
The Panther Newspaper •

Two Orange County districts flip to red in narrowly won races

After days of neck and neck battles in two Orange County congressional districts, both Republican candidates in the 39th and 48th districts secured a House of Representatives seat, contradicting the blue sweep seen in 2018. With two seats flipped back to red, Orange County can expect to face increased competition between the two parties’ legislatures.

Democrat Rep. Gil Cisneros conceded Nov. 13 to Republican challenger Young Kim in California’s 39th Congressional District, a reversal from Cisne
The Panther Newspaper •

New members elected as Orange City Council grows

For the first time in the city’s existence, the City of Orange transitioned from a five-person council to a seven-person body with six new voting districts. The increase in representation is a direct byproduct of a settlement reached to abide by the California Voting Rights Act, following a lawsuit in February 2019 against the former electoral system in Orange.

After the 2020 general election, Orange residents elected three new city council members and reelected two others, who are all now repr
The Panther Newspaper •

Orange County Republicans challenge Democrat incumbents in tight congressional races

Ty Bailey, an Orange County resident who shot the videos of the alleged fake voting center, told The Panther he started filming after he saw a handwritten “Vote Here” sign on Beach Boulevard. Bailey said the Orange County Registrar of Voters could not confirm an official voting center at that location. After Bailey saw the two individuals allegedly throwing away a box seemingly filled with torn ballots, he said he called the Westminster Police Department. The District Attorney’s investigation is
Voice of OC •

2020 Election Night Results: Rancho Santa Margarita City Council

Incumbents Tony Beall and Carol Gamble are leading the race for Rancho Santa Margarita’s two open City Council seats, as the seven other candidates trail behind, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters.

Live election results below thanks to a partnership with the Reynolds Journalism Institute. CLICK HERE to view live results for every Orange County race.

Early results showed that Beall is leading, followed by Gamble. Beth Schwartz and Glenn Acosta followed behind the two incumbents.
Voice of OC •

Nine Candidates Seeking to Fill Two Seats on Rancho Santa Margarita City Council

Two incumbents and seven challengers are vying for the two open Rancho Santa Margarita City Council seats on Tuesday.

Editors’ Note: This dispatch is part of the Voice of OC Youth Media program, working with student journalists to cover public policy issues across Orange County. If you would like to submit your own student media project related to Orange County civics or if you have any response to this work, contact Digital Editor Sonya Quick at squick@voiceofoc.org.

The election comes at a t
The Panther Newspaper •

Newly blue Orange County may soon shift back after 48th district election

Orange County, which has held a long, conservative history as the home of 37th U.S. President Richard Nixon, broke for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race. This marked the first time the county has backed a Democrat for president since the Great Depression. In 2018, all of Orange County’s congressional seats went to Democrats, including first-term congressman Harley Rouda, who defeated 15-term incumbent and Republican Dana Rohrabacher in the 48th congressional distric
The Panther Newspaper •

New voting methods promote convenience, safety

Due to this year’s unprecedented circumstances regarding the coronavirus pandemic, Orange County’s general election may look different than past elections. With new methods of no-contact voting this year, the Orange County Registrar of Voters will offer registered voters various opportunities to cast their ballots safely and securely. Voters will have either a five-day in-person period to submit their ballot – from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 – or a 30-day mail period to submit their ballot – from Oct. 5

The Panther Editor-in-Chief

The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | From the EIC: reflecting on my 10 weeks with the San Diego Union-Tribune

It was my dream internship. The best opportunity I could have conjured. There was nothing I wanted to do more over the summer than to write for the San Diego Union-Tribune, the newspaper of record located in the city I grew up in and where I was already planning to be for the summer.

I really didn’t think I was going to get it. I knew I was qualified, and I had a solid chance considering I already had an op-ed published for them a couple years prior, but I kept my hopes low out of fear of disap
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | From the EIC: formally introducing The Panther’s ethics, policies and procedures

When sitting in front of a panel of interviewers last spring when applying for the role of editor-in-chief, one question circled my mind: how was I planning to leave The Panther better than I found it?

I could have described how I’d improve The Panther by pursuing great reporting and storytelling and advertising the newspaper to more students. That definitely is my goal for the year, but I wanted something tangible. I wanted to leave something behind for years even after I’m gone and no one on
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | From the EIC: The Panther, reimagined

If you’re reading this, that means we finally printed our first edition of The Panther since 2020. This is the culmination of months of hard work, so much stress, a few tears, many many emails, long nights and a dream.

There’s nothing like holding a print newspaper. Reading the headlines, seeing the crisp colors in the images, turning physical pages. I’ve had very minimal experience working on a print newspaper, and I knew it was something I wanted to explore as editor-in-chief of The Panther t
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | From the EIC: Half way done

However, I’m almost begging for the capitalistic humdrum of corporate life.

Being a student is hard. It’s harder when you’re also working a full-time job. It’s nearly impossible when you’re working multiple jobs and taking max credits.

It took a lot of hard work to graduate early. I’ve taken six classes each semester and an interterm class every year. On top of that, I’m the editor-in-chief of The Panther, I’m a resident advisor at Chapman Grand and I have a reporting fellowship with Voice of
The Panther Newspaper •

Opinion | From the EIC: it’s time to say goodbye

Making friends has never come easily to me. It’s not my favorite thing to admit, but I’m not leaving Chapman with that many friends. Meeting new people and forming close friendships doesn’t come naturally — this is something I’ve always been aware of.

I spend most of my time alone. I worry about what people think of me. I overthink and get nervous that people think I’m annoying when I talk too much, so I keep my mouth shut most of the time.

When I allow myself to branch out, I usually regret i