Orange County Supervisors said some people are stuck in homeless shelters for years while they wait for housing – a deadlock they attributed to the county’s lack of affordable housing.
It comes as supervisors still grapple with the fallout of disgraced former Supervisor Andrew Do’s bribery scheme, with officials highlighting how executives ignored some employee’s concerns of Do improperly steering public contracts – raising questions on how to hold politicians accountable.
After recent allegations of rape and sexual assault against women and girls, farmworker leader Cesar Chavez, who died over 30 years ago, city council members and school board trustees in Santa Ana are grappling with taking down his name and murals while considering what to replace them with.
City officials in Orange are considering a smoking ban in public places as a way to crack down on homeless people sleeping in places like parks.
While county officials paused using herbicides to cut down on vegetation in San Juan and Trabuco creeks, San Clemente City Council members are considering extending a natural weed killing program through goat grazing.
An immigrant legal aid program is coming to Anaheim to help guide residents through the complex immigration system and help connect lawyers to people who’ve been caught up in federal deportation efforts.
Despite concerns from residents and at least one supervisor, OC Sheriff Don Barnes continues notifying ICE when certain inmates are released from jail, which often sees federal agents pick them up.
While some people voiced concerns that the notification system sows distrust in law enforcement, Barnes said it helps keep the community safer and could prevent roving deportation enforcement efforts.
Westminster city officials are grappling with the future of Rose Center Theater after discovering the operations there are costing the city money – pushing city council members to consider restructuring management of the theater or sell it off.
Irvine’s Oak Creek Golf Course could see a housing development coupled with a nature park on the property as residents raise concerns the move violates an open space voter initiative from the 1980s.
Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.
