ON OC

Since our last town hall, coronavirus trends have shifted with more people vaccinated, Delta variant positive cases increasing and the fall opening of schools quickly approaching.Voice of OC Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Norberto Santana, Jr. and Reporter Spencer Custodio will host the discussion. Guests include: Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, Orange County's deputy health officer Sanghyuk Shin, a UC Irvine epidemiologist Vladimir Minin, a UCI biostatician Melissa Dawn Pinto, a nursing professor who is an expert in long term COVID syndromes Dr. Jim Keany, co-director of the Emergency Department at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and former hospital chief of staff

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. Hardline immigration policies have led to consequences that contradict their intentions, and trap people in a complex system with limited rights. I'm Alexis Allen. I reported, wrote, recorded, and sound designed this podcast on Orange County immigration detention. In Episode 1, Not Under Arrest, I look at the Orange County jails that house detainees, and one detainee in particular who got stuck inside.

Former Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, the OC Democratic Party-endorsed candidate, talks about why she’s running to become a county supervisor, representing communities – like Tustin, Orange, Irvine and the canyons – that make up Orange County’s Third District. Sanchez talks about solving homelessness, revising public safety agencies and securing tax resources for Orange County in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

Irvine Mayor Don Wagner, the OC GOP-endorsed nominee, talks about why he’s running to become a county supervisor, representing communities - like Tustin, Orange, Irvine and the canyons - that make up Orange County’s Third District. Wagner talks about tackling homelessness, regional public safety issues and getting property tax equity for Orange County taxpayers in Sacramento.

At his state office in Sacramento, Moorlach talks about recent legal cases spurring from legislation he co-sponsored, SB 1421, that calls on police misconduct records to be opened for public review. The former County Supervisor and Treasurer-Tax Collector for OC also ponders the future of pensions and California’s budget.

Nick Berardino - president of Valor, the Veterans Alliance of Orange County and President of Heroes Hall Foundation - talks about the challenges facing what he calls America’s most disrespected minority, veterans, as well as the quest for a veterans cemetery in OC.

José Ocaño from the Best Friends Animal Society talks about the future of animal sheltering in the United States in a “no-kill” era for shelter animals as well as the change in culture over at the County of Orange animal shelter with new OC Animal Care Director Mike Kaviani.

As one of the first Asian Pacific Islanders and Muslims elected in Southern California, Farrah Khan talks about what it takes to win a local city council campaign as well as offering her take on Irvine’s future.

Former Irvine Mayor Beth Krom talks about how Irvine, the Great Park and Orange County have changed in recent years and tackles prospects for the upcoming election for the Third Supervisorial District in March.

Hotel union leader Ada Briceño talks about the challenges facing Orange County’s Democratic Party and her expected ascent as chair this month as well as being the first Latina to take on the challenge.

Chapman University Professor Fred Smoller talks about his new book on the sacking of Bell city hall and what people need to do to protect their own civic backyards.

Jennifer Muir Beuthin, outgoing general manager for the Orange County Employees Association, talks about the challenges facing working families in Orange County as well as her own path as a women up through Orange County political and labor circles, the #Me Too Movement as well as her own change in life moving on to motherhood and twins.

OC Democratic Party Chairwoman Fran Sdao reflects on the historic wins by Democrats in Orange County this past November and what Democrats have to do to stay in the majority in Orange County.

OC GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker talks frankly about what went wrong this past election cycle where Republicans lost every congressional seat in the county's midterm elections. Whitaker also talks about what Republicans have to do to bounce back in the future.

United Way Chief Operating Officer Carla Vargas updates progress on homelessness programs in Orange County, discussing a new pilot program, funded by a $250,000 grant from the County of Orange, that hopes to connect homeless people who are ready for permanent supportive housing with wiling apartment owners as a way of quickly moving the dial to address an estimated need of 2700 permanent supportive housing units across the county.

Foley talks about how Democrats swept local elections in Costa Mesa this year, shutting out Republicans for Congress, State Assembly, city council and mayors’ elections. Foley reflects on the campaign and where the city’s first directly elected mayor will take civic affairs.

Incoming DA Todd Spitzer outlines his future plans as he prepares to become Orange County’s top law enforcement official next January.

Chapman University Political Science professors Mike Moodian and Fred Smoller talk about the unprecedented voter turnout and election results from across Orange County, noting the end of OC GOP dominance and the advent of a more competitive political landscape.

Irvine law professor Katie Porter talks about why she’s running as a Democrat for Congress against incumbent Republican Congresswoman Mimi Walters, who has also been invited to share her perspectives on the district.

Tustin resident Duke Nguyen, a former Santa Ana Police officer who now works as an investigator with the LA District Attorney’s office, talks about why he’s running to be Orange County’s next Sheriff. Nguyen’s opponent, Under Sheriff Don Barnes, also has been invited to offer his insights on the election.

La Habra Mayor Tim Shaw talks about why he’s running to represent Northern Orange County on the OC Board of Supervisors.

Fullerton Mayor Doug Chaffee talks about why he’s running to represent Northern Orange County on the OC Board of Supervisors.

Democratic Congressional candidate Mike Levin is challenging Republican Diane Harkey in the Orange and San Diego County-shared 49th district left open as Rep. Darrell Issa retires. Harkey has not answered an invitation to join the On OC podcast.

Democrat Gil Cisneros talks about why he’s taking on incumbent Republican Young Kim in the 39th Congressional District this November for Rep. Ed Royce's seat. Kim has not answered an invitation to join the On OC podcast.

Laguna Beach Democrat and businessman Harley Rouda talks about why he’s taking on incumbent Republican Dana Rohrabaher in the 48th Congressional District this November. Rohrahbacher has not answered an invitation to join the On OC podcast.

Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr., interviews Jack Toan, vice president at Wells Fargo. He is part of Wells Fargo's Corporate Responsibility team, responsible for managing over $7 million of the company's charitable giving and volunteerism programs in southern California. Specifically, Toan talks about charitable support of programs for housing and homelessness.

Paul Hodgins talks about the new Arts & Culture section at Voice of OC as well the future of Arts institutions, like the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory, in a changing Orange County.

Sean Garcia-Leys and Eric Lam from the Urban Peace Institute talk about their ongoing assessment of local policing, an upcoming public forum in Santa Ana to discuss public safety on Sept. 26 and the broader prospects for enhancing public safety without breaking the public budget.

Longtime Orange County GOP political consultant, Eilleen Padberg offers a hard look at life on the streets for homeless women living in Orange County as well as the challenges and costs of building permanent supportive housing for them. Padberg also talks about leading a $5 million capital campaign for WISEPlace, a shelter for homeless women in Santa Ana operating out of the historic - and ailing - YWCA building near the downtown civic center.

Orange County animal rights activist Rose Tingle created a $35 million regional animal shelter with a string of Op-eds in the Voice of OC that were followed by a stinging series of grand jury investigations, which ultimately convinced Orange County supervisors to break ground on a new facility. Tingle talks about her trek as well as the future of citizens’ oversight on local public animal shelters.

OC Democratic Chairwoman Fran Sdao talks about November prospects for Orange County Democrats, reflecting upon the results from the June primary as well as the future of the party in Orange County.

OC GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker talks about his party’s prospects this coming November, reflecting upon the results from the June primary and paths to majority influence in the future.

Orange County backcountry activist and land use attorney Gloria Sefton talks the constant development pressures on Orange County’s land use specific plans, especially those in the canyon areas, and her numerous successful lawsuits to defend the public planning process for canyon residents.

Matt Holzmann, vice chair for Orange County’s Mental Health Board, talks about the unique opportunity facing public officials in Orange County to create a national funding and programming model for mental health programming at every spectrum, from those facing an immediate crisis, to those in need of permanent supportive housing.

Steve Danley, a former Performance Auditor for the County of Orange talks about the lost art of checking under the hood inside the halls of county government, what makes a good auditor as well as the future of his former office, now on life-support.

Karen Jaffe, a 20-year Irvine resident and recent activist after watching her city streets clog up, talks about recent ballot initiatives in Irvine to address traffic and the power of the issue to drive political campaigns in future years as well as the founding of Irvine Watchdog.org.

Hairo Cortes, executive director for a new political action committee in Santa Ana called Chispa and Santa Ana activist Idalia Rios both talk about why city residents need to enact reasonable rent control limits, such as a 5 percent cap on rent increases as well as upcoming state and local ballot drives on the issue. Rios’ interview is in Spanish.

Hairo Cortes, executive director for a new political action committee in Santa Ana called Chispa and Santa Ana activist Idalia Rios both talk about why city residents need to enact reasonable rent control limits, such as a 5 percent cap on rent increases as well as upcoming state and local ballot drives on the issue. Rios’ interview is in Spanish.

Brian Lochrie, a spokesman for Poseidon, a private sector company that has invested millions to develop a water desalination plant in Huntington Beach, talks about why it makes sense for public agencies and rate payers to invest in alternatives like desal.

Paul Cook, general manager for the Irvine Ranch Water District talks about why the proposed deal for a private company, Poseidon, to make desalinated water in Huntington Beach makes no sense for public agencies or ratepayers.

Voice of OC works with a reporting boot camp for middle schoolers in Santa Ana, producing a podcast where kids sounds off on life in Santa Ana as well as the immigration debate that is playing out in their living rooms and neighborhoods.

Chapman University Political Science Professors Fred Smoller and Mike Moodian explore the election trends that fueled the June primary along with offering insights on what trends to keep watch over as congressional and local races heat up as we head into November. Part two of a two-part series.

Chapman University Political Science Professors Fred Smoller and Mike Moodian talk about election results from the June primary with a focus on the four hotly contested congressional seats in Orange County along with a potential run off for the Sheriff and a contested District Attorney election. Part One of a two-part series.

OC Democratic Party Chairwoman Fran Sdao and OC Republican Party Chairman Fred Whitaker talk about prospects, issues and strategy for Tuesday’s election races across Orange County as well as the future of political parties in local government.

Neal Kelley has effectively administered more than 70 countywide elections since coming on the job more than a decade ago. Kelley talks about what to expect, in terms of election results, from this coming June's primary as well as the future of voting in Orange County.

A brewing controversy over removing horses and community equestrian stables from the state fairgrounds in Costa Mesa has awoken a decades-old argument over just who the fairgrounds serves; the community or the fair industry? A new community group, Friends and Neighbors of the Orange County Fairgrounds talks with Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. about their concerns regarding the future of the 150-acre property just off the 405 and 55 freeway interchanges in the heart of Orange County.

Feet to the Fire Panelists - Daily Pilot Columnist Barbara Venezia and LA Times Executive Editor for Community News John Canalis - join Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana Jr. and update all the jockeying in the bid for the 48th Congressional District primary up next month along with a lively discussion about the state of media in Orange County as the local press corps prepares for the annual OC Press Club awards.

Cesar Covarrubias, from Orange County’s Kennedy Commission, talks about the challenges of building affordable housing in Orange County, noting there’s plenty sites and even political will— but not enough important gap financing for projects.

Elizabeth Hansburg, who started a chapter of the group, Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY), in Orange County, talks with On OC about her goal of getting elected officials to stand behind affordable housing construction – even when there’s political heat.

Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait talks about how the City of Anaheim has approached homelessness, given the fact that most federal and state funds go to the County of Orange. The answer, Tait, said has come from the non-profit sector, providing things like drug treatment, jobs program, basic sheltering and affordable housing. Yet Tait said big employers like Disneyland and the County of Orange both need to step up on the issue.

Bill Witte, Chairman and CEO of Related California, a statewide real estate development company focused on all sorts of urban multi-family housing developments, talks about what it takes to build in California – noting that the state’s environmental protections and laws aren’t going anywhere.