Opinion

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Press release

This story is part of the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service, a partnership with Chapman University that trains student journalists to cover public policy across Orange County. Have a student project or a response to this work? Email admin@voiceofoc.org.

Santa Ana City Council members unanimously authorized an independent investigation into a viral police beating and arrest after facing growing concerns and outrage from residents and activists. 

It comes after the violent arrest went viral on social media – when two police officers had a man bent over the hood of a police cruiser then threw him onto the street and started punching him in the head before arresting him. 

Fullerton became the first Orange County city to temporarily halt using automatic license plate readers after city officials issued a six-month pause on Flock cameras following a growing chorus of privacy and over-surveillance concerns from residents. 

While facing allegations of racism, homophobia and heavy drinking from her chief of staff, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken admitted to a drinking problem that landed her in rehab while denying hurling racist and homophobic remarks. 

Voice of OC Publisher and Editor in Chief Norberto Santana Jr. is slated to moderate a handful of city council candidate debates in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Santa Ana later this month. 

Meanwhile, Voice of OC is rolling out daily questionnaires from OC Board of Supervisors candidates until Oct. 20 – detailing candidates positions on critical issues like the ballooning budget and environmental concerns. 

As President Donald Trump continues alleging voting is chocked full of fraud despite scores of court cases around the country saying otherwise, OC Registrar of Voters Bob Page details how the county’s elections are secure as he lays out how numerous security layers behind each ballot and how the voting software isn’t connected to the internet.

California’s Democratic party injected over $650,000 into Orange County’s coastal Assembly race that pits Republican Huntington Beach Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark against Democrat and retired NFL player Chris Kluwe, who’s out-fundraised the councilwoman by nearly three to one. 

Scores of dogs and cats await permanent homes at the shelter run by OC Animal Care, including Mandy, a tortie cat. 

Orange County teamsters are set to strike any day now amid a failed negotiation with the county, leaving nearly 450 workers on picket lines as they call for a better raise. 

Drivers in the City of Orange will soon have to pump the brakes after city council members decided to lower speed limits throughout the historic college town, impacting major roads like Katella Avenue and Main street.  

Laguna Beach joins a host of coastal Orange County towns preparing for the expected super El Niño that scientists say could bring high surf and rain – leading to coastal flooding. 

Hotel workers in Garden Grove are slated to get panic buttons after city council members authorized the mandate to boost workplace safety – but union officials opposed the move and said the city ignored their calls for things like double pay for excess room cleaning.