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| Volume 1 | Issue 34 |
December 13, 2021 |
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Standing up for What Is Right
 Stephanie Wade (Policy Advisor), Manuel Chavez (Constituency Services Manager), Nick Berardino (Vietnam Combat Veteran and President of VALOR), Supervisor Katrina Foley, Steve Spriggs (California Veterans Chamber of Commerce), Alexander Gonzalez (Chief of Staff, City of Costa Mesa) (Photo Credit: Gaston Castellanos)
Dear Neighbors,
The work that we do at a County level is to help every Orange County resident live a life of success and joy.
Many of us will join in celebration this holiday season, but there are still those who continue to struggle, especially with the increased cost of food, gas, and other necessities. With the spirit of giving in mind this holiday season, you will find multiple ways that you can help our local elderly, Veterans, and working families throughout this newsletter!
This week, we held our Board of Supervisors Meeting and officially approved Map 5A-1. This new map will go into effect on January 8, 2022.
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 On Tuesday, December 7th, our office observed the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. On Wednesday the 8th, I was incredibly honored to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the flagpole, at the location of the new Orange County Veterans Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills.
 "Flag One" is 60'x30' and will be displayed at the Veterans Cemetery site at the Gypsum Canyon site in Anaheim Hills.
While in its early phase, this section of land is part of an exciting project that will serve as the location of "Flag One," a majestic American flag that is a grand 60'x30' and marks the first step towards building OC's preferred Veterans Cemetery site! It was beautiful to witness the flag alongside so many of our distinguished Veterans and other County officials.
 Proud to be at this groundbreaking ceremony with Nick Berardino
Military service members deserve to have a final resting place and I remain committed to serving our Veterans by providing permanent supportive housing, more access to mental health services that address emerging issues, such as increased suicides, and assisting our Veterans as they return to the workforce. It is the least we can do.
Earlier in the week, I attended the dedication of the OC Crime Victims Monument, along with others from the Board of Supervisors.
 The monument reads: In honor of those we have lost and those who have survived. Their faces will never be forgotten, Their voices will never be silenced, and the fight for justice will carry on for an eternity.
This monument is a symbol of our County’s commitment to ensuring justice for all victims of crime. The dedication of the monument brought tears, signs honoring those who lost their lives, and hope from those who have witnessed or experienced the devastating impact of violence, hate crimes, or sexual assault. I pledge to do all that I can to create a better future for victims in our County.
Knowing that food insecurity is a key component of poverty, I met with Second Harvest Food Bank CEO, Claudia Bonilla Keller, to tour their facility, learn about solutions to ongoing food distribution needs, and to find out how our meal grants will be used County-wide.
 A mural depicting real residents that rely on the food bank for support
Last Thursday, our Teamsters Local 396 trash hauler workers went on strike due to unfair labor practices and working conditions at Republic Services. Republic serves the John Wayne Airport and portions of Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach in our District. I visited the workers on Thursday night and Sunday to understand their concerns. Many are 20-30 year employees who maintain dangerous equipment and trucks, as well as require special licensing and certifications. They are very loyal to the public and care about safe and clean operations. They worked through the pandemic cleaning up hazardous waste from hospitals and commercial sites. The nationwide staffing shortage means they just can’t get a break and they continue to work long hours. I also spoke to representatives from Republic and the Teamsters negotiators multiple times over the weekend. I encouraged everyone to get back to the bargaining table and wrap up negotiations this week. It’s Christmas, after all, and we don’t want this process extended much longer. They promised me they would meet today.
 Teamsters Local 396 trash hauler workers strike
We are gearing up for our 2022 Point in Time Count, to count people experiencing homelessness on any given night. According to the law, the count must take place during the last ten days in January, in every County. The count provides vital information that helps the County better understand how to reduce homelessness. The 2022 Orange County Point in Time Count will be conducted over 3 days, from January 25th to the 27th. You can learn more and volunteer: Here
 While we tackled many important issues this week, we were also able to experience the magic of the holiday spirit. Honorable Mayor Vicente Sarmiento of Santa Ana invited me and my staff to their new community ice skating rink.
 Joining the Santa Ana City Council at the Civic Center
I also want to thank our many neighbors who joined us on Sunday, December 5th at the Corona Del Mar Christmas Walk. My team and I passed out over 1,000 COVID-19 saliva test kits and were able to meet many of you.
 Passing out COVID-19 test kits at the Corona del Mar Christmas Walk
Newsworthy events and highlights from the last week:
- Groundbreaking Flagpole at Veterans Cemetery: VoiceofOC.org, LA Times, Santa Ana News, OCGov.com
- OC Crime Victims Monument: Here
- John Wayne Airport Providing Free COVID-19 Testing: Here
- Rossmoor Seniors Eligible for $200 Gift Cards: Here
- OC Officials urge caution as Omicron variant appears: Here
- OC Public Libraries Indefinitely Check Out Late Fees: Here
- Why you should get a COVID-19 test if you feel sick: Here
As we approach the New Year, if your family is in need of resources, be sure to contact us so we can get you connected with an organization that can help.
Be well,
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 Your generosity will keep children warm!
No child in Orange County should be without a warm winter jacket. While adults wear the same jackets year-to-year, growing children often outgrow the jacket they fit into just a year before.
The jackets that we receive will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club and SOY.
Thank you to Wing Lam, founder of Wahoo's, and Stussy for donating jackets to our Drive!
The recent cold weather advisory, issued by the County, drives home the importance of a warm coat! Donation deadline has been extended to Tuesday, December 14th at 5pm. Click Here for a list of coat drop off locations and contact our office if you can help!
If you know a senior in your community that may be lonely or in need of support, it's time to take action!
We care about seniors and the County of Orange has started a Happy Holiday Neighbor Toolkit Campaign.
Click here for more details.
Please print a postcard to send to a senior in your neighborhood, asking what assistance they need and providing your contact information. This will serve the dual task of helping to combat isolation and loneliness. Find out more, Here!
DID YOU KNOW?
- Senior isolation can lead to a 50% increased risk of dementia and other serious medical conditions.
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While the high COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst older adults have allowed many senior centers to reopen, our County continues to see a 40% increase in senior nutrition services needed (compared to pre-pandemic serving levels).
- Nearly one million meals to over 10,000 at-risk older adults are served by Meals on Wheels annually.
"With Orange County seniors fully vaccinated at more than 87% and the availability of boosters in Orange County, we hope this campaign will encourage others to invite an older adult living in their community to participate in holiday activities.” - Supervisor Katrina Foley, Second District.
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We may be in the midst of the holidays, but we want to support our residents all year long! While many of the following programs cater to seniors, If you or someone you know needs food support, please contact us at Katrina.Foley@OCGov.com
Live in Rossmoor? Rossmoor seniors are eligible for $200 gift cards through our Senior Meal Gap Program! Find out more: Here
VACCINATION, TESTING, AND MASKS ARE STILL THE BEST PREVENTION FOR COVID-19
Thank you for helping to ensure the safety of our community by being vaccinated. Please read this update from OC Health Care Agency about the importance of getting vaccinated (or boosted!) in light of emerging variants and to combat COVID-19: Here
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT IS NOW OFFERING FREE COVID-19 SALIVA TEST KITS
 Free Test Kits at John Wayne Airport
It's easier than ever to get a test kit when you travel. At the John Wayne Airport, go to terminals A and C, and pick up the COVID-19 saliva tests pre-security.
In addition to the convenient test kit pick up locations at the John Wayne Airport, our staff has been distributing thousands of COVID-19 test kits to our neighbors. Our team has distributed nearly 4,000 test kits. At our Corona del Mar Christmas walk, we handed out more than 1,000.
"Please stop by the airport to receive a test kit before or after you travel. We continue to offer our community free tests at multiple vaccine clinics around our County and I encourage you to pick one up." - Supervisor Foley
Press: Ahead of the holiday season, John Wayne Airport to provide free COVID-19 testing
Need to collect a COVID-19 test kit for personal use or for a nonprofit organization? Contact our office at (714) 834-3220
COVID-19 PRESS BRIEFING ABOUT SALIVA TEST KITS AND OMICRON
Please watch my important conversation with Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, DO, Deputy Health Director for OC Health, about how to use our free COVID-19 saliva test kits. Watch The LiveStream Here!
"As many of you know, I received my booster shot several weeks ago and it feels great to know that I have taken a positive step to protect myself and others from COVID-19. If you're ready for your booster, I encourage you to get yours today!" - Supervisor Foley
Curious about the difference between a booster shot and a 3rd vaccine? Learn more: Here
MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS
Michele Mullen, our Community Outreach Director reports a huge increase in people getting vaccinated this week and picking up their free saliva test kit. Stop by any of the following locations and be sure to say "hello" to Michele!
FIND OUT THE COVID-19 VACCINATION STATS FOR YOUR CITY
To date, 71% of Orange County residents are now partially vaccinated and 65% are fully vaccinated.
Learn More: Here
**This graph shows the expanded eligible population (ages 5 and up).
Our office has worked hard to distribute our $2 million dollars in allotted meal grant funds to our wonderful communities. This week, my team and I toured Second Harvest Food Bank's expansive 122,000 square foot facility in Irvine, California. It was amazing to see all that their volunteers and staff do to provide nutritious food to around 400,000 Orange County residents, monthly.
Claudia Bonilla Keller, the new CEO for Second Harvest Food Bank, educates the community that food stability is essential to eliminating poverty. Our neighbors may not always share with us that they are food insecure, but the reality is that many local seniors, children, and families have relied nutrition assistance over the last year and a half!
Second Harvest Food Bank provides food to:
... 264 pantries
... in 34 cities
... with over 562 million pounds of food distributed last year
... to 169,436 children at after school sites
... and 141,821 of those households included seniors.
To donate and help families stay fed throughout the holidays, go to: FEEDOC.ORG
Thank you to Second Harvest for changing what people know about food banking by distributing healthy food (that people actually want to eat) and for working so hard to create a sustainable building, with the goal of a zero carbon footprint!
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  Congratulations to our County of Orange and the Workforce Development Board for the Orange County Business Council's Business Retention and Expansion Program Award.
Agenda Item 18: An Amendment to the contract with JBT AeroTech Corporation for Terminals A, B and C Passenger Boarding Bridges and Baggage Handling System Maintenance Services
This upgrade to our baggage system will help travelers get out of airport more more quickly. The airport staff and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers both supported this contract, which will include prevailing wages for workers. This will benefit the Airport and Orange County working families.
Agenda Item 26: A contract with Waymakers for Outreach, Support and Education Services for Families of Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System.
This contract will help youth and their families to navigate the system and reintegrate into society. We are committed to improving outcomes and reducing recidivism rates for our County’s most vulnerable youth.
ORANGE COUNTY CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT & FINDINGS
 For those of you who missed last week's update, important projects are underway with the OCTA! At our last OCTA Board Meeting, we received updates on several major transportation projects. These include the recently passed federal infrastructure bill that benefits Orange County, the 405 & I-5 Freeway widening projects, our Active Transportation initiatives, and resident survey results.
You can read my report of those projects, in full: Here.
FROM OCTA: Every two years, OCTA delivers a report on a program that influences many aspects of life in Orange County, including land use, transportation and eligibility for OC Go funds. OC Go, also known as Measure M, is Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
Following a public hearing, OCTA recently finalized the 2021 report on the Orange County Congestion Management Program (CMP). The report monitors congestion at traffic signals on a network of highways and roadways and reports on transit system performance. (Source: OCTA, 2021 Link)
Learn more about the Congestion Management Program: Here.
ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
Daniel Morgan, OC Planning Commissioner, shared a report about the December 8, 2021 meeting:
There were 3 items on the agenda for yesterday's meeting:
- The first item was the presentation of a resolution from Supervisor Foley honoring Commissioner Harper for her service on the Planning Commission.
- The second item was a request for a 'Use Permit' to develop a Planned Development of 10 homes in unincorporated North Tustin. The applicant had previously met with all of the neighbors, the North Tustin Advisory Committee and Commissionor Rice, who represents the corresponding district. As the applicant had incorporated feedback from each of these stakeholders and, the planning commission unanimously approved this project.
- The last item was a study session workshop on the intricacies of Assembly Bill 9 with Brian Kurnow, the Land Use Manager for the County. This presentation will be made available on the county website.
ORANGE COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Armando De La Libertad, OC Historical Commissioner, toured the Mission in San Juan Capistrano on December 7, 2021 to learn about restoration efforts, documentation and preservation of history, and plans for the future. Interestingly, the historical landmark is believed to be the location where Christmas was first celebrated in Orange County some 244 years ago. Parts of the onsite church date back as far as 1777. Sadly, while much of the 'Great Stone Church' collapsed in an 1812 earthquake and 40 Acjachemen/Juaneño Native Americans perished, partial ruins remain.
For more information on the Mission, go: Here.
For more information on the Commission and its ongoing work, visit: Here
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Alex Rounaghi
Policy Analyst
Please email me at with input regarding sober living homes or to learn more about our office’s efforts!
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Also This week...
At the Tuesday Board meeting, the County of Orange and the Workforce Development Board for the Orange County Business Council's Business Retention and Expansion Program received an award.
In response to the death of a 23-year-old from a Santa Ana Heights Detox facility, Supervisor Foley sent a letter to the Department of Health Care Services raising concerns about the policies, protocols, or security measures in place to ensure the appropriate supervision of patients who may be experiencing negative psychological effects while detoxing from alcohol or drug abuse. Michelle Baass, the agency director responded to our letter last week. Unfortunately, the Director’s later failed to address the concerns that Supervisor Foley raised, only raising more questions about the agency’s enforcement practices. You can see Supervisor Foley’s most recent letter to the Director here.
Please mark your calendars and watch LIVE this Monday, December 13th, when Supervisor Foley testifies at the California State Assembly Accountability Hearing on the Substance Abuse Treatment Industry. The hearing will start at 11 a.m. PST. You can watch the hearing using this link: Here
Members of the public have the opportunity to give public comment at the end of the hearing. Find out how to call in with a public comment: Here
Public Toll Free Number: (877) 692-8957
Public Access Code: 13154202
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Constituent Services Manager
Cypress, Huntington Beach (Oak View Neighborhood), Stanton, Rossmoor
 Supervisor Foley and the Anaheim Ducks' mascot at Santa Ana’s Grand Opening/Tree Lighting at the First Winter Village
 Improvements coming to Rossmoor street sweeping
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RIBBON CUTTING AND SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS
Hello District Two,
On Wednesday, I joined Supervisor Foley at the Flagpole Groundbreaking of the Veterans Cemetery at the Gypsum Canyon Site. We were joined by representatives from all 34 Orange County Cities and other key partners. Our office is very pleased that Orange County Veterans will soon have the opportunity to rest in peace close to home.
I was one of the staff members that joined Supervisor Foley as we toured the Second Harvest Food Bank in Irvine. The facility is a key partner in helping to feed Orange County residents that experience food insecurity. It was amazing to see how they help to keep those in need properly fed.
Later that evening, we took part in Santa Ana’s Grand Opening/Tree Lighting at the First Winter Village. It was a joy to participate in this wonderful community event. I look forward to attending more office events like this, as we transition into covering Santa Ana in the New Year.
This year, Supervisor Foley sponsored the Rossmoor Winter Fest. This wonderful annual neighborhood event at Rush Park included food trucks, performances from local schools and dance programs, a snow station, arts and crafts, Santa Claus and a band with dancing! Supervisor Foley joined Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen and representatives of the Rossmoor Community Services District on stage to wish the community happy holidays. Vice President Tony DeMarco announced the new street sweeping model that our office helped initiate of sweeping odd side even side of the street on alternating weeks to start in January 2022. We also showcased the new street sweeper. For further questions regarding the street sweeping please reach out to the Rossmoor Community Services District at (562) 430- 3707.
 Rossmoor Winter Festival on Saturday, December 11th
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Constituent Services Manager
Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, and Animal Services
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WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR TO BE IN ORANGE COUNTY!
The holiday season provides our office with numerous opportunities to spread joy, love, and cheer throughout the County.
On Sunday, I joined our amazing team at the Corona Del Mar Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas Walk. It was a lot of fun to see the Pacific Coast Highway transformed into a holiday-themed street, full of people in a festive spirit and Christmas sweaters. To make sure that everyone was safe, after the event or when traveling this holiday season, we passed out free COVID-19 tests that were very popular.
Later in the week, I assisted Supervisor Foley at another holiday event in Santa Ana, where we joined members of the Santa Ana City Council and Good Day LA for a special segment on the City's new outdoor ice skating rink at the Civic Plaza in Santa Ana. I strongly recommend that you to go check it out!
If you or your family are looking for ways to celebrate the holidays, go here for a comprehensive list of events happening throughout the County!
 Supervisor Foley and our staff passing out free COVID-19 saliva tests at the Corona del Mar Christimas Walk
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 Animal ID: A1738119
Meet Stryker! This handsome special-needs rabbit is just over a year old and was brought to OC Animal Care as a stray in September. While the medical staff believes that Stryker might have a slight neurological disorder that causes his head to tilt, that doesn’t stop him from being as sweet as can be! Stryker might be a little shy at first and would do best in an adult-only home where he's the only pet, but he is a curious boy who is interested in sniffing and exploring. He loves being scratched between the ears ... once he gets to know you! Stryker definitely lives up to his name ... as, with his striking good looks, he will be sure to steal anyone’s heart who is lucky enough to adopt him!
Now is a great time to adopt a handsome bunny, like Styrker, as OC Animal Care's Hoppy Holidays promotion runs through December, and all adoption fees for rabbits have been waived! *Limit one fee-waived adoption per household.
Think Stryker might be a great fit for your family? Call (714) 935-6848 to set up an adoption appointment today!
Animal ID: A1738119
Join our office as an intern! Recent graduates and college students should apply. Graphic design skills are a plus and the position can be performed in our office or remotely.
The City of Buena Park's Utility Assistance Program is still open to help residents facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic pay their past due utility bill(s). Eligible households will receive utility assistance for up to 3 months with a maximum of $1,000.
For more information, please go to BuenaPark.com.
 
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