Climate change is a serious global issue that has resonating impacts in our county, and it is our responsibility to implement real change. We must take swift and efficient action and make the world better for future generations. If you were unable to attend, don't worry! Stay tuned for highlights and the recording of the event. 

On Thursday, my Chief of Staff and I started the day meeting with Laguna Beach Unified School District Superintendent Jason Viloria and Board President Carol Normandin to discuss the resources needed to address the emerging mental health issues facing students throughout Orange County.  I committed to do everything in my power to ensure our Mental Health Service Act dollars get to our schools where they are desperately needed. 

Later in the day, I met with Mayor Vicente Sarmiento and the Jamboree Housing team to discuss solutions to the rent increases at Santa Ana’s Metro East. As CBS 2 reported in August, seniors were facing 10 percent rent increases. I’m committed to collaborating with stakeholders to help these seniors get relief.  

Finally ended my evening at the Orange County Museum of Art Founders Dinner. The OCMA is a project years in the making to bring the arts to the community, and I am so excited for the opening next week! I’m honored to help increase access to the arts for families who typically face economic barriers to museums and exhibits.  

Here is the latest from OC Health to keep in mind this week: 

Walk to School Day: Walk to School Day is coming up on October 5! The OC Health Care Agency encourages all drivers and motorists to stay alert and vigilant about driving safely in school zones and asks residents to take the Go Human Safety Pledge to keep our students safe. 

Ducks Partnership: The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is partnering with the Anaheim Ducks National Hockey League (NHL) Club in its first ever multi-year partnership to promote mental health awareness. To urgently respond to the mental health crisis here in Orange County, we must prioritize removing the stigma around mental health and seeking help. We must remove the stigma to talk about dying, cancer, grief, depression, and our emotions. To help, we want to empower our diverse community of Orange County residents to take advantage of the wide range of mental health resources the county offers.  

COVID-19 

It is increasingly important to remain safe and healthy and it is a top priority of mine to keep community members updated with the most recent guidelines. To find more information on the latest guidelines issued by the HCA, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.  

As you celebrate summer activities and plan vacations, protect yourself and loved ones from COVID-19 by following safe travel guidelines issued by the CDPH.

See the latest guidance: Here

Many concerned citizens reached out to my office about the state of OC Animal Care’s adoption system. In response, I sent an anonymous staffer unannounced to walk in to the shelter and report back what an everyday resident may experience as a walk in adopter. I’m pleased to report they were accommodated within minutes and were able to view multiple animals (& our office almost got a new fuzzy team member)! 

There are some fundamental truths we must start with: 

• Too many pets are living in our shelters who need a loving home.  

• Our shelters are understaffed and we must vigorously recruit and retain new staff members. 

• The OCAC shelter is open for walk ins. Appointments are recommended for a quicker adoption process, but not necessary. Every customer receives a fully personalized adoption experience.  

To solve our most pressing concerns, my office sponsored adoptions through the month of September to find loving homes for over 300 pets. I hope you will join our mission to clear our overcrowded shelters and add a new member to your family. To read my official response to frequently asked questions, please click here.

Back in April, Maple was found wandering around, lost and alone, when a good Samaritan brought him to OC Animal Care for help. Since his arrival, we’ve learned that Maple may come across as shy, but he opens right up to show you his sweet personality once he gets to know you! This handsome, 2-year-old, German Shepherd mix has so much love to give, and it’s always evident in his happy grin! Maple is a strong pup, but he’s been working on his leash manners during his walks! Maple has met a couple of other dogs while in our care and has done great around them! He may do well with a doggie sibling that can match his bouncy style of play. Maple is a big boy who is full of love and enjoys nothing more than spending time with those he’s built a bond with. 

Interested in adopting Maple? Call (714) 935-6848 to schedule an adoption appointment today! Walk-ins are welcome! * 

Animal ID#: A1763617 

Metrolink Update

Effective today, Metrolink is indefinitely suspending OC & IEOC Line service between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside due to coastal erosion affecting the tracks. 

Please click here for the adjusted service schedule.  

Student Debt Relief

The application for student debt relief will be available by early October. Applicants can expect to see relief within 4-6 weeks of applying. 

Apply before 11/15 to receive relief before payment pause expires on 12/31. Applications submitted after will still be processed. Click here for more info! 

Orange County Museum of Art Grand Opening 

Orange County Museum of Art opens soon! Saturday, October 8 the museum opens to the public for 24 hours! Starting at 5 PM, the museum will be open and full of activities for the next 24 hours. There will be music, dancing, food, films, yoga, and more! The event is open to the public and no advanced reservations or tickets are required, admission is free. 

Prior to that, there will be a Members only preview week from October 4 to October 7. If interested, check out the following link for more information: https://ocma.art/support-ocma/  

A Message from the Orange County Registrar of Voters:

The November 8th General Election is quickly approaching, and we look forward to providing excellent service to voters at Vote Center locations throughout Orange County. To make this possible, we are currently hiring more than 600 Customer Service Representatives to staff Vote Centers.  

Please consider helping your neighbors exercise their right to vote by applying to be a customer service representative at a Vote Center in your community.  Apply today at the link below, or contact us for additional information at 714 567-7321 or by email at recruitment@ocvote.gov 

Positions start at over $20/hour! Apply now: https://ocvote.gov/about/careers/join  

The Huntington Beach Pacific Airshow is back, and they are offering a unique on the water vantage point for viewing this spectacular event from one of our vessels, and we'll have a limited number of seats available. The Great Pacific Airshow will take place on Friday, Sept. 30th- Sunday, Oct. 2nd, 2022 from 10am-5:30pm over the ocean of Huntington Beach, California.  

Our boats have tons of amenities including two levels, outdoor seating, indoor salon seating, full bars, sundecks, and more! Plus, this is a great way to avoid the large crowds and parking in Huntington Beach area during this busy annual event since our boats depart from the Newport Beach Harbor. For airshow performers, the Thunderbirds are expected to steal the show this year! Huntington Beach's 6th Annual Airshow lineup for 2022 is still being finalized. Don't delay, they sell out fast for this annual event, so be sure to book today before trips are SOLD OUT! 

MARIANGELES SOTO-DIAZ 

GENTLE PROWESS DELIBERATIONS 

through January 12, 2023 

Performance: 8pm, Saturday October 1st, 2022 

Part of Mariangeles Soto-Diaz’s ongoing artist residency, Gentle Prowess Deliberations is the third project in a series in which the artist incorporate judo principles and elements into art objects, installations, performances and social practice with her judo community. This project focuses on ju, or gentle, one of the core concepts of judo.  The work also grapples with the ongoing reality of violence, including the violence that has led to over six million people leaving the artists native country of Venezuela in recent years. How does one practice ju in a world shaped by oppressive violence? 

While growing up in Venezuela, Soto-Diaz’s judo teachers were intent on transmitting judo’s international sensibility as intertwined with its pacifist ethos, a key principle articulated by judo founder Jigoro Kano. Through these early experiences, Mariangeles was able to begin the philosophical and rhetorical quest into what this might mean as one confronts a powerful opponent, institution, or system. 

For this project the artist approaches ju in several ways. She asked judo colleagues and teachers from two different dojos, Bunasawakai and Sawtelle, to characterize ju in their own words, and then incorporated their answers into aspects of the performance and installation. She weaves into the performance movements from a choreographed judo form that centers around ju, called ju-no-kata, performed here by US National champions Lee Pasteris and Frederick Dagdagan. Soto-Diaz incorporates judo movements performed by two of her sensei, grand master Sensei Nori Bunasawa and Sensei Goya. In addition to these four highly ranked master judokas, the artist is collaborating in the performance with dancer, choreographer and UCI professor Charlotte Griffin and art performer Christina Segovia. The evening will include field recordings from judo competitions at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo as well as the US, with live and processed sound in collaboration with musician Michael Dessen. 

Learn more. 

Bowers Museum will once again welcome international couture powerhouse Guo Pei as she transforms the galleries into a world of fantasy this fall.  

The exhibition Guo Pei: Art of Couture premiers with a fresh take on the artist’s finest and most personal pieces, including gowns hand selected by Guo Pei herself. Hot on the heels of her success at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, Bowers’ entirely new exhibition opens to the public on November 12, 2022. 

Guo Pei: Art of Couture will feature over 40 works of couture art curated for exhibit by the world-renowned designer. Among the bespoke selection is Guo Pei’s Chinese Bride collection, which makes its North American debut at the Bowers.