On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors held a meeting where we voted on critical agenda items and proposals that address transportation, airport activities, housing and security projects.   

In particular, the Board moved to allow victims to have their day in court in response to a request by District Attorney Todd Spitzer. The Board’s action directs County Counsel to request to the Court a public open hearing be held in the conservatorship proceedings for defendant Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez to the public and victims in the March 31, 2021 mass shooting in the City of Orange. 

Holding the conservatorship proceedings publicly allows families who have suffered to obtain much-needed closure and the closest they will see to their day in court. This is the worst mass shooting in recent history to take place in Orange County, and the public needs access to justice. I am dedicated to ensuring that all who commit heinous acts are held accountable and the rights of victims are at the forefront of our criminal justice system. 

Additionally, the Board approved $2.5 million in funding to support the development of 40 units of permanent supportive housing at the Motel 6 Homekey Project in Costa Mesa. In addition, the Board increased the loan commitment by $1 million for the Riviera Motel Project, a 21-unit motel conversion in Stanton.  

These projects build upon the momentum we began in 2021, when I initiated ‘Homekey in a Box.’ We brought together our County staff, city mayors and mangers to streamline the application process for these projects. Now, we will house more Veterans and families, while simultaneously converting crime magnet hotels into quality supportive housing. 

In the evening, I attended the 22nd Annual Orange County Arts Awards. This benefit event recognized artists and art patrons who have made significant contributions to the arts. The awards ceremony was a great way to bring together the arts community and county residents to celebrate the arts’ presence in Orange County. 

On Wednesday, I met with my Veterans Working Group to get updates on veterans issues in Orange County and plan for our Post-9/11 Veterans Welcome Home event this weekend. We have heard from our veterans community that this generation of veterans does not feel as appreciated as prior generations, so I’m hosting an event tomorrow to celebrate them and connect them to key resources. All are welcomed to join, and post-9/11 veterans are asked to RSVP to receive a commemorative pin and certificate: tinyurl.com/KFHero.  

Afterwards, I met with our internal homelessness advisory team. Doug Becht, the Director of the Office of Care Coordination, joined us to provide updates about County’s actions to address homelessness. Some topics that we discussed included a strategy for regional care coordination, housing for the Transitional Aged Youth population, and plans for taking advantage of the next round of Project Homekey grants.  

Thursday morning, I was humbled to join WISEPlace and Jamboree Housing for a press conference to announce their permanent supportive housing project. WISEPlace and Jamboree Housing are two incredible nonprofits seeking to combat the housing crisis in Orange County. During our press conference, we heard from Tammy, a graduate of WISEPlace’s programs with a moving story of perseverance. Her experience with the organization is a powerful testament to the impact of WISEPlace’s work, and this project will only increase their ability to help our most vulnerable members of the community.  

Supervisor Katrina Foley on NBC4 Announcing WISEPlace x Jamboree Housing Project

Supervisor Katrina Foley on Telemundo Announcing WISEPlace x Jamboree Housing Project 

Supervisor Katrina on NPR’s All Things Considered Announcing WISEPlace x Jamboree Housing Project

Supervisor Katrina on NPR’s Morning Edition Announcing WISEPlace x Jamboree Housing Project 

Costa Mesa permanent supportive housing project gets gap funding from county

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley announces $3.5 million in financing to convert old motels in Costa Mesa and Stanton into permanent supportive housing

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. I’m pleased to share we found homes for 182 dogs, 296 cats, 20 rabbits, 8 guinea pigs, and one tortoise! 

To read my official response to frequently asked questions, please click here.

Frank (also known, lovingly, as “Frank the Tank” by Volunteers) is a 6-year-old German Shepherd mix who is 94 lbs. full of love and smiles! This handsome boy just wants to be by his favorite humans all day long and will continuously go from person to person to get all of the pets he can! Frank loves his walks and might pull a bit in the beginning, but once he’s in the grove of walking, he calms down and enjoys the scenery. Frank has gone on our Pack Walk Adventures and did well walking near his doggie friends! While Frank hasn’t shown any negative behaviors when walking near other dogs, he does like to have all of the attention to himself, so we recommend his new family not have any other pets. Recently, during our Pet Food Pantry event, Frank ended his walk by saying hello to all of the high school students who were volunteering that day, and he did wonderfully! All this sweet pup cares about is getting every last bit of attention and love from his human friends, and maybe a little bit of time playing fetch before curling up for a snooze right by your side. We even think he might be potty trained! Frank is known as the loveable goofball between Staff and Volunteers, and he is excited to find a furrever family who will spoil him rotten! 

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

Animal ID#: A1760014 

*Walk-ins are on a first-come, first-served basis as staffing allows. 

At the end of September, Metrolink suspended the service lines between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside, and Amtrak suspended service for their Pacific Surfliner trains between Irvine and San Diego due to coastal erosion impacting the train tracks along the San Clemente area. Freight travel will continue with monitoring and slow speeds.   

The Orange County Transportation Authority finalized a contract with a geotechnical firm to begin emergency work next week to stabilize the railroad track in San Clemente.  

The current plan is to complete the work in one phase over approximately 90 days. Project engineers and geotechnical experts will continually monitor the slope next to the track during construction. In partnership with all rail agencies, a decision will be made when to safely resume passenger rail service. Restoration of passenger rail service could happen in as soon as 60 days, in mid-December, or when the construction is expected to finish in mid-January, in 90 days.     

Metrolink released their adjusted schedule in response to the line closure, but at this time offer no alternate routes. Amtrak provides alternate bus routes for some of the trains impacted by the closure while other trains are temporarily suspended with no alternate routes.   

Student Debt Relief

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  

MARIANGELES SOTO-DIAZ 

GENTLE PROWESS DELIBERATIONS 

through January 12, 2023 

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.