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Volume 3 | Issue 27 |
July 7, 2023 |
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Dear neighbor:
I hope you and your loved ones enjoyed celebrating Independence Day at one of the many events taking place across the Fabulous Fifth District.
The Fourth of July represents an opportunity to celebrate our history and remember the ideals we continue to strive for today: freedom and justice for all.
I personally celebrated at a few events this week. First, I attended the City of Costa Mesa’s Independence Day event at the OC Fair & Events Center on Monday, July 3, 2023. Thank you to Tijuana Dogs, Mayor John Stephens, Newport Rib Co. who hosted the rib eating contest, Costa Mesa Fire Association for serving up hot dogs, as well as the staff and volunteers who helped bring this fun family friendly community event together. Dancing, socializing and the best fireworks show ever seen topped off the night. Great to see so many neighbors too.
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On Tuesday, I walked in my neighborhood’s parade from Sonora Elementary School ending at TeWinkle Park. I love this annual tradition started, when I pushed my boys in the stroller, and seeing the parade grow with so many community members joining together in celebration.
I loved seeing so many residents able to enjoy the restored beaches at Capo & Doheny thanks to our sand replenishment planning. There’s more sand in the works!
That evening we attended the Pacific Symphony’s Tribute to the Beatles & Fireworks Show in Irvine. Supporting the arts while enjoying the holiday fun was such a treat. You can attend local free Symphony on the Go concerts due to or live music grant. Check here for the schedule.
Wednesday morning, I started my year around the sun by joining local leaders at UC Irvine to discuss how we can create a Connected Wellbeing Tech Hub, which will transform OC into a global leader in this area over the next 10 years. I look forward to partnering with this group on a federal grant application that will deliver resources, jobs, and a pathway for better health to Orange County residents.
My day ended with a lovely sunset cruise around Newport Harbor with my family. Great birthday. Thanks for all the nice cards and birthday wishes.
Then on Thursday, I met with Chairman Don Wagner and County CEO Frank Kim to discuss planning for the State of the County on July 19 hosted by the Newport Beach Chamber with multiple other local chambers. Check out the flyer below for more details and buy your tickets today because this event will sell out fast!
I also worked with Dana Point Harbor Partners on permitting issues related to utilities, the coastal commission expectations, and community benefit projects. And I finally finished reviewing all of the applications for our Dana Point Harbor advisory and oversight committee. We still need to interview a few applicants, but appointment letters will start to go out next week. Our first meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 2, 2023. Stay tuned for an announcement about the new appointments.
This week I visited the hotels where workers are striking for living wages, and participated in several calls with hoteliers and the union to try to encourage continued bargaining. You can read about the strike here. The high cost of housing continues to drive negotiations for service and hospitality workers.
For those who reached out about the July 4th “lawlessness” in some of our south county areas, I’ve requested a meeting with our OC Sheriff and his south county chiefs so we can debrief and find solutions to serving the safety needs of our south county communities. Thanks for reaching out.
Thursday evening, I attended the Orange County Asian American Business Association’s 29th Annual Installation Dinner where I held the honor of introducing California Attorney General Rob Bonta who received the OCAABA trailblazer award for his work serving as the people’s Attorney across the state of California.
Attorney General Bonta represents the embodiment of an attorney called to service. He understands the attorney’s higher duty to public service, using all the tools at his disposal to take on powerful interests and advance systemic change in pursuit of racial, economic, and environmental justice.
Also recognized that night as a trailblazer was 4th Appellate District Justice Joanne Motoike for her legacy of work to protect human rights and create a plan for system impacted juveniles to secure treatment, mentoring, job training, and housing so upon reentry their chance for success and stability increases. Judge Kazuharu Makino, a former deputy district attorney received the lifetime achievement award and attorney Jessica Cha, the 2023-24 President, joined her new board in taking the oath of office.
Today, I joined KNX 97.1 FM News LA Morning News with Mike and Vicky to discuss beach safety, lifeguard staffing in Orange County, and the toxic algae sea lion crisis. Great news—OC Lifeguards are fully staffed for the summer season. This includes a roster of 73 full-time and seasonal guards available to work throughout the summer and as needed, such as holidays or high-surf events. Lifeguards are typically staffed from 8 a.m. to sunset at County beaches and available on-call and ready to respond 24/7 during an emergency. Anyone interested in becoming an ocean lifeguard or junior lifeguard with OC Lifeguards can visit OCLG.org to find employment opportunities and salary information. Listen here!
We also received an update on the Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s work to rescue and treat the sick sea lions impacted by the toxic algae bloom. Current stats:
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95 total rescues and responses since June 1st- 85 for sea lions and 10 for dolphins.
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52 sea lions survived and remain in treatment.
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9 elephant seals in-house (with 3 slated for release on Saturday).
Now an update on our work with the Orange County state delegation: I recently wrote a letter to Assemblymember David Alvarez and Senator Catherine Blakespear, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, in support of Assemblymember Diane Dixon and the OC delegation’s request to audit the California Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS). The audit will ensure that DHCS properly regulates facilities and complies with the law in a manner that protects residents of sober living homes and the community at large. Last week, I learned that the Committee approved the request! Read my letter here.
That’s it for this week – looking ahead, I hope to see you at the upcoming community events:
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Two-Mile-Tuesdays, every Tuesday at 6:30 PM at TeWinkle Park (until August 29, 2023)
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Coffee & Conversations with Katrina on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at H.H. Cotton’s in San Clemente. RSVP here: tinyurl.com/KFCoffeeChat
Our office is hiring a policy advisor, executive assistant, district outreach assistant, and fall interns. Scroll down for more info or send your resume and interest letter to Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com
And don’t forget to follow us on the new Threads social media app @supervisorfoley.
Be Well,
Katrina Foley Supervisor County of Orange
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In This Edition
Read more about local events, community and health news, District and County initiatives, and other important updates!
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Alyssa Napuri
Deputy Chief of Staff
Great meeting with Todd the General Manager of Rancho Mission Viejo, Laura the RanchLife Director, and Amaya the Vice President of Community Services for Rancho Mission Viejo to discuss upcoming partnerships for our residents of RMV. We're looking to expand our outreach to residents in our unincorporated areas, and are looking forward to supporting RanchLife events. We heard loud and clear that our residents want more food & beverage events, large concerts, and events themed around annual holidays.
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Cindy Tran-Chang
Policy Advisor / Community Events Manager
Hi everyone! I’m back from an Alaskan cruise with my daughter and 12 other 2022 Top Orange County Girl Scout Cookie sellers! The Alaskan glaciers were breathtaking! We stopped in Juneau, Skagway and British Columbia for some sightseeing and excursions.
On the 4th of July, our intern, Grace and I staffed the Ladera Ranch Independence Day Celebration at Founder’s Park. It was packed! I loved seeing all age ranges from babies, teens, to the elderly, gather as a community to celebrate and enjoy the outdoors. They had game booths, activities and a spectacular fireworks show! I enjoyed meeting new, friendly faces and handing out the Supervisor’s handy grocery totes, pens and County resources to booth visitors!
If we haven’t met yet, I hope to meet you at a future booth opportunity this summer, either at a Ladera Ranch or Rancho Mission Viejo Farmers Market, Ladera Rancho summer concert/Business Expo series or Symphony on the Go event!
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Adam Tallabas
District Representative / Policy Analyst
This week, I attended the Costa Mesa Independence Day Celebration on the 3rd! It was a fun-filled day full of smiling faces and engaging conversation with our constituents. Our booth was busy the whole night – we had a great time being able to hand out our famous bags, flag pins, and pens, convey important information, and celebrate Independence Day with the Costa Mesa community. As we enter mid-summer, I am beginning to look forward to the Fall! If you know a student or are one that will be studying in Orange County this Fall/Winter, please send your resume & a writing sample to Adam.Tallabas@ocgov.com! As our summer interns phase out, I’d love to bring on more talented young students to give them experience working for the County supervisor’s office!
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Jonathan Davis
Policy Advisor
This week, I continued to focus on building sustainable infrastructure in Orange County. There were exciting developments from Sacramento, including an announcement of $150 million in funding for electric school buses and $1.5 billion for upgrading ports and supply chain systems. Bringing more of these dollars to the Fifth District continues to be a top priority for Supervisor Foley. With these developments and goals in mind, I finished my week by preparing the supervisor for the OCTA meeting happening next Monday July 10, 2023, at 9:00 AM. Click here to see the agenda and to tune into the meeting!
Lastly, I began mentoring Luca, a new intern in our office, who is a rising high school senior from Newport Beach. He has already been a huge help, creating first drafts of meeting memos, official letters, and policy briefings on transportation issues. Luca is the newest member of the fantastic internship program in our office, which has mentored dozens of local students that are passionate about public policy and public service.
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Lauren Taylor
Summer Law Clerk
I attended the Fourth of July event at the Grand Park in Aliso Viejo this week. What a fantastic opportunity to get to speak with the community there. I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday! In addition to the fun celebrations of our country, I continue to work on achieving grants and possible funding for the Balboa Island Ferry. Our working team is working on the application for a specific grant right now. Together, we can save the Ferry!
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Health News
From the OC Health Care Agency
Health Alert for Measles from International Travel
Summer travel is underway and the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) encourages residents from Orange County (OC) to be up to date on measles vaccinations, following a Health Alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC warns of an increase in measles cases, with 88% of the cases connected to international travel. You can read the CDC’s Health Alert here.
Follow up with your primary care provider or local pharmacy for more information on where to get a measles vaccine. The HCA Travel Immunization Clinic offers vaccines by appointment. For more information on available vaccines visit: https://ochealthinfo.com/services-programs/flu-shots-immunizations/foreign-travel.
The CDC has been notified of 16 confirmed U.S. cases of measles since the first of 2023, compared to 3 cases during the same time period in 2022. Most of the cases were among children who had not received the MMR vaccine. To prevent measles infection and spread from importation, all U.S. residents should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially prior to international travel, regardless of the destination.
E-Bike Safety
E-scooters are the future of active, green public transportation! Riding behavior and safety are top priority, especially when it comes to helmets, sidewalks and speed.
If you’re under 18, please wear a fastened helmet. It’s also important to ride only in bike lanes, bike paths and bikeways. The only exceptions are when passing, when completing a turn and when avoiding hazards.
The e-scooter speed limit is 15 mph, regardless of a roadway’s higher speed limit. Don’t ride with a passenger, on the sidewalk or without your valid driver’s license. If you’re turning, dismount and walk your scooter. Treat crosswalks like sidewalks, hop off when crossing. Like driving any motor vehicle, operate by traffic rules. Remember to equip your scooter with lights and reflectors for nighttime safety.
Pet of the Week
Meet Pet of the Week, Mason!
Say hello to Mason, a 6-year-old, brave canine who endured a heartbreaking incident of suspected animal cruelty. Despite past hardships, Mason remains resilient and continues to show love and affection.
After arriving to the shelter severely underweight, Mason has made significant progress towards achieving a healthy weight, thanks to our wonderful team of staff and volunteers. He has a polite and welcoming demeanor, making him an ideal companion for anyone seeking an easygoing pet. Mason's kind nature triumphs over the pain he has suffered, proving that love can heal wounds. If you would like to adopt Mason, please call (714) 935-6848 and mention Animal ID A1807818.
United Ukrainian Ballet Co Brings “Giselle” to Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Last week, I attended the United Ukrainian Ballet Company’s performance of “Giselle” at our very own Segerstrom Center for the Arts. As a former ballerina, I truly enjoyed the passionate performances of the company comprised of refugee dancers from all over Ukraine. If you missed the performance while it was here in Costa Mesa or would like to learn more about the artists behind it, I encourage you to listen to Claudia Shambaugh’s KUCI podcast interview with Alexis Tutunnique and Elizaveta Gogidze, both principal dancers with the United Ukrainian Ballet Company. Listen here!
Join Team Foley
Check out the following job openings at the Office of Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley:
BenefitsCal
Last month, Orange County officially switched over to a new benefits enrollment portal called BenefitsCal. This new website replaces the former portal, MyBenefitsCalWIN, as a new simple way for our residents to apply for, view and renew benefits for health coverage, food and cash assistance. Households interested in applying for benefits assistance can now create an account at www.BenefitsCal.com and submit their application or link their old MyBenefitsCalWIN case to their account. For more information about BenefitsCal, including new features and capabilities, click here.
Tax Filing Deadline Extended to October 16, 2023
The IRS announced an extension to change the filing and payment deadlines to October 16, 2023 for victims of severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides in California. This extension applies to individuals and businesses in Orange County! Learn more here.
OC Waste and Recycling
Attention south county garden enthusiasts! Capistrano Greenery in San Juan Capistrano is expanding its hours – free compost is now available six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment. For more information on small and large quantities of compost and to schedule a pickup appointment in San Juan Capistrano or Irvine visit OCLandfills.com/compost.
From the Anti-Defamation League
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Annual Audit of Antisemitism 2022 Each year, ADL tracks incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault in the US. 2023 data shows alarming increases across the board.
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Hate in the Golden State Over the past two years, California has dealt with a significant increase in extremist activity driven by a variety of factors. This report will explore the range of extremist groups and movements operating in California and highlight the key extremist and antisemitic trends and incidents in the state throughout 2021 and 2022. It also includes especially noteworthy events and incidents from 2023.
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ADL and GLAAD Report: Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate and Extremism Incidents, 2022-2023 Between June 2022 and April 2023, ADL and GLAAD documented at least 356 anti-LGBTQ+ extremist and non-extremist incidents motivated by hate across the United States. Incidents about anti-LGBTQ+ hate and extremism are an important part of a larger story about the heightened threats facing the LGBTQ+ community in the US today.
OC Parks is Hiring!
Mesmerica - OC Planetarium Show
A local production company based out of Orange County, Mesmerica, is currently hosting a show at the OCC Planetarium! Stop by for a chance to view the extremely relaxing 3D art and family show. Check out the following link to get 15% off tickets to the show!
Substance Abuse Resource
Detox.com’s mission is to provide the best free resources for people to find self-help with substance abuse through detox and other mental health strategies. Check out their website for more information!
OC Alert
Sign up for AlertOC to get notified in case of emergency in Orange County. The mass notification system is designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed in the event of a time-sensitive emergency. YOU MUST OPT IN TO RECEIVE ALERTS. Register today at AlertOC.org.
Appointments for Veterans Services
OC Workforce Solutions
Ready Set OC offers no-cost employment training for Orange County youth ages 14-24, including those with disabilities or IEP plans, former or current foster children, pregnant or parenting, offender/ex-offender, and those experiencing homelessness, including couch-surfing or at risk of homelessness. To find out more information, call the OC Business and Economic Recovery Call Center at (714) 480-6500 or text (657) 210-1295. Email info@readysetoc.com
Equity in OC
Are you in charge of a grassroots organization? the Equity in OC initiative is releasing a POWER BUILDING FUND to provide smaller, grassroots organizations with the opportunity to build their infrastructure and/or capacity
Learn More: Here
Committee Appointments
If you have questions or comments that you'd like to share, in relation to the committees below, please email me at Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com
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Thank you for being an active member of our County.
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