Adam Tallabas
District Representative / Policy Analyst
This week, I had the privilege of touring the Share Our Selves Community Health Center in Costa Mesa alongside dignitaries from our representatives at the federal and state level as well as other representatives from the County. Our community is being served by quality, passionate doctors, dentists and social workers that are truly dedicated to helping those in need. To celebrate National Health Center Week, we provided certificates to both Share Our Selves and the Coalition of Community Health Centers Orange County! Later, our office supported the new small business, Thyme Well Spent, in Costa Mesa!
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Today, I attended the beautiful unveiling of a mural depicting Nellie Gail Moulton’s Mission Garden in San Juan Capistrano at Ortega Capistrano’s Trading House! Our office remains committed to supporting the arts. We were happy to join the unveiling alongside leaders from the State, City and Chamber. Congratulations to the Alliance for San Juan Art!
Jonathan Davis
Policy Advisor
Save the date for Wednesday August 30, 2023! Supervisor Foley will be hosting an all-day Investigative Hearing on Climate Resiliency with Supervisor Sarmiento, featuring industry leaders and representatives from our local cities. The hearing will focus on finding solutions to pressing issues such as the future of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor, zero emission vehicle fueling infrastructure, and developing a climate action plan for Orange County and local cities. I spent this week working on logistics for the hearing, performing outreach to our panelists, and developing a plan for a successful event with our team.
We look forward to updating the community with more information in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
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Cindy Tran-Chang
District Representative
Last Saturday, I staffed the morning shift of Goin’ Native’s Festival of Butterflies event in San Juan Capistrano. What an awesome event that brings the community together! The fabulous fifth district boasts various interesting cultural and artistic events, parades and festivals throughout the year. Make sure to stay subscribed to Supervisor Foley’s newsletter and invite your family and friends to subscribe so you can stay updated with all the festivities, great for children and families!
This week, I closed out the work I started last Friday on helping a student experiencing homelessness with leads for a stable permanent housing option. I worked with County staff and non-profit shelters to identity each entity’s requirements for transitional aged youth. In the process, I obtained resources that I consolidated for future inquiries related to transitional and permanent housing opportunities.
At this week’s Wellness Walk with the Supervisor in Rancho Mission Viejo, I caught up with Ladera Rancho Chamber President, Todd Stearns on all the work the Supervisor is doing to support residents in District 5. Finally, I continue progressing in the planning of Supervisor Foley’s Senior Summit, including securing the beautiful Performing Arts Center at Soka!
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Claire McCarthy
District Intern
Hi District 5! This Tuesday I watched the Board of Supervisors meeting while working on a research project focusing on one of the items. I read the Grand Jury’s report “The ABCs of Educating Children Experiencing Homeless in Orange County” and learned about children experiencing homelessness who are far too often overlooked. All children deserve an education and the resources to do so, including housing. One of the Supervisor’s main priorities is to reduce homelessness through investing in long-term and low-cost housing, especially for the most vulnerable populations like youth. Wednesday, I attended the Wellness Walk at the Nature Preserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.
On Thursday, my last day in the office, I prepped the agenda binders for the upcoming board meeting. Working in the office this summer was truly an unforgettable experience. I learned so much about our County and visited so many places I never knew existed like Los Rios Street Historic District in San Juan Capistrano. It is so fun traveling across the County, meeting new people and seeing firsthand the work being done to further improve our community. Next week, I head back to school at Arizona State University (Forks up!) for my third year. Until next time District 5. Huzzah!
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Forks up at the Wellness Wednesday Walk with ASU Alum, Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Napuri!
Grace McNeill
Communications Intern
Hi District Five! This week, I explored a lot of different areas in elected official communications. From scheduling social media posts, drafting the newsletter, working on an upcoming opinion article, and attending our weekly communications meeting, I have gotten to see all that goes into communicating with the public. Under our Communications Director Stefanie Lao and fellow communications intern Olivia, I received a first-hand look into a career path that really interests me. Tonight, I will be at Soka University for a Pacific Symphony’s “Symphony on the Go” concert! If you see our booth, please come by and say hello!
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Olivia Meis
Communications Intern
Happy Friday, District 5! Did you know a group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope? I learned this and more at the Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens’ annual Butterfly Festival last Saturday! San Juan Capistrano’s historic Los Rios district is beautiful, made even more so by a kaleidoscope of handmade butterfly crowns, a mariachi serenade and butterfly line dancing. The highlight of my day: honoring the 2023 Butterfly Festival Ambassador and local butterfly advocate, 12-year-old Paxton. Care for keystone species like our butterflies protects Orange County’s precious ecosystems.
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Luca Shakoori
Policy Intern
Hey District Five, I hope you guys had a great week! This past weekend, I had the opportunity to join our District Representative and Policy Analyst Adam at the Newport Mesa Unified School District Resource Fair. It was really fun seeing the smiles (and half-smiles) on the kids’ faces when I asked them about heading back to school. On Monday, I mainly worked on preparing the Supervisor’s binder for the Board meeting. I enjoy working on the agenda because it allows me to grasp the breadth of our work by giving me a sneak peek into the many County agencies. Specifically, I saw how the Sheriff-Coroner's Office makes contracts with cities, in this case Laguna Hills, to meet the safety needs of OC residents. See you all next week!
Luca Fasulo
Policy Intern
Hi District Five! This was my first week back in the office after working for an incredible program called Special Camp for the past three weeks. Special Camp is a one-of-a-kind program where a camper with special needs is paired with a counselor for a week of fun activities such as going to the Santa Ana Zoo, Doheny Beach, Knott’s Berry Farm, and so much more! With it being my second year as a part of the support staff, watching the lasting friendships that Special Camp creates is a truly remarkable and fulfilling feeling. During the closing ceremony on the last day of camp, we were fortunate to have been visited by Supervisor Foley, and I will never forget the beaming smiles of both the campers and staff members as she presented certificates recognizing Special Camp and our amazing Executive Director, Lindsay Eres.
This week, I had the pleasure of working on a few interesting projects. Notably, I enjoyed writing a briefing for this week’s Transportation Corridor Agencies’ Joint Board Meeting and getting a head start on analyzing agenda items for the next Board of Supervisors meeting. A personal project I’ve also been working on is utilizing research and case studies, such as the Surfer’s Point Managed Retreat Project in Ventura, to come up with potential solutions for coastal erosion. I hope you all have a safe and relaxing weekend!
Dana Point Harbor News
From the Marina at Dana Point
MARINA REVITALIZATION PHASE 1 & 2 GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION!
We are pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the long-awaited new docks at The Marina at Dana Point. Please join us for food, drinks, music and celebration including the unveiling of the dock names and more!
LOCATION: 24650 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629
DATE AND TIME: 08/16/23 6:30pm - 08/16/23 8:30pm US/Pacific
Parking is available in the West Cove boater lot. Event is in the West Cove Phase 1 & 2 grass and parking lot areas near Dock Gates 8-12
Health News
From the OC Health Care Agency
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA), Communicable Disease Control Division is reporting an increase in the percentage of positive COVID-19 PCR tests in Orange County residents over the past month. To minimize the severity of the recent increase, the HCA is reminding residents to take preventative actions to reduce the risk of severe illness or hospitalization. The recent increase resembles previous seasons where the disease activity rises during both the summer and winter months. Additionally, the age distribution of recent cases follows the pattern seen over the past year with the highest rates occurring among those 0-3 years of age and 75 years and older. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are not currently experiencing an increase. If you recently attended a large gathering/event, traveled, or came into close contact with someone who has COVID-19, self-monitor for symptoms and get tested.
- If you are sick, stay home and get tested.
- Wearing a well-fitting mask in crowded indoor spaces has been shown to be an effective intervention at decreasing the risk of acquiring or spreading COVID-19.
- All individuals should continue to practice good cough and hand hygiene.
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We strongly recommend all individuals 6 months and older stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. The current COVID-19 vaccine schedule, including for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, can be found here: Interim COVID-19 Immunization Schedule. To schedule a vaccine appointment, visit https://myturn.ca.gov/.
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Adults and Children at risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 disease should be assessed for appropriate COVID-19 treatment. For more information about COVID-19 treatment, go to https://covid19.ca.gov/treatment.
For more information on COVID-19, visit www.ochealthinfo.com/covid. Additionally, the HCA responds to community inquiries through the Agency’s Health Referral Line at 1 (800) 564-8448, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clinicians are advised to remain informed of updated COVID-19 guidance: Link to CDC.
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.
OCTA Free Hikes & Equestrian Rides
Orange County is home to some of the most beautiful protected wilderness areas in the country. Experience and enjoy the natural landscape with OCTA's free docent-led hikes and equestrian rides!
Lace up your hiking shoes or saddle up your horse, and sign up for a free hike or equestrian ride today. Come see Orange County as it was yesterday, and as it will be tomorrow.
OC Animal Care
Through Kennel Connection, visitors can view ready-to-adopt pets right in their kennels every Wednesday and Saturday. No appointment needed to walk through. One-on-one visits available on a first come, first serve basis.
All Summer Long at OC Animal Care
OC Animal Care launched its comprehensive summer initiative, All Summer Long at OC Animal Care. This program aims to connect the community with shelter animals through numerous engaging events and pilot projects.
All Summer Long at OC Animal Care offers three distinct sections, ensuring there is something for everyone, including prospective pet owners, current pet owners and those looking to get involved with the shelter.
To learn more, visit the All Summer Long at OC Animal Care page.
Pet of the Week
Meet Pet of the Week, Dylan!
Say hello to our lovable star, Dylan! This handsome 4-year-old bull terrier is a bundle of joy looking for his forever home.
Whether he's chasing a ball, going on a walk, or simply cuddling up beside you, Dylan's excitement for life is infectious. Shortly after his arrival at our shelter, he was featured at Pooches on the Patio and did extremely well around his furry friends and people!
If you think Dylan would be the perfect addition to your family, call (714) 935-6848 and mention Animal ID A1822681.
Join Team Foley - DEADLINE EXTENDED
The office of Supervisor Katrina Foley seeks qualified candidates for the three job postings below.
The positions are based at the County Administration building in Santa Ana, with travel requirements throughout District 5.
DEADLINE EXTENDED – Our Internship program’s application deadline has been extended to August 11, 2023 at 11:59 PM PST. Please email Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com and cc Adam.Tallabas@ocgov.com with your resume and a writing sample by that date for consideration.
OC Workforce One-Stop: OPEN NOW!
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
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.
From the OC Treasurer
Secured Property Tax Collections Year-End Update:
As of June 30, 2023, 99.23% of secured property taxes has been received, a collection rate just slightly less than the collection rate of 99.27% received as of June 30, 2022 and just short of our record collection rate of 99.3%. For the first and second installments, 98.70% of secured property tax bills have been paid, just slightly lower than the 98.83% paid as of June 30, 2022. In addition, out of the 879,000 secured property tax bills mailed this year totaling $8.3 billion, 868,016 secured property tax bills have been paid versus 865,000 paid as of the same time last year. In addition, total payments received for both installments are up $482.8 million from the same time last year.
Financial Tip of the Week:
You may have heard about food delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats: you order through a restaurant’s website or a delivery service’s mobile app and drivers deliver your food. We’re hearing about a new scam targeting food delivery drivers and restaurants.
"Scammers posing as “support” from food delivery services are contacting delivery drivers and restaurants and trying to steal their personal and financial information.Scammers posing as “support” from food delivery services are contacting delivery drivers and restaurants and trying to steal their personal and financial information.
In one scenario, the scammer tells delivery drivers and restaurants they’re sending a free tablet or printer to handle food delivery orders. To do that, they say, they need to “verify” your phone number, email and login, Social Security number and bank account to send the equipment.
In another scenario, the scammer says they need the driver’s email or bank account because there’s a problem with an order, or they want to refund them money from a canceled order. After getting the driver or restaurant owner’s email, the scammer may ask for an email verification code...which you never want to share.
If you get requests like this, no matter where you work: Stop. Here’s how to avoid the scams.
- Don’t give your personal or financial information to someone who unexpectedly calls, texts, or emails you. They may be trying to steal from you.
- If you think the request is legitimate, contact the business directly. But use a phone number you know is real or a website or app you found yourself.
- Never share an email verification code with someone if you didn’t contact them first. Scammers are after your information and money. Sharing verification codes makes it easier for them to pretend to be you. Once they’re “you,” they have access to your accounts and can take your money.
Find out what to do if you paid a scammer or gave a scammer your personal information.
And if you spot these scams, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. When you report a scam, you help the FTC and other law enforcement agencies stop scams.
OC Waste and Recycling
Are you an Orange County resident trying to dispose of bulky items like old refrigerators and appliances but not sure how? Start by checking with your local waste hauler. Many haulers offer free bulky item pickups. For information on local haulers and recycling coordinators visit OCLandfills.com/quick-links.
⏰Time for yardwork? OC Waste and Recycling offers free compost and mulch by appointment to OC residents! Schedule a pick up appointment in Irvine or San Juan Capistrano (free compost coming to Brea soon).
🌱Capistrano Greenery in San Juan Capistrano is expanding its hours - compost is now available six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment.
🌱Free compost is also available at the Bee Canyon Greenery in Irvine, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. by appointment.
For more information on Capistrano Greenery in San Juan Capistrano, Bee Canyon Greenery in Irvine and Valencia Greenery in Brea, along with details on small and large quantities of compost, 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.
MILESTONE: 1 in 4 New Cars Sold in California Were Zero-Emission
From California Governor Gavin Newsom's Office
In a historic first, 1 in every 4 new cars sold last quarter in California were zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Earlier this year, the state surpassed its goal of selling 1.5 million ZEVs – a full two years ahead of schedule.
Learn more here.
OC Parks is Hiring!
OC Parks Ranger
Park Rangers play an important role in protecting Orange County’s 60,000 acres of parks, open space and beaches. They work hard to keep parks safe, clean and enjoyable for 15 million visitors each year. Learn more here.
OC Parks Rangers are sworn peace officers and perform a wide variety of duties at different types of facilities, including regional and wilderness parks, camping parks and beaches. Candidates will be required to participate in a written test, oral interviews and a comprehensive background investigation that includes medical and physiological examinations. Successful candidates will join a high performing team that serves our communities seven days a week.
OC Parks Maintenance Workers
The Park Maintenance Worker I position performs routine unskilled and semiskilled grounds maintenance, landscape, and facility maintenance, along with repair work.
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!
The Sounds of Summer
Keep your eyes peeled for our booth at concerts in the park across the district this summer!
Our first Symphony on the Go! summer concert drew a fabulous crowd to Rancho Mission Viejo! Beautiful music is one of life’s great joys, now freely accessible to Orange County residents all summer. For more info: https://www.pacificsymphony.org/SOTG
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.
Explore the Ocean from the Water!
Join the Ocean Institute for a 2-hour interactive kayak tour around the Dana Point harbor. Learn about the history of the harbor and its unique ecosystem from expert Naturalists. All experience levels are welcome!
Must be at least 3 years old to participate. Guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Learn more here.
Orange County Resources
UPDATED LINK: Alert OC
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 this link!
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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