Saturday evening, I joined the Crystal Cove Conservancy to celebrate their monumental 25th anniversary at their Endless Summer Soirée on the Pelican Point bluff top. Together with State Park partners, the Conservancy nonprofit restores the Crystal Cove State Park, educates our future environmental leaders, and conserves our precious coastline.  

My office funded $405,000 in STEM education programs, serving students in every school district in the Fabulous Fifth. Each year, more than 10,000 students participate in their programs to understand the importance of environmental stewardship, applying the scientific process to explore ecological questions, and proposing meaningful interventions to help protect the park’s natural ecosystems.

Following the OCTA meeting, I met with our Office of Legislative affairs to discuss the development of the County of Orange’s 2025-2026 legislative platform. Once adopted by the Board of Supervisors, the County’s legislative platform, outlines the County’s state and federal positions and priorities. My priorities center housing, public safety, and seniors. Stay tuned for an update later this month.  

Then, I met with Orange County Health Care Agency Director Veronica Kelley and County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong to discuss everything from respiratory virus season preparedness and immunization to the FDA-upgraded risk classification for egg recall from Milo Poultry Farms. Learn more in my Health Update below.  

At our Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board marked October 20 – 26, 2024, as “Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.” There is no safe level for lead, and many children do not look or act sick when poisoned by lead, making early intervention critical. Ask your doctor or pediatrician whether your child's blood needs testing. If you are pregnant or nursing, talk with your doctor about blood tests, potential lead sources in your home, and what to do. Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is an opportunity to remind families in our communities to focus on prevention year-round. Just this week, the EPA mandated that all municipalities remove lead pipes in the next 10 years.  

Lead poisoning is often linked with the paint of older homes. Children may also be exposed to lead from water pipes or brass and chrome-plated brass faucets, especially when using hot water. Lead may be found in many parts of a home, including soil, food, or even the air. Orange County has a lead abatement program available at no cost for qualifying homeowners (or renters) who occupy low-income, live-in homes built before 1978, have children six or younger with elevated levels of lead, or are pregnant and think they might be exposed to lead. For questions related to prevention, case management, or environmental investigations, please call (714) 567-6220.  

At the Board meeting, we enacted a number of our office initiatives, including a directive for staff to create a model ordinance for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). We must expand grid capacity, but not at the expense of neighborhood safety or increased fire risk. I first became aware of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility within a wildfire hazard zone from concerned residents in San Juan Capistrano and Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie Oddo of Laguna Niguel. While a key component for expanded grid capacity and grid electrification, BESS facilities located next to residential communities or in wildfire-prone areas present legitimate safety concerns. 

The OC Board of Supervisors possesses limited authority over planning and zoning laws. However, we hope by creating a model ordinance for cities to adopt, we can provide clear guidelines for responsible BESS facility development. 

The Board also formally supported Congressman Mike Levin’s Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024. After decades of stagnation in Washington, Congressman Mike Levin presents a solution to the spent nuclear fuel crisis. Representing the communities most impacted by the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in Orange County, we know how desperately our communities need this bipartisan legislation passed to move spent fuel off our fragile coast and earthquake fault. As the new Co-Chair of the Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition, I joined coalition leaders on Capitol Hill over the summer to advocate for spent fuel action with the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. Congressman Levin listened and now leads our efforts in the House to find a permanent solution for spent nuclear fuel. 

At the South Coast Metro Alliance (SCMA) Directors & Advisory Board meeting, I joined Mayor John Stephens, Mayor Valerie Amezcua, and Councilmember Phil Bacerra in sharing updates with our business leaders in the South Coast Metro area. Great news -- commercial office and retail space is filling up and doing well.  

The Apprenticeship Readiness program offered by the Los Angeles/Orange County Building Trades Council and the Career Connections program offered by the Western States Carpenters will transform our Juvenile population as they exit the criminal justice system and enter successful middle-class jobs, becoming productive members of society.  

Thank you to everyone who joined me for my Wellness Walk at the Doheny State Beach Butterfly Garden and beach walk on Thursday morning! As your County Supervisor, one of my top priorities remains protecting our precious coastlines by investing in sustainable climate solutions, so I enjoyed seeing the fruits of our labor on the Capo-Doheny Sand Replenishment Project. Sustaining our coastlines and saving our beaches requires dedication to excellence and lots of sand. This is why we’re hiring a Coastal Resilience Manager for all of Orange County’s coast and working with OCTA on providing nearly $200 million in sand nourishment for San Clemente beaches.  

Missed this Wellness Walk? Stay tuned here for details on upcoming opportunities to walk and talk with me in November and December!  

After getting our steps in, I welcomed the ACC-OC Economic Development and Tourism Committee to Dana Point Harbor and shared updates on the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization project. 

I spent the afternoon in my Dana Point Harbor satellite office catching up on memos and staff reports, returning constituent calls, and working with my team to plan a few upcoming events.  

Thursday late afternoon, I attended the ribbon cutting for MemorialCare Women's Health Pavilion Opening in Laguna Hills. The Women's Health Pavilion in Laguna Hills offers a comprehensive array of services in one state-of-the-art location — from expert obstetric and gynecologic services, gynecologic oncology, a cancer care boutique, and more. The Sarah & Taylor Nederlander Breast Center, which makes up the first floor of the Women’s Health Pavilion, features the most advanced technology for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, including 3D mammography, breast ultrasound and breast MRI. 

Please make a mammogram appointment today! Declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of the importance of proper screening, early testing, and prevention methods to safeguard our communities and loved ones. 

Plans for a café at Costa Mesa’s Lions Park, brewing for years, are now percolating 

City of Hope Orange County thinks pink for breast cancer awareness 

OC Board of Supervisors take steps to strengthen county contract oversight 

California pledged $500 million to help tenants preserve affordable housing. They didn’t get a dime.  

Prop. 36 endorsed by the OCDA, the OC Sheriff and the OC Supervisors, except for Sarmiento 

Orange County Supervisors Jump Into Street Crime Debate 

OC Supervisor Katrina Foley announces $3.2 million Grant to reconstruct public docks in Dana Point Harbor 

Tri-City News - Week of Oct. 10, 2024 

CDFW Funds 10 Projects to Boost Boating Access Across California 

Ways to Vote in the November 5 Presidential Election

Newport Beach's anti-camping law starts Oct. 10  

In continuing our Family’s Fabulous Fifth District tour, this past weekend my wife and I brought our boys to the Ocean Institute in the City of Dana Point. Supervisor Foley is a non-voting Government Representative on the Board of Directors for the Ocean Institute. Founded in 1977, this nonprofit’s mission the ocean as a classroom to inspire children to learn. The Ocean Institute is one of the leading resources for non-formal education executed on the ocean for students all around the Southern California region. Last year, the California Coastal Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to the City of Dana Point’s Local Coastal Program, which would allow for the construction of a low-cost hotel and market-rate hotel in the harbor at the site of the current Marina Inn. After nearly four years of negotiations, the approval includes support for a robust community benefits package negotiated by Supervisor Foley that invests more than $6 million in Orange County based service organizations over the life of the project, including $25,000 a year for Ocean Institute Title 1 school ocean science education programs. 

The boys enjoyed petting the star fishes, running along the harbor, and touring the Spirit of Dana Point, which is a traditionally built replica of a 1770s privateer schooner used during the American Revolution. For a listing of their programming and special events, please visit: https://oceaninstitute.org/cruises-and-sails/ 

Have a great and safe weekend everyone! 

Hi, District 5! 

My name is Abby Paulson, and I am the newest policy fellow joining Supervisor Foley’s team in the Fifth District! I grew up in Anoka, Minnesota, and decided to head west to the University of Utah in pursuit of a B.S. in Health and Kinesiology, as well as a B.S. in Political Science. My coursework often focused on environmental sustainability and women’s advocacy, and I enjoy learning about policy. While in school, I also enjoyed working on a coordinated health campaign with the Boys and Girls Club. Following graduation, I moved to Orange County and look forward to taking a very hands-on approach to learning about my new home and community through Supervisor Foley’s office. 

A fun fact about me: I practiced as a gymnast for 22 years. After competing on the US National Team, I spent five years as a University of Utah gymnast and officially retired this spring after the NCAA National Championship. Now that I can finally enjoy some free time for the first time in my life, exploring new hobbies and passions is my new top priority, and what better place in which to explore than in Orange County? 

This week, I also highlight the importance of voter registration. As a young individual, I happily and proudly exercise my right to vote. Visit vote.gov and begin the registration (or pre-registration) process! Join me in embracing our civic duty and making our voices heard by heading to the polls. 

Have an amazing weekend! 

Accessible Transit Advisory Committee (ATAC) advises OCTA about issues that relate to OCTA fixed-route transit and paratransit services for customers with special transportation needs. The Accessible Transit Advisory Committee was originally formed in 1992 in response to the Americans with Disabilities Act and formalized the predecessor “504 Committee.” 

Major Responsibilities Include: 

• Advising OCTA about issues that relate to OCTA transit and paratransit services. 

• Recommending the appropriate mechanism for obtaining disabled and senior service users’ input on issues, i.e., focus groups, surveys, public meetings, et cetera. 

• Communicating with care providers and agency clients regarding service-related information. 

• Assisting with special needs service evaluations. 

• Selected by the OCTA Board of Directors, the ATAC is composed of 34 members representing a broad base of individuals with disabilities and senior citizens in the county. Selection criteria for the ATAC includes demonstrated interest and involvement with people with special needs and senior citizens; membership in a large, active OCTA constituency group (i.e. Braille Institute, senior centers); and a willingness to dedicate no fewer than 8 hours a year to OCTA meetings and activities. This recruitment process typically takes place late winter/early spring with final selection in June. 

2024 Recruitment Period 

Each year, as terms of various members expire, a recruitment process is conducted to fill vacant positions on the ATAC. Applications will be accepted for the 2024-2025 Accessible Transit Advisory Committee spring of 2024. 

APPLY HERE. 

Save time and avoid the lines! You can check Vote Center wait times in Orange County online. Find your nearest Vote Center and check waiting times here!  

Prefer to drop your ballot in a drop box? Find your nearest drop box here! Remember – you can vote or drop off your ballot at any Vote Center or Ballot Drop Box in Orange County.  

Mailing in your ballot? Track the status of your ballot here! Looking for more information regarding voting? Use any of the QR codes below to find your answers:  

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies to preserve residential insurance coverage for approximately 750,000 policyholders affected by the Airport, Bridge, and Line fires located in the counties of Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino. The Commissioner’s Bulletin shields those living within the perimeters or adjoining ZIP Codes of these fires from insurance non-renewal or cancellation for one year from the date of the Governor’s emergency declarations regardless of whether they suffered a loss. 

You can find the press release here. 

Consumers can go to the Department of Insurance website to see if their ZIP Code is included in a moratorium. Consumers should contact the Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 or via chat or email at insurance.ca.gov if they believe their insurance company is in violation of this law or have additional claims-related questions. 

Following the Governor’s state of emergency declarations, the Department of Insurance partners with CAL FIRE and CalOES, pursuant to existing statute, to identify wildfire perimeters for mandatory moratorium areas. The Department of Insurance will continue to collaborate with CAL FIRE and CalOES to identify additional wildfire perimeters for any fires where the governor declares a state of emergency. 

Expanded Access for Veterans Housing Announced 

Stephanie Oddo, District 5 Orange County Housing and Community Development Commissioner 

Respiratory Virus Season Preparedness and Immunizations  

Vaccines remain a core prevention strategy to reduce transmission and severe illness this upcoming respiratory season. October is a great month to prepare! Everyone age 6 months and older is advised to receive a flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 vaccine for additional protection this winter. Certain populations (pregnant women, infants, everyone age 75 and older, and those age 60-74 at high risk of severe illness) are advised to also get an RSV vaccine.   

*Mpox Vaccine (Jynneos Vaccine) recommended for at-risk individuals/travelers. Of note, Jynneos is fully commercialized and will no longer be free beyond October 2024. 

Influenza (HPAI) & A-(H5N1) Bird Flu  

As of October 7, 2024, H5N1 has been detected in 82 dairies in Central California. All affected dairies have been placed under quarantine with enhanced biosecurity measures. California’s supply of milk and dairy remains safe as pasteurization effectively inactivates the virus. Two human cases of HPAI related to this incident have been confirmed in California, with one additional case being investigated. All cases had contact with infected dairy cows. On September 19, 2024, H5N1 was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Merced County.  

Global Outbreaks  

Marbug Virus – 80% fatality rate from this Ebola-like virus from Rwanda. See here for more info: 

FDA Upgrades risk classification for Egg Recall from Milo Poultry Farms September 30, 2024  

Earlier this year, FDA recalled Milo Poultry Farm eggs distributed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan because of potential Salmonella contamination.  

Recalled items: All carton sizes with expiration date October 12 and earlier for the following brands: Milo poultry Farms, M&E Family Farms, and Tony’s Fresh Market should be discarded immediately. The alert also includes duck egg brands Happy Quacker Farm – packaged by Milo’s Poultry Farms.  

IV Solution Challenges Related to Hurricane Helene  

CDPH released CAHAN – California Health Alert Network Notification October 3, 2024. Hurricane Helene severely damaged facilities at the Baxter International Plant in North Carolina, resulting in its closure and a disruption in IV Saline supply. Baxter International has provided suggestions for management and conservation here. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and The Emergency Medical Services Authority, in partnership with the Regional Disaster Medical Health System, are assessing local and regional supplies. The HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is tracking potential impacts and CDPH is in contact with ASPR.  

People 65 years of age and older experience highest risk of severe disease. To those 6 months of age and older, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations. If symptomatic, recommendations include preventative measures such as wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces, practicing good hand hygiene, and staying home. Reduce transmission and protect vulnerable populations such as seniors, those younger than one year old, and those with severe medical conditions.  

For more information, please visit the OC HCA website at https://ochealthinfo.com/covid. 

Thank you, 
Regina Chinsio-Kwong, DO
County Health Officer 

Measles Information for General Public  

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness. Measles presents with a fever and characteristic rash. Measles can be a serious disease: 

• 1 in 5 people who get measles are hospitalized 

• 1 out of 1,000 people with measles develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain) 

• 1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles die  

Measles can be prevented with measles vaccine, usually as part of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Additional Information on measles can be found at the CDC’s Measles page. 

In partnership with CalOptima, FentanylSolution.org is proud to offer free deliveries of Naloxone (8mg Kloxxado) at absolutely no-cost to all residents and businesses across Orange County. 

Naloxone, often known as Narcan or Kloxxado, is an over-the-counter nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdoses in just 1-2 minutes. It quickly restores normal breathing in someone experiencing an overdose, making it essential for bystanders to have on hand in emergencies. Naloxone is safe, non-addictive, and can be given to anyone suspected of overdosing, regardless of their age or medical history. 

Our staff can deliver these supplies at no cost to all OC residents, businesses, and organizations. Our goal is to reach community members who may find themselves in a position to act as bystanders during an overdose emergency. We also offer training upon request and can accommodate bulk orders. 

To request your free delivery of Naloxone, please fill out our brief online form at https://tinyurl.com/FentSolOC 

Join FentanylSolution.org in our mission to reduce opioid-related harm and save lives in communities across Orange County. 

Aliso Viejo 

Costa Mesa 

Dana Point 

Irvine 

Laguna Niguel 

Laguna Woods

Newport Beach 

San Clemente 

San Juan Capistrano