Our OC Sheriff's Department’s Harbor Patrol ensures our coastal community stays safe. This week, we honored the 50th Anniversary of OC Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol. Deputies conducted more than 200 rescues last year and respond to more than 12,000 calls for service annually, including law enforcement, vessel firefighting, search and rescue, hazardous materials response, port security, wildlife protection, and water safety education. We’re updating our Harbor Patrol fleet with Metal Sharks and upgrading 11 of our fire and patrol boats. Our top-of-the-line team of 61 around-the-clock professionals, including 46 sworn deputies, 8 marine shop personnel, four dispatchers, two professional staff members, and one captain, deserve the top-of-the-line tools as they ensure the safety and security of Orange County’s waterways.  

Supporting a Healthier Community  

As climate change impacts our coastal economy, way of life, and health, Orange County innovates. The Climate Action Plan (CAP) outlines ways the County government can reach the State’s ambitious climate goals; it is not a mandate on how private citizens live their lives. I joined our OC Deputy Director of Environmental Sustainability Tara Tisopulos and County staff to discuss our official greenhouse gas inventory and review the County’s emission reduction targets and the timeline for our CAP completion. Over the past months, our team refined the CAP to target high-impact actions where funding still exists, and where we can achieve the highest reductions the fastest without relying on federal dollars. Our main focus is to reduce the carbon emissions seeping out from our landfills filled with trash dating back decades. That alone will reduce our county carbon emissions by more than 80%.

Advocating for Businesses and a Thriving Economy  

As your County Supervisor, it’s my privilege to provide you with easy access to County and State resources. In partnership with the California Secretary of State and our Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen, my office helped host another successful Apostille Pop-Up Shop for free, easy clerk services at our County Administration campus. The Apostille helps businesses and residents authenticate their business and personal documents for traveling, living, or doing business in other countries. Stay tuned for similar upcoming opportunities.  

Ensuring All Residents Have a Place in Orange County to Call Home 

Orange County continues to experience brain drain, and it just got harder. This week the OC Register reported that the average salary to own a home in Orange County is $373,200! In perfect timing with Affordable Housing Month, I spoke with NBC LA about my continued work investing in more housing development options to combat escalating costs. As housing costs in Orange County balloon, even our first responders, teachers, or any neighbor earning $94k or less now qualify as "low income." Our aging County residents need a workforce, and future generations deserve a permanent place to live, play, and grow.  

Investing in Our Community  

We continued progress in protecting our precious coastlines at our OCTA Board Meeting. I commend the California Coastal Commission’s efficiency in approving OCTA’s critical emergency permit to construct a permanent catchment wall at Mariposa Point and reconstruct San Clemente’s pedestrian trail in Area 3. My team continues to work on bringing sand from the Del Prado Dam through the rail line to prevent thousands of long truck trips and expedite sand delivery overall. So far, we’ve expedited the approval of 240,000 cubic yards of sand onto our beaches. I urge the Commission to redesignate Area 4 as an emergency spot, so we can have approval for the remaining 300,000 cubic yards of wide, sandy protection, and save our beaches.  

In my two decades of public service, I consistently advocated for the removal of the Gisler Street Bridge and 19th Street Bridge from the Master Plan of Arterial Highways. As of this week, with the OCTA Board’s unanimous vote, both bridges are removed from the Master Plan of Arterial Highways. Our residents in Mesa Verde can finally rest knowing after more than twenty years of advocacy, the Gisler Street Bridge will not threaten their neighborhood, coastal preserves, and golf course with unnecessary heavy traffic and eminent domain takings. 

Engaging with Our Community  

Volunteer with us at the 8th Annual Love Costa Mesa Day of family fun and community service. Please consider donating hygiene necessities – soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and more – as my team builds hygiene kits for our Costa Mesa Senior Center participants.  

This weekend, we honor the servicemembers of our Armed Forces, whose dedication to defending our great nation ensures that we can stand freely in the paradise we call home. Join me in paying your respects by visiting the Field of Honor at Castaways Park in Newport Beach this weekend. 

I look forward to visiting with everyone in our coastal community at all of the sailing and boating opening day events this weekend.   

Making less than $100k in Orange County? You may qualify for low-income housing  

 DPWC Hosts Successful 4th Annual Cocktails for a Cause!  

John Wayne Airport’s Real ID Enforcement 

While the TSA is ultimately responsible for ID verification at security checkpoints, JWA has taken proactive steps to support public awareness and ensure a smooth experience for travelers.

JWA has implemented a coordinated outreach campaign that includes: 

• Terminal signage and informational materials
• Overhead announcements playing throughout the Terminal
• Updates to the JWA website
• Social media messaging
• Collaboration with partner agencies to share information region-wide  

John Wayne Airport remains committed to ensuring a smooth, safe, and informed travel experience and will continue working closely with TSA and our federal partners to assist travelers as the deadline approaches. 

District 5 seeks a qualified individual to serve on the Ethics Commission, which oversees the County's Campaign Reform, Lobbyist Registration, Gift Ban Ordinances, and Code of Ethics. Submit your CV or resume, a short bio, and the linked application to Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com. 

The County of Orange invites the public to a workshop to review and discuss the County’s FY 2025–26 Recommended Budget, featuring a presentation by the County’s Budget and Finance Office, followed by a Q&A session where attendees can engage directly with County staff. 

• Virtual Session 1: Thursday, May 29, 2025  Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm  Online Platform: Microsoft Teams  Registration: cfo.ocgov.com/public-workshop  

• Virtual Session 2: Thursday, May 29, 2025  Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Online Platform: Microsoft Teams  Registration: cfo.ocgov.com/public-workshop  

Attendees are encouraged to register for either session of the workshop to receive access details for the virtual session. To register for the virtual workshops, visit cfo.ocgov.com/public-workshop. 

AquaFest 

The Dana Point Harbor Aquatic Foundation & Westwind Sailing are hosting their 9th Annual Aquafest on Sunday, May 18, 2025 to usher in National Safe Boating Week and showcase the public access educational boating programs throughout Dana Point Harbor. Aquafest offers FREE lifejackets, goodie bags, sno cones, sail rides, kayak clinics, live music, and more.  

FentanylSolution.org offers free deliveries of Naloxone (8mg Kloxxado) -- an over-the-counter nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdoses -- at absolutely no-cost to all residents and businesses across Orange County. Request free delivery of Naloxone: https://tinyurl.com/FentSolOC 

County Mental Health Resources  

This Mental Health Month, explore the following County resources for your health and the health of our community:  

• At OCNavigator.com, find local resources regarding mental health, substance use providers, housing support, and more.  

• Contact OC Links anytime at (855) 625-4657 to access a free, 24/7 phone line and live chat. You’ll have the chance to talk with an understanding and supportive “Navigator,” specially trained to guide you to helpful Health Care Agency resources. 

• 2-1-1 is a simple toll free, three digit phone number -- easy to remember, and connecting thousands of OC residents and families to community programs, including community clinics, dental care, immunizations, and prescription assistance, food, homeless shelters, elder and child care, legal services and other resources offered by local nonprofits and government agencies.
  
  
• Call OC WarmLine at (714) 991-6412 for emotional support and resources for Orange County residents. WarmLine is a free and confidential telephone service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

First Kitten Foster Orientation 

Kitten season is here! Join OCAC for their first Kitten Foster Orientation of the season on Saturday, May 17. Drop by and learn how they can make a real difference for baby kittens this season. Learn more here. 

Aliso Viejo 

Costa Mesa 

Dana Point 

Irvine 

Laguna Niguel 

Laguna Woods

Newport Beach 

San Clemente 

San Juan Capistrano