Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley
Dear neighbor:
This week, we witnessed justice in action. After sentencing former Supervisor Andrew Do to five years in federal prison last week, Federal Judge James Selna announced the seizure of $2.4 million dollars in assets connected to the crimes committed by Mr. Do and his associates, including bank accounts and two properties purchased with the stolen money. We also learned that the Department of Justice will recommend return the funds to the County of Orange. My priority remains ensuring the returned dollars assist those facing food insecurity -- especially in light of proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- and reimbursing the costs of the audits as a result of the corruption scandal.
Saturday marked Flag Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. Our flag serves as a reminder of our nation’s shared calling for democracy and justice for all. It flies, even on our darkest days, over small-town squares, high school gyms, baseball fields, skyscrapers, and across the United States of America. Thank you to all who joined us in honoring our stars and stripes, and the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday at our annual Flag Day Ceremony & Celebration. I enjoyed seeing so many in our community gather to celebrate our American liberties and the dedication of our service members. Special thanks to my friend Bobby McDonald for an unforgettable tribute to this important day, our VFW Post 9934 for a moving honor guard and flag ceremony, and to OC Sound for a beautiful rendition of our national anthem. I already look forward to next year’s Flag Day celebration.
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 With OC Parks; Photos by Jessica Nettles Photography
 Top: Here I am cutting the birthday cake in celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday alongside Bobby McDonald, Chase Wickersham, and members of the VFW Post 9934
 Top left: Here I am with VFW Post 9934 Commander Rick Jauregui; Top right: Thank you to all who came out to honor our veterans and active-service members, including Laguna Niguel City Council member Stephanie Oddo; Bottom: (Left to right) Here I am with Evette Kim, Tom Boscamp, Chase Wickersham, Bobby McDonald, Jamie Poston, and Fifth District veterans
 Top left: Here is members of the VFW Post 9934 presenting Bobby McDonald with our Stars and Stripes during the ceremony; Top right: Here I am with Ed Liefke and Dr. Tammi LaTourette; Bottom left: Thank you to the OC Sound Chorus for their beautiful rendition of the national anthem
We continued recognizing our veterans and active service members at the Army Corps Ball with the American Legion Post 291 overlooking Newport Harbor. I enjoyed the honor of presenting certificates of recognition to Ray Ricard and Juan Garcia – two veterans who served our great nation in the United States Army, and who continue volunteering their time in invaluable service to our Orange County community. I enjoyed spending the evening with friends old and new, including , SSGT Bill Stewart USAF ret., MSG. Jorge Oliveros U.S. Army, SGT. Willy USMC (who currently serves as an intern in my office!), SSG Evette Kim USAR, and Bobby McDonald USN ret.
 Top left: MSD. Ray Ricard U.S. Army ret.; Top right: SSGT Bill Stewart USAF ret.; Bottom: MSG. Jorge Oliveros U.S. Army, & SGT. Willy Taylor USMC, who currently serves as an intern in my office, SSG. Evette Kim USAR, and Bobby McDonald USN ret.; With Civilian Aid to the Secretary of the Army, Janet Chin
Keeping Our Community Safe
Did you know John Wayne Airport safeguards travelers with its own Fire Station? Station 33 Firefighters train daily to respond to aircraft emergencies and other emergencies at John Wayne Airport and the surrounding area. This week, we unveiled a state-of-the-art crane, which will allow our fire crews to work safely and more efficiently in emergency removal of planes or other debris up to 12,500 lbs from a runway or taxiway - in just 20 minutes! Thanks to the partnership of OCFA and John Wayne Airport, we continue our longstanding commitment to creating a safer and more sustainable airport for our travelers.
 Top Left: Joining OCFA in our new state-of-the-art crane, prepped for emergency operations; Middle Left: With our dedicated Station 33 team; Bottom Left: With JWA Director Charlene Reynolds; Right: This crane can lift planes and remove them from our runways in just 20 minutes
Our libraries open our community up to brand new worlds and thoughts. At the Newport Beach Library Foundation’s Summer Solstice Celebration, we congratulated Foundation leader and visionary Karen Heath Clark on almost a quarter century of dedication to this hub of learning and to the building of the new Witte lecture hall. Click here to become a member. The beautiful display of American flags at the Civic Center reminded me of our Flag Day celebration last weekend – check it out.
 Top: Enjoying the American flag display at Newport Beach Civic Center; Bottom Left: With Dr. John McHugh, who serves on the Executive Board of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, District IX. He continues to serve as Clinical Co-Chair of the California Preconception Health Care Council and as a USC Adjunct Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and his wife Vanessa, who sits on the Library Foundaiton Board; Bottom right: With Keiko Sakamoto Witte and Karen Heath Clark
Supporting a Healthier Orange County
I led Irvine leadership on a tour of our new Health Care Agency Marine Way campus. The campus houses our public health lab, emergency management services, and community and nursing service administrative and training offices. Located next to our future BeWell Health and Wellness campus, this facility strengthens our vision for a hub of integrated care and support within the Great Park community.
 Caption: Top left: Here I am with Irvine City Councilmembers Melinda Liu and William Go; Top Right: Thank you to county CEO Michelle Aguirre for joining us on this tour of the Marine Way Campus; Bottom: (Left to Right) Here I am with Brian Bauer, Mat Miller, Irvine Mayor Agran’s Chief of Staff Jeanne Baran, Orange County CEO Michelle Aguirre, Irvine City Councilmembers Melinda Liu and William Go, Irvine Assistant City Manager Brian King, & Mindy Winterswyk
Advocating for Our Thriving Economy & Investing in Our Community
Summer offers us the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the sunshine in this paradise we call home. Thank you to all who joined us for our Wellness Walk around California’s oldest neighborhood – the Los Rios District – and River Street Marketplace, a new shopping and dining destination nestled in the heart of San Juan Capistrano’s historic district. Here, visitors enjoy supporting 10 unique restaurants, horse rides at the River Street Ranch (where a new children’s train debuts this week), and biking safely through the crosswalk I helped install. We enjoyed the sunny evening on this healthy mile walk, with historic relevance tour by Harrison Taylor, and supporting our local businesses: the backbone of our community. I hope to see you at our July Wellness Walk!
 Top Left: A photo of me with a mural of James Ito, whose family was interned during WWII and lost everything, then built back with the farm that later was sold and developed into Riverstreet marketTop right: Here I am walking with a constituent of the Fabulous Fifth District on the way to River Street Market place; Bottom Left: Thank you to Almquist Director of Development and Leasing Harrison Taylor, for the tour of your childhood neighborhood and your development company’s hard work on River Street Marketplace; Bottom right: Thank you to all the constituents and community leaders who spent their evening with us, including Ben Medina, Director of Operations at the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce, and James Harman, Chief Assistant County Council
Welcome to Dana Point, Citibank! I joined Citibank’s leadership team, the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and local Orange County nonprofits at their Grand Opening. Here, residents can find more than a broad range of financial services – from brokerage, wealth management, and consumer banking – they can enjoy investing in their community and contributing to our thriving Orange County economy.
 With Citibank leadership and employees, celebrating their Grand Opening
We also toured the progress on our Dana Point Harbor revitalization project with our Dana Point Harbor Partners and the OCBC Economic Development Committee. The Commercial Core aspect of the Revitalization will elevate the Harbor’s restaurants, retail, and parkscapes, including picturesque public spaces for year-round education, activities, and entertainment for the entire community.
We look forward to welcoming boaters to their new slips just in time for the summer season, with Phase 7.2 in the West Basin set to open on July 1. Next up is Phase 9, which will include demolition of M and N docks in the East Basin Island. In preparation for the next phase of commercial core revitalization, Dana Point Harbor Partners recently announced plans to relocate several tenants from Dana Village to Dana Wharf which will leave the Dana Wharf area 100 percent full, creating a bustling environment for Orange County to dine, shop, and play. We'll keep you posted here with any updates.
 With our Dana Point Harbor Partners, touring the progress on the latest stages of Dana Point Harbor revitalization
Engaging with Our Community
A rich history of boating shapes this coastal community we call home, with 11 yacht clubs located in the Fabulous Fifth District. I joined the Balboa Yacht Club in kicking off their ninth annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival this week. This year's theme, “Stories from the sea: Wooden boats in film & fiction,” encourages us to celebrate the boaters who inspire our coastal community and all its seafaring adventures. I enjoyed the live music, plein air artists painting boats from iconic films, and of course, engaging with our boaters.
 Top Left: Congratulating Denise Archambault and Steve Palijieg on a successful Wooden Boat Festival; Top Right: Here I am admiring the Galatea, a seiner yacht built in 1967 for Billa Hanna, cartoonist and creator of beloved characters like Fred Flintstone and Yogi Bear; Bottom Right: With my friend Mary Fleiss & Frank Sinatra
Voting is safe and secure in Orange County -- our OC Registrar of Voters ensure that. I spoke at the League of Women Voters (LWV) Orange Coast lunch about the security of our voting systems, and the critical role our poll workers play in the democratic process. In the 2024 election, OC Registrar mailed ballots to more than 1.8 million active registered voters. Our county is home to 184 Vote Centers, 23 Drive-Thru Drop-Off Locations, 5 Pop-Up Voting Events, and 123 Drop Boxes, and have provided OC residents with varied and abundant opportunities to vote. Thank you to the LWV for inviting me for this important discussion on we ensure a safe democratic system thrives in Orange County.
 With Trudy Jospehson of LWV and my fabulous tablemates
I joined Ed Steinfeld on “The Voice of Laguna” today to discuss the county’s work in building a safer, healthier, economically thriving Laguna Beach community. Tune in to my next radio appearance with Billy Fried on Laguna Talks KXFM, July 15 at 2 p.m.
 Thank you to Ed Steinfeld for having me on “Voice of Laguna” this morning!
At our (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency Board of Directors meeting this week, we voted to coordinate with Amtrak to reinstate checked baggage service on the Pacific Surfliner. Passengers will be allowed up to 4 checked bags, which will give travelers more options as they travel throughout Southern California.
In 2028, Orange County will open its doors to visitors on a global scale, welcoming the Olympic Games to our backyard. There is $17.6 million proposed for Caltrans to plan Olympic travel routes, along with related bills granting permitting and environmental exemptions and special lane use for Olympic vehicles.
OCTA also shared major concerns with Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed cap-and-trade extension through 2045, which would shift significant Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds to California High-Speed Rail, cutting or deferring nearly $3 billion statewide in transit funding, impacting our OC Streetcar and Youth Ride Free program.
The House of Representatives Orange County Delegation worked with OCTA on several earmark requests. Rep. Dave Min (CA-47) requested funds to upgrade Orange County traffic signals with Advanced Transportation Controllers to make traffic operations safer. Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) also urged expedited access to $100 million in emergency rail stabilization funds for San Clemente. I look forward to continued collaboration with our representatives on ensuring we can all move safely and efficiently throughout Orange County.
I enjoyed joining the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach in celebrating the Grand Opening of their Dream Play Yard today which was funded in part from a grant from Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris when she represented Laguna Beach. The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach impacts approximately 3400 students in Laguna Beach and the Saddleback Valley every day. The Dream Play Yard encourages our children to play and move -- from soccer and golf to outdoor yoga. Chalkboard walls inspire creative expression, and local artists illustrated the space with Laguna Beach history. My favorite aspect of the Dream Play Yard includes a new greenhouse, raised gardens, and a butterfly garden to nurture passion for our local environment. Building special spaces like these shapes our community into a brighter place for us all to live, learn, and play.
 Bottom Left: With Play Yard contractors and lifelong Laguna Beach residents Burge Construction, Boys & Girls Club CEO Pam Estes, and Laguna Beach Unified School District Trustee Sheri Morgan; Top Middle: Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris and Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi enjoy a bird’s eye view from the top of the new playground; Top Right: Here I am with Pam Estes, admiring an original work of art I received as a gift from a Boys & Girls Club student!
Happy Summer Solstice! This summer, enjoy all the beautiful scenery abound in the Fabulous Fifth District, from our gorgeous beaches to our sprawling county parks. In these warmer months, remember to protect yourself from the sun by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and avoiding peak sun hours.
Be well,
 Katrina Foley
Vice Chair
County of Orange
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