Weekly Update from Supervisor Foley
Dear neighbor:
The United States Department of Justice announced this week it will seek a court order requiring the County to provide the private, personal information of 17 individuals who improperly registered to vote in the last five years. Of those improper voters, 16 people self reported, and one, a Canadian citizen, was referred to the District Attorney for prosecution. Our Registrar of Voters office moved swiftly to cancel the registration of all other ineligible voters.
Let’s be clear: Voting is safe and secure in Orange County and our system works. Our County is committed to protecting the nearly 1.9 million registered voters who call Orange County home. Voter privacy is built into the system and state law prohibits the County from providing private information without a court order.
I anticipate continued briefings by our Registrar’s office and County Counsel, who have remained transparent in their communication to the DOJ for the duration of this inquiry.
Click here to view the full story with KCAL.
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 I express my deepest gratitude to the Veterans Alliance of Orange County for recognizing me with the Veteran Hero Award at their inaugural Veterans Heroes Awards. I work diligently every day to uplift the veterans and veteran families who served and sacrificed so selflessly for our country – watching decades of advocacy come to fruition with the building of our Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery, hosting my Women Veteran’s Mental Health Symposium, and working with my Veterans Advisory Committee on providing County resources ranging from suicide prevention and workforce development to housing and food security.
 Top left: What an honor to receive a recognition as a Veteran Community Hero at the VALOR award ceremony; Top right: Here I am with Congressman Lou Correa and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva – my fellow Veteran Community Hero awardees; Bottom left: Here I am with my Fabulous Fifth District Veteran Advisory Team; Bottom left: With Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris and Irvine City Councilwoman Melinda Liu.
Thank you for this esteemed recognition and congratulations to Congressman Lou Correa and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva for your deserved honors, as well. Our collaborative dedication to our veterans builds a safer, healthier, thriving Orange County for us all to call home.
Board of Supervisors Meeting
During our eight-hour Board meeting this week, my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and I approved a $10.8 billion budget for FY 2025-26. This budget is a balanced reflection of our commitment to fiscal responsibility and funding the County’s essential operational, capital, safety, and community needs.
We also voted to continue our partnership with DiDi Hirsch to provide suicide prevention services and manage the 9-8-8 hotline for Orange County, upgrade aging public docks and the OC Sailing and Events Center at Dana Point Harbor, and ensure family resource services remain for Costa Mesa and Newport Beach residents. Click here to listen to this week's Board meeting.
My team joined Moms Demand Action and wore orange in recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Month and Orange County's 149 gun-related deaths in 2024 alone. At the County of Orange, we're working together to end gun violence by increasing prevention tactics and promoting responsible firearm practices. Gun violence impacts all of us, and we demand action.
 This past Board meeting, I invited advocacy group Moms Demand Action to join me in recognizing June as Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Keeping Our Community Safe
At our OCTA Board meeting this week, we discussed updates on emergency stabilization efforts on the essential tracks in San Clemente. Passenger rail service safely resumed through South Orange County this month, and I continue working with OCTA on proactive efforts to find a local sand source for replenishment and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to coastal resilience.
Congratulations to our OCTA Teen Council on graduating the program with flying colors! This dedicated cohort of high school students gained insight into land use, environmental equity and impact, transportation planning, funding, legislation, marketing, ridesharing, and transit, all while building leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. I look forward to watching as they shape our Orange County into a safer, healthier, thriving community for us to call home.
 Here I am with the OCTA Teen Council at our OCTA Board meeting. This group of students dedicated their time to learn more about our local government and I commend them on the work they completed and await their future successes.
I congratulate my friend Costa Mesa Police Chief Ron Lawrence on his retirement after a remarkable and successful 35-year career. Chief Lawrence led our Costa Mesa Police Department with a servant heart, guided by his lived experiences and an empathetic, loving, compassionate approach to his staff and community. We will miss your leadership, Chief Lawrence, and thank you for steering our police department to an even higher level of excellent service and protection for the City of Costa Mesa.
The ceremony concluded with the swearing-in of Costa Mesa’s new Interim Police Chief, my friend Joyce LaPointe. Chief LaPointe has served the City of Costa Mesa for nearly three decades, from a patrol officer to her new position. Our community is safer because of her leadership.
 Top left: Here I am with Chief Ron Lawrence, who leads with a servant heart, where his own lived experiences guide his approach with empathy, love, care and compassion for his Department and community; Top Right: Chief Ron Lawrence, Interim Chief Joyce LaPointe, and Captain Jason Chamness; Bottom Left: Chief Lawrence passing the torch of leadership to Interim Chief Joyce LaPointe.
Supporting a Healthier Orange County
We celebrated the grand opening of Providence Mission Health Center in San Clemente this week. Our tour of the Urgent Care Wing revealed its great capacity for providing world-class care, with ten spacious rooms and a multi-specialty area, including specialty gynecology and primary care services.
 Top Left: Cutting the ceremonial ribbon to welcome Providence Mission Health Center to San Clemente; Top Right: With San Clemente City Councilmember Mark Enmeier, San Clemente Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chairwoman Jennifer Elliott, San Clemente Councilmember Rick Loeffler, Providence Mission Hospital Chief Executive Seth Teigen, Mission Heritage Medical Group President Dr. Raul Marquez, Max of Senator Tony Strickland’s office, Brian of Asm. Laurie Davies’ office, & Elijah of Rep. Mike Levin’s office; Bottom Left: Providence Mission Hospital Chief Executive Seth Teigen and Mission Heritage Medical Group President Dr. Raul Marquez; Bottom Right: Touring the facility with Urgent Care Director.
At our meeting with Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) this week, we discussed strategies for reducing sea lion presence on land with care. By investing a $25,000 grant in thermal droning, my office helps our dedicated team at PMMC learn the patterns of sea lions and promote a healthy coastline for all to enjoy. We also met with our Dana Point Harbor Oversight Committee to discuss the Market Rental Rate Study Presentation with John Laurain of R.P. Laurain & Associates.
The Dana Point Harbor Oversight Committee chose Laurain as the appraiser because of his history of appraising marinas, and because he has neither worked for the Dana Point Harbor Partners, nor has he appraised Newport Harbor. The Market Study reviewed marina slip rates from Ventura through San Diego to help establish the correct market rate for boat slips in Dana Point. During the presentation, the Boater leaders on the committee asked the appraiser questions and gave voice to our boater community. Next week, we’re incorporating the feedback from these community members and clarifying information for greater transparency, and will release the study and FAQ’s next month.
Advocating for Our Thriving Economy & Investing in Our Community
When you first elected me to serve the Fifth District, I met with community user groups and toured the dilapidated OC Sailing and Events Center docks in Dana Point Harbor. I remain committed to upgrading this important community asset. Bellingham Marine is currently replacing thousands of slips throughout the Harbor, and utilizing their mobilized construction to modernize our public docks, saving our taxpayers $3.4 million. Replacing our aging public docks enhances safety and expands ADA access for local families, youth programs, and visitors. In addition to the docks upgrades, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this week in support of my request for funding to engage the community and redesign the OC Sailing and Events Center.
This year’s Costa Mesa State of the City illustrated just how much "Costa Mesa Cares." Together, we celebrated our vibrant community of businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors who are creating real change. Having served as the Mayor of Costa Mesa and now representing our City of the Arts on the Board of Supervisors, I look forward to continued collaboration with the Mayor and City Council, local nonprofits, and our dedicated community members in building a safe, healthy, and economically thriving Costa Mesa for us to call home.
 Top Left: With former Costa Mesa Mayor Mary Hornbuckle; Top Right: With newly-minted Costa Mesa Interim Police Chief Joyce LaPointe; Bottom Right (L to R): Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, Save Our Youth Executive Director Mary Cappellini, Project Hope Alliance CEO Jennifer Friend, and Founder & Executive Director of Bracken’s Kitchen Bill Bracken.
Engaging with Our Community
Join us at the Lions Club 79th Annual Fish Fry and Carnival this Friday, June 27 – Sunday, June 29 at Lions Park in Costa Mesa. In my neighborhood, we call the Lions Club the “Fish Fry Club,” a title earned over 79 years of frying fish for a cause. Together, let’s enjoy a delicious dinner, live music, and carnival fun, all in support of local schools, clubs, and other organizations in our community.
 My team and I enjoying the carnival and fish dinner at last year’s Fish Fry!
Congratulations to the San Clemente Journal on 30 impressive years of sharing local news with our community. Local storytelling remains an essential lever to a safe, healthy, economically thriving Orange County. Community publications like the San Clemente Journal help us understand what's important in our own backyard, equipping us to pitch in and shape the paradise we call home.
 Top Right: With Don & Shelly Kindred of the San Clemente Journal; Bottom: Cutting the ribbon in celebration of the San Clemente Journal’s 30 years!
I attended the Friendship Shelter’s “Intersections Luncheon,” where we discussed the relationship between health and housing in Orange County. Since 1987, the Friendship Shelter has worked to end homelessness in South OC through services like emergency shelter, permanent housing, and supportive health services. I share the same belief as The Friendship Shelter -- ending homelessness changes lives and uplifts the overall safety, health, and wellbeing of our entire community. Earlier this year,the Board of Supervisors approved my motion to renew the Friendship Center in Laguna Beach for year-round shelter services, ensuring they can continue serving our community.
 Left: With Friendship Shelter Director of Services Mia Ferreira; With Executive Director of Medi-Cal/CalAIM Dr. Kelly Bruno-Nelson; Here I am with Christy Ward, CEO of Share Ourselves.
This week, we honored and celebrated the work, life, and tremendous legacy of Jerri Rosen – a long-time fashion maven and pillar in the Orange County community. In 1990, Jerri founded Working Wardrobes, an Orange County nonprofit dedicated to outfitting people affected by domestic violence, homelessness, drug abuse, and incarceration with the clothing and confidence to regain stability and find economic independence. Consider giving the gift of empowerment and please support the mission of Working Wardrobes in Jerri’s memory.
 Today, we welcomed Coffee Importers, a pillar in our Dana Point community for 50 years, to their new home at the Ocean Institute. My friend and owner Jim Miller gave me a tour of his third-generation coffee shop’s new home, where his daughter Meredith helms the delicious Rubee June Bakery. I’m excited to continue collaborating with our residents, small business owners, and community partners to breathe new life into our beloved Dana Point Harbor.
 We also opened Coco Bloom Coffee’s brick-and-mortar shop in the harbor. At age 22, owner Chloe Wilhite earns the title of youngest member of the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce (and all of Dana Point). Revitalizing Dana Point Harbor invites up-and-coming small businesses and pillars of our local business community to flourish. If you visit, I highly recommend the honey latte.
 Top left: Here with South Coast Water District Board Member Rick Erkeneff and Dana Point’s Mayor Pro Tempore John Gabbard; Top right: With owner Chloe Wilhite; Bottom: Joined by all the contributing members who helped make Coco Coffee Bloom’s ribbon cutting a success.
As you soak up the summer sunshine this weekend, please remember to safeguard your health by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and stay hydrated.
Be well,
 Katrina Foley
Vice Chair
County of Orange
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