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The Orange County Business Council's annual Legislative Day brought together the business community with local elected officials to discuss the issues that are key to the county’s economic vitality and business climate.
For 30 years, the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) has been the leading voice of business, reinforcing the economic influence of Orange County. Whether it’s advocating locally, in Sacramento, or in Washington D.C. on behalf of its members, or bringing together the business community, government, and academia to promote economic development, OCBC leads the charge in preserving Orange County as one of California’s economic powerhouses.
I was joined on a panel by Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley to discuss issues ranging from county operations to future economic opportunities and challenges facing the county. Moderated by Jessica Fernandez from Southern California Edison, the panel was lively, and aided by questions from the audience.
 I discussed several real estate development opportunities on County-owned land in the city of Santa Ana, including a current Request for Proposal (RFP) to develop a 9-acre site on 17th St. and two upcoming RFPs, one for the redevelopment of the County Civic Center and another for a 10-acre parcel on Fruit St..
I also highlighted the progress we have made on the County’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to address issues such as water and air quality.
In addition, I focused on the need to address the housing and affordability issues that we need to address to ensure our future economic vitality.
I look forward to working with our cities with a united purpose to ensure that the entire county can benefit from future opportunities, such as increased tourism and the economic boost from the upcoming Olympic games.
During this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, I requested a closed session item asking the Board to join the County of Los Angeles and several Orange County cities in joining in the pending PEDRO VASQUEZ PERDOMO v. KRISTI NOEM lawsuit.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that the federal government is conducting immigration enforcement in violation of the Constitution and their due process rights. They further allege that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are unlawfully conducting sweeps and detaining and arresting individuals based on race, ethnicity, occupation, and the language they speak.
The federal court has already issued an order prohibiting the use of race, ethnicity, occupation, or language spoken as the sole reasons to detain individuals. The administration appealed the order but the appellate court unanimously upheld the order. The administration has now sought review by the Supreme Court to be allowed to continue conducting raids, and we are awaiting that ruling.
The case will be back in the lower court for a hearing in late September.
I asked my Board Colleagues to direct the County to join with the community organizations and cities supporting the plaintiffs in this case, either by joining the lawsuit or by submitting a brief in support of the relief sought by the plaintiffs.
Unfortunately, my proposal did not receive majority support, and the Board opted to take no action on my request.
While the litigation centers on immigrant communities in our region, I believe our participation is vital to protecting the due process rights of all residents, especially those who may be targeted only because of their skin color or accent, regardless of their immigration status.
Although I am disappointed by this outcome, I will continue to support our all families, friends, and neighbors and defend our due process and constitutional rights.
On a recent Saturday morning, I joined with Garden Grove Councilmember Yesenia Muñeton for a coffee meet and greet with residents in Garden Grove.
 The conversation was lively and covered a wide range of topics—from the operations of Haster Basin Park, where we gathered, to broader concerns about funding priorities and public safety. We were joined by members of the local community, including Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra, Garden Grove School Board Trustee Walter Muñeton, and representatives from County departments such as OC Parks, OC Public Works, and Outreach and Engagement. We were able to respond directly to questions from residents, fostering a meaningful dialogue. It was incredibly valuable to hear directly from the community and engage in open conversation. The event highlighted the strong collaboration between the County and the City in addressing local needs.
 I want to thank the residents for taking the time to participate, the Councilmember for the partnership on the event, and the Chief and County staff for their support.
The Other Side of Memory (El Otro Lado de La Memoria): Photographs by Luis C. Garza is now on display at the Historic Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana.
We are very glad to host this special and rare collection of photos depicting pivotal historic moments for our community. The images featured document the significance of the Chicano civil rights movement in Southern California and beyond, capturing the spirit of activism and shedding light on the untold stories of these events.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, OC Parks Director Pam Passow and photographer Luis C. Garza cut the ribbon. Joining them are - (from left to right) OC Parks Historical Commissioners Lynne Yauger and Margaret Moodian, Anaheim City Councilmember Kristen Maahs and OC Parks Commissioner Ray Diaz.
It is both an educational as well as an artistic experience, and I hope you have an opportunity to visit and enjoy the exhibit. For more information, please visit OC Parks. Admission is free and is open to the public at the Courthouse Historical Gallery, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through the end of the year.
I recently hosted youth from Resilience Orange County at the County offices and board room. These youth are our future leaders, and I was energized speaking with them and being able to encourage them in their leadership journey.
 The visit was part of the efforts by the group to bring future leaders together with officials in the community and in that way nurture the engagement of youth in the issues that directly affect their communities. We met in the Board of Supervisors meeting room and discussed the ways they can stay involved, participate civically, and lead their communities from within now and in the future.
Resilience Orange County is a multigenerational grassroots organization rooted in youth and immigrant justice organizing in Orange County. Formed in 2016, Resilience OC builds the leadership and power of working-class communities of color through participatory organizing, participatory research, civic engagement, leadership development, and cultural work.
At this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, we were joined by the Bolivian Consul General in Los Angeles, Liliana Gabriela Silva Guzman, members of the local Bolivian community, friends and family to recognize Bolivia’s Bicentennial. August 6th marked 200 years since Bolivia won its independence from Spanish colonial rule, and the occasion was marked by celebrations among the Southern California Bolivian community.
 Earlier in the week, my family joined with the community to recognize this important milestone, and we celebrated the history, culture, food, and music of my birth nation at an event here in Santa Ana. I was so happy to see so many friends from our Southern California Bolivian community come together to celebrate.
 Having come to the United States from Bolivia, my family is very proud of our Bolivian heritage and the occasion was also a reminder of the importance of understanding where we come from and the importance of freedom and self-determination.
 As Bolivian elections approach, we are also reminded of the past struggle for independence and the importance of liberty and democracy as the nation enters its third century.
It was an honor to participate in the graduation ceremony for the Emprendedor@s Program, held in partnership with the Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship at Chapman University.
The event celebrated 23 Orange County entrepreneurs who successfully completed the program. Each graduate delivered an elevator pitch about their business and had the opportunity to showcase their work at the close of the ceremony.
 I was proud to join other elected officials, Dr. Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the Office of the Small Business Advocate, in congratulating the graduates for their hard work, dedication, and contributions to our local economy. Small businesses are the backbone of Orange County, and these entrepreneurs exemplify the spirit of resilience and growth.
The Asociación de Emprendedor@s continues to provide essential tools and development opportunities for small businesses and micro-enterprises, fostering the success of local entrepreneurs. I’d also like to recognize Monica Robles, the powerhouse leader behind this program, whose tireless efforts have helped many first-generation immigrants launch and grow their businesses.
We continue to address public safety concerns related to people congregating along the riverbed and in flood control channels. We face the dual challenge of expanding access to bike paths while controlling these areas to prevent criminal activity and ensuring we provide services to those in need.
I also wanted to share some of the latest before-and-after images of that ongoing work. Thank you to OC Public Works for this great work. Click here to request services.
Before After
 Before After
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