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As always seems to happen, the Orange International Street Fair means great food, music, and fun for families and folks of all ages, and some high temperatures as well.
This year was no exception, but the sunny summer skies and high temperatures could not dampen our spirits or the celebration. Community members from near and far turned out to enjoy the food, the bands, and the family-friendly atmosphere.
 I was proud to have our office sponsor Greek Street and join in this celebration with a purpose. The event not only celebrates local cultures and communities but is also an important event for local vendors and businesses. The annual fair also serves as an opportunity for local schools, non-profits, and churches to raise the funds they need to operate and provide services during the rest of the year.
 It was terrific to see all the hard work that these great organizations do during the weekend event, but also get a glimpse of the incredible preparation that goes into making this event a success. Greek Street was hosted by the amazing team at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, and it was a pleasure to meet the volunteers working their booth and all the families that enjoyed the great food and snacks prepared by the group.
 It was great to see so many old friends come by and visit with our team at our booth and have a chance to meet with folks from other parts of Southern California that came out for the fair.
The Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana serves the needs of the community here in our county. They provide services related to Americans conducting business or travelling to Mexico, the needs of individuals with dual citizenship, as well as assistance with documents and services for Mexican nationals.
Last week, I was honored to meet with Inés Maxaira Baltazar Gutiérrez, the new Cónsul Titular of Mexico in Santa Ana. We discussed ways in which our offices can continue collaborating in support of our community.
 Most recently, she served in Washington D.C. after holding various international postings. I am excited to continue working together to uplift and support our community. To learn more about the consulate and the services it provides, visit their website.
In August, my team had the privilege of joining artists and community members for the unveiling of the HẺM Mural in Little Saigon, Garden Grove. This stunning 35ft x 130ft public artwork, located at Advance Beauty College, stands as a powerful tribute to the Vietnamese community—honoring its resilience, rich heritage, and the authenticity of everyday life.
 Inspired by the vibrant spirit of hẻm (alleyway) culture, the mural celebrates the spaces where stories, traditions, and community connections flourish.
Led by local Vietnamese-American artists and supported by dedicated community partners, the mural is a colorful testament to togetherness, cultural pride, and enduring strength.
We are inviting business owners and business executives in Orange County, to complete a survey to help get a clearer picture of the county’s evolving economic landscape. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
The purpose of this survey is to assess how recent federal policy changes may be affecting the county’s business and economic climate. Your feedback is voluntary, will remain anonymous, and will be aggregated with responses from other business leaders across the county and analyzed by researchers at UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology.
The findings will be shared with the business community this fall to help inform and guide policy and business decisions. Your participation will help provide a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses in our region.
Carlos Valenzuela, my policy advisor on public safety, was on hand to recognize Attorney Angel Carrazco with a Certificate of Recognition for his service to the Orange County community and celebrate the ribbon cutting of his new law office in the City of Irvine.
 We wish him continued success and congratulate him and his wife on welcoming their new baby boy to the family.
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.
This July, County maintenance crews completed 304 cleanups along Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD) facilities. Of those cleanups, 148 locations were in District 2. Crews also installed additional cameras at multiple locations to discourage encampments.
I also wanted to share some of the latest before-and-after images of those ongoing efforts. Thank you to OC Public Works for this great work. Click here to request services.
Before After
 Before After
The Orange County’s Office of Care Coordination is seeking applications from Orange County residents to serve on the Commission to Address Homelessness. Recruitment is being conducted to fill six seats on the Commission:
- Behavioral Health Representative, with expertise in services for people experiencing homelessness with mental health and substance use disorders
- Two Continuum of Care Board Representatives
- Hospital Representative, with expertise in the local hospital emergency room treatment and discharge system
- Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department Representative, in a leadership and/or command level role with knowledge of the Orange County’s System of Care
- At-Large Member
To apply for a Commission to Address Homelessness seat, please complete an application and submit your resume to the Office of Care Coordination by 5:00 pm on September 19, 2025.
Completed application and resume can be emailed to carecoordination@ceo.oc.gov or mailed to the address below:
County Administration North
Office of Care Coordination
400 W. Civic Center Drive, 3rdFloor
Santa Ana, CA 92701
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