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I am grateful for the work of County staff to keep the community informed about changes in eligibility for Medi-Cal and CalFresh.
The teams at our Social Services Agency and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs have been providing information regarding the changes coming into effect this month and led the forum focused on advancing health equity and protecting family stability as these changes take effect. Those attending are trusted community partners to help make this information understandable to the community.
Beginning April 1, due to federal changes, certain noncitizens will no longer be eligible for CalFresh. Including asylees, refugees, and victims of trafficking. How individual recipients of these programs will be affected and what the timeline will be for the changes in eligibility will vary, and so it is important to ensure recipients are aware of the changes and what other support programs may be available to support them.
The changes are occurring on a rolling basis. We encourage residents to check on their renewal date and 2-1-1 is available for resources. Additional information can be found online at the SSA website.
At our last Board meeting in March, I joined with members of the Iranian American community to recognize Nowruz, the start of Spring and a new year celebrated by over 300 million people.
For more than 3,000 years, Nowruz has been about renewal. It’s a time to reflect, make amends, reconnect with loved ones, and look ahead with hope, and is celebrated by the tens of thousands of Iranian Americans who call Orange County home.
But this year, as we celebrated the new year, we also acknowledged the painful reality of loss and destruction due to the war in the region. So, while Nowruz is a celebration of new beginnings, this year, it was also a moment for solidarity. For us all to stand with those who are grieving, who are living in fear, and who do not know what tomorrow will bring.
Many in the community still have a deep connection to Iran and have family in harm’s way. They live every day with loss, anxiety, and fear for their loved ones. Across the region, many families are enduring the realities of war, displacement, and deep uncertainty.
The Iranian people are enduring profound hardship, mourning the thousands of lives lost during the recent government massacre and ongoing abuses, while also living through ongoing violence, facing danger both on the ground from their own government and from the sky because of the war. We recognize their resilience, and we hold onto the hope that freedom and peace lie ahead.
No matter your political views or moral judgment on the war, we must remember the loss and fear carried by our neighbors, whether they are part of the Iranian American community or the families of service members deployed to the region.
 Here in our community, we are proud to celebrate the cultures and traditions that make us stronger. May we all be inspired by its message to seek renewal, to extend compassion, and to work toward a better future for all.
May the new year bring health, security, and spiritual renewal.
I started last week with coffee and lively conversation, speaking to the Tustin Chamber about the work the County is doing for our community and local businesses.
The conversation was part of the Chamber’s monthly legislative and community breakfast series, Top of the Morning Tustin.
 At the event, we discussed the current economic climate, strengthening our workforce, and how we can continue partnering with our business community.
Thank you to Anna Ullman, Tustin Chamber CEO, and Juan Carlos Vazquez, Tustin Chamber Chairman, for the invitation, and to Even House for hosting us in such a special space. I look forward to continuing our work within the City of Tustin.
I was proud to bring forward a resolution to officially recognize Eid al-Fitr in Orange County for the first time.
During the Board of Supervisors’ meeting, we were joined by members of the County’s Muslim community for this important milestone.
The Second District is home to a beautifully diverse community, and with the recognition, we celebrated the contributions of the more than 100,000 Muslims in Orange County, their families, businesses, and leadership, which are a vital part of the fabric of our community.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you to our speakers, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi and Dr. Helmy, for helping make this moment so impactful.
 I am also grateful for the opportunity to break fast with many community members during Ramadan and to celebrate alongside families from across the world at the Islamic Society of Orange County.
This mosque is a true reflection of unity, diversity, and community and has served families from Santa Ana to Anaheim, Garden Grove to Orange and Tustin for 50 years. The cultures represented the traditions, and contributions of the community continue to strengthen and uplift our county.
 I remain committed to standing with our diverse communities, not just in celebration, but in advocacy, equity, and justice to ensure all cultures and people are celebrated and respected.
At the March 24 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, we recognized March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
This observance recognizes individuals with developmental disabilities and the many contributions of those who support them in living independent and fulfilling lives.
I was proud to have joined Chairman Chaffee in recognizing March as a time to uplift and celebrate a community that has always been here, continues to lead, and will always be part of our shared future.
We were joined by community advocates, and I want to thank Moira Byron, Julie Diep, and Larry Landauer—and to all the families, caregivers, educators, and organizations like Project Independence who work every day to ensure individuals with developmental disabilities can live dignified and meaningful lives.
 My wife, Eva, is a dedicated advocate for this community, and through her work—and through those close to me—I’ve seen the strength, resilience, and perspective that individuals with developmental disabilities bring every day. It’s why I remain committed to continuing this work.
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Last October, our office launched an emergency rental assistance program designed to provide one-time payments to families on the brink of losing their housing due to loss of income resulting from immigration enforcement. |
In partnership with the Downtown Family Resource Center, staff recently shared two impactful stories on how our program has helped families from experiencing homelessness.
In one case, a young mother whose husband was arrested by ICE was facing eviction as she was finding it difficult to get additional work hours to pay the rent, when she sought help. The program was able to work with her and the landlord to assist her and her young child in staying housed. She feared facing homelessness as a first-time mom who had no family to turn to for help, and her husband was gone.
Another resident is a single mother who sought assistance after having her work hours severely reduced due to her status. She was afraid to leave home due to ICE raids and was behind in her rent. She had already gotten some assistance from family but was facing eviction, and the program was able to assist her and her kids to remain housed.
Helping our neighbors in these difficult circumstances and preventing the trauma or homelessness is not only the right thing to do, but it also helps reduce the number of people forced to be living on our streets. It inspires us to continue assisting families in any way we can.
For the month of February, the Santa Ana River was the most impacted flood control facility in Orange County. OC Operations and Maintenance continues to evaluate the vulnerabilities along the County’s largest recreational trail in pursuit of a long-term solution to enhance public safety.
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. Our crews completed 279 cleanups along Orange County Flood Control facilities. Of those, 113 were within District 2. At 81 locations, our mitigation efforts were in Santa Ana, with the next closest city, Tustin, recording 10 locations.
I also wanted to share some of the latest before-and-after images of the ongoing work. Thank you to OC Public Works for their great efforts. Click here to request services.
Before After
 Before After
Be a watchdog for OC’s tax dollars! Lend your voice to the Measure M Taxpayer Oversight Committee (TOC). Districts 2 & 3 are seeking new members to ensure voter-approved transportation funds are spent as promised. Each year, as terms of various members expire, a recruitment process is conducted to fill vacant positions on the Taxpayer Oversight Committee.
This recruitment process typically takes place during spring with final selection in June. Recruitment will be taking place for openings in the Second and Third Supervisorial Districts. The Second District consists of the cities of Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin, portions of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and the unincorporated community of North Tustin. Learn more: octa.net/tocrecruitment.
Supervisor Sarmiento is seeking applicants for an opening on the Orange County Cemetery District.
The Orange County Cemetery District is an independent special district of Orange County whose mission is to provide affordable interment services for County residents and taxpayers and we strive to maintain the beauty and dignity of the grounds while preserving their historical and cultural value for the benefit of all.
The Orange County Cemetery District is governed by a Board of Trustees who have been appointed to serve four-year terms by the County of Orange Board of Supervisors. The major functions of the trustees are to set policy, define goals and objectives, adopt rules and regulations, and act as legal custodian for District property. The Board has employed a General Manager to carry out policy, direct District operations, provide day-to-day supervision of staff and control and administer District expenditures.
The Board meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month @10:00 A.M. at 25751 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Those interested in applying can submit their resume and this application to manuel.escamilla@bos2.oc.gov
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