District 4 Newsletter: Update on Chemical Incident, Project Rebound, County Budget and more!

Following the chemical spill incident, Orange County acted swiftly to protect public health and support impacted residents and businesses.

On May 22, I signed a proclamation declaring a Local Emergency for the incident, and on May 27, the Orange County Board of Supervisors formally adopted and ratified the proclamation. This action enabled the County to mobilize resources, coordinate response efforts, and pursue reimbursement for eligible emergency response costs incurred by County agencies.

As part of the Local Emergency declaration, Orange County requested that the Governor proclaim a State of Emergency and seek a Presidential Emergency Declaration. We are grateful for the rapid response from both the State and Federal governments. Governor Gavin Newsom promptly proclaimed a State of Emergency on May 23, and a Presidential Emergency Declaration was secured on May 25. These actions reflect the strong partnership among local, state, and federal agencies working together to protect our communities and support recovery efforts.

The incident concluded on Thursday, May 28 at 8 pm, the GKN Aerospace Hazmat incident moved from emergency response to recovery and cleanup. While the County of Orange is not the responsible party for the incident nor the recovery response, the County has created a website for residents, businesses and community members: https://www.ocgov.com/gkn-aerospace-hazmat-incident.

As the immediate emergency response phase concludes, the focus is shifting toward site cleanup and environmental remediation. Beginning May 29, the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA), serving as the County’s Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA), assumed the lead oversight role for site cleanup and waste removal activities. In its regulatory capacity, HCA will work closely with GKN Aerospace to ensure cleanup efforts are conducted safely and in compliance with all applicable environmental and public health requirements.

To provide continued protection for nearby residents and businesses, air monitoring will continue both at the facility boundary and within the surrounding community under the oversight of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will also provide technical advisory support throughout the cleanup process. Updates regarding site cleanup and waste removal activities will be made available to the public through occupainfo.com.

At this time, a formal claims process has not yet been established. The County is encouraging the responsible company to create a claims process as quickly as possible. In the meantime, I encourage residents and businesses affected by the incident to save receipts, maintain records, and document any losses or expenses incurred as a result of the spill. This documentation may be important should a claims or reimbursement process become available.

Orange County remains committed to supporting impacted residents and businesses and will continue working closely with our local, state, and federal partners throughout the recovery process.

The City of Stanton is collecting information from local businesses to better understand impacts from the recent evacuation and help identify available resources. This survey is for assessment and planning purposes only. Take the survey here. 

The City of Anaheim wants to hear from west Anaheim businesses impacted by the Garden Grove chemical incident. The survey is to gauge impact.
Note: this is not an application for assistance.
Take the survey: Anaheim.net/economicimpact.

Small Businesses Impacted by Garden Grove Chemical Incident

Small businesses impacted by the recent chemical incident in Garden Grove are encouraged to complete and submit an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan worksheet to help determine eligibility for potential assistance programs.

Completed worksheets should be emailed to EOCLiaison@ocsheriff.gov.

Download the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan worksheet here.

We held our annual Virtual Grants Workshop with California Consulting.

Attendees learned more about the grant process and tips on how to secure funding. If you want to learn more, watch the full webinar by visiting http://bit.ly/4dCbGnF.

I attended the Spring Showcase for the Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) Community Health Ambassador Program (CHAP).

CHAP was funded and launched by my office in collaboration with CSUF, and provides students an opportunity to make real policy changes to Public Health in the City of Stanton. It was great seeing the students projects progress from their first showcase and the innovation they have spearheaded.

Thank you to the CSUF Public Health Faculty and students for your dedication to making our community healthier.

I attended the Mental Health Awareness Night hosted by the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Behavioral Health Services Department (BHS). This was a lively and well-attended event, with over 200 attendees celebrating the positive work HCA and BHS have been doing in our County.

With a theme of Hope, Heal, and Thrive, artwork and art displays highlighted the themes of the evening and accomplishments of Orange County’s progress in mental and behavioral health. 

Youth peer advocates, BHS staff, First Responders, and other community members were recognized at the awards ceremony for their contributions to mental health in Orange County. Thank you to everyone that contributed to the progress in mental and behavioral health in our County and Fourth District, your efforts are truly commendable!

I attended the graduation ceremony for Cal State University, Fullerton’s Project Rebound Class of 2026.

Project Rebound program supports the higher education and reintegration journey of formerly incarcerated individuals and empowers those impacted by the criminal justice system to reach their full academic potential and achieve success. This program focuses on the personal support of each individual to take advantage of a second chance for success. The inspiring stories and journeys shared by these students highlighted the importance of access to education to break free from cycles that keep individuals from reaching their highest potential.

Thank you to Cal State Fullerton for providing these students with a new beginning, and congratulations to all graduates for their amazing accomplishments!

On May 18, the County of Orange announced the results of the 2026 Point in Time Count. When compared to the 2024 PIT Count, Orange County reported a 13.7% decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness and, for the first time, more people were in shelter than unsheltered.

A total of 6,321 people experiencing homelessness were counted during the 2026 PIT Count. Of the 6,321 people counted, 3,256 people were in an emergency shelter or a transitional housing program and 3,065 people were unsheltered. In comparing 2026 to 2024, there was a 27% decrease in the unsheltered population along with a slight increase of 3% in the sheltered population.

The PIT results offer data-driven insights that the County and its community stakeholders use to better understand where and how to deploy resources to best serve those experiencing homelessness. While this year’s results are encouraging, there remains a great deal of work to do to help prevent homelessness and provide coordinated care for those who are already homeless.

Read the full report here. 

We’re just one week away from the FY 2026–27 Budget Open House hosted by the County Executive Office’s Budget & Finance team. This community event offers a closer look at how the County plans for the year ahead and provides residents an opportunity to learn about key priorities shaping the upcoming fiscal year.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
• Time: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Location: County Administration North – Multi Purpose Room 101 400 W. Civic Center Dr., Santa Ana, CA 92705

What You'll Learn

• How the County develops its annual budget
• Major funding categories, including limited discretionary funds*
• Key focus areas for FY 2026–27

*Discretionary funds are monies that the County has not yet committed to mandated and/or required essential services.

Event information: cfo.oc.gov/public-workshop

ADA and Language Interpretation Accommodations

If you have special needs, such as ADA accommodation or need the services of a language interpreter, we can assist you. Please email ceocom@ceo.oc.gov at least 72-hours prior to the meeting. Requests made less than 72-hours prior to the meeting will still receive every effort to fulfill the request.

Keeping your family and community safe is simple. The OC Free Gun Lock Program provides free firearm locks to Orange County residents, helping prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of accidents. This program is open to all Orange County residents.

Orange County residents can now request free gun locks through an online form at d4.ocgov.com/FreeGunLocks, with locks mailed directly to their homes. Each package includes a video tutorial on safe firearm storage and information about California's evolving gun laws, including SB 53, which requires secure storage for all firearms starting in 2026.

For more information or to request a free gun lock, visit d4.ocgov.com/FreeGunLocks.

Ellen is a sweet senior Rottweiler who can sit and even shake but is happiest just taking a slow walk or snuggling up for affection.

At 8 years old, Ellen’s friendly nature makes her a great companion for anyone looking for a gentle, loving dog.

Call (714) 935-6848 to foster-to-adopt or adopt Ellen (A1958240) or any of her friends at OC Animal Care! Her adoption fee is waived!