Nick Gerda @nicholasgerda Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

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@dweedify

Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

SCOOP: L.A. officials have for months kept from the public a damning report, ordered by the council, that found a major homelessness enforcement policy championed by several council members has failed in key goals

Hidden City Report Finds LA Council’s Signature Anti-Encampment Law Is Failing

The report looks at one of the council’s most controversial laws, a rule known as 41.18. Since 2021, council members have designated public areas in their…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

BREAKING: The FBI is raiding a home bought by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s daughter, after an LAist investigation into millions of taxpayer dollars Supervisor Do quietly directed to a little-known nonprofit his daughter was listed as leading.

Feds search homes of OC Supervisor Andrew Do, Judge Cheri Pham and their daughter

Federal agents on Thursday searched the family home of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do and his wife — O.C. Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham —…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

NEW: Out of nearly 1,400 people placed in Inside Safe motels by city officials, only about 77 people – or 6% – have moved into permanent housing, which is the ultimate goal of the program.

Inside Safe Update: $40M Has Been Spent To House 1,400 People In LA Motels

The homeless program has moved nearly 1,400 people into hotels and motels, but just 77 have secured long-term housing. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass reacted to…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

NEW: A nonprofit run by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s 22-year-old daughter has failed to meet a county deadline to prove what it did with millions of taxpayer dollars Do provided the group to feed needy residents, according to a county spokesperson. Story:

Deadline is blown to account for millions OC supervisor sent to his daughter’s group. What happens...

Supervisor Andrew Do directed millions to the group, which was supposed to go toward feeding needy residents. “If they can’t prove then they should pay…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

BREAKING: Two of Andrew Do’s fellow Orange County supervisors called Monday for the state attorney general to have Do removed from office — and for Do to resign immediately. One cited a "historic betrayal of public trust."

Two fellow OC supervisors call for Andrew Do to be forced out of power and resign immediately

Also on Monday, Don Wagner, who chairs the board, said he was scheduling a vote to remove Do from his committee assignments.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

Nearly 300 apartments built for unhoused people are sitting empty in the city of Los Angeles more than two months after being declared ready for move in, largely due to longstanding bureaucratic rules, @LAist has found. Full story:

Hundreds Of LA Apartments Built To Ease Homelessness Are Sitting Empty

An LAist review finds 274 units, partially paid for by the voter-approved bond measure Proposition HHH, have sat empty for more than 60 days.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 months

BREAKING: Orange County officials are demanding the refund of millions in tax dollars that county Supervisor Andrew Do gave to a nonprofit linked to his daughter — saying Viet America Society has failed to show it actually did the work it was paid to do.

County demands refund of millions OC supervisor awarded to his daughter’s group

The repayment demands, detailed in Orange County letters obtained by LAist, come as officials found that the nonprofit Viet America Society failed to show…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 months

BREAKING: Orange County officials today sued a nonprofit at the center of an @LAist investigation into millions of tax dollars that have gone unaccounted now for years, saying it “brazenly plundered” millions directed to it by Supervisor Andrew Do.

OC sues nonprofit it says 'brazenly plundered' millions in public money directed to it by Supervi...

The nonprofit Viet America Society has been at the center of a long-running LAist investigation.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

BREAKING: FBI is currently raiding the family home of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do and his wife, OC Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham, after IRS agents raided a home owned by their daughter Rhiannon Do earlier today.

Feds search homes of OC Supervisor Andrew Do, Judge Cheri Pham and their daughter

Federal agents on Thursday searched the family home of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do and his wife — O.C. Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham —…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

NEW: Orange County officials have found that a nonprofit led on and off by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s 22-year-old daughter has failed to prove it provided millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded meals to residents in need during the pandemic. Story:

OC officials say millions meant to feed vulnerable residents are unaccounted for

New county letters obtained by LAist find that a nonprofit led by an O.C. supervisor’s 22-year-old daughter has failed to prove what it did with more than…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

NEW: An Orange County supervisor is pushing forward with calls to dig deeper into how his colleague, Supervisor Andrew Do, routed millions of county dollars into a nonprofit overseen by Do’s 22-year-old daughter — without disclosing the family connection.

At OC supervisors meeting, renewed calls for investigation into millions routed by Andrew Do to his...

“The public's trust is being eroded by people who abuse the process,” Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told LAist.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 years

After 12 years and 1,700 articles, today is my last day at Voice of OC, before I continue the journey at NPR station @LAist 89.3 ( @KPCC ). I’m beyond grateful to have worked with and learned from the incredibly talented Voice team.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

4 years

John Moorlach tells me he's conceded to Katrina Foley in the high-stakes race for OC supervisor. Republicans have now lost their 4-1 supermajority, which is shifting to a more competitive 3-2 dynamic on the dais for the first time in decades. Story:

Orange County Democrats Flip Key Supervisors’ Seat, Moorlach Concedes to Foley

It's the first time in decades that Democrats will have two seats on the powerful board that impacts everything from homelessness to mental health services to the pandemic.

voiceofoc.org

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 years

Today is officially my first day of reporting on my new beat covering homelessness for @LAist / @KPCC ! I’m excited to be here, grateful to my new colleagues and looking forward to the coverage. Got a story idea? Feel free to DM or email me at the address in bio!

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

9 months

The board of Orange County's main association of journalists ( @OCPressClub ) just issued an open letter urging Supervisor Andrew Do to apologize for falsely accusing me of forging a document in our investigation of the millions he sent his daughter's group:

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

NEW: OC Supervisor Andrew Do gave $1 million to a group linked to his daughter, to build a war memorial. The county says it failed to finish the project and diverted money. But its lawyer said the work was done. Here’s what @jillrep found at the site.

Here’s the war memorial mixed up in OC fraud allegations

The county says a Huntington Beach nonprofit that received $1 million in funding for a war memorial failed to finish the taxpayer funded project. Here’s…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

9 days

BREAKING: The rest of the OC Board of Supervisors just voted 4-0 to condemn colleague Andrew Do. Their censure says Do showed "reckless judgment and favoritism," directing millions to orgs "with no proven track record" while not disclosing his family ties

OC supervisors vote to censure colleague Andrew Do amid fraud allegations

The moves comes months after LAist uncovered more than $13 million in public funds directed by Do to Viet America Society without him disclosing that his…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

11 months

New: O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do, one of the county’s most powerful elected officials, has voted to fund millions of dollars to an organization led by his daughter without publicly disclosing his close family connection, an @LAist investigation has found.

Top OC official helped direct millions to his daughter’s center without disclosing family connection

Over the past year, Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do was involved in directing $3.1 million to a mental health center where his daughter, Rhiannon Do,…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

NEW: Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, a no-show at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, is facing intensifying calls from the public and some of his colleagues to resign in the wake of last week’s FBI search of his house.

Andrew Do is a no-show at OC board meeting as calls intensify for him to resign

Board members were informed that Do “will likely miss a number of meetings in the future."

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

22 days

Three state bills, inspired by LAist’s investigation into millions of taxpayer dollars in Orange County that are unaccounted for, have passed unanimously in the Legislature and are now awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision on whether to sign them into law

Reform bills inspired by LAist investigation are before Newsom for final approval

The proposed ethics and transparency reforms are in response to LAist’s investigation of millions of unaccounted for tax dollars directed by O.C.…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

The report looks at one of the city’s most controversial enforcement laws, known as 41.18 zones. The data analysis finds the policy has been ineffective at keeping areas clear of encampments and in getting people housed.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

17 days

NEW: Two state bills, inspired by LAist’s investigation into millions of taxpayer dollars in Orange County that are unaccounted for, were signed into law Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The laws will go into effect on January 1st. (Story from @ByYusra .)

Reform bills inspired by LAist investigation signed into law by Newsom

Two of the laws will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and a third a year later. They increase transparency in how government contracts are awarded.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 months

BREAKING: Orange County officials are doubling their refund demands of tax dollars county Supervisor Andrew Do gave to a nonprofit his daughter was listed as leading. And they’re threatening to take the group to court.

OC officials threaten legal action over millions awarded nonprofits by Supervisor Andrew Do

A letter signed by the county's top attorney warns that he's prepared to take "any and all legal remedies" to ensure Viet America Society and Hand for…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

NEW: Orange County is suing another nonprofit, Hand to Hand Relief Organization, and its CEO to recover millions of taxpayer dollars that Supervisor Andrew Do directed to it. (Story by ⁦ @kennasieve ⁩)

Orange County announces lawsuit against another nonprofit with connections to Supervisor Andrew Do

Supervisor Katrina Foley announced Monday that the county has filed a lawsuit against Hand to Hand Relief Organization and its CEO to recover millions of…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

New: Under L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ main homelessness program Inside Safe, transparency reports are supposed to go to the City Council every two weeks — showing exactly where the money is going and how many people are sheltered. That hasn’t been happening.

Missing Inside Safe Transparency Reports Raise Accountability Questions As Mayor Bass Makes...

LAist has learned that biweekly reports ordered by the Los Angeles City Council on where the money is going and how many people have been sheltered have…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

Nearly a year ago, council members ordered a report assessing whether 41.18 was working as intended. The answer: No. That report was not shared with the council's housing and homelessness chair until this week. And its findings have not been reported publicly until now.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

NEW: O.C. officials are scrambling to understand what’s happening at a county-funded nonprofit led by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s 22 year-old daughter, which the county says has failed to account for millions in taxpayer dollars. Story:

Under pressure to account for millions from taxpayers, OC nonprofit announced it was shutting down

Orange County officials say they are scrambling to understand what’s happening at a county-funded nonprofit led by O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do’s 22 year-old…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

Yesterday, top OC officials hotly debated whether to put in place new ethics rules in response to @LAist reporting on millions that Supervisor Andrew Do directed to his 22-year-old daughter’s nonprofit without publicly disclosing the family connection.

OC leaders tussle over ethics and transparency after LAist reporting on top official

The ethics proposal deadlocked among O.C. supervisors 2-to-2. O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do, who directed millions to his daughter’s nonprofit without…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

Current and former homelessness officials told LAist the report’s findings underscore that the shortage of shelter and housing is driving the homelessness crisis, and unless that’s dealt with, encampments will keep coming back. Full story:

Hidden City Report Finds LA Council’s Signature Anti-Encampment Law Is Failing

The report looks at one of the council’s most controversial laws, a rule known as 41.18. Since 2021, council members have designated public areas in their…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

I'll be live on @LAist in a few minutes around 3:30pm, breaking a new development around today's federal raids in Orange County.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

94% of people at encampments targeted for removal under 41.18 wanted shelter, according to the report. Of those, only 18% were able to get housing.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

Billions have been sent to California cities and counties to address the homelessness crisis. But is that money being spent effectively? State auditors are taking a look. What will they find? Story: @LAist

Are Cities Spending Homelessness Dollars Effectively? State Auditors Will Take a Look

Billions have been allocated to address the homelessness crisis. State auditors will look at where that money is going in specific localities — including…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

For example, at Venice Blvd. and Tuller Ave., the data show an encampment of 54 people before the operation. Among them, 52 wanted shelter — but only two people got it, according to the data. And after the 41.18 operation, 122 people came back at various points, the data show.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

NEW: An Orange County nonprofit that got millions in pandemic relief funds earmarked to feed struggling seniors failed to submit federally-required yearly audits detailing how it spent that taxpayer money, according to public records obtained by LAist.

Nonprofit led by OC supervisor's daughter failed to submit required audits for millions in spendi...

The missing audits are for $4 million in taxpayer funding earmarked to provide meals for seniors and people with disabilities. LAist previously reported…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

The report, obtained by LAist from a person with access to the document and verified by others with knowledge of it, found that 41.18 failed to keep the vast majority of its areas clear of encampments and was “generally ineffective” at helping people get into housing.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

NEW: Unhoused veterans in L.A. won a major legal victory Thursday when a judge rejected all of the federal government’s efforts to toss out a lawsuit that seeks to require Veterans Affairs officials to house veterans with disabilities.

‘Historic’ Ruling Paves Way To House LA’s Unhoused Veterans With Disabilities, Attorney Says

Federal judge David O. Carter says he wants the VA’s West L.A. campus to dramatically increase the housing available for veterans to include space for…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

Supervisor Do, his daughter Rhiannon Do, and the nonprofit’s founder Peter Pham did not return messages for comment. “These are taxpayer dollars and we need to make sure that they’re being held accountable for their use,” Supervisor Katrina Foley told me today in an interview.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

Among the report’s key findings, the vast majority of encampments came back: Unhoused people came back at high rates — with 81% of encampments reporting people returning who had been there before the clear-out.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

30 days

NEW from ⁦⁦ @jillrep ⁩ : Orange County officials are taking control of services at the county’s signature mental health campus, a move that pushes out a nonprofit paid tens of millions of dollars in public funds to run it for the last two years.

After audit raises dozens of concerns, OC cuts short a key mental health services contract

The audit, obtained by LAist through a public records request, looked at the county's Be Well campus in the city of Orange. The director of the O.C.’s…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 days

TOMORROW: OC supervisors are set to vote on officially condemning their fellow board member Andrew Do through a censure. Also on the agenda: whether to order reviews of county contracts and additional transparency around family connections to contractors.

OC supervisors are set to vote on censure of Andrew Do and transparency reforms

The new votes come a week after the board removed Do from his committee assignments.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

County officials gave the group, Viet America Society, until 5 p.m. yesterday to provide proof of how it spent the money. They warned that if it failed to, the county could make them return the money. That deadline was yesterday. It wasn't met, according to the county

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

Viet America Society has been the subject of a monthslong LAist investigation that has uncovered more than $13 million in taxpayer funds that Supervisor Do directed, or helped direct, to his daughter’s group without publicly disclosing his family connection.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

NEW: Days before the FBI searched his house, OC Supervisor Andrew Do defended his daughter’s nonprofit amid fraud claims over millions he sent to it. He said his family is being slandered and that Viet America Society “is complying with the law.”

Days before FBI search, OC supervisor defended his daughter’s nonprofit against fraud claims

The remarks made on a Vietnamese radio broadcast are Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do’s first known public response after O.C. officials filed a lawsuit…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

NEW: County records obtained by @LAist show O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do directed an additional $6.2 million in taxpayer dollars to his 22 year-old daughter’s nonprofit without publicly disclosing his close family connection.

OC Supervisor Andrew Do quietly routed millions more to his daughter’s group

County records obtained by LAist show O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do directed an additional $6.2 million in taxpayer dollars to his 22-year-old daughter’s…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

6 months

NEW: In her first public statements since controversy erupted over millions of unaccounted for tax dollars, Rhiannon Do says she’s no longer with Viet America Society. She also says she never was an officer or director. Public documents show otherwise.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

My first story for @LAist is up! And I’ll be live on ⁦ @AirTalk ⁩ starting in a few minutes to talk about it. LA leaders have been cautioned not to spend money from the city’s new tax meant to address homelessness – until a judge weighs on its legality

New Tax Money Meant To Help LA’s Unhoused Is Stuck In Legal Limbo

When it comes to spending the cash, the city of L.A. has been warned not to do much of that until a court decides if the tax is legal.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

Amid warnings of life-threatening flooding, L.A. officials have offered up to 240 vouchers for motel rooms. When @kennasieve called the hotline today, it took more than an hour to reach someone. No vouchers were left, the operator said. Full story:

Unhoused Communities Urged to Seek Shelter, More Vouchers Promised

Growing concern for city and county’s preparedness ahead of dangerous winter storm.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

27 days

NEW: A federal judge has ordered federal officials to add thousands more homes for unhoused veterans in the L.A. area, citing what he describes as failures by the government to follow through on promises to end veteran homelessness.

Judge orders thousands more homes for unhoused veterans, calls out 'broken promises, corruption and...

Judge David O. Carter orders 2,550 more homes in L.A. and says "it’s no surprise" that veterans don't trust the VA.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

NEW: A major trial over an O.C. homeless services center was suddenly derailed this month when county Supervisor Andrew Do, who was testifying, failed to disclose he’s married to a high-ranking judge at the court, according to records reviewed by @LAist .

OC supervisor testified without disclosing his wife is the assistant presiding judge. It led to a...

It’s the second high-profile instance to emerge recently of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do not disclosing a relevant family relationship during official…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

Most of the spending never appeared on public meeting agendas, and several top county officials — including CEO Frank Kim and supervisors Katrina Foley and Vicente Sarmiento — say they weren’t told of the connection. Full story:

Deadline is blown to account for millions OC supervisor sent to his daughter’s group. What happens...

Supervisor Andrew Do directed millions to the group, which was supposed to go toward feeding needy residents. “If they can’t prove then they should pay…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 month

UPDATE: The update: FBI is currently raiding the family home of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do and his wife, OC Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham, after IRS agents raided a home owned by their daughter Rhiannon Do earlier today.

Feds search homes of OC Supervisor Andrew Do, Judge Cheri Pham and their daughter

Federal agents on Thursday searched the family home of O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do and his wife — O.C. Superior Court Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham —…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

6 months

NEW: @LAist 's investigation of Supervisor Do prompts a state bill — passed unanimously by a Senate committee yesterday — to make it a crime for officials to knowingly award gov. contracts that benefit their adult kids. It was introduced by Sen. Dave Min.

Anti-Nepotism Bill Gains Momentum, Bars Public Officials From Awarding Government Contracts to...

Official website of Senator Dave Min, representing California Senate District 37.

sd37.senate.ca.gov

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento is calling for an investigation into millions in taxpayer funding that his fellow supervisor Andrew Do directed to a nonprofit led by Do’s 22 year-old daughter, which was brought to light by LAist last month.

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@nicholasgerda

10 days

NEW: A third state bill (SB 1111) has been signed into law that was inspired by LAist’s investigation into OC Supervisor Andrew Do's directing of millions of taxpayer dollars that are unaccounted for.

Reform bills inspired by LAist investigation signed into law by Newsom

Two of the laws will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and a third a year later. They increase transparency in how government contracts are awarded.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

A prominent Orange County judge is facing scathing new allegations that he led a criminal conspiracy to cover up police misconduct and withhold evidence in a murder case when he was a high-ranking prosecutor. (Story w/ @jillrep )

OC Snitch Case: Former Top Prosecutor, Now Judge, Accused Of Criminal Cover-Up By Public Defender

The 424-page document could open a new chapter in the long-running "snitch scandal" that has upended multiple murder cases in Orange County.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

3 years

OC's district attorney is facing explosive allegations from his own staff that he improperly made racial remarks when deciding whether to seek the death penalty against a Black defendant, per internal memos obtained by @VoiceofOC

OC Prosecutors Challenge DA Spitzer for Bringing Race into Death Penalty Decision

Spitzer reportedly told his prosecutors he knew of Black men who get themselves out of bad circumstances by dating white women – prompting turmoil in the case.

voiceofoc.org

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

11 years

Resident: Reports of protesters getting disappeared on the street from unmarked cars. "Am I living in Nazi Germany?" #KellyThomas

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

“It’s the same for any contract that we let: If you hire a vendor to do something and you are paying for a specific product or service, and they don’t have a way to prove that they provided the product or service, then we of course should demand a refund,” Foley added.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

3 months

NEW: An @LAist review has found major errors in a recent data release that tracks where L.A. encampments have been cleared and how many people were brought inside from each council district. Officials owned up to the errors and issued a correction.

LA officials tried to track encampment clearings citywide. LAist found major errors in that data

Officials acknowledge the mistakes, and say they’ve now fixed them.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said he’ll be asking the county’s lawyers about remedies the county can pursue. “I’m disappointed when any vendor that has a contract with the county fails to perform or produce documentation requested,” he said in a statement to LAist.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

NEW: A major study of unhoused Californians has found the main barrier to fixing homelessness is the massive shortage of affordable housing for people with very low incomes – and fixing that is “essential” to solving homelessness.

Adding Affordable Housing Is ‘Essential’ To Fixing California’s Homelessness Crisis, Study Finds

“Band-Aids are good … But what we really want to do is stop the bleed,” said the study’s lead researcher. “There is no medicine as powerful as housing.”

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

7 months

NEW: The public could soon have more answers about where L.A.’s homelessness dollars are going. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and a top homelessness official, at the urging of a federal judge, promised in court Monday to provide more transparency. Story:

Under Legal Pressure, LA Mayor Promises To Publish Receipts On Homeless Spending

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and a top homelessness official, at the urging of a federal judge, promised in court to provide more transparency on how the city is…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

"Throughout this entire scandal, Supervisor Andrew Do has shown that he will go to great lengths to excuse away and deflect from his unethical behavior. It raises legitimate questions about what else he’s done." - @ocregister editorial board.

Supervisor Andrew Do’s ridiculous smear of LAist reporter Nick Gerda

Once again, we call for Supervisor Andrew Do to stop misleading the public, to take responsibility for his unethical behavior and to resign from office immediately.

www.ocregister.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

In response to @LAist reporting, an OC supervisor is proposing ethics reforms to make county supervisors disclose family relationships to groups they award funding to – as well as more transparency about where money is going. @yagurldest via @ocregister :

Board of Supervisors to consider broadened conflict of interest disclosures

The proposal by one supervisor follows reports Supervisor Andrew Do didn’t mention a family connection when voting for two county contracts. Do said there was no wrongdoing on his part.

www.ocregister.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

That’s according to a preliminary number released verbally by city officials Wednesday afternoon, at a committee meeting where councilmembers sharply criticized what they described as a lack of transparency around the L.A. mayor’s signature homelessness program.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

“We have a real problem if the folks aren’t getting housed,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, in reaction to the number. He said it comes after he and other council members held 13 housing fairs for Inside Safe residents to help people get their documents together.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

23 days

TODAY: OC Supervisor Andrew Do's colleagues stripped him of all his committee assignments, including his role as a board member for the O.C. Transportation Authority. Do was not present at the supervisors' meeting, for the second time in a row.

OC Supervisors remove Andrew Do from his board committee assignments

The move comes more than nine months after LAist first started reporting on issues with public funding he directed to a nonprofit where his daughter…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

New: At least two L.A. city councilmembers want to step up oversight of Mayor Karen Bass’ homelessness program, after LAist revealed that required transparency reports have not been provided. A major decision on that is slated for a 1 p.m. hearing today

LA Council Advances Tighter Oversight of Bass’ Homelessness Program — After Missing Accountability...

The effort comes after LAist revealed that required transparency reports have not been provided to the council.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

NEW: L.A. officials confirm to @LAist that a miscommunication caused a weeks-long delay in opening Skid Row cooling stations that help unhoused Angelenos stay safe in the summer heat. Most of the Skid Row stations opened over a month late.

As LA Temps Soared, Communication Problems Kept Skid Row Cooling Stations From Opening

Due to the problems, most of the stations where unhoused people can access free water opened over a month late.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

NEWS: Southern California Public Radio CEO Herb Scannell just announced he plans to retire, after leading a jump in fundraising and a growth in diversity at the organization – as well as controversial layoffs earlier this summer that roiled the newsroom.

SoCal Public Radio CEO Herb Scannell Announces Plans To Retire

Herb Scannell led efforts to expand podcasting and diversify the organization, and made the controversial decision to cut 21 positions in June.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

NEW: Following requests from L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and questions from LAist, federal officials on Monday granted one of the mayor’s biggest asks to help speed up the time it takes unhoused people to get into permanent housing.

In Reversal, Feds Approve One Of Bass’ Biggest Requests To Speed Up Homeless Housing

The new waiver removes a key hurdle that Bass and homeless service providers have cited for delays in getting people into available housing meant for them.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

“The public's trust is being eroded by people who abuse the process,” Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told me today. “I think it's important that the public understands what programs we're supporting [and] who's receiving public funds."

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

ICYMI: My first @AirTalk segment since starting at @LAist focused on LA’s new tax to fund affordable housing is stuck in legal limbo. Starts at 54:06 here:

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

4 years

The current mandatory (red) and voluntary (orange) evacuation zones in Irvine, North Tustin and Lake Forest for the #SilveradoFire , and Yorba Linda for #BlueRidgeFire (formerly #GreenFire ), per @OCSheriff :

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

11 months

Do, his daughter, and his chief of staff haven’t returned multiple requests for comment. Full story:

Top OC official helped direct millions to his daughter’s center without disclosing family connection

Over the past year, Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do was involved in directing $3.1 million to a mental health center where his daughter, Rhiannon Do,…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

17 days

AB-3130, by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, will require county supervisors across the state to disclose any family ties they have to a nonprofit’s employees or officers before any board awards money to the group.

Reform bills inspired by LAist investigation signed into law by Newsom

Two of the laws will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and a third a year later. They increase transparency in how government contracts are awarded.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

LAist’s latest article, published yesterday afternoon, reported that the nonprofit run by Do’s daughter, Rhiannon, failed to submit federally-required audits detailing how it spent the money. Sarmiento said he’s concerned about the missing audits LAist discovered.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

4 years

The top Republican candidates are blaming each other for the loss. “I would be comfortably ahead if they had not run,” Moorlach says of the other Republicans in the race. “This is Moorlach’s second time costing Republicans a safe seat," says Kevin Muldoon.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

The findings, in warning letters obtained by @LAist , focusing on contracts totaling $4.2 million from late 2020 through May 2023. This week, the county demanded the nonprofit provide proof within 30 days that it provided the meals and records showing what happened with the money

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

“Bare minimum” is how federal Judge David O. Carter described the county’s latest offer to help unhoused L.A. residents. It would have required 1,000 new beds over the next few years and money for another 450 people to get services at existing facilities.

Judge Again Rejects County Settlement In Major LA Homelessness Case, Wants More Beds And More...

In a contentious hearing, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said L.A. County's proposal was woefully inadequate.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 years

Breaking: OC’s top public health official, Clayton Chau, announced internally late today that he’s resigning effective June 1. No reason given in his announcement. One of Chau’s first acts as county health officer was to lift OC’s mask mandate in June 2020.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

Do directed the money as part of coronavirus relief measures in his district, and did not publicly disclose his family connection when awarding millions to the group. Do, his daughter, and Pham did not respond to messages for comment. Full story:

OC officials say millions meant to feed vulnerable residents are unaccounted for

New county letters obtained by LAist find that a nonprofit led by an O.C. supervisor’s 22-year-old daughter has failed to prove what it did with more than…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

9 months

NEW: @ocregister editorial board calls on O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do ( @joinandrewdo ) to retract his false claims about me and apologize. The editorial describes Do doubling down after a Register editor pointed out that his allegations are not true.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

It was heralded as a major milestone toward promises to house unhoused veterans at the West L.A. VA campus. All 120 units were “move-in ready," VA officials said at the time. But two months later, most of it is still unoccupied, @LAist has learned.

120 New Apartments For Unhoused Veterans Were ‘Move-In Ready.’ Months Later, Most Sit Empty

Officials celebrated the new apartments at a grand opening in early May. But most of the housing is still unoccupied.

laist.com

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18

Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

3 months

NEW: A lawsuit is seeking to force L.A. city leaders to stop an alleged "covert thwarting" of a controversial housing development in Venice that the city council first approved two years ago.

New lawsuit aims to stop LA leaders from further ‘thwarting’ Venice homeless housing project

The suit alleges two top city elected officials have covertly and illegally thwarted a housing proposal for a city-owned lot that’s 800 feet from the…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

9 months

And here are the latest findings from our investigation into how Do routed of millions of taxpayer dollars to his 22-year-old daughter's group – without disclosing his family relationship. The group failed to submit audits tracking the money, records show:

Nonprofit led by OC supervisor's daughter failed to submit required audits for millions in spendi...

The missing audits are for $4 million in taxpayer funding earmarked to provide meals for seniors and people with disabilities. LAist previously reported…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

17 days

AB-2946, by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, will require a majority vote by the O.C. Board of Supervisors before discretionary funds are awarded to a nonprofit or community group. The supervisors will also be required to post details online of how they allocated the money.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 months

The repayment demands come shortly after the nonprofit failed to meet another deadline to submit a long-awaited audit, which was supposed to answer how the money was spent. The new details are outlined in letters obtained by LAist.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

3 years

OC oil spill update: About 4,000 feet of the pipeline was displaced by 105 feet, U.S. Coast Guard announced just now at news conference. Divers found a 13-inch split on side of the pipe that's likely source of oil release, says @USCGLosAngeles

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

Officials warned that Viet America Society could be forced to pay back the money if it doesn’t provide the evidence it provided the service. The group has already had nearly a year to provide the records since the county first asked for them, according to the letters.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

9 months

And here's what we found at @LAist :

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

9 days

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who proposed the censure, said it was "intended to demonstrate our collective condemnation of misconduct demonstrated by Supervisor Do."

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 months

NEW: A nonprofit group says it is refusing a demand by Orange County officials to refund $2.2 million that Supervisor Andrew Do directed to the organization outside of the public’s view.

Nonprofit linked to OC supervisor’s daughter says it won’t refund $2.2M in taxpayer funds demanded...

“There’s no way they’re getting that money back,” Sterling Scott Winchell, the attorney for VAS, told the Orange County Register. The county could file…

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

11 months

A group of community nonprofit leaders were so concerned about the handling of the subcontracts that they held a meeting about it with Connie Chung Joe, the leader of L.A.’s top Asian American civil rights group. She told LAist she followed up by contacting the FBI.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

At Wednesday’s committee meeting, council members questioned why they still didn’t have full information about how the dollars have been used so far, how many people have left the program and how many people are at which motels.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

1 year

Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson said he saw social services for low-income people get defunded after advocates couldn’t answer where the money was going. He said he’s worried about future support for the mayor’s homelessness efforts, if there’s not better transparency.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

8 months

As he described his ethics proposal, Sarmiento said there's a corruption problem in Orange County — a statement that sparked pushback from Wagner.

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 months

NEW: L.A. County’s top elected leaders are pushing back on calls by Gov. Gavin Newsom and others to clear homeless encampments, even when shelter is not available, after the U.S. Supreme Court recently legalized the practice.

LA County leaders rebuff Newsom and push for shelter to be offered when clearing encampments

In a unanimous vote, the five supervisors said they’re not changing the county’s longstanding approach in the jurisdiction they control.

laist.com

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Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

10 months

“There is additional information that needs to be understood. I think that the public and members of this board need to understand it as well,” Sarmeinto said at Tuesday’s meeting. He asked county CEO Frank Kim to develop a timeline of the funding.

At OC supervisors meeting, renewed calls for investigation into millions routed by Andrew Do to his...

“The public's trust is being eroded by people who abuse the process,” Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told LAist.

laist.com

0

15

Nick Gerda

@nicholasgerda

2 years

I’ll keep following @VoiceofOC ’s coverage, which is essential in keeping the public informed and the powerful accountable in Orange County. And I’m excited to start in my new role at @LAist , covering unhoused communities with a focus on accountability.

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