Nick Gerda
is an accountability reporter who has covered local government in Southern California for more than a decade.
Updated March 12, 2026 2:06 PM
Published March 11, 2026 5:41 PM
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do at the county Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.
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Nick Gerda / LAist
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Topline:
Former O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do was ordered to pay the county $250,000 by mid-September as the first round of restitution for his crime in a corruption scheme that diverted millions of dollars in meal money from needy seniors. The judge said Do had the ability to pay, listing his net worth at about $1.5 million. But six months later, authorities say he hasn’t paid.
The order: At an Aug. 11 restitution hearing, the judge ordered Do to pay the first installment of $250,000 within 30 days.
A property transfer: The next day, Do transferred all of his ownership of his family home — estimated by Zillow to be worth $2.2 million — over to his wife, OC Superior Court Judge Cheri Pham, according to a real estate record.
Six months later: That Sept. 10 due date for the first restitution payment has long since passed, but federal and county officials say Do has yet to pay it. Do’s attorney, Paul Meyer, declined to comment, saying it would be “inappropriate” to do so.
‘No money left’: A spokesperson for the prosecutors’ office said they understand “there was no money left in assets” that could be seized.
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As part of his sentence for a corruption scheme that diverted millions of tax dollars from feeding needy seniors, a federal judge ordered former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do to pay the county $878,230 as restitution for his crime.
“He has the ability to pay a fine,” U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna wrote last June, listing Do’s net worth at about $1.5 million, with a negative monthly cash flow of $8,400.
At an Aug. 11 restitution hearing, the judge ordered Do to pay the first installment of $250,000 within 30 days.
The next day, Do transferred all of his ownership of his family home — estimated by Zillow to be worth $2.2 million — over to his wife, OC Superior Court Judge Cheri Pham, according to a real estate record.
That Sept. 10 due date for the first restitution payment has long since passed, but federal and county officials say Do has yet to pay it.
“He did not make that payment,” said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the federal prosecutors’ office that oversaw the case, when asked by LAist about it on Monday. McEvoy said the prosecutors’ office understands “there was no money left in assets” that could be seized.
Leon Page, Orange County’s top lawyer, said county officials are “not aware of any such payment from Andrew Do.”
Do’s attorney, Paul Meyer, declined to comment, saying it would be “inappropriate” to do so.
“It’s hard to believe that so much time has gone by without the restitution being paid,” said Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor who served decades ago as a senior federal prosecutor at the office that later prosecuted Do.
“It certainly raises questions — if not eyebrows — as to what happened here. Because ordinarily the U.S. Attorney's Office would take victim restitution orders quite seriously.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office can file a court motion if they discover a significant change in the defendant’s economic circumstances that affect their to pay restitution, according to a federal Justice Department guide. The prosecutors’ office also “is required to certify to the Court that victims who are owed restitution are notified about such material changes,” the guide states.
The court’s official online records show no filings regarding any changes in Do’s financial circumstances, or his apparent failure to pay the court-ordered restitution that was due six months ago.
U.S. Attorney officials said in a statement that resolving cases like this can take years.
The statement said that discussion of Do’s unpaid restitution is “moot,” because under Justice Department policy his restitution will be satisfied by the $3.7 million the department is giving the county from forfeited assets that were owned by other people and organizations involved in the scheme.
Do turned himself into federal prison on Aug. 15, three days after transferring ownership of his family home to his wife. Meanwhile, he continues to collect about $7,300 per month from his county pension, according to the pension system. In addition, this January he received a $12,771 refund from the pension system of all the contributions he made as a supervisor, from when his crime began in June 2020 until he resigned in October 2024.
What happened?
Federal authorities say their understanding is no money was available for them to seize.
“When a defendant fails to pay a restitution order, our office’s financial litigation unit gets involved and completes a thorough financial investigation to find … any assets that could satisfy the outstanding restitution balance,” McEvoy wrote in an emailed response to LAist.
“We cannot comment on what that investigation found, but our understanding is there was no money left in assets that the government could levy to satisfy that order.”
McEvoy declined to answer follow-up questions.
In response to LAist’s questions, county officials say they’re looking into their options if Do refuses to pay restitution as required.
“We do not believe that he has complied with this order, but we’re verifying that is the case at this time,” said the spokesperson, Molly Nichelson.
Property ownership transferred just after restitution order
Do signed a deed on Aug. 12 transferring to his wife all of his ownership in the North Tustin family home they purchased in 2002, according to an official copy of the document LAist obtained from the county clerk-recorder.
Do's attorney declined to comment on the transfer.
An FBI officer at Andrew Do's house in North Tustin.
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Adolfo Guzman-Lopez
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LAist
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LAist obtained permit records showing substantial renovation work on the house was managed in 2021 by the leader of the same nonprofit from whom Do admitted to receiving kickbacks. The work included a bathroom addition and remodel of the master bathroom and kitchen.
Do also was investigated multiple times by the O.C. District Attorney’s Office, going back to 2015, over allegations he was living at the home illegally outside of the district he was representing as supervisor. No criminal charges were filed.
Pham was the court’s second highest-ranking judge when her husband’s corruption scheme came to light. Their two adult daughters received bribe money for their father as part of the scheme, according to Do’s plea deal.
The corruption scheme
After an LAist investigation prompted a criminal investigation, Do admitted to taking bribes as part of a scheme to divert nearly $8 million from feeding needy seniors during the coronavirus pandemic. He is now serving a five-year sentence in federal prison.
The county alleges its losses from the scheme were much higher — more than $13 million — and is trying to recover it through a lawsuit that is expected to take a long time to work its way through the court.
The restitution Do was ordered to pay is separate from the $3.7 million authorities obtained from properties and bank account money held by others accused of involvement in the scheme. That did not come from Do’s assets. Instead, it came from assets owned by his daughter, as well as a business and nonprofit Do had no formal role at.
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When Do entered prison in August, his release date was listed in November 2029 — about 85% of his five-year sentence. Seven months in, his expected time in prison has been shortened by two months, with a new release date in September 2029.
A spokesperson for the federal prison system said they cannot comment on specific people’s confinement conditions but that incarcerated people can earn additional time off of their sentence by completing specific classes and programs.
After leaving prison, the restitution order requires Do to pay $1,000 per month or 10% of his income — whichever is more.
At $1,000 per month, the last of the restitution payments would be in late 2081, when Do would be 118 years old.
David Wagner
covers housing in Southern California, a place where the lack of affordable housing contributes to homelessness.
Published June 1, 2026 9:00 AM
The L.A. Metro's Wilshire/La Brea stop on the D Line is one of the stations listed on the SB 79 map.
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Kayla Bartkowski
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline:
Starting July 1, a new state law will push cities to increase housing development in neighborhoods located near major transit stops. When the law was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, cities began taking their best guess at where exactly those sites would be.
What’s new: Now, the list is out. On Monday, the Southern California Association of Governments published its official map showing where new housing density will be allowed under Senate Bill 79.
Why it matters: The law’s impact on L.A. neighborhoods near transit lines — including those zoned only for single-family homes — has been heavily debated, especially in the race for Los Angeles mayor. The tallest buildings allowed under SB 79 will be nine stories, as long as they are located within 200 feet of a Metro B or D-line stop. More common will be the “Tier 2” zones around light rail and dedicated bus lane stops, which will allow buildings up to eight stories tall within 200 feet of the stop.
Read on… to learn why Orange County is excluded for now, but will be added to the map soon.
Starting July 1, a new state law will push cities to increase housing development in neighborhoods located near major transit stops.
When the law was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, Southern California cities began taking their best guess at where exactly those sites would be.
Now, the list is out. On Monday, the Southern California Association of Governments, known as SCAG, published its official map showing where new housing density will be allowed under Senate Bill 79.
Elizabeth Carbajal, SCAG’s deputy director of land use, said local officials sought many clarifications from state leaders in order to be sure that the map would accurately reflect the Legislature’s intent.
“There were a lot of questions after the statute was signed,” Carbajal said. “The clarifications helped further define bus service, as well as pedestrian access points.”
SB 79 has become a political lightning rod
The law’s impact on neighborhoods near transit lines — including those zoned only for single-family homes — has been heavily debated, especially in the race for Los Angeles mayor.
Mayor Karen Bass asked Newsom to veto SB 79, and she continues to oppose adding apartments within the nearly three-quarters of city land reserved for single-family homes.
City councilmember Nithya Raman, who is challenging Bass in the upcoming election, declined to oppose SB 79 and has said some single-family neighborhoods will need to accept more density.
Spencer Pratt, the former reality TV star running for mayor, made waves on social media when he falsely claimed last year that SB 79 would bring high-rises to the Pacific Palisades, where his home burned down. The official SCAG map confirms that SB 79 will have no impact on the neighborhood.
In response to SB 79, housing opponents in some areas have started focusing their efforts on killing plans for expanded public transit. Responding to public pressure, Burbank officials have stalled construction plans for local portions of a rapid bus line from North Hollywood to Pasadena. L.A. Metro is now suing Burbank over that move.
Where will new housing go? And how much will be allowed?
The rules of SB 79 are complex.
The tallest buildings allowed under SB 79 will be nine stories, as long as they are located within 200 feet of a Metro B or D-line stop. These stations qualify as “Tier 1” stops under SB 79, which puts the tallest buildings near heavy rail lines, which in L.A. only applies to the B and D-line subways.
More common will be the “Tier 2” zones around light rail and dedicated bus lane stops, which will allow buildings up to eight stories tall within 200 feet of those stops.
Height limits step down in areas further out from the station. In “Tier 2” zones, buildings up to six stories tall will be allowed within a quarter-mile of the stop, and buildings up to five stories will be allowed within a half-mile.
Neighborhoods near two Metrolink commuter rail stations, in Burbank and Glendale, will also qualify as “Tier 2” zones.
Change won’t necessarily come overnight
New housing won’t necessarily be coming to those zones immediately. Under SB 79, cities have the ability to put off full implementation until 2030 by making their own choices about where to allow more housing.
“Cities can develop alternative plans and delay implementation,” said Philip Law, a SCAG deputy planning director. “The map is not intended to reflect those situations.”
The city of L.A. has taken the delay approach, with the City Council recently voting to allow buildings up to four stories tall around 55 targeted transit stops. This would let the city put off full implementation of SB 79.
The new SCAG map shows no impact in Orange County. The region does not yet qualify as an “urban transit county” under the state law. However, the impending completion of the OC Streetcar through Santa Ana and Garden Grove, expected later this year, will make Orange County eligible for SB 79.
Once the OC Streetcar opens, SCAG plans to update their map to include Orange County, Carbajal said.
Check out Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to celebrate the movie star's 100th birthday.
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Emily Shur
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Academy Museum Foundation
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In this edition:
Pride Night at Angel Stadium, Marilyn Monroe at 100, Stop Making Sense and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
Celebrate the biggest Hollywood star of all time, Marilyn Monroe, on what would be her 100th birthday: June 1. The special exhibit Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon just opened at the Academy Museum and includes memorabilia, film clips and costumes that explore Monroe’s impact on the studio system, her iconic style and much more.
The Righteous Gemstones actress Edi Patterson brings her bold improv to the Largo for her new show, Playgirl — a full-length play completely improvised right on the spot. Yes, she’s playing all the characters.
Kick off Pride Month with Pride Night at Angel Stadiumas the Angels take on the Colorado Rockies. You’ll score an Angels Pride jersey and can enjoy the pregame Pride Village.
What, you think I’d let you miss an opportunity to see Stop Making Sense on the big screen? And lose all my indie cool cred? Never. Talking Heads’ classic 1984 music film (directed by the late, great Jonathan Demme) will be shown at Vidiots in 4K digital to celebrate 40 years of everyone’s favorite film nerd superstore.
Tuesday is Election Day, so get ready to drop off your ballot or head to your polling place — but not before consulting the LAist Voter Game Plan if you still have some research to do about the most competitive races in your area, whether that’s city council, mayor or even the state-wide governor’s primary.
And happy Pride! We’ll be featuring tons of LGBTQ+ events this month, so stay tuned.
Licorice Pizza’s Lyndsey Parker has your music picks for the week, including: Monday, Las Vegas rockers the Cab will be at the Fonda Theatre, and Scottish indie-pop darlings Camera Obscura will play their first of two shows at Pacific Electric.
Tuesday, new-wave legend Joe Jackson will be looking sharp at the Orpheum Theatre, British-Sudanese R&B artist Elmiene will play the Wiltern and Australian buzz band Vacations will begin their three-night run at the Troubadour.
On Wednesday, alt-country harpist Mikaela Davis is at Sid The Cat Auditorium, and the Grammy Museum hosts a “Reelin’ in the Early Years of Steely Dan” panel featuring Licorice Pizza’s Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
Thursday’s a big night for new-wave fans with the triple-bill of the Human League, Soft Cell and Alison Moyet at the Hollywood Bowl, while Vince Staples is at the El Rey. Plus, at 4 p.m. Licorice Pizza is hosting a Q&A with legendary rock photographer Henry Diltz at the record store.
Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 p.m. Angel Stadium 2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim COST: FROM $35; MORE INFO
Catch the Angels as they take on the Rockies for Pride Night.
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Julio Aguilar
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Getty Images
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Kick off Pride Month with Pride Night at Angel Stadium, as the Angels take on the Colorado Rockies. You’ll score an Angels Pride jersey and can enjoy the pregame Pride Village.
Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon
Ongoing Academy Museum 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile COST: INCLUDED WITH GENERAL ADMISSION, $25; MORE INFO
Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon is at the Academy Museum.
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Emily Shur
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Academy Museum Foundation
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She may have sung happy birthday to Mr. President, but it’s Marilyn’s turn now. Celebrate the biggest Hollywood star of all time, Marilyn Monroe, on what would be her 100th birthday: June 1. The special exhibit Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon just opened at the Academy Museum, and it includes memorabilia, film clips and costumes that explore Monroe’s impact on the studio system, her iconic style and much more. From her costumes in Some Like It Hot to the pink dress by William Travilla in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes to letters and personal materials, the exhibit takes a complete look at Norma Jeane’s legacy.
Stop Making Sense
Monday June 1, 7:30 p.m. Vidiots 4884 N. Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock COST: WALK-UP TICKETS AVAILABLE; MORE INFO
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A24
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FilmGrab
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What, you think I’d let you miss an opportunity to see Stop Making Sense on the big screen? And lose all my indie cool cred? Never. Talking Heads’ classic 1984 music film (directed by the late, great Jonathan Demme) will be shown at Vidiots in 4K digital to celebrate 40 years of everyone’s favorite film nerd superstore.
The Drop: Dogstar
Tuesday, June 2, 7:30 p.m. Grammy Museum 800 W Olympic Blvd., Downtown L.A. COST: SOLD OUT BUT WAITLIST AVAILABLE; MORE INFO
Keanu Reeves will perform with his band, Dogstar, this week.
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Francesco Prandoni
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Getty Images
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Keanu Reeves’s other career — as the rockstar lead singer of Dogstar — has taken shape and developed a loyal fanbase over the years. Join the band for an evening of stories, music and conversation on the Grammy Museum rooftop as they release their latest album, All in Now.
Edi Patterson: Playgirl
Wednesday, June 3, 8 p.m. Largo at the Coronet 366 N. La Cienega Blvd.,Melrose COST: $50; MORE INFO
Edi Patterson will be improvising an entire play.
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Marcus Ingram
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Getty Images
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The Righteous Gemstones actress Edi Patterson brings her bold improv to the Largo for her new show, Playgirl. No, she’s not improvising a pinup; rather, she’s doing something so much bolder — performing a full-length play completely improvised right on the spot. Yes, she’s playing all the characters.
Wet Hot Amusical Summer
Thursday, June 4, and various dates through June, 7:30 p.m. Three Clubs 1123 Vine Street, Hollywood COST: $33; MORE INFO
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Cherry Poppins
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Eventbrite
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A cult film if there ever was one, the 2001 David Wain film Wet Hot American Summer (starring Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler and many, many more) is ripe for a send-up stage treatment — and the folks at Cherry Poppins have delivered with Wet Hot Amusical Summer. The spoof of a spoof is sure to be an over-the-top send-up of what’s already a comedy legend; the show continues through the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
The Big Run
Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Johnny Carson Park 400 S. Bob Hope Drive, Burbank COST: $22.50; MORE INFO
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Miguel A. Amutio
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Unsplash
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Celebrate Global Running Day with friends in Burbank as The Big Run takes over Johnny Carson Park. Hosted by Fleet Feet Burbank in partnership with the Burbank Parks and Recreation Department, run the .4 mile loop as many times as you can in 30 minutes to compete!
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Jill Replogle
covers public corruption, debates over our voting system, culture war battles — and more.
Published June 1, 2026 5:00 AM
The state wants Huntington Beach to make room for more homes, and the city has balked at being told how to do that.
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Allen J. Schaben
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Huntington Beach will consider a citywide plan for more housing at its Tuesday meeting after a years-long battle against the state that resulted in a court order.
The backstory: State law requires California cities and counties to plan for enough housing to meet the expected demand over an eight-year time period, including for low-income housing. They don’t have to actually build the housing, they just have to make sure their local zoning can accommodate it. Huntington Beach was told to make room for some 13,000 new homes. The city fought the allocation all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court — but lost.
The current status: A San Diego court recently told Huntington Beach it needed to come into compliance, or pay $50,000 for each month it fails to do so.
What’s next? The city council is scheduled to vote on the housing plan at its June 2 meeting.
Huntington Beach will consider a citywide plan for more housing at its June 2 (Tuesday) meeting after a yearslong battle against the state that resulted in a court order.
The backstory
State law requires California cities and counties to plan for enough housing to meet the expected demand over an eight-year period, including for low-income housing. They don’t have to actually build the housing, they just have to make sure their local zoning can accommodate it.
Huntington Beach was told to make room for some 13,000 new homes. The city fought the allocation all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to review the case last year.
Mayor Casey McKeon estimates the city would actually have to plan for close to 40,000 new units to meet the state mandate, since most new developments include only a small percentage of affordable homes.
Where things stand now
A San Diego court recently told Huntington Beach it must come into compliance, or pay $50,000 for each month it fails to do so. The city responded by posting a revised housing plan on its website and asking residents for comment.
Wider pushback
The Orange County Grand Jury dropped a new report last week that is highly critical of the state’s methods of forcing cities to plan for housing at all income levels. The report said the state’s efforts have led to “growing tension between state directives and local realities” and had “led to minimal housing being built.”
What’s next?
The City Council is scheduled to vote on the housing plan at its Tuesday meeting. The state could still order the city to make revisions to its current plan. "We await their adopted plan next week," Alicia Murillo, a spokesperson for the California Department of Housing and Community Development, said in an email to LAist.
How to attend Huntington Beach City Council meetings
Huntington Beach holds City Council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 2000 Main St.
You can also watch City Council meetings remotely on HBTV via Channel 3 or online, or via the city’s website. (You can also find videos of previous council meetings there.)
The public comment period happens toward the beginning of meetings.
The city generally posts agendas for City Council meetings on the previous Friday. You can find the agenda on the city’s calendar or sign up there to have agendas sent to your inbox.
A bald eagle couple has been spotted in Los Angeles County this past week.
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Courtesy L.A. County Dept. of Parks and Recreation
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Topline:
A pair of nesting bald eagles was spotted in Los Angeles County this past week, according to a social media post from the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Why it matters: Nesting bald eagles are a fairly rare sight in Southern California, since they typically nest along the California-Oregon border.
The backstory: The Department of Parks and Recreation did not disclose the location of the birds, and reminded L.A. residents in their post that bald eagles are a federally protected species and disturbing their nests could “disrupt breeding and impact their success.”
What's next: It takes about 35 days for bald eagle eggs to incubate. If the new visitors lay eggs, Los Angeles could have our very own eaglets as early as next month.
A pair of nesting bald eagles was spotted in Los Angeles County this past week, according to a social media post from the Department of Parks and Recreation. (You can check out the full post and video on Instagram.)
The Department of Parks and Recreation did not disclose the exact location of the birds.
Nesting bald eagles are a fairly rare sight in Southern California, since they're more commonly found close to the California-Oregon border.
A look at where bald eagles typically nest.
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Courtesy California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Of course, there are notable exceptions, including Southern California's most famous bald eagles: Big Bear's Jackie and Shadow, whose yearly attempts at parenthood have become big national news on occasion.
Park officials are reminding everyone that bald eagles are a federally protected species and disturbing their nests could “disrupt breeding and impact their success.”
The history
Bald eagles were once close to extinction in the lower 48 U.S. states. By the early 1970s, there were fewer than 30 pairs in California, all in the northern part of the state. The species has rebounded since being protected under federal and state laws.
What's next
It takes about 35 days for bald eagle eggs to incubate. If the L.A.'s new eagle residents lay eggs, Los Angeles could have our very own eaglets as early as next month.
