Nick Gerda
Why does it often seem like there’s so little progress around homelessness? What can be done to make systems more effective? From the halls of government to the streets, I follow money and policies to examine what’s working, what’s not, and how it’s affecting people in Southern California.
I grew up in L.A. and OC, and previously spent more than a decade at Voice of OC covering the county government in Orange County — often reporting on issues like homelessness, public safety, mental health, and the role of money in politics.
My reporting on corruption in Orange County spurred a federal investigation that led to a powerful O.C. supervisor — Andrew Do — pleading guilty to a federal bribery charge and resigning. That work won the Dan Rather Medal for News and Guts and was a finalist for an Investigative Reporters and Editors award.
If you have a tip, you can reach me on Signal. My username is ngerda.47.
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And if you're comfortable just reaching out by email, I'm at ngerda@scpr.org.
I’m always eager for story ideas and feedback. Your insights help inform my reporting.
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Before her time at L.A.’s homeless services agency, Lilly Simmering oversaw a county government department in Orange County that greenlit millions of taxpayer dollars to a nonprofit now embroiled in a fraud scandal. -
County records obtained by LAist show officials failed to follow through on recommended precautions ahead of the costly fire, now topping $400 million in claims.
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The contracted work on mental health equity was supposed to be performed by the longtime partner — now wife — of a top aide to disgraced former county Supervisor Andrew Do. County officials cited LAist reporting in their demand for the money to be returned.
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The office attributed its findings of unspent funds to “a sluggish, inefficient [city] approach that is incompatible with timely spending.”
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The responses, from one Republican and one Democrat, include calls for an investigation and audit after an LAist investigative report.
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Officials are years behind schedule. A judge is pressing them to move much faster.
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If people are found in contempt, consequences can include fines or imprisonment. VA officials say the judge is acting illegally.
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The Republican is beating out Democratic challenger Frances Marquez, who has conceded.
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The winner of District 1 will join a five-member board that oversees a county of about 3 million residents with an annual budget of about $9 billion.
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El ganador del Distrito 1 se unirá a una junta de cinco miembros que supervisa un condado de alrededor de 3 millones de habitantes con un presupuesto anual de casi $9 mil millones.
