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| Volume 2 | Issue 9 |
March 4, 2022 |
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Lessons From Our important Fentanyl Hearing
Dear Neighbor:
At
our public fentanyl hearing on Thursday, we took testimony from County
officials and members of the public about the dangers of fentanyl. It’s
important to me that we raise awareness about our Countywide fentanyl
crisis, as too many Orange County families are losing their teens and
young adults to drugs laced with fentanyl.
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 This
crisis extends to our streets, where fentanyl endangers law
enforcement, which is why we need more tools like Naloxone to
effectively treat fentanyl poisoning and overdose. Below, learn about
our important hearing and why we must target drug traffickers and hold
them accountable.
 On
Wednesday, I spoke with local mayors for our monthly meeting. We
started our day, perfectly, with a meeting with local officials and non
profit representatives of disadvantaged youth programs on a tour of Crystal Cove.
I meet with public officials each month to share about County
resources, partnership opportunities, and to learn the history of Orange
County.
We also learned about all of the STEM programming for students offered by Crystal Cove Conservancy,
as well as their work to restore the cottages and Japanese Language
School House. Great to introduce this resource to our non-coastal city
officials from City of Santa Ana - Municipal Government.
 Earlier in the week, I joined Chairman Doug Chaffee as a moderator for “The OC” Press Conference. We spoke with Marshall Moncrief, the CEO of Be Well, Luitenant
Hines from Fullerton Police Department, and Dr. Veronica Kelly, Mental
Health & Recovery Services for the Orange County Health Care Agency,
about the services ... especially related to the sobering center at the
Be Well campus. To learn more about their community-based, cross-sector
strategy to create a County coordinated mental health ecosystem, go
here: Link
For those who missed the news at the close of last week, I announced $3.6 Million from the State of California to remove encampments
from Talbert Park in Costa Mesa and transition residents into shelters
or other housing. More details are found, below, along with a link to
our press release.
 This
week, I also participated in the recognition and official designation
of a stretch of the California 55 Highway as the “Costa Mesa Fire
Captain Michael Kreza Memorial Highway.” While the loss of Fire Captain
Kreza still hurts, I hope this signage permanently reminds the community
of his love, respect, integrity, and compassion for service.
 March is Woman's History Month – celebrate the contributions of women in our community and make your "Women Making A Difference" nomination by March 18, 2022: Here
Be well,
 Katrina Foley
Supervisor
County of Orange
Ps. Interested in volunteering to help with our District initiatives? Send me an email at Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com
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In This Edition
Read more about our Transparency in Governance,
Team Updates,
Health News, and
Community News.
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Fentanyl Hearing in Review
On March 3, 2022, we held our public Fentanyl Hearing to address the crisis in Orange County. I intend to hold those responsible
for Fentanyl-related deaths accountable. We took testimony from a panel
of experts and the public, along with generating recommendations for
law enforcement, public health, and safety changes. 1 pill
can kill and this has devastated Orange County families. Look for my
ongoing work this year and read coverage of the event by the OC Register
(link) or CBS Local News (link).
“For
years, as Mayor of Costa Mesa and - now - as County Supervisor, I’ve
advocated for and voiced my concern about Fentanyl overdose, poisoning,
and abuse in Orange County. Fentanyl kills indiscriminately and dealers
target our youth with counterfeit prescription drugs like Xanax and
other opioids.” – Supervisor Katrina Foley
“As
a mayor, I’ve mourned with mothers whose children were victims of this
sinister and illicit drug practice. This informational public hearing
allows us to gather the most current information from a panel of health
experts, local officials, and law enforcement and hold drug traffickers
accountable." – Supervisor Katrina Foley
Supervisor Foley hosted the Fentanyl Hearing alongside Chairman Chaffee. Other panelists in attendance included:
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Orange County Sheriff, Don Barnes
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Costa Mesa Police Chief, Ronald Lawrence
- Dr. Clayton Chau, Director of the Orange County Health Care Agency & County Health Office
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Dr. Veronica Kelley, Chief, Mental Health and Recovery Services Orange County Health Care Agency
- Matt Holtzman,
Chair of the County of Orange Behavioral Health Advisory Board, Chair
of Government Relations for the National Alliance of Mental Illness
(NAMI) Orange County
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State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, 74th District
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California State Senator Patricia Bates, 36th District
- Mina Said, Deputy District Attorney at the Orange County District Attorneys’ Office.
FACTS ABOUT FENTANYL:
Fentanyl is a leading cause of death for kids 17-years-and-under.
53% – Fentanyl is a factor in more than half of Overdose deaths (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics)
2MG – Less than 0.07 ounces of fentanyl causes certain death (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics).
Board of Supervisors Meeting
Please attend our next Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.
Watch live: Here
View the agenda: Here
View a list of all 2022 Orange County #BOS meetings: Here
Helping the Homeless and Eliminating Encampments
Alex Rounaghi, Policy Analyst
We
are happy to announce that our efforts to eliminate the encampments
that have plagued Orange County as public safety hazards are working.
Unhoused residents need supportive and permanent housing, and it’s
critical that we mitigate the public safety & quality of life
threats that come from encampments. Our office is excited about this
progress!
"According
to early estimates from our 2022 Point in Time Count, I believe that
there will be fewer unhoused residents in Orange County than during out
last countywide survey in 2019. Those remaining on the streets often
struggle with more serious issues, including severe mental health
disorders and drug addiction, which we are also addressing at a city and
County level." – Supervisor Katrina Foley
As
the former Mayor of Costa Mesa and, now, as Orange County Supervisor,
Supervisor Foley works hard to address the housing needs of Orange
County residents.
One of our main policy victories over the last
year includes making significant strides with Project Homekey to create
permanent and supportive housing. We are currently working to
incentivize landlords to accept Emergency Housing Vouchers. Stay tuned
for more information on these efforts. The $3.6 million dollar award
that our office initiated through to the County of Orange will provide shelter and housing for 60 individuals currently experiencing homelessness in local encampments.
This
sum is part of $60 million dollars in funding from the state of
California, provided to 19 counties across the state. We applied for
these funds on December 30, 2021, for the Encampment Resolutions Notice
of Funding Opportunity. The Supervisor looks forward to these additional
resources cleaning up the Talbert Park encampment in Costa Mesa,
California.
Learn more about the $3.6 million in funding to clean up Talbert Park: Here
More public hearings to be announced soon!
Commissioner Report
Contributed by Armando De La Libertad – OC HIstorical Commissioner
 The OC Historical Commission met on March 1, 2022 at Irvine Ranch Historic Park. Among the various topics discussed, the Commission spoke about efforts to preserve and reimagine the Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel.
 The
building, designed by William Pereira who also designed the
Transamerica Pyramid, was constructed from 1968-1970 and includes over
one million square feet of floor space. It is one of the few remaining
examples of brutalist architecture and is emblematic of the Cold War era
in American history. The building has been nominated for consideration
with the National Register of Historic Places. The possibility of a
historic covenant may impact any redesign or use(s) of the building and
surrounding acreage in the not-too-distant future.
Another topic of discussion was the Preserve Orange County online map of historic places. The map can be viewed: Here To embed the map on a website, historical societies or others are invited to use the following URL: https://preserveoc.org/historic-sites-map/.
If there are places that readers would like to see added to the map, please submit this form to Preserve OC: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYANtkdspTVJnP--z4ZCGOt4xMEx-kYJSHhKT-PxHzdODytg/viewform?usp=sf_link.
For more information on the Commission and its ongoing work, please visit the following: https://www.ocparks.com/about-us/commissions-and-committees/oc-historical-commission. Thank you.
Volunteer Feature
 Orange Coast College: Susan Meyer
Meet Susan Meyer, an Orange County resident for 61-years, and a volunteer for our District.
Like
many Orange County natives, Susan appreciates how clean and
well-maintained our County and roadways are, and that parking is,
largely, free. In January 2022, Susan began volunteering at our Orange
Coast College COVID vaccine clinic and passing out free test kits to
local Orange County residents.
Susan
shares, "I knew that being of service during the COVID-19 Omicron
variant surge helps my community. Supervisor Katrina Foley’s Community
Outreach Director, Michele Mullen, suggested passing out COVID-19 test
kits at the Orange Coast College Vaccine Clinic ... and that was just
what I was looking for. So, I gladly said yes!"
Susan
continues to volunteer at the vaccine clinic and in her community, as
part of her efforts to improve other's lives. She began volunteering
when she was very young, through faith-based organizations and the Girl
Scouts. At the age of 16, she volunteered for the Red Cross Special
Olympics, which was lifechanging as the joy was so heartfelt, and she's
been volunteering ever since.
When
she's not volunteering, she loves to cook and explore different types
of food from around the world. She also believes that adoption is one of
the greatest gifts to give to another person and
one's own life experience. At the age of 50, Susan adopted her
3-year-old son, who is now 21-years-old.
Thank you to our amazing volunteer, Susan, and our other volunteers. katrina.foley@ocgov.com
El Modena High School Measure S STEM Complex
At
the end of last month, we attended the El Modena High School
Measure S STEM Complex VIP Preview Tour and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony.
This STEM Complex science center building is one of several built for
the cities of Villa Park, Orange, Canyon and El Modena High School, from
an approved $288 million.
When we invest in improvements for our youth, we create a better tomorrow and a skilled future workforce.
Pathways to Apprenticeship – Informational Fair
Our
District priorities include workforce development and economic
recovery. There is still time to register for our Pathways to
Apprenticeship Internation Fair.
Click: Here
 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXQEhU5krW0WCM0T6aINsOhEPzCDcihqqYkzbh3_0p2OEzjA/viewform
Team Foley In the News This Week
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Countering The Deadly Scourge of Fentanyl in Orange County
OC Register
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Orange County Leaders Hold Special Hearing on Fentanyl Overdoses and Deaths
CBS Local
- A New Approach to the Homeless Crisis Could Be Coming to Orange County
Voice of OC
- OC Teases Other Addiction and Mental Health Facilities
Tifton Is On
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Volunteers Fan Out Across Orange County to Count Homeless People After COVID-19 Upended Biannual Census
Daily Pilot
- Procession for Huntington Beach Operator Killed in Helicopter Crash Brings Out Hundreds of Volunteers
OC Register
- Poll: Orange County Residents on Homelessness
Spectrum News
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OCTA And Coach Operators’ Union Reach Tentative Agreement, OC Bus Service Continues As Usual
OC Breeze
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Orange County Takes Free Public Transit Leap With ‘Permanent’ Youth Bus Passes
Voice of OC
OCTA
board directors like Katrina Foley, also an elected Orange County
Supervisor, at the Feb. 14 meeting said the “ultimate goal” is “creating
a public transit-going culture” where “people can be confident in the
public transit system taking them to school, work, etc.”
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Orange County Awarded $3.9M to Help Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
Laguna Beach Independent
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Constituent Services Manager
Please reach out to me at any time with questions or concerns: Manuel.Chavez@ocgov.com
Representing Garden Grove and Santa Ana.
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Doing Good in Our County
My
week at the office was busy and fulfilling. On Wednesday, I joined
Supervisor Foley, Santa Ana City Manager Ridge, Costa Mesa Mayor
Stephens, and Save our Youth Board President Cappellini in touring the
Crystal Cove Conservancy. The state-ran facilities have numerous
education programs that work with Title I schools to allow students to
tour conduct scientific research. We look forward in promoting these
programs and hope that more school districts will partner with the
Crystal Cove Conservancy!
Thursday,
I joined the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce for their Business
connection Luncheon: The Topic was “What Labor Shortage?” which was
regarding the state invectives companies receive for hiring
rehabilitated formerly incarcerated employees. Josh Nowack, Co-Founder
of Breaking Free Industries, spoke about how his company is thriving by
giving their employees second chances.
Friday,
I had the pleasure of recognizing Bri Harb as a Top Teachers of Orange
County finalist for Parenting OC. Bri is the Owner and CEO of Sounds of Color Studio which provides its students with high quality educational classes including art, dance, and language courses. If you have children interested in the arts, I highly recommend that you visit Sounds of Color Studio!
As a reminder, tomorrow is the FREE vision screening at Columbus Tustin Middle School. Details on the flyer below!
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Constituent Services Manager
Please reach out to me at any time with questions or concerns: Kalvin.Alvarez@ocgov.com
Representing Anaheim, Orange, Tustin, North Tustin (unincorporate), Animal Services.
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Serving Orange County
We received several emails, this week, about OC Animal Care. Learn about the services they offer, including pet adoption, in a virtual tour of their facilities: Here
We
have so many upstanding citizens in our communities and Orange County's
2022 Red Cross Awards gives us the opportunity to honor our County's
true heroes. This week, our office nominated a local resident ... and
(whether our nominee wins one of the categories or not) we know that
each Red Cross winner is deserving of the honor!
Please let your friends and family know that OCTA has approved free bus passes for youth ages 6 to 18 years old.
Supervisor Foley is on the Board of Directors for
the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and you can read her
statement about the Youth Ride Free Pass becoming permanent: Here
Also, great news: OCTA is the first large transit agency in the region to offer free bus rides to all youth ages 6 to 18 on an ongoing basis.
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Stephanie Wade, Deputy Director, Policy Advisor
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This
week, I visited the County’s military history museum, Heroes Hall, and
walked through the “Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American
Experiences in World War II” exhibition. It’s filled with great
artifacts, short films, and oral histories. African American history
can’t be limited to just one month and this event is amazing. Best of
all, there is still time to see it through September 18th.
Heroes Hall is located at the Costa Mesa OC Fairgrounds and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Wednesday through Sunday.
Another field event we worked on this week was a tabling event for businesses in Santa Ana’s 4th Street
neighborhood. We are helping to promote the County’s Microbusiness
Grants. These grants supply small business owners with $2,500 that can
be awarded to businesses making less than $50,000 in 2019, for
businesses impacted by the pandemic. Reach out to our office to see if
your business qualifies. The paperwork may be easy, but the deadline is
approaching quickly (March 15th), so don’t wait!
Apply: Here
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New Mask Recommendations
As
of March 1, masks are no longer required for unvaccinated individuals,
but are strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor
settings. For K-12 schools and childcare facilities, after March 11, masks will no longer be required but will be strongly recommended.
With masks no longer required, it's a great time to get #boosted or #vaccinated!
*For
children 5 years through 17 years of age, a primary series consists of 2
doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. For persons 18 and
older, a primary series consists of:
A 2-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or
Moderna), or
A single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine)
As of now, we have 2,437,965 fully vaccinated residents and 1,207,236 have received their booster shot or additional doses. The 7-day average positivity rate (3/4/22) in our County is 4% and down .1% from a week ago. This equals out to about 9.8 daily COVID positive cases per 100k residents.
Volunteers Make A Difference
This
week, you learned about one of our volunteers, Susan Meyer. If you'd
like to help our County with upcoming hearings or assist us at our event
booths, please contact me at: Michele.Mullen@ocgov.com.
Many residents prefer the cheek swab COVID tests we are passing out for free at Orange Coast College COVID Vaccine Clinic on
Mondays from 8:30 - 4:30 p.m.(excluding holidays)
and Thursdays from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. You can stop by just to pick
one up and/or get vaccinated or boosted.
If you prefer to have a test delivered and picked up at your home, by vehicle, check out Sick.org for innovative (and convenient) new testing options!
Find District 2 clinics: Here
**Please note, the St. Anthony Claret Catholic Church Vaccine POD (below) is cancelled on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
 Did you pick up a N95 mask yet? Find out more: Here
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Microbusiness Grants
 Pet of the Week: Gotti Animal ID#: A1740163
Gotti
is a 2-year-old Pit Bull who came to the OC Animal Care back in October
when a good Samaritan found him wandering around the streets alone.
Gotti quickly made friends through how much he loves to play! This
sweet boy is a master fetch player and will chase a tennis ball anytime
you let him. He's even good at bringing the ball back to you…well, most
of the time!
Gotti loves to go on walks and run around in the
yard, but he has infinitely more fun if his human friends are with him!
Gotti is a true gentleman and knows how to sit and lay down on cue, so
he'd be the perfect candidate to learn fun, new behaviors and tricks
with his furr-ever family. His motivator is a treat, as he loves them so
much! He's also incredibly handsome and, if you look closely, you might
be able to see the beautiful tiger stripe coloring of his fur. Due to
Gotti’s bubbly personality, he will do best in an active home with
children over the age of 16.
Interested in giving Gotti a loving home? Call (714) 935-6848 to set up an adoption appointment today! Animal ID#: A1740163
If you find a kitten, please follow these steps: Here
National Women's History Month
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Supervisor Foley's Committee Appointments
I
am committed to innovative solutions and will work hard
alongside my colleagues throughout the coming year.
If you have questions or comments that you'd like to share in relation
to the committees below, please email me at Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com
- CalOptima
- Emergency Management Council
- First 5 Orange County, Children & Families Commission
- Law Library Board of Trustees
- Newport Bay Watershed Executive Committee
- One Water, One Watershed
- Orange County Community Corrections Partnership
- Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council
- Orange County Transportation Authority
- Santa Ana River Flood Control Protection Agency
- South Orange County Watershed Management Area Executive Committee
- Southern California Association of Governments
My office is also recruiting commissioners to appoint to our Orange County Historical Commission and Waste and Recycling Commission. You can find more information: Here To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com.
Thank you for being an active member in your community.
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@SupervisorFoley
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