I am humbled and honored to receive the “Elected Official Supporting Veterans” award at the 1st Annual Veteran Services Awards ceremony. Thank you to Support The Enlisted Project for organizing an exceptional event and your continued service to Orange County.

As a refugee from the Vietnam War, I hold a deep personal debt of gratitude to our brave service members. Together, we are delivering results and helping honor our veterans:

• 200 Homeless Veterans Housed in Orange County: This year, Orange County has helped nearly 200 veterans find housing in Orange County.
• Plan to End Veteran Homelessness: In January 2019, I directed county staff to come up with a plan to end veteran homelessness.
• Navigational Services to Help Veterans Access Health Care, Mental Health & Employment: Additionally, the County has awarded $200,000 for housing navigation services for veterans and helped others obtain mental health care and employment services.
• Orange County Veterans Cemetery: Last year, I worked with District Attorney Todd Spitzer to dedicate nearly 150 acres of County land for an Orange County Veterans Cemetery.
• Honoring All Veterans Who Serve Freedom: I also proposed a resolution to designate space in the future Anaheim Hills Cemetery to US Allied Forces who served in the Vietnam and Korean Wars and their spouses.

It is an honor to work Support The Enlisted Project, who give back to those who have served us all so valiantly. Their sacrifices have given us the ability to enjoy freedom and democracy. It is our duty to ensure they are properly honored and supported by a nation that owes them so much.

Hundreds of people celebrated Día de los Muertos at the Santa Ana Cemetery this past Saturday! Families enjoyed entertainment from local high school mariachi bands, dances by Ballet Folklorico El Camino del Guerrero and Grandeza Mexicana, arts and crafts activities, free marigolds for altars, and a whole lot more.

I’m proud to have sponsored this celebration, to provide a space to gather and honor our ancestors. Thank you to the OC District Cemetery and everyone involved in making the celebration so special!

On Sunday, I sponsored Tzu Chi USA’s free health fair at the Boys and Girls Club in Santa Ana, their third health fair this year. Tzu Chi’s team of physicians provided residents with access to dental services, flu shots, and other health screenings. Tzu Chi’s volunteers have been working in the community for over six years and are adding more clinics in 2020 in our district.

Thank you to all the volunteer physicians and the bilingual interpreters for making Sunday’s health fair a success!

Last Friday, my staff recognized Community Action Partnership of Orange County’s CEO Gregory Scott and Connie Jones during the rededication of the Southwest Community Center, now under new direction from Community Action Partnership of Orange County. Congratulations to all on this great ceremony.

SoCal traffic can be soul-crushing. That’s why in my role on the Metrolink Board of Directors I’ve supported increased train service between Orange County and LA. For more information on our new and improved train schedule, visit the Metrolink website. And check out our video by clicking here!

Santa Ana Flu Shot Clinic

When: November 12 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: Delhi Center – 505 E. Central Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92707

Westminster Flu Shot Clinic

When: November 21 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: County Community Service Center – 15496 Magnolia St., Ste. #111, Westminster, CA 92683

Garden Grove Flu Shot Clinic

When: November 22 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: Coastline Community College – 12901 Euclid St, Garden Grove, California 92840

When: November 6 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Second Baptist Church – 4300 Westminster Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92703

When: November 12 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Santiago Elementary School – 2212 N. Baker St., Santa Ana, CA 92706

When: November 13 from 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM

Where: Garden Grove Library Chapman Branch – 9182 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841

When: November 12 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Santa Ana Elks Lodge – 1751 S. Lyon Street, Santa Ana, California 92705