The new County Administration North (CAN) building

As reported in my newsletter last week, I'm excited to share that our office has moved into the new County Administration North (CAN) building, located at 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701. My staff and I look forward to seeing you soon! For more information, click here.

With my staff in front of the County Administration North building.

For most of us in Orange County, life is starting to return to some sense of normalcy, albeit in a post-pandemic world – schools are reopened, social distancing is, hopefully, a thing of the past, and smiling faces are no longer hidden behind masks. And while our economy is slowly rebounding, some businesses and essential services continue to struggle to get back on their feet.

Through the use of federal and state funding, my office has been able to provide much-needed financial relief to businesses across many industries. However, some service providers, such as childcare centers and homeless shelters, which were forced to shut down during the pandemic, are still struggling financially to acquire the necessary equipment and supplies to administer services effectively.

Beginning this month, my office has launched a funding assistance initiative to provide a boost to childcare centers and homeless shelters. Utilizing discretionary state and federal funding, $1.5 million will be available in grant funding for childcare businesses, and $450,000 is being allocated to support homeless shelters in my district.

It is imperative that as community leaders, we prioritize assistance for some of our most vulnerable residents and critical businesses. Our homeless shelter providers should have adequate equipment and supplies in order to serve their residents effectively and childcare centers should have resources to get back on their feet to serve children and families.

In addition to serving you on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I'm also honored to serve you on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors. As such, I'm pleased to report that OCTA has issued its annual call for projects aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion throughout Orange County.

Approximately $45 million is available through the Regional Capacity Program, which funds improvements that increase mobility at major intersections and provide smoother transitions to the highway system, and the Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program, which provides funding to time traffic lights along long stretches of street that can run through multiple cities.

Cities and the County can propose projects through both competitive programs, which are funded by OC Go, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, also known as Measure M.

Project applications are due by October. 20, 2022 and are expected to be selected in spring 2023. For more information and to submit projects, click here.

I'm pleased to report that more zero-emission buses are headed to Orange County streets thanks to a federal grant awarded to OCTA for battery-electric paratransit buses! The Federal Transit Administration recently announced that OCTA will receive $2.5 million in federal funding toward purchasing 10 battery-electric buses that will replace 10 gasoline buses in the OC ACCESS program, which serves bus riders with physical or cognitive disabilities.

OCTA’s paratransit bus service provides approximately 1.5 million boardings annually. OCTA is already working toward a zero-emission future with its bus fleet by 2040. For more information, click here.

Between the high cost of gas and inflation, some families are foregoing their summer vacation. But why stay home when world-class destinations are an affordable train ride away?

A Metrolink train trip can put your vacation back on track; and right now, there’s a chance to win four round-trip tickets and a $100 gift card. Enter for a chance to win here!

On weekends, a family of four with two kids 17 and under can travel all day Saturday or Sunday for only $20. And the travel itself is part of the fun! Metrolink train cars are cool, safe and comfortable for a relaxing journey with no traffic and time to focus on family.

Metrolink fans give these destinations two thumbs up for families:

San Juan Capistrano - Within an easy walk from the station, there’s a lovely area called the Los Rios District,  the oldest neighborhood in California. Walk the shady lane and visit one-of-a-kind restaurants and shops, and a petting zoo. Also in town is the famous Mission, featuring many programs for kids.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

San Clemente - Some of California’s best stretches of wide sandy beaches are within steps of the Metrolink station. Bring your boards and bikes. it’s easy on the train! The train stops at the beach and restaurants are nearby.

San Clemente Pier

Los Angeles - The City of Angels is packed with fun places to visits like Chinatown, historic Olvera Street, museums and amazing restaurants.

Olvera Street

Buena Park - Summer isn’t complete without a visit to Knotts Berry Farm and its very cool roller coasters. For jousting and knights in armor, check out Medieval Times.

Check out other family-friendly ideas here. For inspiration about places to go and great deals at restaurants and more, stop by the Metrolink Daycations website.

On weekends, adults ride throughout the Metrolink system for only $10 Saturday or Sunday and kids 17 and under ride free. On any one weekday, the adult fare for unlimited rides throughout the Metrolink system is only $15. Check out 42 trip ideas from 14 stations and enter to win today.

Last week, I had the great pleasure of sponsoring the grand opening of the highly anticipated Moulton Museum in Laguna Hills, where I was honored to present a proclamation in honor of the occasion, featuring its inaugural exhibit – 1874: Into the West.

L-R: At the Moulton Museum grand opening reception with Cindy Keil, Jennifer Keil, El Toro, Scott Barnes, and Jared Mathis.

The Moulton family was established in 1908, when Lewis F. Moulton married Nellie Gail, had two daughters, Charlotte and Louise, as their descendants later worked together to establish the Moulton Museum.

L-R: With El Toro, Scott Barnes, and Jared Mathis.

Through its exhibits, Moulton Museum will expand the understanding of the ranching era and its lasting impact on the economic, social, architectural and cultural fabric of Orange County. The Museum will also feature rotating exhibits that showcase Lewis F. Moulton’s ranching and Nellie Gail Moulton’s artwork, including daily life, business culture and local history.

Being introduced at the Moulton Museum grand opening.

Moulton Museum is an important institution for the education of students in Orange County, as it provides educational programs and features a wide array of artifacts, artwork, pictures, film, maps and telegrams from before the County was formed and continuing through its development. Please join me congratulating Moulton Museum on the occasion of its grand opening!

This week, I was pleased to attend a meeting of the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club, where I presented a commendation to Club President Carlos Aguilar, in honor of the club being named Best in the District. The Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano is to be highly commended for their outstanding support of the Rotary Foundation, the Four-Way Test, as well as their motto: "Service Above Self."

Presenting a commendation to Rotary Club President Carlos Aguilar.

During the program, I also presented a well-deserved proclamation to Club member Mary Perdue in honor of her 30+ years of outstanding community service in south Orange County. Please join me in congratulating Mary Perdue and the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club!

Presenting a proclamation to Mary Perdue for her 30+ years of outstanding community service.

Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the Bellingham Marine facility in Dixon, California, where the new boat docks are being constructed for Dana Point Harbor.

It was an absolutely fascinating process to see how these docks are being constructed, which will feature high strength, durability, stability, and load capacity ratings. Additionally, the general life span of these docks is expected to last for over 75 years.

At Bellingham Marine with my Senior Policy Advisor, Christian Abueg, and the project team.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 662,438 positive cumulative cases and 7,389 deaths to date, as well as 189 currently hospitalized with 26 in ICU.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: HCA has transitioned to publicly reporting COVID-19 data to two days a week following the change in reporting by CDPH. Specifically data on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, ICU numbers and bed availability, and deaths will be reported on our dashboards Tuesdays and Fridays. Other data (e.g. testing positivity, variants, vaccinations) will continue to be updated on a weekly basis.

Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer at the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), has a video message to help explain why it's important to get vaccinated. To view the video, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the video.

For informational town hall events and more educational videos related to COVID-19 vaccination, visit the OC COVID-19 homepage.

The CDC has updated its guidance on COVID-19 booster shots and additional doses for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, including recommendations for people who received the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, as well as updated time intervals between doses.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has an infographic to help you understand all of the information about boosters and additional doses. Click here or on the image below to download the information.

Click the image above to enlarge.

The City of Newport Beach presents its annual Summer Concerts Series on the Green, featuring an array of performers for your entertainment. Unless otherwise noted, all concerts are held on the Newport Beach Civic Center Green (100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach). Admission and parking are free, on a first come, first served basis. See the list below for upcoming concerts. For more information, click here.

• September 18 - Britain’s Finest (Beatles Tribute)
• October 2 - Stone Soul (At Marina Park)

OC Public Libraries cordially invites you to one of the following branches in the 5th District to view the Walt Disney Animation Studios film "Encanto" (2021). The movie follows a multigenerational family, the Madrigals, who live in the mountains of Colombia in a magical place called an Encanto. This film about family and culture complements the NEA Big Read book selection, Infinite Country.

Sat | Sep 24 | 2pm
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library

Sat | Dec 17 | 11am
San Juan Capistrano Library (La Sala)

For those of you who may have missed any of my previous Fifth District Dispatch newsletters, featuring up-to-date COVID-19 facts and other information pertinent to South County, click here. 

Thank you so much for your outstanding and continuing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, as we're all in this together!