August 17, 2021 Media Brief
Orange County
Voice of OC: Orange County continues to see COVID-19 cases rise in workforce
Charles Barfield, general manager of the Orange County Employees Association, said the current safety measures aren’t working. “Basically, if someone enters a county building without a mask, county officials consider that a self-attestation the person is fully vaccinated,” he said.
OC Register: Councilman lost brother to COVID-19, has message to unvaccinated: ‘Don’t wait until it’s too late’
Daniel Damian and his brother Antonio stressed over whether to get vaccinated, then the unvaccinated Antonio Damian died from COVID-19 complications.
OC Register: Rent aid in California plagued by complaints over slowness, bureaucracy
The state's effort to wipe out pandemic-era rent debt, the biggest in the nation, faces complaints from both tenants and landlords.
Voice of OC: Tustin officials move to takeover former Marine Air Station after years of County inaction
Tustin officials will determine the fate of the former Marine Corps Air Station after council members nixed previous plans with the County of Orange to develop the land into a regional park, citing years of inaction.
Voice of OC: Santa Ana officials eye Athens Services for multi-million dollar City trash contract
The city’s current contracted trash hauler is Waste Management, which — along with fellow trash collection companies CR&R and Republic Services — also threw its hat into the ring for the next contract, widely considered to be Santa Ana’s largest from a resources and fiscal standpoint.
Labor
OC Register: OC Sheriff’s Department, Fire Authority unions oppose coronavirus vaccine mandate
About 1,500 of the Sheriff’s Department’s 3,800 employees fall under the state’s category for high-risk workers, who include those who work in jails and detention facilities in courthouses. Those employees will either have to provide proof of vaccination or get tested for the virus every week.
Region
OC Register: ‘Water supply alert’ issued for Southern California in response to drought
Metropolitan Water District's declaration calls for a voluntary reduction in use, but mandatory restrictions could arise in the future.
California
OC Register: High heat expected through Thursday for the Inland Empire and High Desert
A heat advisory was also in place for the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys until Wednesday evening with high temperatures between 97 to 107 degrees expected.
Publication Date: August 17, 2021
