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Dear OCEA member,

This holiday season, I am reminded how the work each of you do each day enables so many families throughout our communities to enjoy a safe and healthy time with family and friends. In fact, many among our ranks will be working throughout the holiday to make sure Orange County works, that its streets are safe and that its residents get the services they need.

Today I wrote an editorial in the Orange County Register to highlight the incredible work you all do and to remind residents that you are the unsung heroes who keep our communities working (see below).

Wishing you and your loved ones joy and love this holiday season, from your family at OCEA. Thank you for all you do.

In solidarity,

Jennifer Muir Beuthin
OCEA General Manager

Remember the unsung heroes this holiday season
By Jennifer Muir Beuthin, Contributing writer

Every year the Register recognizes influencers throughout our communities—leaders who have made a mark, whose stories provide a glimpse into the incredible and diverse fabric that makes Orange County so special. Congratulations to each of the honorees.

For each of the 100 most influential people who are singled out every year, we can all probably name people in our own circles who make a huge impact on our lives each day. And so these influencer stories also help us all tap into our own personal feelings of gratitude, feelings that are especially poignant as we shop and cook and prepare to spend time with loved ones during the holidays.

In that spirit of gratitude, I wanted to highlight the efforts of a group of incredibly influential people because the very nature of their work often means that when they’re successful, most of us hardly know they’re there.

The municipal workforce in our county impacts just about every aspect of our daily lives, and this holiday season is no different.

For those of us who have family visiting from out of town, your guests will be greeted at John Wayne Airport by Sheriff’s Special Officers whose job is to make sure the public is safe inside and outside the walls of the airport terminals. You can feel confident knowing that SSOs have intervened not only to protect the public from dangerous situations, but also to perform CPR and save lives when travelers have fallen ill.

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November 20, 2017

Today: Labor movement and the community say "thank you" to veterans, OCTA considers faster bus service for heavily-used North and Central County routes and Orange County is bleeding better-paying factory jobs.

November 17, 2017

Today: Public not told of Anaheim Legionnaire’s outbreak because health threat was over, lawsuit seeks to return Irvine Veterans Cemetery to core of former El Toro Marine Base and a half-loaded gun, a well-built bunker and 1,000 hidden bikes found at Fountain Valley homeless camp.

November 16, 2017

Today: Former Irvine Mayor Larry Agran files lawsuit to stop veterans cemetery land swap, county opts for hotel, shops, and market-rate homes, not homeless shelter on Irvine land and : Costa Mesans deserve to know why City Council stripped Mayor Foley of her title.

November 15, 2017

Today: Irvine to sue Orange County over its Great Park condo, retail development plan, mobile restrooms might roll into Costa Mesa to help homeless and can unions — and the American middle class — survive the Supreme Court’s Janus Decision?

November 14, 2017

Today: Veterans Day event nets 9.5 tons of food for veterans in need, two O.C. congressmen among most vulnerable in country, says prominent news site and, why Dana Rohrabacher’s name keeps coming up in the Russia investigation.

November 13, 2017

Today: Veterans receive a salute at fairgrounds event, ‘anonymous’ $50,000 donation to county sparks debate over public’s right to know and OC Health Care Agency investigating Legionnaires’ cases at Disneyland.

November 10, 2017

Today: Veterans Day Tomorrow! Join us at the OC Fairgrounds from 10 am – 2 pm; backers of Veterans Cemetery near center of former El Toro Marine Base turn In petition signatures; and Orange County Democrats grapple with sexual harassment in politics.

November 9, 2017

Today: Santana: Something smells at the Mesa Water District; and Come to the OC Fair & Event Center for a FREE Veterans Day Celebration and new Costa Mesa committee will review city’s animal services.

November 8, 2017

Today: Huntington Beach City Council lets homeless service center stay—for awhile, after backlash, Disney lifts ban on LA Times’ movie access and Katrina Foley removed as Costa Mesa mayor in contentious, late-night meeting.

November 7, 2017

Today: Film critics won’t consider Disney films for awards until studio rescinds LA Times ban, three OC cities contract with Irvine firm to keep control of wireless transmitters on street lights, and Orange County to finalize plan for Great Park development as Irvine threatens lawsuit.