Orange County Employees Association

Access to a fair and efficient system of justice is one of the pillars of our democracy. But the system can't run without sufficient resources and in that regard, Orange County faces challenges. Thanks to State Senators Tom Umberg and Josh Newman for participating in last night's legislative briefing with OCEA members at the Superior Court. The two legislators heard directly from Court workers about current working conditions and why change is needed. Politicians need to hear from us so they can take what they have learned and apply it to the making of the laws which impact us all. #oceastrong #unionstrong

Vote-by-mail ballots arrive at your homes this week in the special election for Orange County Supervisor District 2. Every election is important but this election, in particular, can have a huge impact on good government in Orange County. OCEA members living in District 2 have a unique opportunity to elect Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley to the seat. She is a worker-friendly candidate who has stood together with her constituents her entire career. District 2 includes Cost...a Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, La Palma, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Stanton, and parts of Fountain Valley and Buena Park. OCEA members at the Registrar of Voters Office have worked hard to make sure voting is socially distanced and safe. You can also check out voting-in-person and ballot drop-off locations here: https://www.ocvote.com//ballot-drop-box-locations-for-the- #oceastrong #unionstrong

Black History Month goes hand in hand with labor history. Some of the most influential people in black history were also giants within the labor movement. Below are four of the many who walked alongside the American worker in pursuit of a better future. #unionstrong #oceastrong https://labor411.org//black-history-month-four-influentia/

Today’s Flashback Friday post is relevant now. This is a must-read article from the Voice of OC published in 2013. Here’s an excerpt: "Supervisor John Moorlach, Orange County's most high-profile pension fighter, has for years shrugged off criticism of his own generous benefit. However, by some estimates (figuring his pension plus a taxpayer-funded 401-type retirement account since 1995), he (Moorlach) is likely to end up with a retirement payout eerily close to what a p...ublic safety officer would receive after a three-decade career." Read the article here: https://voiceofoc.org//pensions-are-an-increasingly-peril/ Fast forward to 2021. Moorlach just lost his State Senate Seat and now wants his old job back. Voting begins NEXT WEEK in the March 9th Special Election for District 2 Board of Supervisors! For OCEA members, the choice is clear. We endorse Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley. Katrina is a successful small business owner with experience as a school board trustee, city council member, and mayor. A vote for Katrina is a vote for the future. We have had enough of the past. #oceastrong #unionstrong

Term limits stipulated Orange City Councilman Mike Alvarez was all done after completing two back-to-back terms. He ran again anyway saying that since the city had switched to district elections, the clock was reset. Officials in Orange apparently had no objection to Alvarez’s reelection bid as he appeared on the official ballot. At the time, they offered no comment when Voice of OC sought a clear answer. Today, they got one. A judge ruled that Mike's time is up. ...#oceastrong #unionstrong https://voiceofoc.org//orange-councilman-mike-alvarez-coul

Voting begins NEXT WEEK in the March 9th Special Election for District 2 Board of Supervisors! The Board oversees a $7 billion budget. Not only does it oversee the County's management of its COVID-19 response and services for the homeless, it also makes critical decisions that directly impact the wages, benefits, and working conditions of each and every County worker. For OCEA members, the choice is clear. We endorse Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley. Katrina is a successful ...small business owner with experience as a school board trustee, city council member, and mayor. A vote for Katrina is a vote for the future. We have had enough of the past. #oceastrong #unionstrong

Important info from County of Orange HCA: The flu viruses spread when someone with the flu coughs, sneezes or talks. Protect yourself, your family and your community from the flu by getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when in public. #CallYourPediatrician #VaccinesAreEssential #VaccinesSaveLives #VaccinesWork #DontWaitVaccinate #FluShot #FightFlu #oceastrong #UnionStrong

We want to thank the following military veterans for participating in OCEA's "Salute to Veterans," video recorded at Heroes Hall on the grounds of the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. First, we want to recognize Nick Berardino, USMC, and president of the Heroes Hall Foundation for bringing these amazing veterans together for the production. Appearing in the video are Steven Spriggs, U.S. Army; Bobby McDonald, U.S. Navy; Bill Bulman, U.S. Coast Guard, Lt. Col. Just...ine Cromer, USAF and Heroes Hall Curator Carol Singleton, U.S. Army. We weren't able to host our annual Salute to Veterans Day event in partnership with the OC Fair & Event Center due to the global pandemic. Thanks to these veterans for giving us their perspectives on Veterans Day 2020. To see the video, OCEA members can check their emails for the link. #oceastrong #unionstrong

OC residents are still waiting on final election results largely unchanged with the latest vote totals reported on Monday night. - Voice of OC. Read More Here: https://voiceofoc.org//orange-county-residents-still-wait/ #oceastrong #unionstrong

From County HCA and the City of Garden Grove: #DidYouKnow, #GardenGrovePD partners with ochealth to provide a behavioral health and law enforcement response team? A clinician rides with us two days a week and assists officers responding to calls for service, involving individuals in #BehavioralHealth crises. This #partnership, also known as the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) Collaborative, gives #GardenGrove community members immediate access to a behaviora...l health clinician, while allowing officers to address other matters. The goals of this #collaboration include: Providing individuals needing behavioral health care and intervention with immediate and appropriate care Ensuring linkage to behavioral health programs and other resources Providing timely crisis intervention and evaluation #GGPD32 #AboutUs #MentalHealth

This campaign focuses on middle-aged men, which have the highest rates of suicide completion. And so it is a campaign that is using billboards, social media to target middle-aged men to remind them there is hope, said Dr. Jeffrey Nagel, deputy agency director of Behavioral Health Services at the county Health Care Agency. - Voice of OC. #oceastrong #unionstrong

With only a few more ballots left to count, Orange County Registrar of Voters figures on Wednesday indicated winners in several Costa Mesa contests, including four open City Council seats and a measure to legalize retail marijuana sales and delivery. - Daily Pilot, Nov. 4, 2020. #oceastrong #UnionStrong

Election Day is here and voting is going smoothly at the Honda Center. We caught up with Mighty Ducks mascot Wild Wing and OCEA member Enedina Chhim welcoming voters. Enedina is the Vote Center lead overseeing voting and drive-thru ballot drop-off. Charley the dog and his owner, families, and others were taking pictures by the Wild Wing stature or in front of a huge "I Voted" sign. Along with exercising the right to vote, Orange County couples were also tying the knot on Election Day. The ongoing service is another example of the creative partnership between the Honda Center and the County of Orange. #oceastrong #unionstrong

Below is the in-person voting schedule for Orange County. More than half of registered voters have cast their ballots in Orange County one day ahead of Election Day! Your fellow OCEA members at the Registrar of Voters Office have worked hard to make sure voting is socially distanced. Please stay safe as you exercise your right to vote. To find the Vote Center near you, go to: https://ocvote.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html #oceastrong #unionstrong

OCEA members and staff getting out the vote at an Orange County Labor Federation Rally yesterday. Regardless of where you stand politically, it's important to let your voice be heard through your vote. Phone banking and delivering campaign material to voters continue today. A Vote Center in Westminster was temporarily closed due to a suspicious package but it turned out to be OK. By Saturday morning, Vote Centers had more than 58,000 check-ins! Check out Vote Center hours below. #oceastrong #unionstrong

Early voting begins today across California. To vote in person, click below to find the Voting Center most convenient for you. Your fellow OCEA members at the Registrar of Voters Office have worked hard to make sure voting is socially distanced and safe. The 2020 Election comes at a time of extreme divisiveness in our national politics along with an unprecedented pandemic. Local races often have a greater impact on the lives of working families than who occupies the Ov...al Office. OCEA members who haven't cast their ballots can check their emails for a link to OCEA's Voter Guide. Please stay safe as you exercise your right to vote. That voice is even stronger when we stand together. #oceastrong #unionstrong Vote Center locations: https://ocvote.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html

Almost a half-million OC residents have had the Coronavirus with Latinos hit hardest, according to UCI researchers as reported in the Voice of OC. Over 11% of Orange County residents have already had the coronavirus, but it’s hit the Latino community and working-class residents especially hard. Read the story below. #oceastrong #UnionStrong https://voiceofoc.org//nearly-half-million-oc-residents-h/

Last year, the United States Senate passed a resolution designating October 28th as National First Responders Day to honor the men and women who act selflessly when called on in emergency situations, often putting their lives on the line. National First Responders Day has a special meaning in Orange County this week with hundreds of dispatchers, firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement, and public health professionals successfully battling two major wildfires, the Silverado Fi...re and the Blue Ridge Fire. We can do more than pass resolutions and express our thanks. National First Responders Day is also a call to action. It is urgent that we as citizens press our elected representatives, regardless of the outcome of the elections, to pass a federal COVID-19 relief package. Those funds are the only way to ensure local agencies can continue to field the first responders who have, once again, proven their valor and professionalism. Photos: OCEA, OCFA. #oceastrong #UnionStrong

The Blue Ridge fire had spread rapidly across Monday and Tuesday posing hazards to Yorba Linda, Chino Hills, and Brea residents with seven structures damaged and one destroyed, while fire officials expected extreme fire weather to continue today but become much weaker this evening.- Voice of OC. Read the story below: #oceastrong #unionstrong

"The OC Public Library's new Wifi on Wheels project is intended to help bridge the digital divide between the haves and the have-nots. The mobile WiFi will provide broadband for up to 150 users within its 300-yard radius. The high-speed connection will make it easier for children to do schoolwork and for adults to search for jobs and handle other online business or leisure activities. Starting on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the WiFi on Wheels vehicle will be parked for a day near DeMille Elementary in Midway City. The rest of the week, the WoWmobile will travel to four other pre-determined locations in Westminster. Weekly visits are planned at each site through November." Read the story in the OC Register. #oceastrong #UnionStrong https://www.ocregister.com//o-c-public-library-brings-hig/