ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley commented on today’s Board of Supervisors meeting where the Board selected concession operators for the John Wayne Airport’s restaurant and retail operators for the next 15 years, secured funding to tackle housing for veterans, and added a prosecutor to prosecute the rise in hate crimes.
Supervisor Foley released the following statements highlighting the votes by the Board of Supervisors from the October 17, 2023 meeting:
JWA Concessions: The Board selected HMSHost as the food and beverage operator. Hudson and Paradies were selected as the retail operators. The term of the lease is 15 years. The Airport Director will enter lease negotiations with concessioners and return to the Board of Supervisors for a final vote. The Board also committed to work with local labor leaders to ensure employees are treated with respect and earn a fair wage.
“First impressions matter. For the millions of visitors traveling through John Wayne Airport, our concessions program leaves travelers with a taste of Orange County,” said Supervisor Foley. “Each of these operators showcase our local businesses and provide unique locally sourced products that reflect Orange County’s retail and restaurants brands.”
Competitive Grant Funding for Orange County:
- Supportive Housing for Veterans: Secured $1.6 million for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, which will be used to provide 10 housing vouchers for veterans experiencing homelessness in Orange County. In coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, this program provides holistic care by providing rental assistance, case management services, and clinical services.
“A single veteran sleeping on the streets of Orange County is unacceptable, our current reality with hundreds of veterans forced into homelessness is unconscionable. Bringing our veteran’s homelessness population to functional zero requires direct funding to supportive housing for Veterans.” said Supervisor Foley. “I will continue fighting for our service members, and I remain grateful to our county partners for helping deliver this funding."
- Ending Hate in Orange County: Secured more than $500,000 to hire an additional hate crimes prosecutor who will, in addition to prosecution, collaborate with community-based-organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, the LGBTQ Center OC, the OC Human Relations Commissions and local law enforcement agencies to conduct hate crime outreach and education.
“Make no mistake, hate is on the rise globally, nationally, and right here in Orange County, said Supervisor Foley. “Last month, the Orange County Human Relations Commission released a report detailing an increase in hate incidents in Orange County by 13% in the last year, 94% over the previous five years, and an increase in LGBTQ hate by 126%. We will fight hate with understanding, community, and, yes, enforcement of state and federal law wherever necessary,” added Supervisor Foley.
- Smart Prosecution Innovation Grant: Secured $385,000 that will equip Orange County’s District Attorney’s with modernized technology, creating data warehouses and publicly accessible data dashboards that boost transparency.
“Orange County must continue to improve prosecutorial operations and empower law enforcement agencies to make our County and home safe,” said Supervisor Foley. “This grant will help the District Attorney’s office increase public trust in law enforcement and work more effectively with communities to reduce crime.”
Armenian Human Rights: Authored a resolution supporting Armenian human rights, condemning the horrific actions taken by the Azerbaijani government, and calling for an end of the blockade of Artsakh. Copies of the approved resolution will be sent to Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenia.
“The violence and atrocities committed against the Armenian people following the devastating blockade of Artsakh is inhumane and intolerable,” said Supervisor Foley. “Earlier this year, the Board adopted a similar resolution calling for an end to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor. We once again call on the Government of Azerbaijan to recognize Armenian Human Rights and end all hostilities in the Artsakh region.”
“Thank you to the local leaders of our Armenian community here in Orange County for bringing this to our attention,” added Supervisor Foley.
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Environmental Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Co-Chair, Law Library Board of Trustees, Orange County Housing Finance Trust Chair, Local Agency Formation Commission (alt), Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and OC Public Libraries Advisory Board.
