ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley commented on this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting where the Board voted on the drop-in Service Center in Santa Ana for homeless individuals, adopted the 2025 Federal Transportation Improvement Program, and established the inaugural class of the Orange County Hall of Fame. Supervisor Foley also remarked on the County’s observation of National Nurse Practitioner Week and First 5 Orange County’s 25th Anniversary.
Supervisor Foley released the following statements highlighting the votes by the Board of Supervisors from the November 28, 2023 meeting:
Multi-Service Center Services for Homeless Adults with Mental Disorders in Santa Ana: Over objection by Supervisor Sarmiento and Supervisor Foley, the Board approved a one year-renewal on a contract for a drop-in service center in Santa Ana that refers individuals experiencing homelessness to services. The contract will terminate after one year, unless an alternate location is found.
“I care deeply about helping people in need and this drop-in center model is inadequate for the needs of the community. We owe it to those who are chronically homeless to modernize our supportive services to become more innovative and forward-thinking,” said Supervisor Foley. “Simply referring clients to services is not enough. This outdated drop-in model no longer works and only encourages people to loiter in the surrounding community and not seek long term shelter and housing options. We must explore the potential of providing these services at shelters or in permanent supportive housing. We cannot adequately address people’s substance abuse, physical and mental health unless they are housed.”
“We must remain vigilant in caring for the greater community while caring for the most vulnerable at the same time. The key is to offer self-contained shelter programs without ancillary impacts for the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses,” said Supervisor Foley. “Make no mistake - I will work with our county staff to provide treatment for those who seek it as part of our county’s mission as a service-provider. However, residents and businesses of these communities need our help in holding providers accountable to manage their clients so we ensure safe neighborhoods.”
2025 Federal Transportation Improvement Program: Adopted the 2025 Federal Transportation Improvement Program, which outlines a list of transportation projects the county is committed to building through 2030. The plan reaffirms Orange County’s commitment to fund and build two projects significant to improving regional connectivity in Rancho Mission Viejo and San Juan Capistrano, including $100 million for Cow Camp Road Segment 2A & 2B and $240 million for the Los Patrones Parkway Extension.
“This Federal Transportation Improvement Program reaffirms our commitment to invest in South County’s transportation infrastructure without relying on more toll roads,” said Supervisor Foley. “Orange County remains committed to delivering improvements to Cow Camp Road and Los Patrones Parkway and continues to work with local agencies on making these projects a reality.”
Orange County Hall of Fame (Supplemental 24C): Established the Orange County Hall of Fame and inducted the 2023 Inaugural Class of 2023. The Orange County Hall of Fame aims to recognize and honor outstanding individuals who significantly contributed to Orange County’s rich cultural, societal, and professional landscape with ten honorees inducted into the Hall of Fame every year. The inaugural class includes Grammy Award winners, all-star athletes, Olympians, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
“The Orange County Hall of Fame showcases the amazing people in our community and will serve as an inspiration for future generations,” said Supervisor Foley. “Congratulations to the inaugural class for making history, including four inductees who made tremendous impacts on District 5: Henry T. Segerstrom, General William Lyon, Amanda Beard, and Kobe Bryant. I look forward to the Hall of Fame reflecting the diversity of our many unique communities throughout Orange County."
Orange County Hall of Fame Inaugural Class:
- Gwen Stefani: Singer/Songwriter, No Doubt Lead Vocalist (Music, Arts & Entertainment)
- Tiger Woods: Professional Golfer (Sports)
- Kobe Bryant: LA Lakers Professional Basketball Player (Sports)
- Amanda Beard: 7-Time Olympic Swimming medalist (Sports)
- Greg Louganis: Gold Medalist Olympic Diver (Sports)
- Walt Disney: Founder of Disney (Music, Arts & Entertainment)
- Bill Medley: Singer and Member of The Righteous Brothers (Music, Arts & Entertainment)
- Frank Jao: Developer and owner of Asian Garden Mall (Business)
- General William Lyon: US Air Force Major General (Civics)
- Henry Segerstrom: Philanthropist and founding Chairman of Segerstrom Center of the Arts (Philanthropy)
In addition, Supervisor Foley released statements in recognition of the following resolutions presented during the Board of Supervisors meeting:
National Nurse Practitioner Week: This week increases awareness of the exceptional care that Nurse Practitioners (NPs) provide through this year’s theme: “Recognizing Heroes in Health Care.” NPs help patients live healthier lifestyles and focus on disease prevention by creating healthcare plans centered around an individual’s unique health concerns.
“With more than 38,000 licensed Nurse Practitioners in California, these healthcare heroes keep our communities healthy, but their work often goes unnoticed,” Supervisor Foley said. “In anticipation of healthcare worker shortages, the versatility of Nurse Practitioners ensures that our healthcare system stays afloat during a challenging time. To all nurse practitioners, I thank you for the high quality, patient-centered care you provide to American families everywhere.”
First 5 Orange County 25th Anniversary: First 5 Orange County partners with health, social service, family support and education agencies in Orange County on building up children and encouraging whole family engagement and health. First 5 envisions an Orange County in which all children reach their full potential. From years of research, First 5 knows the groundwork for this vision is set during a child’s earliest years. Click here to read the Annual Conditions of Children Report.
“It’s so important we all understand what is needed for children in Orange County to thrive, be healthy and live up to their potential,” Supervisor Foley said. “The Annual Conditions of Children Report provides valuable insights into First 5’s research on Orange County children’s well-being. I encourage families to engage with their children and communicate with them early throughout their first five years. Doing so will carry them towards success.”
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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.
