FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2025
Latisha Townsend – Communications Director, Supervisor Foley
(714) 559-8364 | Latisha.Townsend@ocgov.com
OC Vice Chair Katrina Foley Releases Statement Following Board of Supervisors Meeting Where the Board Voted to Support Medicaid Funding, Housing Support Services, John Wayne Airport Investments, and more.
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released a statement following Board of Supervisors meeting where the Board voted to support Medicaid funding, housing support services, John Wayne Airport investments, and more.
Item #41D (Vice Chair Foley): Fifth District Discretionary Fund Investment into Saddleback Medical Care Foundation. This $25,000 allocation from the Fifth District discretionary funds to the Saddleback Medical Care Foundation will invest in technology such as intraoperative radiation therapy and provide screenings and educational offerings in the Fifth District.
“This investment will help residents prevent, detect, and treat skin cancer, including Melanoma,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “In 2024, more than 1,100 new melanoma cases were reported in Orange County alone. May is Melanoma Awareness Month, and it encourages us to participate in actions that promote the awareness of Melanoma and support families affected by this devastating cancer. Investing in our community healthcare with a $25,000 grant to help with detecting skin cancer helps keep our community healthy.”
Item #41E: Adoption of Resolution: Opposition to Federal Medicaid Spending Cuts
“A strong healthy community is a prosperous community. No family should have to choose between paying for a doctor’s visit or buying food for their families. No senior should worry about whether they can afford their medications. No child should go without the healthcare they need to grow up healthy and strong,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “100,000 residents in District 5 depend on Medicaid for their health care every single day. The Orange County Board of Supervisors will not stand idly by while the health and well-being of our families, seniors, and children are threatened.”
Legislative Updates
- SB 789 (Senator Caroline Menjivar): Vacant commercial real property
- “I oppose new taxes. People are already struggling, and financial uncertainty creates added stress. We should not pile on new taxes for struggling businesses. I oppose taxing vacant commercial properties, so I am in opposition to this bill. The original version of the bill introduced in February proposed a statewide vacancy tax on commercial properties in California. Starting in 2028, owners would have paid $5 per square foot annually if a property was vacant for more than 182 days in a year,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Orange County currently has 39,587 commercial and industrial properties which is approximately $154.54 billion in taxes to the State. That’s already significant funding. We should be incentivizing the ability of property owners to rent out these parcels, not penalizing them with unnecessary taxes.”
Item 22 (John Wayne Airport): Job Order Contract for Pavement Maintenance and Repair Services
“Approving this contract for $6,000,000 enables consistent maintenance of the runways, taxiways, and vehicle service roads at John Wayne Airport, helping to extend the lifespan of the pavement and ensure the safety of all passengers,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
Item #23 (John Wayne Airport): Extension of Contract for Common-Use Passenger Processing System
“Approval of this $14,998,377 contract provides continuity of operation and system support to John Wayne Airport’s Common-Use Passenger Processing System. These are the machines many passengers use to check in for their flight and print out their boarding passes, making this a necessary agreement for efficient travel and smarter airport operations,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
Item #34 (Social Services Agency): Amendment 3 to Contract with Mercy House Living Centers for Housing Support Program Services
“While I voted today to move this item forward and continue to fund this important shelter contract, I want to be clear that I oppose downgrading our objective performance metrics. Reducing performance outcomes is the wrong direction,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
Item #36 (CEO): Report on Grant Applications/Awards
- $8.7 million in total grants to Health Care Agency to support:
- Incompetent to Stand Trial Diversion
- Community-Based Restoration Infrastructure Project
- $107,936 in retroactive grants to OC Community Resources to:
- Expand the CalFresh program by proactively screening eligibility for older adults aged 60 years and older.
“It’s no secret that we are in uncertain times as it pertains to the market and funding coming from the State and Federal Governments. I am pleased to know that additional funding is being set aside to cover staffing costs, and program supplies, such as refrigerated shelving at food distribution locations,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley.
Item #2 (Vice Chair Foley): Appoint Allyson Sonenshine as Alternate Member to Orange County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
“Allyson Sonenshine of Newport Beach is the Founding Director of the Orange County Women’s Health Project, a non-profit organization with a mission to advance women's health in Orange County through education, collaboration, and advocacy,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “Allyson started her career as an attorney with Bingham McCutchen (now Morgan Lewis) in Los Angeles, where she specialized in commercial litigation and employment defense, before transitioning to the nonprofit sector in Orange County. Allyson graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her JD at USC Gould School of Law. I know she will serve us well as an advocate for Orange County’s women and girls.”
In addition, Vice Chair Foley released statements in recognition of the following resolutions presented during the Board of Supervisors meeting:
Resolution declaring May 6-12, 2025, as "National Nurse Recognition Week":
“Registered Nurses and Nurse practitioners across the country bring vital care and solutions to patients in all community settings. In 2022, I sat around a table at UCI with CalOptima to discuss nursing shortages and programs. There, we discussed what later became a $5 million investment into UCI’s NURSE-OC program. This program offers externships to 60 students and residencies to six graduate students pursuing licenses as either family or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “I commend the incredible work of more than 107,340 registered nurses and more than 6,400 nurse practitioners in Los Angeles County and Orange County.”
Resolution recognizing Community Action Partnership Orange County's 60th Anniversary:
“Today, we recognize Community Action Partnership Orange County’s 60th Anniversary. Through emergency assistance, workforce development, and educational services, CAP OC provides pathways out of poverty. The County of Orange has invested $11.17 million since 2021, including $1.5 million in ARPA and $1 million to the OC Hunger Alliance,” said Vice Chair Katrina Foley. “For 60 years, Community Action Partnership of Orange County has been a trusted resource for working families striving to make ends meet. By addressing immediate crises, the organization delivers solutions that help individuals and families regain stability.”
Resolution recognizing May 15, 2025, as "Ao Dai Day":
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Vice Chair 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.
Vice Chair Foley’s 2025 Board appointments include:
Chair – Orange County Housing Finance Trust,
Orange County Audit Oversight Committee,
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA),
Vice Chair – OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee, Regional Transportation Committee, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Capital Improvements and Projects Committee, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel,
Co-Chair – Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition,
Orange County Public Libraries Advisory Board, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, Orange County Community Corrections
Partnership (OCCCP), Santa Ana River Flood Control Protection Agency,
and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
