Orange County supervisor briefs La Palma council on pandemic‑fund probe, animal shelter, kratom and fentanyl

Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen delivered a broad district update to the La Palma City Council on Nov. 4, covering investigations, public‑safety efforts and constituent services.

Nguyen said the county has authorized a full forensic audit of pandemic relief funds following allegations that a former supervisor "embezzled more than $10,000,000"; she said the Department of Justice had seized $2,400,000 in cash and other assets and that the county has active lawsuits related to the matter. "The Department of Justice did seize $2,400,000 in cash from 2 bank accounts and has directed that funds to be turned back to the County of Orange," Nguyen said, and she called for additional investigative authority for the district attorney, attorney general and DOJ where appropriate.

Nguyen also discussed county efforts to reopen and increase transparency at the Orange County animal shelter, including publishing monthly intake, adoption and euthanasia statistics to increase adoptions and reduce euthanasia rates. On regional air quality, she said she led opposition to draft South Coast AQMD rules that would have phased out some residential gas appliances, arguing the retrofit costs would be large and burdensome for older housing.

On public‑health controls, Nguyen described a recently passed county ordinance banning certain synthetic kratom products and said the county has seen a 42% decrease in fentanyl deaths. She asked member cities to consider adopting similar kratom restrictions for local enforcement in incorporated areas.

Nguyen closed with constituent outreach invitations, including mobile office hours at La Palma Library and a county Hall of Administration open house on Dec. 9; she provided a county office phone and email for residents needing assistance.