Public comments at Orange County meeting raise concerns about vendor rules, housing platforms, mental-health provider and IHSS pay

During the public-comment portion of the Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting, members of the public addressed a range of county and regional concerns, including local health-agency vendor rules, housing-market software, the operation of a mental-health contractor and pay for in‑home caregivers.

Addison Ozils, an 18‑year‑old Foothill High School senior and small‑business owner, told the board Orange County Health initially told her a refurbished trailer she bought could operate as a permitted booth but later reclassified her operation and restricted sale of fruit‑based lemonade. "I was told by OC Health that I I was no longer classified as a booth, and I could no longer sell the lemonade that they told me I could," Ozils said, adding that she faces fees she described as onerous and an annual permit requirement she described as financially burdensome. The chair asked county staff to inquire into the matter.

An unnamed commenter raised concerns about RealPage and BILT, citing litigation: "the Department of Justice did file a lawsuit last August against RealPage," the speaker said, and urged local governments to consider ordinances to counter pricing and credit‑reporting effects from industry platforms.

Gabriela Hidalgo, who identified herself as a Clara Vita client, asked the board why it continues to support the contractor and said program participants’ suggestions have been ignored. "The unconditional support you have given to Clara Vita...they have refused to [share schedules]" she said, and asked to meet with Supervisor Sarmiento.

Patty Kabada invited supervisors to a Placentia‑Yorba Linda Unified School District event introducing a "Protect Women's Sports" resolution on April 8, urging board members to attend and hear parents' perspectives.

Michael Van Coulson, an IHSS provider from Garden Grove, said home‑care workers are underpaid and that the county's seniors and people with disabilities rely on providers. "Our life saving work deserves better pay," Van Coulson said, citing roughly "43,000 providers" and more than "51,000 authorized recipients" and urging the county to negotiate "a real and respectable offer."

Other public commenters raised broader accusations about county social‑service practice and housing management. The board did not take formal action on the public comments during the meeting, but the chair asked staff to follow up on at least one complaint about the health‑agency permitting issue.

The public comment period concluded before memorials and adjournment; the board scheduled its next meeting for April 8.