Santa Ana’s zoning laws discriminate against homeless, lower-income people, lawsuit alleges

• April 4, 2023

Alleging that Santa Ana enacted zoning ordinances that “unabashedly and unlawfully” discriminate, a nonprofit health care provider has sued the city.

The Share Our Selves Corporation, which provides medical and dental services to low-income Santa Ana residents, including the homeless, sued the city on March 20 in federal court. It alleges Santa Ana prevented it from closing escrow on a building that was meant to open as an expanded outpatient clinic, “all because City leaders feared that SOS’s outpatient clinic … would attract too many ‘undesirables’ to that area of the city.”

Known as SOS, the nonprofit alleges that the city is using its land-use regulations “to thwart and obstruct the operations of charitable organizations, like Micah’s Way and the Salvation Army” and targeted the new building project because the clinic’s clientele is predominantly lower-income Latinos and includes homeless people.

The city’s actions, argues Edmond Connor, an attorney representing the nonprofit, are part of “an organized campaign by the city to go after service providers to help the homeless and poor.”

A Santa Ana spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit and pointed instead to staff reports behind the council’s zoning amendments.

The Santa Ana City Council approved an urgency ordinance on Dec. 20 amending different sections of a zoning law that, among other things, immediately required a conditional use permit for government or nonprofit medical clinics in areas zoned for professional purposes. The change aimed to address and “reduce the potential impact to the built environment stemming from these land uses,” according to a staff report.

On Feb. 7, the council approved a second zoning ordinance amendment that addressed numerous topics, including medical offices operating in a professional district. The lawsuit refers to that ordinance language on medical clinics as a “backup measure” and called it “the mirror image” of the urgency ordinance from December.

The change was lumped in with numerous other amendments addressing other zoning regulations and definitions pertaining to family day care, massage parlors, trash bin enclosures, fencing and other sections of the local code — revisions that city officials said are consistent with its updated general plan and were made to protect public safety, among other reasons.

Connor said the city “slipped in” the changes without notice to the organization or proper notice to the general public.

In the lawsuit, nonprofit representatives stated they planned to open a clinic at 2670 North Main St., about a block south of the Main Place Mall.

The health care provider said it was assured by city planners that it would be granted administrative approval. Along with Turner Healthcare Facilities Acquisition LLC, the lawsuit states, the development partners then plunked down at least $500,000 in purchase-related fees and development costs on the remodel that would replace SOS’s El Sol Wellness Center at 1014 North Broadway in Santa Ana.

But the city “hurriedly” changed the zoning requirements through the urgency ordinance, Connor said. And because more time was needed to obtain a conditional use permit, the purchase agreement expired.

County-wide, the nonprofit runs four community health centers in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Mission Viejo. At Santa Ana’s El Sol Wellness clinic, 87% of the patients served in 2022 were Latino, and of those, 80% qualified for Medi-Cal; 2-5% of the Santa Ana patients last year were homeless, according to the lawsuit.

Santa Ana residents have complained for years that their city is used as a “dumping ground” for homeless people from across the county, and it’s impacted residents’ quality of life. The city has filed various legal actions against the county, other cities and at least one nonprofit that serves the homeless.

Connor counters of the city: “It’s not so much they’re afraid of attracting homeless. They’re trying to drive people out by taking services away from them.”

The lawsuit notes that for-profit medical offices can open in a professional district without going through the hoops now imposed on nonprofit medical offices, which tend to serve poorer populations.

“It’s so disappointing in this day and age to have the city engage in such blatant discrimination,” Connor said.

Connor also represents Micah’s Way, a religious organization that assists lower-income people in Santa Ana. On Jan. 30, the all-volunteer Christian ministry filed a lawsuit against Santa Ana after the city threatened fines and other penalties for giving people who come to their center a snack and a cup of coffee. Until then, Micah’s Way had been offering a muffin and a cup of coffee for years, without any issues, Connor said. A hearing in that case is set for June.

The newer SOS lawsuit seeks to overturn the new provisions of the city’s zoning code, along with at least $500,000 in damages and the reimbursement of legal fees and court costs.

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​ Orange County Register 

All-County Boys Wrestling Team: Fountain Valley’s TJ McDonnell is the O.C. wrestler of the year

• April 4, 2023

BOYS WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

TJ McDONNELL, FOUNTAIN VALLEY, SENIOR

CIF State champion TJ McDonnell of Fountain Valley is the Orange County boys wrestler of the year for the 2022-23 season.

McDonnell was Orange County’s only boys wrestling state champion this season, winning at 182 pounds. He also was his weight class’ champion at the CIF Southern Section Inland Division finals and was first in that weight class at the CIF-SS Masters Meet.

He finished first at the Mann Classic and the Doc Buchanan tournaments, and was the Sunset League champion at his weight class.

For McDonnell nothing could top winning his first state championship after falling short in previous attempts, and he was surprised by how calm he was at the CIF State meet in Bakersfield in late February.

“The whole state tournament, it felt a lot different this time knowing I was supposed to win it,” he said. “I was able to enjoy it more this time.”

TJ McDonnell of Fountain Valley High School, top, competes in the 182-pound championship match at the CIF-SS Inland Division Individual Championships against Laguna Beach’s Jeremy Kanter, pinning him at the 1:14 mark, on Saturday, February 11, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Fountain Valley won a CIF-SS championship and finished 11th in the CIF State team scores.

“I was lucky enough to be on a team with guys who were friends even outside of the (wrestling) room and outside of school,” McDonnell said. “Sometimes the friends you wrestle with are just the friends you wrestle with.”

Fountain Valley coach Brad Woodbury said of McDonnell: “He’s a leader and he puts in the time. He strived to win his first state championship and he did it.”

McDonnell, who has a 3.4 grade-point average, will continue his wrestling career at Oregon State.

COACH OF THE YEAR

BRAD WOODBURY, FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Brad Woodbury of Fountain Valley is the Orange County boys wrestling coach of the year.

Woodbury led the Barons to the CIF Southern Section Inland Division championship. It was the school’s third CIF-SS wrestling championship over the past five years. Fountain Valley compiled 282 points to second-place Hesperia’s 221.

The Barons also won the Sunset League championship, their 12th straight league title and 14th in Woodbury’s 24 seasons as Fountain Valley wrestling coach. Fountain Valley finished 11th among the teams at the CIF State meet.

“Our kids are the hardest-working group of kids around,” said Woodbury, 52, who added that assistant coach Dennis Piramo and the rest of the coaching staff deserve plenty of credit for the program’s success.

Fountain Valley’s Brad Woodbury is the Register’s Orange County boys wrestling coach of the year year for the 2022-23 season. (Photo courtesy of Brad Woodbury)

ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM

106 pounds

Elijah Poe, Calvary Chapel, Jr.: Poe finished third in his bracket at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet and was second at the CIF-SS Eastern Division Championships.

113 pounds

Anthony Lucio, Fountain Valley, Jr: He was sixth at the CIF State Championships, finished first at the CIF-SS Masters Meet and was a champion at the CIF-SS Inland Division Championships.

120 pounds

Isaiah Quintero, El Dorado, Jr.: Quintero was runner-up at the CIF State championships, won his division at the CIF-SS Masters Meet and was a CIF-SS Northern Division champion.

126 pounds

Haden Hernandez, Marina, Sr.: He finished eighth at the CIF State meet, second in his bracket at the CIF-SS Masters Meet and was a CIF-SS Inland Division champion.

132 pounds

Benjamin Wimberly, San Clemente, Sr.: Wimberly was second at the Masters Meet, placed eighth at the CIF State finals and won a CIF-SS Eastern Division championship.

138 pounds

Hercules Windrath, Fountain Valley, Jr.: He finished sixth at the CIF State meet, was third at the Masters Meet and was a CIF-SS Inland Division champion.

145 pounds

Steve Caday, Calvary Chapel, Sr.: Caday won the CIF-SS Eastern Division championship and was third at the Masters Meet.

152 pounds

Antonio Aramburu, Corona del Mar, Jr.: Aramburu was a second-place finisher in the CIF-SS Inland Division finals and placed third in his bracket in the Masters Meet.

160 pounds

Will Cox, Yorba Linda, Sr.: Cox was a second-place finisher at the Masters Meet and was a CIF-SS Northern Division champion.

170 pounds

Max McWilliams, Calvary Chapel, Jr.: He won his bracket at the Masters Meet and finished seventh at the CIF State meet.

182 pounds

TJ McDonnell, Fountain Valley, Sr: The Orange County boys wrestler of the year.

195 pounds

Ryland Whitworth, Fountain Valley, Jr.: Whitworth finished fifth at the CIF State Championships, won his bracket at the Masters Meet and was and was a champion at the Inland Division finals.

220 pounds

Henry Sturn, Trabuco Hills, Sr.: He finished fifth at the CIF State meet, won his bracket at the Masters Meet and was an Eastern Division champion.

285 pounds

Dib Sawaya, Valencia, Sr.: Sawaya was second at the Masters Meet and won a Northern Division championship.

ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM

106 pounds: Hunter Jauregui, Fountain Valley, Fr.

113 pounds: Aaron Silva, Calvary Chapel, Fr.

120 pounds: Demian Priyama, Newport Harbor, So.

126 pounds: Maddox Herrera, Esperanza, So.

132 pounds: Loscar Riestra, Corona del Mar, Sr.

138 pounds: Kenneth Rogers, Esperanza, Sr.

145 pounds: Josh Valdez, Servite, Jr.

152 pounds: Dominic Morales, San Clemente, Sr.

160 pounds: Zion Hernandez, Corona del Mar, Jr.

170 pounds: Khale McDonnell, Fountain Valley, So.

182 pounds: Talha Bektas, Calvary Chapel, Sr.

195 pounds: Eugenio Franco, Corona del Mar, Jr.

220 pounds: Luke Webb, JSerra, So.

285 pounds: Dylan Avila, Segerstrom, Sr.

​ Orange County Register 

Jeff Reitz named football coach at Katella

• April 4, 2023

Former Diamond Bar coach Jeff Reitz is the new football coach at Katella.

Katella made the announcement Tuesday.

Reitz coached Diamond Bar for four seasons. The Brahmas finished 5-6 overall and 2-1 in the Hacienda League in 2021, his final season there. That season Diamond Bar lost to Katella 39-19 in a nonleague game.

Reitz replaces Juan Viramontes, who resigned after one season, the 2022 season in which the Knights finished 3-7 overall and 1-2 in the Big 4 League.

​ Orange County Register 

GM overtakes Ford as No. 2 Seller of electric vehicles

• April 4, 2023

By Keith Naughton | Bloomberg

General Motors outsold Ford Motor Co. in electric vehicles by nearly two-to-one in the first three months of the year as the automakers chase market leader Tesla Inc.

Ford sold 10,866 EVs in the US during the first quarter, according to a statement Tuesday. That was up 41% from a year ago, but was still well behind the 20,670 plug-ins GM sold in the same period. Overall, Ford’s light vehicle deliveries rose almost 10%, while GM’s first-quarter sales were up 17.6%.

Sales of Ford’s electric Mustang Mach-E fell 19.7% to 5,407 vehicles, with its factory in Mexico down for much of the quarter as the automaker expands it to double capacity to 210,000 models a year. Ford also lost five weeks of production of its F-150 Lightning plug-in pickup due to a battery fire, which led to a small recall.

Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley has set a goal to initially be No. 2 to Tesla, which controls two-thirds of the US EV market, and eventually overtake the EV leader. Ford is spending $50 billion to develop and build EVs through 2026, but has said it expects to lose $3 billion on battery-powered models this year.

Ford recently raised the starting price of its popular Lightning pickup to $59,974, up 50% from its original starting price of $39,974. The automaker also is boosting output to 150,000 models annually by the end of this year. The company’s sales analyst, Erich Merkle, said the price hike isn’t hurting sales.

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“We don’t see any indication of slowing demand for the F-150 Lightning,” Merkle said. “Sales are limited by what we are able to produce.”

Ford is boosting capacity on all three of the electric models it has on sale. It said Tuesday it will add a third shift of workers at the Kansas City factory building its plug-in E-Transit van.

​ Orange County Register 

Susanna Hoffs draws on her Bangles experience for novel ‘This Bird Has Flown’

• April 4, 2023

For the past few months, every day has been manic for Susanna Hoffs.

The co-founder of the Bangles has been preparing for the publication of her debut novel, “This Bird Has Flown,” on April 4. Three days later, her latest solo album, “The Deep End,” is scheduled to hit stores.

“It’s been crazy busy,” Hoffs says via Zoom from her home in Los Angeles where she lives with her husband Jay Roach. “It just turned out that both the novel and the album were going to drop at the same time, so it’s been quite hectic.”

Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles performs in 2012. (Associated Press file photo)

Hoffs is used to frenetic schedules. She recorded five studio albums with the Bangles, and eight solo records, and has also written screenplays and acted in several movies. But writing a novel was new to her.

“It was a labor of love writing it,” she explains. “I just took that leap of faith like I did when I started back in the ’80s, going around and throwing flyers around at clubs and record stores, trying to find bandmates. It’s always kind of worked for me to just dive in.”

Hoffs draws from her knowledge of the music industry in “This Bird Has Flown,” which follows Jane Start, a 33-year-old singer and one-hit wonder whose career has seen better days. After she performs a humiliating gig in Las Vegas — singing her one well-known song, backed by a karaoke track, to a private party — her friend and manager Pippa insists she go to London to recharge.

On the plane, Jane meets Tom Hardy — not that Tom Hardy, but rather an Oxford literature professor who immediately catches Jane’s eye. The two start dating in England, but things get complicated, especially when Jane learns that the enigmatic pop star Jonesy, who wrote Jane’s sole hit song, is interested in collaborating with her.

Related: Sign up for our free newsletter about books, authors, reading and more

While this is her first novel, Hoffs has been interested in literature for a long time.

“I’ve always loved fiction since I was a little girl and all through my teenage years,” she says. “It had been a lifelong dream to write a novel. Then one day, when I was in between projects, I’d been talking about it, and my older son said, ‘Mom, stop talking about it and do it.’”

That was all the encouragement she needed. She started “marinating on themes,” and listened to some books she’d loved for a long time — Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre,” Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca.” Those novels helped give her the idea to set the novel in England. And it didn’t hurt that her son was doing a semester abroad at Oxford University at the time, which gave her the opportunity to visit.

But the U.K. has always been special to her. She grew up on the music of the Beatles, and when she played shows with the Bangles in England in the 1980s, she found that her love for the country was very much reciprocated. “It was so amazing for us to go there, being such obsessive British Invasion fans,” she says. “We were embraced by the British press. It was just thrilling.”

The setting for the novel came naturally to Hoffs, but so did the character of Jane. Hoffs is far from a one-hit wonder, of course, but she knows how unpredictable the music industry can be.

“I know the music business is a very hard business, and I feel so lucky, but it has its challenges,” she says. “I’ve experienced in my lifetime as a musician the range of experiences – in 1986, being on tour and playing big festivals with INXS and Simple Minds and all these big artists. Then there’s the other side of it, which is the kind of gigs like Jane has.”

Music, of course, plays a big part in Hoffs’ novel — the title is a reference to the Beatles’ famous 1965 song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).” Many of the chapter titles came from songs Hoffs was listening to when she wrote the book: “Tears of a Clown,” “Rebel Rebel,” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

“Songs informed the writing,” Hoffs says. “Music is the beginning, middle and end of every day for me, honestly. I usually go on a walk in the morning, and I have my earbuds in, and I’m listening to playlists that I’ve curated on my phone. And the cool, magical thing about it was that I’d be listening to these songs while walking down the street, and then it was almost like I’d go through a portal and I would be in the book, a movie version of the book.”

Speaking of a movie version of the book: That’s happening. Universal Pictures is developing a film adaptation, with Liza Chasin and Bruna Papandrea (“Anatomy of a Scandal”) producing and Hoffs writing the screenplay. She’s interested in writing the songs for the film, too.

“That’s my new challenge,” she says. “Now, if someone like Ed Sheeran wants to take a stab at it, then have at it! He’s a brilliant songwriter. But I do want to give myself the chance. I’m just now finally getting to the point where I have time to sit down and attempt it. I haven’t really doubled down and really gotten into the nitty gritty of it, but that’s my next challenge.”

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For now, Hoffs is preparing for a book tour that will include an appearance in her native southern California: She’ll be in conversation with Susan Orlean as part of the Live Talks Los Angeles series on April 10 at 8 p.m. at the Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica. And she’s preparing for the release of “The Deep End,” her album of covers of songs by artists including Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, and Squeeze.

Asked if she plans a return to the world of fiction, Hoffs doesn’t hesitate.

“Oh, yes. Oh, yes, yes,” she says. “It’s like an addiction. And I’ve figured out ways to cram in more reading, too. My whole life seems to revolve around stories and books. I love just being lost in a story. So a hundred percent. I’m kind of tinkering now; I’m preparing.”

​ Orange County Register 

Newsom denounces ‘authoritarians,’ but what about his record?

• April 4, 2023

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has anointed himself as the avenging angel who will rain down righteous – or self-righteous – punishment on ideological heretics in red states such as Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.

“All across the country rights are being rolled back in real-time by Republicans,” Newsom warned in a fundraising text message last week, just hours after it was revealed that former President Donald Trump was being indicted in New York. “They cry ‘freedom’ but work overtime to dismantle our democracy to protect their power to dictate the choices people are allowed to make.

“I am going to flip that narrative on its head,” Newsom promised.

Two days later, having created a new political organization to finance assaults on prominent Republicans, he embarked on a tour of four red states to rally Democratic opposition to their GOP governors.

Newsom’s message is that those governors and other prominent Republicans, such as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, are “authoritarian threats,” citing such actions as banning books and subverting abortion access, gay rights and gender-affirming care for transgender youths.

The website of Newsom’s new organization, the Campaign for Democracy, singles out McCarthy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott as “threats” to democracy. In a video, Newsom declares, “What’s happening in those red states, that’s not who we are. It’s un-American, it’s undemocratic. All it takes to fight back is a willingness to stand toe-to-toe and say ‘enough.’”

There are three potential explanations for Newsom’s self-declared crusade: that he’s genuinely worried about an “existential struggle” for democracy; that he’s just expanding his years-long drive to raise his national political profile in hopes of someday campaigning for the presidency; or that he craves attention.

Whatever his motives – and it could be a combination of the idealistic, the crassly political and the personal – the most intriguing aspect of Newsom’s campaign is his denunciations of DeSantis, Abbott, et al, as “authoritarian,” meaning that they are acting unilaterally, outside the democratic process, to impose their will on the residents of their states.

That’s patently untrue. Those two governors and those of other red states were duly elected and often re-elected by their voters, and wield the powers that accrue to elected governors. One can certainly take issue, on the merits, with the policies they espouse and enact. But one must also assume that they are doing what majorities of their constituents want them to do, which is the essence of democracy.

Besides, Newsom has been just as adamant in pursuing his own ideological goals.

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Was Newsom being an authoritarian when he declared an emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic, suspended dozens of laws, closed public schools and ordered much of the state’s economy to be shut down, erasing nearly 3 million jobs overnight and pushing the state into a severe recession?

Newsom would say that he was just exercising his executive powers for the greater good.

Was Newsom an authoritarian when he unilaterally stopped executions in 2019, even though the death penalty was and still is state law, and won voter support the last time the issue was placed on the ballot?

Meanwhile, he has signed a number of new laws aimed at restricting or eliminating behavior he and his fellow Democrats consider to be wrong, such as owning guns or resisting construction of new housing. And how about those decrees banning the sale of gasoline-powered cars after 2035?

Newsom’s actions were no less arbitrary the governors he criticizes. When it comes to authoritarianism, he is, to use an old saw, a pot calling the kettle black.

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to Commentary.

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA’s first spring football practice brings optimism and energy

• April 4, 2023

LOS ANGELES — A floor-to-ceiling banner reads “semper optimus” outside the weight room during UCLA’s first spring football practice Tuesday. With promising new coaches and players walking past the words that translate to “always the best,” there’s reason for optimism at Spaulding Field.

Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn is one of the fresh faces, and brings NFL experience after coaching stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.

“New coordinator, but we still got the same goals and aspirations going into the year,” Bruins senior linebacker Darius Muasau said. “It’s just another opportunity to learn from a good coach coming from the league. He knows the game inside and out. I’m just looking forward to picking his brain throughout the year.”

Lynn succeeds previous coordinator Bill McGovern, who has moved to the role of director of football administration after missing multiple games last season due to an unspecified health reason.

Lynn flitted around the field during Tuesday’s 8:45 a.m. practice, actively giving direction to defensive players. He’s in his early 30s, making him relatable to players but still respected because of his nine years of experience in the NFL.

“Him being a younger coach just brings a new perspective of the game,” Muasau said. “He’s a great coach, but an even better person, just talking to him every day and being in the meeting rooms.”

Last year’s UCLA defense gave up an average of 29 points per game, just over 2,000 rushing yards and more than 3,500 passing yards.

Muasau ranked first on the team in total tackles with 91 last season. Other players with significant game experience at linebacker include Carl Jones, Laiatu Latu, Kain Medrano, Carson Schwesinger and JonJon Vaughns.

First glimpse of Dante Moore

The starting quarterback position is up for grabs with the graduation of Dorian Thompson Robinson, who led the Bruins’ offense since starting seven games as a freshman in 2018.

Returners Ethan Garbers and Justyn Martin as well as Kent State transfer Collin Schlee each received repetitions during the team periods at Tuesday’s practice, but early enrollee and five-star recruit Dante Moore drew attention.

“We’ve got a lot of potential in that in that quarterback room,” Muasau said. “So I’m really looking forward to going and getting after against those guys competing every day.”

Moore, a product of Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, appeared charismatic though small without full pads on. He showed a strong arm and quick release as the first quarterback to get reps and raised his hands in celebration each time he threw the ball on target during an accuracy drill.

“He’s just very outgoing, easy to talk to,” UCLA offensive lineman Duke Clemens said. “(All the quarterbacks) are mature for their age. Being able to want to get better and being all-in already as a young guy, I’m impressed with that.”

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Youth on the O-line

Clemens is one of the most experienced players on the offensive line heading into spring, with starts in all 13 games last season. Left guard Antonio Mafi (who was in attendance to watch practice on Tuesday) and right guard Jon Gaines II graduated. Left tackle Raiqwon O’Neal declared for the NFL draft.

That leaves Clemens at center, and he’s already taken on a leadership role. He’s been planning and hosting player meetings and making sure everyone is on time for team meetings.

“Guys have just gotta grow and be able to handle what we’ve got going on over here because I feel our system is good,” Clemens said. “Getting everybody on the same page and understanding the playbook is probably the most important thing right now.”

​ Orange County Register 

Local TikTok influencer wants to take her message off social media and to Congress

• April 4, 2023

While still a student at UC Irvine School of Law, Cheyenne Hunt clerked for Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, working on the Judiciary Committee and witnessing firsthand the first impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

It was that “unforgettable” experience, she said, that cemented her desire to run for office. And that means Hunt, a Fullerton resident and TikTok influencer, is the latest to announce her candidacy for California’s 45th congressional district represented by GOP Rep. Michelle Steel — a race that’s heating up fast.

Hunt found while working in Washington, D.C., she said, that not everybody is motivated by the issues that are keeping people in her community up at night.

“Working on (Capitol) Hill showed me the ways in which our system is designed to prioritize justice and to treat nobody as if they are above the law,” said Hunt, who works in tech policy for Public Citizen, a progressive advocacy group.

“But it also showed me the ways in which our lawmakers are not necessarily always reflecting the interests of their constituents. And I think that a lot of us are looking for somebody who’s really going to be a champion for working families, and that’s why I’m running right now.”

Related: Garden Grove Councilmember Kim Bernice Nguyen launches CA-45 campaign

A progressive Democrat, Hunt hopes to be the first Gen Z — anyone born from 1997 to the early 2010s — woman elected to Congress. Members of the U.S. House must be at least 25 years old; Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost became the first Gen Z person elected to Congress last year.

Hunt has amassed over 60,000 followers and 3 million likes on her TikTok, @cheyennehuntca, where she posts political commentary, various event footage and the occasional “day in my life.”

And as someone who lobbies for big tech accountability for a living, Hunt has a lot to say about TikTok and talks in Congress about banning the Chinese-owned social media app.

“I think there’s a serious lack of understanding and a lack of expertise about social media in our current Congress,” Hunt said. “The concerns about TikTok are certainly warranted. We should not be casual about the fact that the (Chinese Communist Party) may be potentially harvesting our data through the app.”

But to that point, comprehensive data privacy legislation that addresses other apps like Facebook and Instagram, and also the way information is collected online, are what members of Congress should strive for, she said. And it will be one of her priorities in Congress, she said.

Other priorities include addressing the cost of living that has “spiraled out of control” and more regulation of big tech companies.

Garden Grove Councilmember Kim Bernice Nguyen — who has already garnered considerable local support, including that of state Sen. Tom Umberg and Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley — is also vying for the seat, which includes parts of Orange County and a sliver of Los Angeles County.

The district was recently placed on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s target list of competitive Republican-held or open districts that the party’s campaign arm is expected to invest heavily in.

Lance Trover, Steel’s campaign manager, said, “Southern California voters know her record of fighting for lower taxes, standing up to the Chinese Communist Party and ensuring everyone has a shot at the American dream,” maintaining she will be reelected in 2024.

Hunt, who says “it’s time for a change” in Congress, will continue to post on TikTok throughout her campaign.

“I think elected officials could do a better job at having conversations with people in verbiage that they understand,” Hunt said. “I definitely plan on using social media to continue the discussion with constituents, supporters and really anybody else as we move through this campaign and hopefully after we win.”

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​ Orange County Register