The OC Health Care Agency closed the area “due to the occurrence of multiple sewage spills that were caused by weather-impacted surges on sewer mains in areas of Los Angeles County that border Orange County,” according to a news alert sent out Wednesday afternoon.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the affected ocean water area will remain closed to swimming, surfing, and diving until the results of follow-up water quality monitoring meet acceptable standards,” officials said.

Earlier in the day, Seal Beach Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey said he was told the closure was due to about 30,000 gallons of sewage coming from Coyote Creek, which feeds into the San Gabriel River, however the OC Health Care Agency did not specify where the suspected sewage was flowing from.

A final burst of rain for Southern California — then the storms are done

The spill was among several this week, including a 8 million gallons of raw sewage that got into the Dominguez Channel on Monday, Feb. 5.

Last week, two occurred in Long Beach – one with 38,000 gallons and a 20,000-gallon spill. There was also a 10,000-gallon spill into the Palos Verdes Peninsula area and more elsewhere.

The spills led to closures of the ocean in coastal areas, including Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro and all ocean water swimming areas in Long Beach, both closed until further notice.

Advisories by healthcare agencies in Orange and Los Angeles counties are advising people to stay out of the water for 72 hours following rain, especially near storm drains and river outlets.

“The elevated levels of bacteria can continue for a period of at least three days, depending upon the intensity of the rain and the volume of the runoff,” the Orange County Health Care Agency warns. “Swimmers should avoid coastal waters impacted by discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers, and beach users should avoid contact with any runoff on the beach during dry or wet weather conditions.”

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Dom Jones

Current Job Title: Businesswoman + television host

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: None

City where you reside: Huntington Beach

Campaign website or social media: Website: www.domjones.org; Instagram: domjones.unity

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

California is positioned to become the fourth largest economy in the world, following the U.S., China and Japan. Due to our pivotal role in America’s gross domestic product, I believe California should continue to take a leadership role in strengthening diplomatic and economic relations. This is critical to continue driving economic prosperity for our strong labor workforce and advancing global policy initiatives to combat climate change.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

I firmly believe in a person’s right to vote and participate in our democratic process. It is well known that voter ID requirements suppress voter participation, particularly among historically disenfranchised Black, Latino, Asian and Native American communities. California has led the way to enshrine and expand on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and I fully support the laws we have in place that intend to protect voters’ rights and increase voter turnout. I believe the primary and general election days should be designated state holidays to ensure every voter has the opportunity to vote.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

California can address the budget deficit through a balanced approach to tax fairness, including requiring the wealthiest individuals and corporations that are currently receiving the largest tax breaks to pay their fair share. And we should be identifying waste and duplication in the budget so we keep it lean and efficient.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

My top three priorities are:- Making housing more affordable.- Guarantee access to affordable healthcare to reduce costs and prevent medical debt.- Ensuring our public schools, colleges and career training programs are building opportunities for strong careers.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

While there must be a balanced approach to these sensitive issues, the safety and welfare of our children, women, families and communities would be a top priority of mine when making critical decisions dealing with the justice system.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

An effective approach to alleviating homelessness involves streamlining bureaucratic processes at the local level. This enables collaboration among municipalities, nonprofits and the private sector to expedite housing production, meeting the growing demand and enhancing affordability. Implementing incentives that encourage density, transit-oriented development and exemptions to mitigate rising construction costs can yield positive outcomes.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

Due to the rising cost of living, I believe we should explore the minimum wage standards across industries. Having been a small business owner, I understand there are concerns about the potential hardship this can place on local businesses. I’m interested in exploring what this may look like for larger businesses and corporations that have the revenue to support a higher minimum wage standard.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

Climate change is a public health issue and an economic issue. I would champion policies that support protecting and cleaning our oceans, beaches, ports and the communities most impacted by the plastics and pollution we see across the district.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

Our coastline is critical for our economy and way of life. A key capital improvement project for the Orange County coastline would be investing in coastal erosion mitigation measures to protect the beaches and shoreline infrastructure in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. This would include the implementation of critical seawalls, beach nourishment and flood barrier restoration to safeguard against erosion and enhance resilience to rising sea levels.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

We must prioritize behavioral health facilities and supportive housing programs with wrap-around services that can provide 24/7 support to people with less severe disorders. These facilities should be rooted in providing humane and holistic approaches, with qualified and trained professionals who can help provide treatment and connect people to further critical resources.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

People and solutions, not politics.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Fruit and veggies.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Diane Dixon

Current Job Title: State Assemblymember

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Former Newport Beach City Councilmember and mayor

City where you reside: Newport Beach

Campaign website or social media: Website: www.dianedixonforassembly.com; Instagram: @Diane_Dixon_

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

California is the fifth largest economy in the world. While I do believe international relations should be handled at the federal level, in extreme circumstances as well as international conflict, constituents should know where their representatives stand.

I immediately condemned the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7 and co-authored Assembly Concurrent Resolution 119. This resolution calls for the release of all hostages as well as condemnation for Hamas’ theft of relief supplies intended for Gazan civilians among many other atrocities.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

Voting is a right for all American citizens, and while guaranteeing that every vote is counted accurately should be our top priority, we must ensure that the right to be heard is not encroached upon for any voter. Every voter should be able to verify their identity simply to limit any potential fraud and restore faith in our system.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

Sacramento politicians have created a bloated government with excess spending, and taxpayers have little to show for it. We must take swift action to address the $68 billion budget shortfall. Let’s start by ending taxpayer-provided healthcare for illegal immigrants which will only encourage more illegal immigration and exacerbate this financial burden.

Our state agencies brag about spending $9.8 billion on a failed high-speed rail project and hundreds of millions of dollars converting the San Quentin Correctional Facility into a resort for criminals. As a member of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, I see almost every bill that has a cost associated with it. On some of these bills, I simply ask my Democratic colleagues where the funding will come from. After telling me they aren’t sure, they still vote in favor of the bill.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

Simply put, we need to reel back frivolous spending, and we need to do it now. That is priority No. 1.

Second, we should be focused on eliminating fraud that has impacted state programs like EDD.

Finally, we should consider zero-based budgeting, and every program should justify its need and effectiveness. Overall, the legislature needs to do a better job of prioritizing the dollars we do have to ensure taxpayers get the most bang for their buck. Unfortunately, California has become unaffordable for middle-income residents. We have the fourth-highest income taxes and the highest gas taxes in the country. These taxes and regulations are driving businesses and their jobs out of California. There is much work to be done.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I am married to a 40-year career major crimes prosecutor; public safety is a dinner table conversation. Our lawmakers need to stay focused on victims. When my colleagues in Sacramento didn’t want to increase penalties for child sex traffickers, I was proud to be one of the few to spotlight their pro-criminal policies, and as a proud coauthor, helped pass SB 14.

Legislators need to focus on helping victims of crime, not harming them further. For example, in a reverse situation last year, my colleagues introduced SB 94 which would allow for the early release of the worst of the worst criminals sentenced to life without parole. My fellow Republicans and I were prepared to share victims’ stories to shine a spotlight on how these convicted murderers and rapists could be released into our communities if this legislation was passed. At the last minute, Democrats caved and the bill was pulled from a vote. Policies like this come year after year; this one included. We need to let victims’ families as well as all voters know that their voice matters in opposition to criminal-friendly legislation. We all need to be an activist to keep our communities safe.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

Homelessness is not an issue that the state government can afford to continue burning money with little to no results. More than $20 billion has been spent in the last four years while the problem has become much worse with nearly 50% of the nation’s homeless population living in California. Homelessness has always been an issue handled most effectively at the local and regional levels. In Orange County, sadly, the fastest-growing homeless population is our seniors. I have long been a supporter of increasing affordable senior housing opportunities in my district.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

While I do not support government-mandated minimum wages, they certainly should not vary by industry. SB 525 is one of the most costly laws the state has seen in decades. After signing the bill, the governor’s administration projected this wage hike would cost private healthcare providers approximately $4 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year alone. In California, the public healthcare provider costs are an additional $4 billion.

In addition, hospitals that cannot afford to include these higher wages in their razor-thin margins are anticipated to outsource work to people outside of California. We cannot afford to lose these jobs, especially in rural communities that would be the hardest hit, and hospital closures are now becoming real. Over the next year, you will start to see everything increase in cost — driven by the ripple effect of higher wages throughout the workforce. At a time when high inflation is already impacting the average Californian with high food costs and high fuel costs, these wage increases will ultimately be passed to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

I represent more than 30 miles of Orange County’s beautiful 42-mile coastline. These coastal cities attract approximately 30 million tourists each year and support our local economies. There is much to be done to protect our beautiful beaches and our economies.

Seal Beach began a long overdue sand replenishment project in December to combat our coastal erosion. In the 2023 budget, I brought in nearly $3 million in state funding for beach protection and accessibility. Part of this funding helped complete the Newport Beach Trash Wheel, a project I started as a councilmember in Newport Beach which will prevent garbage from entering the Pacific Ocean.

In 2024 and beyond, I plan to bring the same technology to Seal Beach where the San Gabriel River collects garbage from 19 inland cities and dumps that waste into Seal Beach. I will also be introducing a coastal package this legislative cycle with the intention of cleaning our beaches and oceans.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

I regularly meet with the elected officials and city staff in each of the eight cities I represent to discuss what I can be doing to help them. Many of the cities have great community projects that I am working to help fund. A key project that would have a significant impact would be a community center in a low-income and English-as-a-second language region of Lake Forest. Built near the 5 Freeway, this community center would benefit residents from Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods and Aliso Viejo.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

I led the charge on an audit of the Department of Health Care Services because we need to know what works and what doesn’t. This audit should be completed this year and my colleagues and I plan to use this information to identify and streamline operations that waste taxpayer dollars and promote the programs that help people recover and get the treatment they need.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Fiscally responsible conservative working to make Californians’ lives affordable.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Whether I am running between committee meetings in Sacramento or district events in Orange County, I can’t live without my protein bars.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Jimmy D. Pham

Current Job Title: City commissioner + attorney

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Westminster City Commissioner

City where you reside: Westminster

Campaign website or social media: www.jimmyphamca.com

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

Foreign affairs is the business of the federal government, and the role of the governor when visiting foreign nations should be in helping to find new markets for products manufactured in California and promote California businesses and tourism to bring new visitors and create jobs in our state.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

The right for every citizen to vote in free and fair elections is one of the great engines of our democracy. If anything, voting access, especially with in-person vote centers and drop boxes, should be increased — especially in underserved communities to ensure every registered voter has access to materials in their native language and has every ability to cast a vote.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

The state legislature was late to recognize the coming shortfall, and if elected, I would be vigilant in ensuring our budgets are balanced each year. As a business owner, attorney and city commissioner, I know what it means to keep a ledger balanced — as do families throughout Orange County who don’t have the luxury of running a deficit. Although California has record reserves that should help soften the blow of the upcoming deficit, to help put us in a stronger position for the future, more of the state’s spending, especially on homelessness and social programs, needs to come with accountability to ensure those programs are effective and leads to people getting off the streets.

In addition, a fairer corporate tax rate that ensures the wealthiest corporations in California are paying their fair share would help balance the state’s budget.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

– Ensuring our schools have the funding to make certain every child has access to a top-quality education.- Ensuring essential government functions are met with no layoffs or job cuts as we weather the budget shortfall.- Ensuring our hospitals and healthcare system have adequate funding for everyone to have access to quality and affordable healthcare.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

As an immigration attorney, I see every day the need to reform a broken immigration system and stand up for those seeking justice and humanitarian rights. I deal with human trafficking as part of my work in helping T visa (trafficking) victims and assisting non-citizen immigrants to apply for green cards and citizenship through the U visa and VAWA federal programs.

In addition, public safety is certainly a high priority lately, especially with the rise in smash-and-grab robberies and the release of criminals from prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a candidate for Assembly District 70, keeping criminals off our streets and reducing crime in the district would be one of my top priorities.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

We as a state and as a society need to re-prioritize mental health and getting help for those with mental health or substance abuse issues — who make up a high percentage of those who are homeless. State, county and local governments need to all work together to make getting help for those in need a top priority — not just off the streets and into shelters, but real help that leads to lasting treatment.

Furthermore, the affordability of housing and inflation in our economy has also made the homelessness epidemic worse. Tackling these collateral issues will contribute to reducing homelessness in our communities.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

Healthcare workers are the frontline of our healthcare system, and they and their families underwent a massive strain during the COVID-19 pandemic that led to staffing issues and burnout industry-wide. These workers were called “heroes” and saved and extended many lives as society owes a great debt to them and all who worked in the face of adversity during the pandemic and beyond. I believe each industry should be considered on a case-by-case basis, but I vehemently agree that healthcare workers deserve a higher minimum wage standard.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

California has led the way on the environment and climate policy, and if elected I would continue this tradition and work to ensure that we’re doing everything possible to reduce emissions through renewable energy programs and protecting our precious natural spaces. I believe other forms of energy such as solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen energy and other newer renewable sources may be the answer to lessen society’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy consumption.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

I would like to begin the preparation, installation and construction of a foot-traffic bridge over Bolsa Avenue at the Asian Garden Mall and work with the cities of Westminster and Garden Grove and Caltrans to finally complete the 405/22 interchange freeway project.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

Delivering a real community mental health system in our country and our state is a way the state can prioritize mental health care and treatment, with community clinics, partnering with non-profits and proven pilot programs and localized outreach services to ensure quality care for those who need it. There are many state and community organizations, like OC Autism Foundation, that with enough funding and sponsorship, can attack and help resolve the mental health epidemic head-on.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Committed to service and putting working families and our community first.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Water, lots of vegetables and protein bars.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Tri Ta

Current Job Title: State Assemblymember

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Former Westminster mayor

City where you reside: Westminster

Campaign website or social media: www.TriTaForAssembly.com

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

While California policies often have a global impact, the U.S. Constitution clearly defines foreign affairs as the domain of the federal executive and legislative branches of government. In the legislature, I have spearheaded initiatives related to foreign affairs, such as calling attention to human rights abuses committed by the communist regime in Vietnam. State government, however, should be focused first and foremost on the challenges faced by everyday Californians and should assume an advisory role when it comes to foreign affairs.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

We need to ensure our elections are secure, fair and produce accurate results. We should follow the Constitution and not allow noncitizens to vote.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

Just two years ago, the state had a $97 billion surplus. Last year, when I was sworn in for my first term in office, it had already dropped to a $24 billion deficit. California must return to abiding by the Gann spending limit, which was overwhelmingly supported by California voters, to moderate spending increases during boom years and protect our state from the boom and bust cycle we are currently facing. Our state desperately needs to bring back a limit on massive spending increases during boom years. We should also prioritize state spending on critical programs.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

– Public safety- Increase local control over tax dollars- Audit state spending and increase accountability

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I am a proud co-author of SB 14, a bill that ensures child trafficking is a felony in our state. Justice reform cannot be done by ignoring the plight of the victims. California has moved too far in protecting criminals, even violent ones. The impact on victims must be taken into account. Our laws should be fair, but they must also be enforced.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

I am currently working on legislation with cities in my district to ensure that they are able to properly fund local homeless outreach programs.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

In a state as large and economically diverse as California, a top-down approach will have some disastrous effects. Rural healthcare clinics and hospitals will have a hard time meeting this mandate and healthcare will become even more inaccessible for many Californians.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

I was glad to see that the governor finally streamlined the approval process for the Sites Reservoir project. This important project will store enough water during the wet season to provide for 3 million Californian households. This should not be a one-off, and I will strongly support streamlining similar projects.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

Last year, I was able to deliver $1 million in additional state funding to build an accessible park in my district. I will continue to champion similar projects that provide a community-wide benefit and increase the quality of life we enjoy.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

My focus will be on the implementation of the CARE court program. While this initiative could be key in ensuring individuals suffering from mental health disorders receive necessary treatment, it will only work if properly rolled out. The next year could be detrimental to California being able to treat the suffering we see on our streets every day if it is not done right.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Government should work for the people, not against them.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Pizza.

Trash often covers the usually pristine beach after a downpour, a scene that is not just unsightly and detrimental to the ocean’s health, but a visual that puts a spotlight on the challenges trying to control trash washed to the coast.

A group of elected officials from local cities, counties and the state, as well as environmentalists, will gather in Seal Beach on Friday, Jan. 19, to brainstorm ideas on how to stop the flow of inland trash that ends up on the beach any time in rains.

“The San Gabriel River is just a trash heap,” said Assemblymember Diane Dixon, who called for the gathering. “It’s hundreds of thousands of tons of trash. It lands in those boulders on the river wall, and it’s just horrendous trash.”

The meeting is meant to be the first step in getting various agencies in the same room to talk about what needs to be done, what funding may be available, what technologies should be evaluated and conceptual planning, she said.

As a previous member of the Newport Beach City Council, Dixon participated in planning for a water wheel trash interceptor in the Back Bay, which will be able to remove upward of 100,000 pounds of the trash flowing from the San Diego Creek and Santa Ana Delhi Channel before it reaches the estuary habitat, the Newport Harbor and the open ocean.

Once in the legislature, she helped secure $1.5 million in state funds toward the trash wheel, which broke ground in September, following nearly a decade of planning. Expectations are it will start scooping up trash by December.

Now, Dixon said she wonders not only if Seal Beach can use a similar method to keep its beaches clean, but if it can work in other trash-troubled areas.

“I’d like to put a water wheel in every river that flows into the ocean in the state of California,” she said. “I want to spread the word to other cities. We have to stop this trash.”

The San Gabriel River is an especially tricky puzzle, funneling runoff from 52 inland cities into the ocean, with trash and debris getting swept up in the water flowing down storm drains.

While some cities have installed screens or capture systems – as required by the State Water Resource Control Board by December 2030 – thousands of tons of trash is still making its way down the concrete channel.

Throughout the state, concrete channels were built decades ago to transport the water during heavy rains straight to the ocean, helping to direct and contain the gushing runoff to avoid flooding streets and neighborhoods.

Toward the north, the San Gabriel River receives drainage from 689 square miles of eastern Los Angeles County and releases it into the ocean at the border of Long Beach and Seal Beach.

As populations boomed throughout Southern California, more trash was getting tossed onto freeways and streets and left in parks, building up in gutters and sewers during dry times and getting washed by the rain to the coast through the elaborate system of underground storm drains that funnel into the major channels.

It’s a problem Seal Beach grapples with not just after the winter’s “first flush,” but every storm, said City Councilman Joe Kalmick.

He remembers talking to the city’s trash haulers after a storm a few years back as they took away 229 tons of trash.

“It took forever for our beach crew to get it all together and haul it up to the dumpsters,” he said.

But finding ways to solve the issue is like “fighting feather pillows,” he said, with the biggest challenge being getting all the different jurisdictions together to take action.

He’s been researching a solar-powered, barge interceptor with booms created by the group Ocean Clean Up based out of the Netherlands. Currently, they have about a dozen of them deployed around the world, including one at Ballona Creek in Los Angeles County.

Richard Busch, co-chairman and cleanup coordinator for Surfrider Foundation’s North Orange County chapter, called the San Gabriel River one of the “biggest polluters” in the area, always the place with the most trash during cleanups.

In the past eight years, the group has held 43 cleanups, scooping up 24,626 pounds of trash. That doesn’t take into account the thousands more pounds picked up by volunteers with the nonprofit Save Our Beaches, which holds monthly cleanups, or what is removed by city workers – or what ends up in the ocean.

There’s always the single-use plastics: the straws, utensils, to-go bags and boxes. Styrofoam is always present. Then, there’s the bigger items such as tires, soccer balls, shopping carts and bed mattresses.

Just last Saturday, Surfrider teamed up with a company that brought out 95 employees for a cleanup. In 90 minutes, they scooped up 700 pounds of trash.

“It seems to be never ending, unfortunately,” Busch said.

A Los Angeles federal judge who ruled this week that Tom Girardi is competent to stand trial on federal fraud charges found that the disbarred attorney was exaggerating symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and partially feigning mental illness to avoid prosecution, according to court papers unsealed on Friday, Jan. 5.

The 84-year-old Girardi — estranged husband of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne — is facing multiple counts of wire fraud, a crime carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years on each count.

In a brief docket item Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton wrote that her full decision was filed under seal and attorneys were given five days to identify which portions of the order should remain hidden from the public.

Her full order finding Girardi competent to stand trial for allegedly embezzling millions of dollars from clients, despite his contention he suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and is unable to assist in his own defense, was unsealed Friday.

“Weighing all the evidence before the court, and considering the many arguments offered by counsel, the court concludes that although defendant suffers from a mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment, he is competent to stand trial under the relevant legal standard,” Staton wrote in the 52-page document.

“In short, having reviewed the evidence relating to defendant’s brain scans, his testing results, the anecdotal accounts of his abilities, his presentation at clinical interviews, and, importantly, the timeline of the progression of the asserted cognitive decline, the court finds persuasive the government’s experts’ conclusions that defendant is exaggerating his symptoms and partially malingering. As a result … the court concludes that defendant is able to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him and to assist properly in his defense.”

A status conference in the case was scheduled for Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court.

Staton presided over a three-day competency hearing last year to discuss Girardi’s mental state after the ex-lawyer’s attorneys alleged that because he was diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in March 2021 and resides in the memory ward of an Orange County nursing home, he should not be held to answer for the alleged $18 million fraud.

Prosecutors argued that Girardi is exaggerating the extent of his confusion and forgetfulness in order to appear more irrational than he truly is, a ploy that reveals both his cunningness and competency to stand trial.

Girardi’s attorney could not be immediately be reached for comment.

In the government’s post-hearing brief urging Staton to find Girardi competent to face trial, prosecutors stated that uncontested evidence presented during the hearing showed that in the months and weeks leading up to Girardi’s “precipitous purported decline,” he continued to practice law, communicate with clients, negotiate with lenders and manage his law firm.

“Although the court heard lay witness testimony about defendant’s occasional forgetfulness and disorientation, and the government’s own expert diagnosed him with mild cognitive impairment, mere cognitive decline is not the standard in determining whether defendant is presently competent to stand trial,” prosecutors wrote in the brief. “Rather the court need only determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, whether he currently has a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him and is able to consult with his counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding.”

During the hearing, the government presented testimony from two experts, Dr. Diana Goldstein and Dr. Ryan Darby, who each opined that Girardi was presently competent and exaggerating the extent of his condition.

The defense counsel offered one expert, Dr. Stacey Wood, who claimed the defendant was incompetent.

While neither side disputed that Girardi exhibits “some form of cognitive impairment,” prosecutors claim he has the capacity to consult “meaningfully and rationally” with his lawyers if he chooses to do so.

There is no set date when a trial might take place.

The indictment alleges that, from 2010 to December 2020, Girardi and his law firm’s former chief financial officer fraudulently obtained about $18 million that belonged to clients.

Girardi, of Seal Beach, who owned the downtown Los Angeles-based Girardi Keese law firm, is free on $250,000 bond.

Girardi became widely known when he was thanked in the credits of the 2001 Oscar-winning film “Erin Brockovich,” for which he served as an adviser. The attorney was part of the legal team when Brockovich successfully sued Pacific Gas & Electric in 1993 for contaminating the groundwater of a small California town.

After he was disbarred two years ago, the State Bar of California reported it had received 205 complaints against Girardi alleging he misappropriated settlement money, abandoned clients and committed other serious ethical violations over the course of his four-decade career.

Girardi Keese, famous for representing plaintiffs in large-scale civil litigation against major corporations, collapsed in late 2020 after Girardi was accused in a Chicago lawsuit of embezzling money meant for clients the firm was representing in litigation over an airline crash in Indonesia. The lawsuit brought by plaintiffs’ firm Edelson PC has since been transferred to Los Angeles.

Girardi is in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, as is the now-shuttered Wilshire Boulevard law firm that bore his name, which faces more than $500 million in claims.

Beaches across Southern California saw sea water push up past the sand, into parking lots and threatening beachfront buildings for several days in the last week. Several beaches suffered severe erosion, with sections of sand cut away and disappearing from the coast.

While rain is in the forecast and a strong swell is expected to hit on Thursday, the weather events will be mild in comparison to what battered the coastline over the weekend.

While the local region was spared the major damage seen elsewhere, it had its share of impacted areas.

The Beach House restaurant in Seal Beach was among the most dramatic visuals, with sea water pushing up the sand and surrounding the building near the San Gabriel River on Sunday, Dec. 31.

The restaurant had a similar experience last year during a strong surf event, but this weekend was even more threatening, said Rosie Ritchie, a partner at the restaurant. Fortunately, the restaurant’s foundation is slightly elevated, saving it from major flooding.

“It was not as intense as it was this weekend, it was scary,” she said. “It was concerning.”

Staff worked quickly to put sandbags around the building. Some salt water seeped onto the patio and into the back of the building, but city crews came out quickly to pump water back over the jetty and out to sea, Ritchie said.

“We are fortunate,” she said. “That saved us.”

The restaurant had to close for a few days, but by Tuesday customers were greeted back.

Caution cones also surrounded on Tuesday a small sinkhole that had formed in the nearby beach lot, which was the size of a couple of parking spaces.

Crews stayed busy cleaning up the south parking lot at Doheny State Beach, where advancing seawater prompted authorities to close down the area.

“We’re still working on cleaning up the sand in the parking lot,” said Scott Kibbey, south sector State Parks superintendent. “We have heavy equipment cleaning up most of that sand. That coastal flooding made a mess at that south use area of the park.”

Still, the sand loss in Doheny South Day appears to be relatively minimal, he said, adding visitors were out enjoying the beach before the upcoming rain that is in the forecast.

Erosion concerns continue at San Onofre State Beach, Kibbey said, where sand has been disappearing at an alarming rate. About 30 parking spots have been lost to erosion from the recent swells, he said. “It’s something we’re continuing to monitor and something we’re concerned about.”

Also, inclement weather and maintenance issues have paused dredging operations for a sand replacement project underway in San Clemente, said the city’s Coastal Administrator Leslea Meyerhoff. An update on when operations will resume will be announced as soon as possible, she said.

Huntington Beach suffered some erosion, normal for the big winter swells, said Marine Safety Battalion Chief Trevor McDonald.

“Right now, with it being new with the sand erosion … use caution as you are recreating at the beach,” he said. “Always use caution and if you have any questions about specific areas, you can always check with a lifeguard.”

Weather this week is expected to be milder, though there are still hazards to be aware of, said Elizabeth Adams, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

A chance of rain is expected to develop overnight into the late morning on Wednesday. It will be a fast-moving storm and could produce lightning in some areas, she said.

A swell moving in this week will bring waves in the 4- to 7-foot range, though the high tides have subsided, for now, she said.

Next week, a king tide event – the highest of the year – will happen. Though it’s too early to tell if it will mix with big waves, there could be some flooding along the coastline, Adams said.

“There could be some impacts with those,” she said.

And another new swell is expected to arrive right behind it on Saturday with even bigger waves anticipated, creating hazardous conditions throughout the weekend, but a thrilling end for expert surfers enjoying the last waves of 2023.

Surfers flocked to beaches from San Diego to Seal Beach to the South Bay on Thursday; in some areas the punchy, strong surf reached upward 10 feet. By Saturday, waves could be in the 15- to 18-foot range in some areas, such as Huntington Beach.

In Northern California, even larger waves were slamming the coast, with big-wave surfers flocking to the famed Mavericks surf break near Santa Cruz.

Novices be warned: This isn’t the time to try out the new surfboard you got for Christmas.

Despite morning high tides, the waves were not yet big enough in the early hours Thursday to cause flooding damage in low-lying areas, but officials said they are on standby throughout the weekend.

Waves grew strong enough in Seal Beach, lifeguards closed the pier to pedestrians, with plans to reopen once it was deemed safe. Massive waves were rolling into Huntington Beach by the late afternoon, licking the bottom of the pier where spectators gathered to watch nature’s force.

Beach cities have built up sand berms as reinforcements against the battering waves to try to safeguard structures, streets and parking lots. Lifeguards up and down the coast also beefed up their staffing, calling in seasonal guards, knowing many people were still visiting or on holiday break.

“We’ve been tracking the swell, we’ll have a four-day, XXL swell period,” Huntington Beach Marine Safety Battalion Chief Trevor McDonald said.

“We’re letting surfers, bodyboarders and swimmers know it’s experts only – and even then we like them to check with lifeguards,” he said.

Guards were working hard through the morning Thursday warning people of hazards and taking preventative steps to keep people safe before they hit the water, McDonald said. In addition to big waves, strong currents were sweeping people down the beach.

“Lifeguards want people to have a great time at the beach, but the No. 1 priority is safety,” McDonald said.

In South Redondo Beach, dozens of wave watchers and photographers stood along the esplanade early Thursday as a handful of surfers battled nature.

One of those surfers — the only one in his set to stand up to a massive wave — wound up wiping out with the swell cracking his board in two.

Further south, at RAT beach, the access mat that helps those with wheelchairs get across the sand and closer to the water was buckled from the high tides.

Mark Herman, Newport Beach’s lifeguard captain, said crowds came out to ride waves north of the pier and between jetties in West Newport, where waves were in the 6- to 8-foot range by the afternoon.

He warned that in addition to big waves, strong currents were pulling laterally, so surfers and swimmers should watch nearby rock structures.

There’s also a danger of being knocked off of rock jetties and beachgoers should also stay clear of caves where they can get trapped.

Around 8:30 a.m., officers arrived at the home in the 600 block of Ocean Avenue, tucked between the San Gabriel River and Anaheim Bay, after receiving a concerned call from an out of state relative of the residents, according to the Seal Beach Police Department. The relative told dispatchers that their brother was having issues with their mother.

The officers were able to enter the house through an unlocked door after they were unable to contact anyone inside.

The man and woman were found dead inside the home, said Lt. Julia Clasby, though it was not clear where. Police did not say whether any weapons were found at the scene.

Information on the identity of the victims or their relation, if any, was not available on Wednesday. Seal Beach detectives and Orange County Coroner personnel were investigating. Police did not immediately comment on the the cause of the deaths, if known.

Anyone with information on the deaths can contact Sgt. Gibson at 562-799-4100 ext. 1128 or jgibson@sealbeachca.gov