Over the last 10 years, the City of Fullerton has shifted from relying on its own staff for public services to outsourcing many of these functions to private contractors. City leaders have […]
Meet the Candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Online on Saturday, April 25 9-10:30am
Register HERE NOW! The nonprofit Contemporary Policy Institute (CPI), in partnership with the American Association of University Women of CA, is proud to present an online, public forum for voters to hear directly from […]
Read the Early April 2026 Issue of the Fullerton Observer
Click here to read the full edition. No tracking, no paywall, just news by people for people supported by everyone who loves Fullerton and local journalism.
No Answers on Fullerton’s Budget Error
Three weeks ago, Fullerton officials disclosed a $2.9 million accounting error that significantly weakened the City’s financial position. Since then, residents have received explanations about how the budget is structured, but not […]
Judge Rules Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung’s Ballot Statement False and Misleading
Politics is a battlefield with disputes winding up in court before voters ever see a ballot. That’s what happened in the case of Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung, who is running in a […]
Fullerton’s $10 Million Budget Crisis and the Challenge of Rebuilding Trust
The city of Fullerton is grappling with a significant financial crisis, facing a projected $13.7 million deficit for the fiscal year 2026-2027. Fullerton’s financial stability has eroded, leaving officials scrambling to address […]
Part II of III: Interview with Council Member Dr. Ahmad Zahra: Public Opinion, Accountability & Civic Engagement
In a recent discussion, Saskia Kennedy spoke with Fullerton City Council Member Ahmad Zahra about his role and responsibilities. We engaged in a Q&A session that delved into the challenges and rewards […]
Read the mid-March 2026 Fullerton Observer
Click here to read the full paper in color. No paywall ever. We are a 48-year-old, all-volunteer community-written newspaper.
A Housing Crisis Decades in the Making: Fullerton’s Struggle with Homelessness
Housing advocates, journalists and state officials have increasingly warned that Fullerton’s long-running housing shortage could reshape neighborhoods and strain homeowners if the city fails to expand affordable housing. Over the past several […]
Representative Tran to Present City Leaders, Community Organizations with Over $5 Million in Federal Dollars to Improve Local Infrastructure, Public Safety
This week, U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) will present local leaders and community organizations with $5,100,000 in federal funding. Congressman Tran secured funding for projects to repair local infrastructure, prevent crime, and […]
Candidate Filing Period Extended Through March 11 for Select Offices
Individuals interested in running for three offices now have more time to file a declaration of candidacy with the Registrar of Voters because an eligible incumbent did not file. New qualified candidates […]
Follow Money in OC Board of Supervisors, District 4 Race
Fred Jung, Connor Traut, Rose Espinoza, and Tim Shaw are the four candidates vying for the District 4 Orange County Board of Supervisors seat as Doug Chaffee ends his term. The two […]
Read the Early March 2026 Fullerton Observer
Click here to read the full Early March 2026 edition. No paywall. News for the people, by the people. Click here to subscribe to receive a hard copy through the US Mail […]
Community Alert: Join the Discussion at Fullerton City Council Meeting!
Residents of Fullerton, your voice matters! On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 5:30 pm, the City Council will hold a crucial meeting at Fullerton City Hall, located at 303 W. Commonwealth Ave. […]
New City Council Seating and Lack of Video Presentation for Home Viewers Raises Questions (Updated)
The recent change in seating arrangements at city council meetings has perplexed many residents. The mayor’s decision to place City Attorney Jones and Interim City Manager Manfro directly on the dais, […]
Mini History of Fullerton Mayor, Mayor Protem, and Members 1990 to 2026
The following is a year-by-year list of every person who has served on the Fullerton City Council, including the mayor (who is appointed by the council each year in what is known […]
Indivisible CA-45 Maintains Weekly Protest Against ICE and Project 2025
Indivisible CA-45, a grassroots organization based in Fullerton, continues to make its presence felt every Monday, gathering to protest the Trump Administration’s policies, particularly Project 2025. The 46th demonstration took place on […]
Nationwide Protest Planned for January 20, 2026, as Part of “Free America Walkout” Initiative
A nationwide protest campaign called the “Free America Walkout” is set to take place on January 20, 2026. This initiative, organized to challenge what its leaders deem the “machinery of fascism,” encourages […]
Five California Attorneys Face Disbarment and Suspensions
The State Bar of California announced December disciplinary actions against five attorneys for serious ethical violations, including misappropriating $180,000 in church funds, mishandling of over $500,000 received from an EB-5 visa applicant, […]
Orange County Board of Supervisors Approves Second Year of Cold Weather Assistance Program for Unhoused Families
At its board meeting on December 16, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the item, initiated by Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, to continue the Weather Activated RooMs for Families program (WARM) […]
opinion: City Council steamrolls constituent views
I attended and spoke at the Fullerton City Council meeting on December 16, 2025. On the agenda was the question of whether to adhere to the custom of a fair rotation of […]
America needs political pluralism: How the two-party system is hollowing out democracy
In countless casual political conversations over the years, I have heard the principle of the “lesser of two evils” invoked, the quiet suggestion that voting is less an act of belief than […]
Fullerton’s CalPERS Violations Were Real: The City’s Response Is the Bigger Story
When I published an article detailing CalPERS’ determination that the City of Fullerton unlawfully employed multiple retirees, the City’s response was not to dispute the facts publicly, but to escalate the matter […]
How Fullerton Can Save Money by Removing Benefits to Part-time Councilmembers
An investigation by Voice of OC has revealed that 15 cities in Orange County, including Brea, La Habra, and Yorba Linda, do not provide health benefits to their city council members. This […]
Fullerton City Council Faces Backlash After Fred Jung is Selected as Mayor by the Bloc
video starts at 15:11 The Fullerton City Council convened on December 16, 2025, in a meeting marked by discord as Fred Jung was selected as Mayor and Nick Dunlap as Mayor Pro […]
Fullerton Residents Urged to Uphold Fair Rotation Policy at City Council Meeting
Fullerton residents are encouraged to attend a crucial city council meeting scheduled for December 16, 2025, at 5:30 PM, where the selection of the 2026 mayor and mayor pro tem will take […]
Fullerton Hit With State Case Over Illegal Hiring of Retired Officials
CalPERS VS The City of Fullerton The Fullerton City Council met behind closed doors on December 2, 2025, to discuss a little-known state enforcement case. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System […]
Read the mid-November 2025 Fullerton Observer
Click here to read the full edition. There is no paywall ever.
Opinion: The Perils of AI Bots in City Council Meetings: Is AI a Threat to Democracy?
As artificial intelligence continues to permeate our daily lives, its implications extend beyond mere convenience and efficiency. A burgeoning issue that has emerged is the use of AI-generated phone calls in city […]
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Read the Early October 2025 Fullerton Observer
Click here to read the full in color PDF of the printed newspaper. The Fullerton Observer is an all volunteer newspaper established in 1978. There is no paywall ever. Our subscribers and […]
Lunch with the League: Meeting the Challenges of Public Education in the 21st Century
The League of Women Voters North OC is set to host an informative luncheon featuring guest speaker Dr. Steve McLaughlin, Ed.D., the superintendent of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District. The […]
Health Access California is YES on Proposition 50
As ballots are mailed throughout California and voting centers open, Health Access California announces its endorsement of Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act. The following is a statement from Health Access […]
Public Notice of Observation Schedule for the November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election
Observation Schedule for the Nov 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election The public is invited to observe as the Orange County Registrar of Voters conducts the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election. All […]
Read the mid-September 2025 Fullerton Observer in color
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