21 Comments
User's avatar
LeslieHB's avatar

Thanks for posting, Joe! Best wishes for a complete recovery! I’ve lived in HB for 35 years & raised 2 boys here.

Our city council & their MAGA antics can be disheartening, but there are also kind, generous & rational people here. I hang on to hope…

Welcome to the OC!

Maria Lockeby's avatar

Sending lots of positive energy you have a full recovery.

Plz try Ray's Pizza across from UCI in Town Center. Back behind Trader Joe's. Not a restaurant. Its a pizza place. Pickup and leave. There are tables in the center if you want to eat there.

Get the pepperoni.

Enjoy discovering all sorts of stuff.

🙌

Jerry Rocha's avatar

Thank you so much!

Micki Nozaki's avatar

thanks for the heartfelt post and know that there are many more of us-- the thousands who showed up for No Kings last Saturday and member volunteers of local Democratic Clubs who are right now preparing to upend the do nothing Congress in the 2026 primary and general elections. Wishing you good health.

Jerry Rocha's avatar

I appreciate it and I’m excited to be here… for real

Alex Khalifa's avatar

Glad to have you here, Jerry! Despite the occasional facepalm moments, OC is definitely bluer than when I first moved here. The current administration is probably hastening that trend in many areas.

Haitham's avatar

There are plenty of us liberals around, even in Ladera Ranch. Come visit us on Friday at 5 on the corner of Antonio and Crown Valley. There are so many ways to get active turning this place blue, from rallying to canvassing to behind the scenes work. I hope you kick cancer’s ass!

Jerry Rocha's avatar

Thank you! Once I’m better I’d love to drop by

davecomedy's avatar

Knee deep in H.B., I think it is as much a case of what you don't see as opposed to what you DO see nowadays. Not too long ago, you could barely drive through the city without seeing an obnoxious Trump flag outside a home or hanging off a massive truck. Now, it's rare, and even easy to ignore. Maybe the high fuel costs are keeping them off the road? Maybe it's the ridicule? Perhaps embarrassment? The pedophilia? Who knows?

In any event, for the most part, there aren't going to be as many flags or signs opposing the regime because those folks are in that cultish state of mind. Ain't nobody drinking MS Now Kool Aid or buying cheap merch from a kiosk in front of a gas station to "own the MAGAs".

Eileen's avatar

Welcome behind the curtain. Compared to how it was when I was relocated in 1979, the OC has come a long way. Curtain is frayed. When I first voted in Santa Ana (Floral park) 1980, the checkin ladies sneered loudly: "Girls, here is that new Democrat in the precinct." It wasn't a warm welcome.

Robert Daley's avatar

I’m new to OC as well. I struggle with living here after living in Long Beach, Oahu, and Sonoma County. But hey, spend some time in Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Fullerton, and Anaheim. Orange County isn’t all rich coastal towns or people living in the hills. There is a lot going on.

CET's avatar

Gibroni’s, Pizza Port, Truly, aPizza Doho, Ten Mile.

Jerry Rocha's avatar

I’m trying all of them!

Stacey's avatar

Thank you for sharing your story . I’m in L.H. Was in Huntington and originally from NY. I hope you’re feeling well . Seems you still have the fight in you 👍🏼👊🏼☮️

Elel's avatar

Ima need Jerry's preference for pizza in LA because while I was up there, none stood out to me.. at least in my area (South LA/Culver City). Pasadena had a couple good spots, but one we used to use unfortunately didn't make it thru the fire.

Ballpark in several areas of South County (SJC/Laguna Niguel/MV/San Clemente) is a regular for my household. If we're feeling snooty, we'll do Truly Pizza in DP.

Welcome to the mix, man. Get your colonscopies, folks! If my mom had, she'd probably still be with us.

Jerry Rocha's avatar

Thank you! I loved Lido’s pizza but that was all the way up in Van Nuys.

Eileen Penan's avatar

Welcome to our diverse community! Been here since '92 from LA. It took me a long time to find my people and my voice. Join a Dem club in your area for support. We have good healthcare down here. Blessings for a complete recovery so you can help us have another Blue Wave!!

David's avatar

Riip Beer and Pizzaria

PCH and Warner, HB.....

Thin Crust and thick crust Detroit style

Incredible

Beer is good too.

Tom's avatar

Donald Trump is 0/3 in trying to take Orange County. MAGA may be the loudest and most obnoxious but, believe it or not, they are not the majority here.

Also, Fuoco in Fullerton is your spot. It will be a trek for you from Ladera, but it is better than da Michele.