Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken used Tuesday\u2019s council meeting to address allegations that she called her chief of staff a racial slur and asked inappropriate questions about her sexuality.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I hope that you understand that I am limited in what I can say, I do humbly ask people to take a moment and look at my record, the initiatives that I have championed, the communities that I have stood beside, my words and, most importantly, the values that I have demonstrated through my actions,\u201d Aitken said. <\/p>\n
The mayor, a Democrat in a majority-Latino city, repeated her statement in Spanish. <\/p>\n
A confidential letter sent to city officials on Sept. 11 detailed the allegations<\/a> made by Berenice Ballinas, who is Latina. <\/p>\n Ballinas\u2019s attorney Lawrence Lennemann alleged in the letter seeking a mediated settlement that Aitken said she did \u201cnot want her car driven by a dirty Mexican\u201d as his client drove the mayor home from city functions when she had been drinking alcohol. The letter alleges the mayor used the term more than once.<\/p>\n Councilmember Natalie Meeks, a Republican who represents Anaheim Hills, called for an internal investigation. <\/p>\n \u201cWe owe it to the community to take accusations like this seriously and address them,\u201d she said. \u201cIf they are found to be true, then I would join with the community in asking for the mayor\u2019s resignation. The situation deserves an investigation, and I would like to ask staff to expedite that as quickly as possible so that it is not a long-term distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n The three Latinos on the council, all Democrats, did not address the matter.<\/p>\n Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster confirmed Wednesday that a \u201creview is underway in the initial stages.\u201d <\/p>\n Aitken, who is seeking reelection in November, pledged to \u201creadily and truthfully\u201d participate in any process related to the allegations.<\/p>\n The letter also alleged that, in June, Aitken questioned Ballinas about her perceived sexual orientation in front of others over lunch and drinks at Disneyland and California Adventure venues exclusive to members of the private Club 33.<\/p>\n Several residents spoke up at the meeting to criticize the mayor, some calling for her to step down, others for an investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t help but wonder how racism and discrimination have impacted decisions that you have made up on that dais,\u201d said resident Penelope Lopez. \u201cWords carry weight, Mayor. Answer to your community\u2019s demands and do not hide from consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the meeting, members of Chispa, a Santa Ana-based nonprofit focused on young progressive Latino politics, called on every Anaheim councilmember to condemn the alleged remarks.<\/p>\n Responses to the allegations have also come from outside of Anaheim City Hall and spilled over into a local state Assembly race. <\/p>\n Santa Ana Councilmember Jessie Lopez, who is running for the 68th Assembly District, issued a statement immediately following TimesOC\u2019s initial report<\/a> about the allegations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe report about these racist and homophobic comments (is) deeply concerning,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to express my full support to Berenice Ballinas for coming forward. It takes courage as a young Latina in politics to speak truth to power.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez called for an independent investigation.<\/p>\n Santa Ana Councilmember David Pe\u00f1aloza, her opponent in the Assembly race, said he was \u201cdisheartened\u201d and \u201cdisappointed.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI know Ballinas as a member of our Santa Ana community, and as a member of our city\u2019s Personnel Board,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause this involves an ongoing personnel matter, the allegations deserve a thorough and independent investigation by a third party that respects everyone involved and establishes the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n