Anaheim mayor sets condition for meeting on bias allegations

Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken declined to meet with community organization leaders about racism and homophobia allegations unless former Councilman Jose Moreno was excluded, Voice of OC reported.

The dispute comes as Aitken faces reelection next month and as Anaheim has hired an outside investigator to review allegations made by her chief of staff, according to Voice of OC.

Jose Moreno, president of Los Amigos and a former Anaheim City Council member, emailed Aitken on Sept. 25 on behalf of several community groups seeking a meeting about allegations against the mayor, according to Voice of OC. The groups included Los Amigos, OCCORD, OC Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance, League of United Latin American Citizens, the Arab American Civic Council, OC Community Congregation Organization and Chispa.

Aitken responded the same day that she would not engage with Moreno because she believed his presence would create an unsafe environment, Voice of OC reported. In a later text message, Aitken said the allegations were part of a pre-election attack but said she remained willing to meet with community groups.

Ivon Peña, executive director of OCCORD, wrote back on Sept. 29 that the leaders were disappointed Aitken required Moreno’s exclusion, according to Voice of OC. Peña said in the email that the condition excluded a member of the group requesting dialogue and raised concerns about racial, ethnic and gendered assumptions about Latino men.

The meeting request followed a claim filed against the city by Berenice Ballinas, Aitken’s chief of staff, Voice of OC reported. Ballinas alleged Aitken called her a “dirty Mexican,” questioned her perceived sexuality, mocked her faith and drank heavily at government functions and events.

Aitken denied the slurs attributed to her but acknowledged last week that she had a drinking problem, went to rehab last year and relapsed at a birthday celebration in June, according to Voice of OC. Anaheim has hired an outside investigator to review the allegations.

Voice of OC disclosed in its article that Aitken’s father, Wylie Aitken, chairs the publication’s board of directors.

The disagreement leaves community leaders and the mayor at odds over the terms of any dialogue while the city’s outside review proceeds.