Three council members are now pushing for the city to move quickly on an investigation into the accusations, while calls are also growing for officials to make public the documents outlining the claims.
uncertain
documents → push → claims
The remarks include calling Ballinas a “dirty Mexican” and questioning her sexuality during a lunch at Disneyland.
asserted
remarks → include → Disneyland
“On various occasions when Ms. Ballinas was forced to drive Mayor Aitkin home, Mayor Aitkin [sic] exclaimed that she did ‘not want her car driven by a dirty Mexican,’” employment attorney Lawrence Lennemann wrote in his mediation request to Anaheim City Attorney Robert Fabela.
asserted
Lennemann → force → Fabela
It also details a June lunch at Disneyland’s hyper-exclusive Club 33 and California Adventure’s 1901 Lounge.
asserted
It → detail → Club
Club 33 is renowned by Disney fans for costing tens of thousands of dollars to obtain a membership.
asserted
Club → renowne → membership
At the destinations, Aitken questioned Ballinas’ sexuality in front of other people, reports said.
asserted
reports → question → people
The mayor also allegedly gossiped about a Disney worker’s sexual orientation and ethnicity.
uncertain
mayor → gossip → orientation
Several Disney employees complained about Aitken’s conduct and a third party’s Club 33 membership was suspended, the letter said.
asserted
letter → complain → conduct
Aitken, who’s running for reelection, has denied the allegations.
asserted
who → run → allegations
Councilwoman Natalie Meeks had previously been the only member of the council to publicly address the accusations, calling for an investigation last week.
asserted
Meeks → address → investigation
That changed during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.
asserted
That → change → meeting
“I stand with Councilmember Meeks in demanding an expedited investigation.
asserted
I → stand → investigation
If the allegations are shown to be correct, I will also ask for the Mayor’s resignation,” Councilwoman Norma Campos Kurtz said, according to the Voice of OC.
uncertain
Kurtz → show → OC
Kurtz also called for the council to hold a special closed-door meeting to discuss the allegations, the Voice of OC reported.
asserted
Voice → call → OC
“Mr. City Attorney, I would like to request that a special meeting of the city council be scheduled prior to our next regular meeting of October 13th so the council may meet in closed session with the city attorney’s office regarding the threat of litigation stemming from the alleged conduct of the mayor,” Kurtz said.
uncertain
Kurtz → like → mayor
Kurtz wants documents about Ballinas’s allegation to be made public.
asserted
documents → want → allegation
Aitken challenged Kurtz’ comments.
asserted
Aitken → challenge → comments
“I want to commend Councilmember Kurtz on her bravery for coming out and joining this and kicking me while I’m down, two weeks after this has happened.
asserted
this → want → me
I have called for an independent investigation,” Aitken said.
asserted
Aitken → call → investigation
“This process is going to play out.”
asserted
process → go → ?
Aitken added that she welcomes the investigation because she wants to clear her name and “is all about” democracy.
asserted
she → add → democracy
Other council members like Kristen Maahs and Ryan Balius also spoke out.
asserted
members → speak → Maahs
“There is no room for racism in our city period,” said Councilwoman Kristen Maahs.
asserted
Maahs → be → city
“I’m not only concerned about how our residents feel, but how our city staff feels.
asserted
staff → ’m → ?
“I’m Mexican myself, I don’t look it and I haven’t been included in some of the comments tonight but I’m half Mexican,” Maahs added.
asserted
Maahs → ’m → comments
Councilman Ryan Balius said he believes in due process and the matter being investigated, suggesting that Aitken may want to take time off while that happens.
“I believe strongly in innocent until proven guilty,” Balius said.
uncertain
Balius → say → time
“I know when we have investigations in the city and what not, we oftentimes will put staff on investigatory leave.
asserted
we → know → leave
And I don’t know how to do that on city council, but I would ask the mayor – I mean we obviously got some pain in the community – maybe it is a good idea to suspend the public calendar until the investigation is over.”
asserted
investigation → do → calendar
The Aporia
