Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is refusing to meet with a coalition of community group leaders to discuss serious allegations of racist and homophobic slurs, stating she will not participate if former City Councilman Jose Moreno is present. Mayor Aitken indicated that Moreno's presence would create an "unsafe environment" for her.
Moreno, who serves as President of Los Amigos and is recognized as a prominent and longtime Latino activist in Anaheim, reached out to Mayor Aitken in late September. He contacted her on behalf of several organizations, requesting a meeting to engage in dialogue about the accusations and their impact on residents. The groups involved included Los Amigos, the Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development (OCCORD), OC Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance, League of United Latin American Citizens, the Arab American Civic Council, OC Community Congregation Organization, and Chispa.
In his Sept. 25 email to Mayor Aitken, Moreno explained, "The purpose of our request is to be in conversation with you about the allegations levied against you. We have all known you and/or worked with you for over 10 years and are quite concerned about these allegations. The allegations have stirred tremendous anxieties in our communities." He clarified that the groups sought conversation before deciding on any further actions.
Mayor Aitken responded later that same day, denying the allegations and expressing openness to a meeting with the community leaders. However, she explicitly stipulated Moreno's exclusion. "I will not, however, engage with Dr. Moreno as I feel it puts me in an unsafe environment. If you are still willing to sit down with me under those parameters, I would appreciate your time to discuss these very important accusations," her response stated.
Days after Aitken's initial response, Ivon Peña, the Executive Director of OCCORD, replied on behalf of the coalition of leaders. Peña expressed the groups' disappointment in the mayor's condition for the meeting. "Given the seriousness of the allegations and the concern they have generated in our communities, we are disappointed that your response would require the exclusion of a member of the very group requesting this dialogue and a member who has worked for decades uplifting our Latino-Mexican-origin communities," Peña wrote in a Sept. 29 email. Peña further noted that Aitken's rationale for excluding Moreno "raises serious racial/ethnic and gendered tropes about Latino men." She concluded by stating the groups were "genuinely disappointed that you have refused a meeting with us as a community, as we sought to approach this moment with seriousness, transparency, and care for the communities we serve and the trust necessary in our democratic institutions."
In her Sept. 29 email response to Peña, Mayor Aitken reiterated her willingness to meet but stated that if the leaders could not accept her restrictions, that was their choice. She challenged the notion of a "static ‘Latin American gender culture’" and "reverse sexism," stating, "I would caution accusing me of sexism and racism based on my email."
Moreno, who has twice endorsed Mayor Aitken's political campaigns, found it difficult to understand the mayor's refusal to meet if he were present. He expressed hope that her decision was not based on public questions he had raised about some of her actions in the past. Moreno emphasized that the intent of the meeting was to hear directly from the mayor about the allegations and to address the pain and impact these accusations have had on the community, underscoring the importance of due process.
Peña echoed these sentiments, stating that most leaders did not understand the mayor's feeling of being unsafe. She clarified that the groups aimed for dialogue, not an attack, believing dialogue leads to accountability. Peña described the mayor's response regarding feminism and sexism as disappointing, particularly as a woman of color and Latina, feeling it "missed the mark" and steered away from the community's core concerns.
Mayor Aitken has publicly denied the accusations against her, describing them as "ridiculous allegations" and a "well-orchestrated attack before an election." However, she acknowledged that "people’s feelings haven’t been hurt." In a follow-up text message, Aitken attributed her refusal regarding Moreno to a lack of trust, adding, "The fact that my response was leaked to the press only reinforces my position." She stated, "The community deserves a forum focused on solutions, not a circus driven by those seeking chaos over connection. My offer stands."
The allegations against Mayor Aitken stem from a claim filed against the city by her chief of staff, Berenice Ballinas. In her claim, Ballinas alleged that the mayor called her a "dirty Mexican," repeatedly questioned her perceived sexuality, mocked her faith, and engaged in heavy drinking at government functions and events. Ballinas also claimed that city leadership dismissed and minimized her concerns about the mayor's behavior.
While Mayor Aitken has denied using the slurs, she admitted last week to having a drinking problem, disclosing that she went to rehab last year and experienced a relapse at a birthday celebration in June. The City of Anaheim has since hired an outside investigator to review the allegations against the Mayor.
