The top aide to Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has accused her boss of making racist remarks, repeatedly questioning her sexuality, and engaging in workplace harassment.
The allegations were made in a September 11 letter sent to the city attorney by Aitken’s chief of staff, Berenice Ballinas. The four-page letter, signed by Ballinas’ attorney Lawrence Lennemann, seeks mediation with the city ahead of possible litigation.
According to the letter, on multiple occasions, Ballinas drove Aitken home from city functions after the mayor had consumed alcohol. Aitken allegedly said she did “not want her car driven by a dirty Mexican,” the letter states.
Ballinas also claims that Aitken questioned her sexuality in front of a group of people during a visit to Disneyland back in June. According to the letter, Aitken also made derogatory comments about a Disney worker’s perceived sexual orientation and ethnicity, leading at least two Disney employees to complain about the mayor’s behavior.
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