Friend,

I hope this email finds you well. We wanted to share with you the key highlights from our recent community forums addressing corruption in Anaheim. The engagement and insights we received from diverse stakeholders like yourself have been invaluable.

Highlighted Findings:

Lack of City Engagement: Despite the release of the Anaheim Internal Investigation Report, the City of Anaheim has not made sufficient efforts to engage residents in meaningful discussions about corruption and potential policy solutions. We urge the city to conduct in-language discussions and hearings to educate and involve the community.
Call to Hear from JL Group: Residents expressed a strong desire to hear directly from the JL Group, the investigators behind the Anaheim corruption report. We believe their public engagement would provide essential information, demystify findings, and address any concerns raised by certain council members.
Investigation into City Manager & Staff: The report indicates implicit and explicit involvement of city staff, including City Manager Jim Vanderpool, in corrupt practices. We call for a thorough investigation into their complicity, with appropriate actions taken to ensure accountability.
Persistent Corruption Concerns: Both residents and panelists see corruption in Anaheim as a systemic issue, requiring attention from elected officials and city staff. There is a perceived lack of transparency and accountability, fueling public sentiment that corruption still exists and is not being effectively addressed.
Elected Officials' Accountability: Residents feel that elected officials, including Mayor Aitken and Council Member Leon, are not living up to their campaign promises to combat corruption. There is a call for meaningful policy changes and actions addressing the cultural aspects that contribute to corruption.
Disneyland's Silence: Concerns have been raised about Disneyland's silence on corruption matters. Residents wish to hear directly from Disneyland representatives regarding their stance and contributions to the reported culture of corruption in Anaheim.
Angels Stadium Status: Residents seek clarity on the status of the relationship between Angels and the City of Anaheim, particularly regarding conversations between the Mayor and Council on the Angels Stadium. Transparency is crucial, especially considering the delay in the appraisal process.

Community Survey Responses:

Our community survey reflects the sentiments of residents from various Anaheim zip codes. A significant majority expresses dissatisfaction with the transparency of city officials regarding corruption and a lack of trust in their ability to address the issue.

Policy & Change Recommendations:

To address these concerns, we propose the following recommendations:

Establishment of an Ethics Commission: Create a fair and transparent ethics commission, appointed by community members, ethics experts, and advocates, with subpoena power.
Elections & Transparency Reforms: Implement measures to enhance transparency in campaign fundraising, debts, and voting practices, building upon the recent SB 1439 provisions.
Audits & Internal Investigations: Launch investigations into the use of public funds by entities like Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and Visit Anaheim. Investigate potential complicity of corruption by city staff, ensuring accountability.

Conclusion:

A just, transparent, and accountable City of Anaheim is crucial for the well-being of our community. We are committed to working with the city to implement these recommendations and foster government transparency and accountability.

Additionally, we propose exploring innovative campaign finance reforms, inspired by successful models in Seattle and Oakland, to eliminate the corrupting influence of dark money in Anaheim elections. We invite the City of Anaheim, community leaders, and agencies to collaborate with us on establishing the first Democracy Dollars Program in Orange County.

Thank you for your time and ongoing commitment to our community.

Best regards,