“Mob behavior.” “Rampant corruption.” “Strategic manipulation of the electorate.”
These are some of the phrases that have been used to describe the wide array of potentially unethical and even criminal behavior uncovered at Anaheim City Hall. But, for years before an independent investigation revealed the broad extent of pay-to-play politics in the city, a small group of community activists called out many of the same alleged misdeeds.
They filed public records act requests, compiled campaign finance data, and gave piercing speeches at city council meetings.
Some worked together, while juggling full-time jobs, coordinating messaging and organizing protests at City Hall. Others left their jobs entirely, determined to bring wrongdoing into the light.
LISTEN: Community Activists In Anaheim Share Their Stories
These residents, described as “a small, rag-tag group of rebels” by a former city manager, were largely ignored and sometimes gaslighted by the elected officials they targeted and those who supported those officials. But now, the results of a year-long independent investigation released at the end of July has corroborated many of their allegations.
“I had so many people calling, saying, ‘You were right, you were right. Doesn’t it feel great?'” long-time activist Cynthia Ward said after the investigators’ final report came out. “I’m like, ‘No, I’m horrified,’ because this is the public image of my city … My heart is broken.”
Ward and most of the community activists included in this story were among more than 120 witnesses interviewed for the report, which was carried out by the investigative firm JL Group at the behest of Anaheim’s previous city council.
The report builds upon the FBI’s investigation into former Mayor Harry Sidhu and several other key players in Anaheim and Orange County…
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