General (63)Date:1/13/2026 6:10:39 PM
From:"Stephanie Mercadante"
To:"Public Comment" publiccomment@anaheim.net
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Calling for the Resignations of Mike Lyster, Jim Vanderpool, and Steven Fae sse l
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sender and are expecting the message.
What I’m about to address goes to the heart of public trust in this city. And because many residents may not know
the full context, it’s important to be clear about what happened and why it matters.
Councilmembers,
I write today because Anaheim deserves leadership grounded in integrity, transparency, and respect for the publi c trust.
Reporting revealed that Anaheim’s Chief Communications Officer Mike Lyster, Anaheim City Manager Jim Vanderpool,
and former Councilmember Steven Faessel, now representing Anaheim on multiple boards, participated in a mock C ity
Council meeting — a closed‑door rehearsal designed to practice pushing through the Angel Stadium deal.
This was not a public meeting. It was not transparent. It was a staged exercise connected to a deal that later became the focus of
a corruption probe. That context matters for anyone who cares about ethical governance and public accountability.
When this came to light, Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said something that resonated deeply with many of us. She wrote: “To have
elected officials and city staff preparing a rehearsal council meeting makes a mockery of our democracy and, if true, those
leaders should resign.”
She was right. And she has often said Anaheim is among the most transparent cities i n Orange C ounty, a standard that requires
consistent honesty and follow‑through.
Transparency only has meaning when it is paired with accountability. And while ethi cs always matter to me, and to many
Anaheim residents, they matter most in moments like this, when doing the right thing is di ffi cult, uncomfortable, or poli ti cally
costly.
So today, I am calling clearly and directly for the resignations of Mike Lyster, Jim Vanderpool, and Steven Faessel.
Participating in a rehearsal for a corrupt deal is incompatible with serving the public. Anahei m cannot move forward whi le those
involved in this mock meeting remain in positions of power. Holding these individuals accountable is essential if Anahei m is
going to rebuild public trust.
This is not about hostility. It is about responsibility. It is about ensuring that the people who represent thi s ci ty are worthy of the
authority they hold. It is about demonstrating that Anaheim’s commitment to transparency i s more than a slogan; i t i s a practi ce.
If Anaheim truly wants to be the most transparent city, then we must act like it. We must uphold the Mayor’s original words. And
we must demonstrate that accountability is not optional; it is foundational. Thank you.