General (08)
Susana Barrios
From:Stephanie Mercadante <burglin.stephanie@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, May 12, 2026 6:16 PM
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] On Behalf of Marc Herbert
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
For public comment on May 12, 2026:
Residents who raised concerns about Anaheim’s water were publicly labeled a “disinformation brigade”
by the Mayor of Anaheim.
The Mayor claimed the water is safe, before she asked any questions, before she gathered any
information, before she gathered any facts.
Residents were mocked or dismissed for asking questions when the City itself admits it cannot fully
verify water quality.
There are still unresolved questions involving:
1. Excessive flushing activity,
2. Operational valve changes,
3. TTHM Exceedances,
4. PFAS Exceedances
5. Well shutdown delays and discrepancies
6. Concerns regarding missing or improperly submitted laboratory records.
Anaheim’s official water quality report states: “Monitoring Requirements Not Met for Anaheim Public
Utilities.”
According to it, during the third quarter of 2025, a required water sample for haloacetic acids from a
distribution sampling site was not collected. As a result, the City states: “We cannot be sure of the
quality of the drinking water during that time.”
Rather than responding with transparency and engaging with the public, the Council has turned its back
on its residents:
1. At the Nov. 18, 2025 Council Meeting, I filed 6 Brown Act Violations. As of today, no answer.
2. At the Jan. 13th Council Meeting, I reminded the Council of those 6 unanswered Brown Act
Violations. As of today, no answer.
3. I filed a Public Records Request on March 3rd on the Wyndham Hotel's illegal room conversion
records. In April, the city replied that they had been found. I requested a USB copy. As of today,
I’m still waiting.
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4. At the April 21st Council Meeting, Councilmember Rubalcava left the Dias before the final Public
Hearing started. She didn’t return for the Hearing, the Hearing Vote, or the rest of the Council
Meeting. No explanation was given. Who was representing the residents of District 3?
5. At the May 5th Council Meeting, Councilmembers Rubalcava and Campos-Kurtz were absent. No
explanation was given. Who was representing the residents of Districts 3 and 4 at that Council
Meeting?
6. At the May 5th Council Meeting, I filed a new Brown Act Violation concerning the Mayor. As of
today, I’m still waiting for an answer.
If the City truly believes there is nothing improper to hide, then it should answer our questions.
Perhaps it’s time to give up on expecting written answers. Maybe the Council’s actions and inactions are
their answers.
I guess Mayor Aitken's and the Council’s concept of transparency, public engagement, and safety aren’t
the same as those of the residents.
Theirs won’t lead to the public trust being rebuilt.
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