General (13)
Susana Barrios
From:Stephanie Mercadante <burglin.stephanie@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, June 9, 2026 6:52 PM
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] On Behalf of Tom Felder, District 1, Councilmember Ryan Balius
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 June 09, 2026:
Residents and employees have raised serious concerns regarding Water Field Superintendent Pete
Garcia.
Among the allegations raised by employees were directives to perform excavation work without proper
DigAlert notifications, discouraging the use of potholing to safely identify underground utilities, assigning
understaffed crews to potentially hazardous work, requiring employees to continue working after
extended overnight shifts, and managing through intimidation and fear rather than professional
leadership, safety, and accountability.
And now, effective today, it seems the City has recognized there is a problem, as Pete Garcia has been
transferred to another department.
Is that what the City calls accountability? Because from the public's perspective, it appears that Pete
Garcia was rewarded for unsafe and retaliatory behavior, rather than being held accountable. Indeed,
Pete Garcia announced this morning he was promoted, received a raise, and will now be working on
CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE! He was
transferred to another position within the organization while continuing to receive the same taxpayer-
funded salary. How is the City justifying paying more taxpayer dollars to Pete Garcia after he violates
Anaheim policy?
If a manager is accused of creating a hostile work environment, compromising safety, disregarding safe
digging requirements, and retaliating against employees, why is the City rewarding that behavior?
Because transferring a manager to another department, into a higher-paid position, is not holding the
manager accountable. It is a cover-up.
Residents have seen this pattern before.
A problem is identified.
Complaints are filed.
Employees raise concerns.
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An investigation occurs behind closed doors—or doesn’t even occur at all.
Then the problem individual is transferred, reassigned, promoted, or quietly moved elsewhere, while the
public is left wondering whether anyone was ever held accountable.
Tonight, I am asking a simple question:
When serious allegations involving management are raised, does Anaheim investigate them or sweep
them under what must be a very large rug?
Because taxpayers are funding these salaries.
Employees are working under these managers.
Employees are suing the City because of these managers.
And taxpayers are paying for that, too.
But the employees are not to blame for holding the City accountable.
When is the City Council going to help Linda Andal understand that the City’s zero-tolerance policy also
applies to management?
When the City fails to protect its employees, it also fails to protect taxpayer dollars. The costs of
retaliation, grievances, lawsuits, investigations, and mismanagement are ultimately paid by the
residents of Anaheim.
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