Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken’s chief of staff alleges a racial slur and comments about her sexuality, some of them at Disneyland’s private Club 33. Aitken denies using the slur, and the city says an investigation is underway.
The mayor of Disneyland’s hometown is facing serious allegations from one of her own staffers, and part of the story takes place inside Disneyland’s most exclusive club.
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken‘s chief of staff, Berenice Ballinas, alleges that Aitken used a racial slur against her and repeatedly made unwelcome comments about her perceived sexuality. The claims are laid out in a Sept. 11 letter from Ballinas’ attorney to Anaheim’s city attorney, first reported by TimesOC.
Aitken denies using the slur. The city says an investigation is underway. None of the allegations have been proven.
What is Anaheim’s mayor accused of?
The letter, written by employment attorney Lawrence Lennemann as a mediation request, alleges that Aitken said she did “not want her car driven by a dirty Mexican” on occasions when Ballinas drove her home, according to reporting by the California Post.
It also alleges that from about 2023 through at least June 2026, Aitken and former City Manager James Vanderpool made “unwelcome comments regarding Ms. Ballinas’ perceived sexuality.”
The letter further claims Ballinas faced retaliation, including a withheld raise and being removed from the city website.
What happened at Disneyland’s Club 33?
According to the letter, during a June lunch at Club 33 at Disneyland and the 1901 Lounge at Disney California Adventure, Aitken questioned Ballinas about her sexuality in front of others and made comments about a Disney employee’s sexual orientation and ethnicity.
The letter also claims that “at least two Disney employees separately complained about the Mayor’s conduct” and that Disney suspended a third party’s Club 33 membership afterward, per the California Post.
Disney has not publicly commented on those claims in the coverage so far.
What did Mayor Ashleigh Aitken say?
She denies the slur and says she wants an investigation.
“These allegations are extremely serious, and they deserve to be investigated. I did not use the racial slur attributed to me, and I have always been a champion of the LGBTQ community,” Aitken said in a statement posted to Facebook on Thursday, Sept. 24, per the California Post.
She said she is limited in what she can say because Ballinas is still a city employee and it’s a personnel matter. “I welcome an investigation and will cooperate truthfully, and I believe the facts should determine what happened,” she said.
“I also believe that I am entitled to have these extraordinarily serious allegations evaluated on the evidence,” she added.
Is Anaheim investigating the mayor?
Yes. Councilwoman Natalie Meeks called for a probe, and the city has confirmed one is underway.
“A process is underway and will involve a full, fair and independent investigation of the issues and concerns raised,” city spokesman Mike Lyster told Voice of OC. The city hasn’t said who will run it, how long it will take or whether the findings will be made public.
The letter itself hasn’t been released by the city.
What is Club 33?
It’s Disneyland’s private members-only club, hidden in New Orleans Square behind a door marked with a small “33.” Walt Disney planned it as a place to host guests and business partners, and it opened in 1967, after his death.
Membership is famously expensive and hard to get. The 1901 Lounge at Disney California Adventure is part of the same Club 33 membership, and its name is a nod to the year Walt Disney was born.
Why does this matter to Disneyland fans?
Anaheim is Disneyland’s host city, and City Hall has a big say in what Disney builds there. The City Council approved the DisneylandForward expansion plan in 2024, which clears the way for new attractions and development around the resort over the coming decades.
The mayor is one of the votes on those decisions. So what happens at Anaheim City Hall tends to ripple out to the parks.
What happens next in Anaheim?
Aitken is up for reelection in November against physician Imran Sharief and Alfredo Rodriguez. Some residents at a council meeting last week called for her resignation, per the California Post.
The City Council meets again Tuesday, Sept. 29. PNP will update this story as the investigation moves forward.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
TimesOC (September 2026), first report on the Sept. 11 letter
California Post, via Yahoo (Sept. 23 and Sept. 25, 2026), letter excerpts, Aitken’s statement and the city’s investigation
Voice of OC (September 2026), city spokesman’s statement
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.