Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/jordan-brandman/)
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu was appointed to the negotiating team responsible for hammering out a new stadium lease with the Angels on the 150 acres of city-owned land at Angels Stadium in spite of protest and concerns by some councilmembers.
The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce got a $425,000 no-bid contract from the city, but it isn’t a gift of public funds, according to a government ethics expert. Mayor Harry Sidhu, who pushed the contract, answered no questions about it from Councilwoman Denise Barnes.
Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu instituted a rule that limits City Council discussion to two five-minute intervals on agenda items and his rule change caused issues as the last council meeting wore on.
Anaheim First, a private group that’s going to make spending recommendations to the city on $250 million over the next decade, is facing heavy criticism for a lack of transparency and close business ties.
Anaheim City Council members voted to give $250,000 to a nonprofit group, Anaheim First, to study neighborhoods and make spending recommendations on the planned $250 million neighborhood investment over the next 10 years, but questions about study specifics, funding and a delay proposal led to a fight.
Seniors living at Rancho La Paz mobile home park will have to address the upcoming rent increases with the owner and without direct help from Anaheim after City Council members voted April 16 to indefinitely postpone a proposed six-month rent control ordinance.
Anaheim City Council members, after learning Mayor Harry Sidhu met with Angels President John Carpino earlier this week, voted to axe their monthly public update on negotiations and instead directed City Manager Chris Zapata to update when there’s only “relevant information” — effectively leaving the negotiations process in the dark.
The changes apply to the way agendas are set, board appointments are made by the Council, and public comments and audience decorum are maintained.
The election results determine the balance of the Anaheim City Council majority in a year where the Disneyland Resort, hotel industry and unions have spent a record amount on the election.
At their first official meeting, Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and his new city council majority worked through a laundry list of actions aimed at reversing major policies and actions taken by the previous majority.