This is a defining moment for Anaheim.
The painful crisis we face will forever be part of our city’s history. As always, though, history will judge us on how we respond.
On Tuesday, our City Council unanimously voted to void a sale and development proposal for Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
That same day, former Mayor Harry Sidhu resigned amid a federal investigation into corruption allegations that have arisen around the proposal.
That move followed a formal resignation request from myself and two other council members and separate calls to step down by all on our council.
In June, our council will address the mayor vacancy, bearing in mind that the seat is already set to go before voters in November.
In the interim, I have assumed the handling of mayor duties as called for in Anaheim’s city charter.
The continuity of our city government has not wavered. Police and fire are there for our community. Water is flowing, lights are on, trash is being collected and potholes are being filled. Libraries and community centers are open, and all city services continue uninterrupted.
We will now conduct an independent review into the extent of what has happened.
We are also set to audit all city contracts and agreements to ensure there are no concerns about campaign contributions or other undue influence.
These are critical early steps in a long process of restoring public trust.
I have read what everyone else has. It is appalling. Anaheim has condemned the actions documented in federal investigations of our former mayor and a former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce executive.
As elected officials, we meet with business and community stakeholders throughout our city on a variety of issues.
We should always be open to hearing input and informing ourselves. But we then must always act independently in the best interest of those we serve.
That was the case for myself and a majority of my council colleagues on the stadium plan, which we evaluated and supported on its merits as presented.
The plan offered compelling benefits: get our city out of aging stadium ownership, create thousands of new jobs, turn acres of unproductive land into revenue for resident services and keep baseball in Anaheim for the next generation.
Of course, that was before what we know today.
But make no mistake. Voiding the stadium plan was a necessary response to this moment and the issues raised about this sale and development proposal.
This doesn’t mean the Angels are leaving. The team is still in a lease at the Big A through as long as 2038.
We look forward to a great season of baseball this year and for years to come.
And while we must get past this moment, the door is open for a fresh start on the future of baseball in Anaheim and potential development of stadium land, along with all the benefits that could bring for our community.
For now, we will continue with the essential work of restoring trust and moving Anaheim forward.
Trevor O’Neil is mayor pro tem of the city of Anaheim,
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