The city of Santa Ana is investigating Mayor Valerie Amezcua to find out if she is creating a hostile, racist work environment in City Hall.
The City Council agreed last month to expand a contract with the law firm Hanson Bridgett LLP for an ongoing investigation into work conditions at the city. Under the new deal, the Los Angeles-based firm will receive up to $175,000 and issue a report as late as mid-2025. It’s unclear if that report will be limited to an investigation or if it will include other legal work for the city.
The investigation comes in the wake of accusations made late last year by former city manager Kristine Ridge, who threatened to sue the city over what she described as harassment and hostile work conditions.
Among other things, Ridge, who is non-Hispanic White, claimed Amezcua publicly mocked her because she could not speak Spanish, and suggested that her ethnicity rendered her unfit to hold a high-ranking post in the city. Ridge also said she was pressured to perform acts she considered illegal and beyond the scope of her role.
Ridge resigned in October after four years with the city. At the time, she received about $489,000 in severance pay and nearly $163,000 for what was described in a severance agreement as compensation for “alleged personal/physical injuries and emotional distress.”
As part of that contract, dated Oct. 11, 2023, Ridge agreed to waive her right to sue the city, and that she would not make “any written, oral or electronic statement to any member of the public” beyond what was in a city-written press release. That statement, which went public two days earlier, said nothing about a payout to Ridge or her allegations, or the city’s agreement to pay her for emotional distress.
Amezcua did not respond to Ridge’s allegations, saying she prevented from issuing a public comment. She did say she believes the investigation is a political issue.
“This is a political attack because I’m up for re-election,” Amezcua said. “They will always paint me to be the vicious mayor because I’m not part of their group (and) because I don’t vote with them.”
City spokesperson Paul Eakins said the council formed an committee to address this matter.
The dustup between Ridge and Amezcua also included political and policy differences.
A letter written to the council by Ridge’s attorney prior to her resignation detailed what Ridge believed to be undo pressure by Amezcua for her to sign off on requests then put forth by former police union leader Gerry Serrano. At the time, Serrano was seeking a change in his work status to secure a higher paying pension.
“Ms. Ridge for over two years has endured repeated pressure from specific elected officials contrary to State law to take care of Police Union President, Gerry Serrano’s pension, although CalPers and not Ms. Ridge is responsible for determining Mr. Serrano’s pension,” the letter said.
“Ms. Ridge has also been repeatedly directed to provide Mr. Serrano with a higher paying salaried position without regard to civil service provisions nor qualifications.”
The letter specifically mentions Amezcua, who when running for mayor in 2022 received campaign support from the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, which at the time was led by Serrano. Ridge’s lawyer alleges that after her election, Amezcua “immediately began creating a hostile work environment” for the former city manager.
“For example, Mayor Amezcua made discriminatory remarks regarding Ms. Ridge’s gender and ethnicity such as commenting that Ms. Ridge was not able to perform some of her responsibilities as she did not “speak the language” signifying Mayor Amezcua’s belief that a Caucasian such as Ms. Ridge is unable to perform the duties of the City Manager based on her race,” Ridge’s lawyer wrote.
At least one member of Santa Ana’s council described the city’s less-than-complete announcement about the circumstances surrounding Ridge’s departure as a deliberate attempt to mislead voters and taxpayers.
“Genuine transparency for me is non-negotiable when it comes to accountability. And I firmly believe that taxpayers, our residents, deserve nothing less,” said Jessie Lopez, council member from Ward 3 since 2020.
“It’s evident that there was an effort to sweep this letter under the rug, potentially at the behest of the mayor,” Lopez added. “Such actions undermine the public’s trust and erode the foundation of our democracy.”
Lopez, the only councilmember to vote against Ridge’s settlement package, said she believes Ridge’s allegations.
“Like our former city manager, last year I felt pressured to engage in unethical practices on behalf of certain entities,” Lopez said. “I highlighted the toxic atmosphere within City Hall. It’s understandable, to me, why the former manager opted to leave rather than endure the bullying tactic employed by Mayor Amezcua.”
Lopez and Councilmember Johnathan Hernandez, who represents Ward 5, said they’ve heard from other city workers who echoed some of Ridge’s complaints about Amezcua.
“There are a lot of staff members who do not feel comfortable or safe working with her,” Hernandez said.
City Hall, Hernandez added, should be a place where all people feel welcome regardless of race, class, religion or other identities.
“For any staff member to feel that they were treated discriminately because of the color of their skin, there is no justification for creating an environment that is unwelcoming and harmful.”
Hernandez said he voted in support of paying Ridge when she resigned because Amezcua is, in his view, a “liability” to the city, and he believed going to court would be more costly to Santa Ana residents. But, he added, he agreed to cast that vote on the condition that the mayor be investigated.
Other members of the Santa Ana council, Benjamin Vazaquez, David Penaloza and Thai Viet Phan, did not respond to requests for an interview, while member Phil Bacerra declined to comment.
Lopez said she has hope that the working environment in City Hall will improve.
“I respect our personnel. I think they work really hard,” Lopez said. “I hope that people are able to focus on their work and delivering services for their constituents.”
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