14 (85)
Susana Barrios
From:Matthew Sutton <msutton@calrest.org>
Sent:Sunday, April 14,
To:Matthew Sutton
Cc:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Restaurant Community Support- Council Agenda Item #14-
DisneylandForward
Attachments:CRA DisneylandForward Support Letter_ City Council Mtng. 041624.pdf
You don't often get email from Learn why this is important
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.
Good Evening, Mayor Aitken & Councilmembers,
I wanted to provide you with our suppor?ve comments regarding the Agenda Item #14, the DisneylandForward proposal
th
to be considered on Tuesday, April 16.
Thank you for your considera?on,
Matt Sutton
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs + Public Policy
California Restaurant Association
621 Capitol Mall, Suite 2000
Sacramento, CA 95814
T: 800.765.4842 /
F: 916.200.3453
E: msutton@calrest.org
www.calrest.org
Membership matters.
Confidentiality note:
This electronic message transmission contains information from the California Restaurant Association which may be
confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you
are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this
information is prohibited.
If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please immediately notify us by telephone at 800.765.4842.
1
April 14, 2024
The Hon. Ashleigh Aitken and Hon. Councilmembers
Anaheim City Hall
200 S. Anaheim Blvd., MS 162
Anaheim, CA 92805
Dear Honorable Mayor Aitken and City Councilmembers:
We write, again, today in continued support of the DisneylandForward project,
and appreciate the robust dialogue and overwhelming vote of support from the
Planning Commission in March.
As the voice of the statewide restaurant community, the California Restaurant
Association (CRA) stands strongly behind the DisneylandForward Project for
many economic and community development reasons- but also because the
review process to date has been inclusive, transparent, and very thoughtful.
While we are a statewide trade association for the restaurant community, it likely
will come as no surprise to you that we are proud to represent a very robust
community of restaurants throughout Orange County and in Anaheim
specifically.
Thriving restaurant communities benefit the overall economy as every additional
dollar spent in a California restaurant contributes more than $2 to the state’s
economy. We know that such a “multiplier” effect on the long-term economy
and local jobs would result from the community investments envisioned by the
DisneylandForward Project.
As proposed, DisneylandForward would enable the development of new rides,
attractions, shops, stores, and restaurants. Restaurants mean jobs. More than
half of all Americans have worked in food service at one point or another.
California’s restaurants generated nearly $100 billion in estimated sales in 2018
and more than one in ten Californians currently work in restaurants and food
service jobs. This economic engine means significant tax revenue for local
municipalities like Anaheim.
We recognize that a project like DisneylandForward, which enables the
investment of billions in Anaheim, must be studied and analyzed to consider all
the impacts as well as the benefits. The good news is that the analysis in the
Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report showed that through proper
mitigation, DisneylandForward can move forward and provide the benefits of
entertainment, jobs, economic growth and serve as a boon to the city and its
residents while still minimizing project impacts.
These issues were thoroughly considered up until- and during- the March
Planning Commission meeting and the public was strongly represented. What
was so notable about the Planning Commission hearing was the number of
residents (even those residing along the perimeter of the park boundary) that
discussed their own relationship with Disney and highlighted Disney’s
responsiveness to any issues raised in the past by those same residents. Those
stories illustrated community and the lengths to which Disney has gone to foster
that sense of community.
DisneylandForward is an incredibly exciting opportunity- one that will result in
enormous community benefit, expand job opportunities, provide investments
into the local community, and continue to make Anaheim a world-class tourism
destination.
It is for these and other reasons that we respectfully request your vote in favor of
this project.
Sincerely,
Jot Condie
President + CEO
cc: Anaheim City Clerk