14 (126)
Susana Barrios
From: Julian Gutierrez <juliang@kennedycommission.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 2:19 PM
To: Public Comment <publiccomment@anaheim.net>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] Kennedy Commission Comments to Agenda Item 14
You don't often get email from juliang@kennedycommission.org. 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 Afternoon,
My name is Julian Sebastian Gutierrez, a Policy Analyst with the Kennedy Commission. Below will be our
comments, concerns, and suggestions regarding Agenda Item 14 regarding the Disney Forward project.
Thank you,
Julian Sebastian Gutierrez
1
April 16,2024
Mayor Aitkens and City Councilmembers
City of Anaheim
200 S.Anaheim Blvd
Anaheim,CA 92805
Re:Comments to Action Item 14 on Anaheim’s discussion of establishing a Local Housing
Trust Fund
Dear Honorable Mayor Aitkens and Members of the Anaheim City Council
The Kennedy Commission (the Commission)is a broad coalition of residents and community
organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than
$30,000 annually in Orange County.Formed in 2001,the Commission has been successful in
partnering and working with jurisdictions in Orange County to create effective policies that have
led to the production of new homes affordable to low income working families.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the city’s discussion on The Disneyland expansion
plan under Disney Forward.
The Kennedy Commission strongly disapproves of the Disneyland Park expansion.The
relationship between The Walt Disney Company and Anaheim has been largely one-sided,where
the City contributes millions of dollars in investment and land while receiving nearly nothing in
return.According to a 2017 report,despite contributing $108.2 million to build a parking garage
that has been generating more than $35 million in annual revenue,Disney is charged only a
dollar a year for the lease of the parking garage.In 1997,Anaheim took on $510 million in debt
for improvements to the Resort District that despite receiving a surplus ranging in the hundreds
of millions,Anaheim can only use the surplus to pay off the debt instead of the funds going to
the General Fund.
Disney has taken in significant subsidies and tax breaks from the City and has given little in
return to either the City or the residents of Anaheim.Although Disney has promised $30 million
in affordable housing and $8 million for park and nearby road improvements,it is important to
remember that those investments are minor when compared to what the city could earn annually
from a gate tax imposed on the park.Additionally it is important to remember that despite there
being no budget impact,such improvements would make a significant difference on the ability
for Anaheim’s low and very low income residents to afford to live comfortably in the City
through the significant increase in cost,traffic,and noise/air pollution that will be brought by the
Disneyland expansion.While Disney asserts that it has created jobs that support Anaheim's
residents,a good portion of those employees are underpaid and overworked.The assertion that
Anaheim needs Disneyland is an unfair assumption by the over-confident conglomerate.Instead
of permitting Disneyland to expand their park,the city should evaluate the long-term effects a
2%gate tax could have on The City.What benefits would a park expansion be for Anaheim's low
and very low income residents if they cannot even afford to attend the park,enjoy its amenities,
or worse lose their homes because of the increased housing costs?
1
The Commission opposed the park expansion and believes that greater evaluation is necessary on
Disney’s economic contribution to the City and how Anaheim has used those funds to support
Anaheim's low and very low income residents and their ability to comfortably live in the City.
Additionally,we support the imposition of a 2%gate tax on Disneyland Park as a means to
increase the available budget funds that could be invested in housing,community services,and
infrastructure on a long-term basis.
Thank you for your consideration of these concerns.We look forward to further conversation
regarding this important matter
Very truly yours,
Cesar Covarrubias
Executive Director
2