Posted by
Playful Walrus on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 3:34:18 PM
Here’s the latest from the Orange County Register on the zoning fight in Anaheim.
Background: In the 1990s, Disney planned to make significant capital investments (new hotels, new theme parks, new parking structures) in Anaheim, but wanted the surrounding area, known for run-down motels and streetwalkers, cleaned up and more friendly to tourists. Thus, the Anaheim Resort District was born. Not only was the area cleaned up, but it became easier for tourists to get around and enjoy the offerings. Many businesses benefited, not just Disney – and the City of Anaheim is benefiting from the tax revenues.
A mobile home location was included in the zoning. It could remain as-is, since it was grandfathered in. However, any new development on the site would have to be tourism-related, such as hotel, entertainment, or shopping - not residential. Recently, a housing developer, SunCal, proposed permanent housing for the property. A majority of the Anaheim City Council granted the zoning change.
Disney has several reasons to oppose permanent housing on this land
First, Disney is on the hook for certain tax revenue goals for the Resort.
Second, when Disney proposed its expansion back in the 1990s, there was some opposition from nearby residents, almost all of whom moved to the area after Disneyland opened, claiming that the expansion would diminish their quality of life. This parcel is very close to where Disney is likely to build a third theme park and/or some form of entertainment complex. I’m sure Disney doesn’t want MORE residents in the area opposing such development.
Third, any Resort District land turned into housing therefore can’t be an amenity that will draw and serve more tourists to the area.
Fourth, the more locals living adjacent to the tourism area, the more potential for criminals to live nearby and prey on the tourists.
A home developer and Disney have three more weeks to strike a compromise on a dispute about whether homes should be allowed in the Anaheim Resort tourist area around Disneyland.
Translation: SunCal has more time to get blackmail money from Disney.
The City Council voted 3-2 to again delay decision on an election date for a referendum on the issue. Mayor Curt Pringle and Councilman Harry Sidhu voted against the postponement.
A Disney-funded group, Save Our Anaheim Resort, vowed to push to get an election date immediately, possibly by taking legal action. SOAR collected enough signatures to force the referendum to overturn the city's previous approval of residential zoning in the resort area.
You can probably imagine the mailers and the local cable ads and the signature gatherers that the SunCal-led group and the Disney-led group have put out among the residents of Anaheim. SunCal has co-opted illegal aliens and Anaheim Resort area employees to do their bidding, with the rubes apparently being too stupid to realize they are being played by a for-profit business whose development is unlikely to benefit them in any way. In fact, with more housing comes the need for things like more schools. Who is going to pay for that?
Most housing supporters stayed outside, demonstrating their stance by pitching about 100 red-domed mini tents to show the need for more affordable housing units throughout Orange County.
You can see the ridiculous pictures at the newspaper website. It’s always nice to use children to advance a socialist political agenda that won't benefit them. The irony is that the project will actually reduce the number of “affordable” units when you consider the loss of the mobile homes.
More than 45 workers in the city's resort area and members of affordable-housing advocacy groups took part in a skit meant to illustrate the need for affordable housing in Anaheim.
Well now, a skit! How could I not be convinced now!
You have to love those resort workers who APPLIED for jobs, and then once they got them, turned right around and bit the hands that feed them. Nice.
A chorus of “Si se puede!” or “Yes, we can!” concluded the spectacle.
That’s right- we’re supposed to be forced to subsidize housing for illegal aliens. Maybe if these folks learned English, they could get better jobs and support themselves in a better lifestyle, instead of begging for the government to forcibly take from others?
Garden Grove resident Eddie Chavez, a bellhop at the Disneyland Hotel for 20 years, said he took part in the tent rally to show that the affordable housing needs are not being met in Anaheim for workers of the resort area.
Way to show gratitude, Eddie. You didn't know what the pay was before you took the job, or that housing wasn't part of your compensation?
Here’s the reporting from the Los Angeles Times.I just don’t get people who expect someone else to be
forced to provide them with a nice housing wherever they want it. We’re not assigned our jobs by the government. We choose our jobs. Orange County can be expensive. If you want a better home, a bigger home, and better-located home, find a way to pay for it on your own! We have freedom in this country, including the freedom to choose which employment offers to accept. Our compensation is whatever we negotiate - nothing more, nothing less. Our choices provide us with our housing options.