News Disney power broker at the heart of Anaheim 'cabal' - Los Angeles Times

[mkt]

Here's the article:

Disney power broker is part of a ‘cabal’ pulling the strings in Anaheim, FBI records show

Disneyland Resort executive Carrie Nocella is one of the unnamed "ringleaders" of a "cabal" that an FBI affidavit says runs Anaheim, according to a source familiar with the FBI inquiry. She is not accused of wrongdoing.

www.latimes.com

and a paywall bypass link.

An FBI affidavit made public last week identified an employee of an influential, unnamed company as being a key participant in a “cabal” steering Anaheim’s government.
The employee of the firm, called “Company A” in the affidavit that’s part of a federal public corruption probe, helped script a statement read by an elected official before the City Council voted on issuing bonds and provided input on whom to invite to a covert retreat for community powerbrokers.
Company A is Disneyland Resort, according to a person familiar with the investigation, and the employee is Disneyland Resort Director of External Affairs Carrie Nocella.

The company has long played a dominant role in Anaheim politics. Some current and former council members, local activists and a past mayor say Disneyland Resort has parlayed its influence into lucrative tax breaks at the expense of city residents and bankrolled friendly politicians with generous campaign donations. Disney has pushed back against such criticism, arguing that the resort provides the city with an important economic engine and is a job creator.

 

[CaptinEO]

No but this can't be true they are good guys and magical and fight for the lgbtqia+ community. Article must be mistaken.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Hmm… don’t we know someone who is connected to SOAR?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No but this can't be true they are good guys and magical and fight for the lgbtqia+ community. Article must be mistaken.

You’re picking TODAY to throw tired political dogma shade??

…not the best day.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It remains to be seen if any wrongdoing convictions come outta this…

But the LA times doesn’t do a very good job of describing anything that you wouldn’t expect to be the Normal happenings.

Disney influences people for tax breaks and policy?

…nah…you don’t say?!!

 

[CaptinEO]

Hmm… don’t we know someone who is connected to SOAR?

Paging @Darkbeer1

 

[D.Silentu]

I don't doubt Disney's discreet influence in local politics, but for a company that's being described as part of a 'cabal' they sure seem to have had a rough time getting their way with the city.

 

[Newtwo]

 

[Phroobar]

I sware the LA Times must read our random posts for news stories.

 

[Dear Prudence]

"a ‘cabal’"--omg, that is so dramatic

 

[Phroobar]

Cabal was great game.

 

[SplashJacket]

"Some current and former council members, local activists and a past mayor say Disneyland Resort has parlayed its influence into lucrative tax breaks at the expense of city residents and bankrolled friendly politicians with generous campaign donations."

Isn't this what literally every company does? Doesn't make it right, but the system is broken, don't see why we should sit here surprised. I don't see how this is obvious, isn't this just what Disney has done for years along with hundreds of other mega corps.

 

[Dear Prudence]

Cabal was great game.

View attachment 641128

that's exactly what I was thinking of ahahahahaha

 

[shambolicdefending]

"She is not accused of any wrongdoing."

So what, exactly, is the story here?

 

[DrAlice]

"Some current and former council members, local activists and a past mayor say Disneyland Resort has parlayed its influence into lucrative tax breaks at the expense of city residents and bankrolled friendly politicians with generous campaign donations. Disney has pushed back against such criticism, arguing that the resort provides the city with an important economic engine and is a job creator. "

Both are true. Just as both are true for hundreds of corporations. This isn't the part of the story that is bothersome. It's all the other allegations that are disturbing (i.e. using city money to help get financing for a vacation home). But, "news gonna news" and "Disney Bad" is an easier to digest headline, I guess.

 

[CaptinEO]

"Some current and former council members, local activists and a past mayor say Disneyland Resort has parlayed its influence into lucrative tax breaks at the expense of city residents and bankrolled friendly politicians with generous campaign donations."

Isn't this what literally every company does? Doesn't make it right, but the system is broken, don't see why we should **** here and be surprised. I don't see how this is obvious, isn't this just what Disney has done for years along with hundreds of other mega corps.

I thought in terms of the City of Anaheim the only tax deal Disney ever got (which definitely was ridiculous), was getting the city to build the parking lot when DCA was built.

 

[flynnibus]

This story is way overhyped at this point. There isn't sign of anything but normal lobbying here to date.

a 'cabel' - lol.. as if the gurerrila in the town isn't going to be involved in lobbying... and no they don't like everyone the same. shocker!

 

[Disney Irish]

Paging @Darkbeer1

He hasn't been on since January, don't know why. Well hopefully he's not wrapped up in this.

 

[SSG]

Well, color me shocked that the largest business in a city tries to influence legislation in that city!

I'm in Seattle; you don't suppose Amazon and Boeing lobby local governments here? Where's my fainting couch?

 

[el_super]

I thought in terms of the City of Anaheim the only tax deal Disney ever got (which definitely was ridiculous), was getting the city to build the parking lot when DCA was built.

Disney got a 40 year moratorium on enactment of a gate tax, so they could be convinced to spend the money to build Galaxy's Edge. A project they were absolutely going to build anyway.