LA Times: Is Disney Paying Its Fair Share In Anaheim

[Deleted member 107043]

How the City Council manages the rest of Anaheim outside of the Resort District is not Disney's fault.

Of course. That's why candidates who promised to pay more attention to the needs of citizens won City Council seats last year despite Disney's aggressive attempt to get its preferred candidates elected. The article makes this quite clear.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

What I get the kick out of is the Times insinuating that Disney is not paying for the parking structure.

That isn't the issue. The issue is that Disney collects 100% of the revenue on a parking structure that the public paid for. According to the Times the only payments Disney makes are for leases on the land the garage sits on.

 

[flynnibus]

What I get the kick out of is the Times insinuating that Disney is not paying for the parking structure. As someone stated, it is quite common for a city to issue bonds for a project for a private business in order to get better interest rates. In general, that business actually makes the payments on the bonds and the $1.00 buyout at the end is just really paperwork. I would guess that Disney is making the bond payments on the parking structure. It could be possible that Disney is not paying, since I don't live down there and did not pay any attention to when that happened. Anyone out there know for sure?

In this example, it's a sweetheart deal. They don't pay. But what isn't mentioned so far is who pays the opex and capital improvements. My guess is Disney.

 

[Disney Irish]

Of course. That's why candidates who promised to pay more attention to the needs of citizens won City Council seats last year despite Disney's aggressive attempt to get its preferred candidates elected. The article makes this quite clear.

What we have seen is the Populist movement is slowly grinding to a halt across the country as its all talk and no action. Again I point to Washington and the current crop of "all talk no action" candidates that have come in, just like the Tea Party before them. Anaheim will be no different after a couple election cycles if not sooner.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

What we have seen is the Populist movement is slowly grinding to a halt across the country as its all talk and no action. Again I point to Washington and the current crop of "all talk no action" candidates that have come in, just like the Tea Party before them. Anaheim will be no different after a couple election cycles if not sooner.

This is the first time Anaheim’s latinx population gets to really flex its political muscles. Disney will have to get used to dealing with a tougher negotiator, which will be critical when they get around to gate number 3, eventually.

 

[SoManyWasps]

This is the first time Anaheim’s latinx population gets to really flex its political muscles. Disney will have to get used to dealing with a tougher negotiator, which will be critical when they get around to gate number 3, eventually.

*Approximate completion date 2043

 

[the.dreamfinder]

*Approximate completion date 2043

IMO, in the next decade.

 

[flynnibus]

This is the first time Anaheim’s latinx population gets to really flex its political muscles. Disney will have to get used to dealing with a tougher negotiator, which will be critical when they get around to gate number 3, eventually.

I think its more about the limits on candidates being from the districts. That will make it more difficult for lobbyists to hand pick their favorites to back and push. The 'at large' model used before gave them more flexibility.

I mean, Anaheim is not big.. so to split it up like that and then REQUIRE the candidate to live in their district. That venn diagram is going to be tough to find qualified people, who WANT the job, and live in the district... and then for Disney, align with their goals.

 

[mickEblu]

WFT with avocado toast? Can you please explain to me what the deal is? I was just asking a friend the other day why suddenly everyone is obsessing about it. Her response? "Because it's delicious". ¬_¬

Hahaha It's literally avocado on toast. Lol. Sometimes with some chia seeds on there. I've actually never ordered it a restaurant but made myself a delicious one last week with toasted multi grain bread, one layer of spreadable "Swiss" cheese (those laughing cow wrapped triangles) and some mashed avocado on top with a pinch of sea salt. Very delicious.

Avocado toast has become somewhat synonymous with Millenilals because of this.....

http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/15/news/millennials-home-buying-avocado-toast/index.html

Some millionaire who said Millenials can't afford homes because they spend too much money on avocado toast ( or stuff like it).

 

[sirstude]

I beg to differ on the population comment. You might think it is not big, but I am in Montana. Just a bit smaller than California, but we only have 1 million people in the entire state and Anehiem is 350 thousand by itself. Just a complete difference to what I am used to.

 

[flynnibus]

I beg to differ on the population comment. You might think it is not big, but I am in Montana. Just a bit smaller than California, but we only have 1 million people in the entire state and Anehiem is 350 thousand by itself. Just a complete difference to what I am used to.

Yes, density is different... but you also have a ton more VARIETY to pick from as you expand your range. The point is Anaheim is now split into 6 districts. It's only 50 square miles total. In those districts, on average only about 1/3 make more than 75k and minus the 6th district, only about 22% have a college degree. Working for City Government means making way less than private sector, while being heavily scrutinized and under the microscope. Their positions pay less than 20k in salary - https://www.anaheim.net/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3611 - which means you can't live on that, meaning you usually have to be pretty well off to be able to afford to take that job. Contrast that with their employees, who managers/directors are making 200kplus/yr.

So you need to find a well educated person, who is already pretty well off financially, who lives in the district who needs a new candidate, who can afford to dedicate so much of their time and family to a job that pays like a Sports Coach, but put yourself under the microscope of the news and public. Oh, and needs to be a person that is actually electable, and who can come up with the tens of thousands of dollars it will take to run for election.

All that.. and you just divided your pool of candidates into 6 slices that can't easily move between each other.

Sources
https://www.anaheim.net/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3611
http://www.anaheim.net/DocumentCenter/View/11369

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Sometimes with some chia seeds on there.

LOL. Really?

Where do you even buy chia seeds?

 

[SoManyWasps]

IMO, in the next decade.

Having just come back from Disneyland Resort, I'm curious as to whether you have a theory about where gate 3 would fit geographically.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

What we have seen is the Populist movement is slowly grinding to a halt across the country as its all talk and no action. Again I point to Washington and the current crop of "all talk no action" candidates that have come in, just like the Tea Party before them. Anaheim will be no different after a couple election cycles if not sooner.

This isn't at that level. These are citizens tired of their local city council being in bed with a large corporation and overlooking their needs. The sentiments may be similar, but I see this as a completely different scenario.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Having just come back from Disneyland Resort, I'm curious as to whether you have a theory about where gate 3 would fit geographically.

The 1990 Master Plan has the Toy Story lot, formerly the Fujishige strawberry farm, as the planned location of the third gate. Additionally, Disney quietly owns a good amount of land around that property. This land, which is not part of the resort district, houses trailer parks and motels. Many cast members live in these properties because they cannot afford to get an apartment/house. You can’t build a third gate until Disney evicts these tenants and the property is absorbed into the resort district.

I strongly believe this is one of the crucial things missing from the LA Times report @WDW1974 was talking about in his thread. It’s Anaheim’s trump card, if you will.

 

[Disney Irish]

This isn't at that level. These are citizens tired of their local city council being in bed with a large corporation and overlooking their needs. The sentiments may be similar, but I see this as a completely different scenario.

You just gave a textbook definition of Populism. And what most across this country will soon learn, just as Greece has recently, Populism while a great concept doesn't work most of the time.

But hey maybe Anaheim can make it work.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I strongly believe this is one of the crucial things missing from the LA Times report @WDW1974 was talking about in his thread.

It's been almost 17 years since the 3rd park was announced. I'd be shocked if it was still on the table at this point. I don't believe Disney is serious about taking any investment risks in Anaheim, especially not without gaining major financial concessions from the City, which is questionable now.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

It's been almost 17 years since the 3rd park was announced. I'd be shocked if it was still on the table at this point. I don't believe Disney is serious about making any investment risks in Anaheim, especially not without gaining major financial concessions from the City, which is questionable now.

Disney needs it, they just know it’s going to be expensive. DL will reach a point where it cannot hold more guests. DCA only has so many expansion pads.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

But hey maybe Anaheim can make it work.

You make it sound like it's a bad thing for the public to hold elected officials accountable. You can't argue that Disney isn't to blame for the current political situation in Anaheim and then cry foul when citizens vote to change the status quo. If this isn't Disney's fault (I'm not saying it is entirely) then the blame must lie with a local political system that allowed the situation flourish for decades. I don't fault Disney for wanting deals that favor its business, but I also don't take issue with locals who demand the best deals for their communities.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

Disney needs it, they just know it’s going to be expensive. DL will reach a point where it cannot hold more guests. DCA only has so many expansion pads.

It looks like they are going to need to play nice with the the city before they can even think about negotiating another park in Anaheim. Looking at the P&R business from a high level I'd be willing to bet that Disney is more focused on Asia and Florida as the real long-term growth opportunities right now but who knows.