Principal Author of Anaheim’s Living Wage Law Says Disney’s Not Exempt - OC Weekly

[networkpro]

Oh, please. Spare me the knee-jerk reactionary pro-business-at-all-costs ideology.

Building a theme park next to the Disney Studios was ludicrous. It was completely out of scale for the neighborhood and Walt's ideas quickly outgrew the land available.

And can you get anymore jargony than "extractive legislation". You want government to give Disney incentives, but you don't want any conditions on them. "Anaheim provides tax incentives but Disney isn't forced to take them". Shoe meet other foot.

Spare us your Marxist proletariat rants. I don't want the government to do anything but provide basic services such as fire, police, zoning, and enforcement services. Anaheim's economy is based on tourism no matter how much you want it to be something else. That means it needs to be clean and safe for visitors for the 15% occupancy tax and 2% Tourism District Improvement tax they are charged to stay in the city. The ARA isnt what this is all about, it's about Orange County's own 22 billion dollars of Municipal debt sword of Damocles ... Anaheim itself owes 1.76 billion of that total, most of which is for the convention center expansion (like 857 million) all paid for by tax levies.

 

[eddie104]

(Looking at this thread)

 

[VJ]

Another thread for the political subforum, then?

 

[PB Watermelon]

Oh, please. Spare me the knee-jerk reactionary pro-business-at-all-costs ideology.

Building a theme park next to the Disney Studios was ludicrous. It was completely out of scale for the neighborhood and Walt's ideas quickly outgrew the land available.

And can you get anymore jargony than "extractive legislation". You want government to give Disney incentives, but you don't want any conditions on them. "Anaheim provides tax incentives but Disney isn't forced to take them". Shoe meet other foot.

Not looking for an argument, just saying the lot by the Burbank studio was eyed by Walt not as a "theme park", but an excuse for his train hobby. It was a lark. He was going to do it, he got blocked in development by the city (and Disney's eternal nemesis, Universal), he turned his eyes to somewhere else - a bunch of orange groves in Anaheim, and Walt being Walt, a simple train ride around developed land celebrating his films became something much, much more.

 

[nevol]

I wish I could like that post a thousand times. One will have to do.

Was that for me? Thanks Lunatic 1 am rants.

 

[Darkbeer1]

http://www.anaheimblog.net/2018/09/21/moreno-ward-want-to-selectively-silence-political-foes/

>>
Should elected officials decide who can participate in the democratic political process and who cannot? When politicians support using the machinery of government to dictate how individuals act and businesses operate, is it right or fair for those politicians to also demand the targets of government action surrender their right to advocate for themselves? Is that consistent with free and limited government?


It’s a serious question, and one Anaheim voters ought to weigh when judging the candidacies of left-wing District 3 Councilman Jose F. Moreno and mayoral aspirant Cynthia Ward.


Disney recently announced its withdrawal from two tax incentive agreements with the city – one of which effectively prohibited the imposition of a ticket tax for 45 years – as its part to heal the harsh tenor of city politics.


In response, last month both Moreno and Ward are demanding Disney unilaterally disarm itself – politically speaking.


“It is my hope that Disney will cease to participate in the toxic body politics that has become Anaheim elections…I think it would be great if they were to divorce themselves from that body politic,” said Moreno, a progressive Democrat, at the August 28 council meeting.


At the same meeting, Ward, a Republican, called on “Disney to take a step back and get their noses out of our elections for one cycle. Allow the people of Anaheim to choose their representatives, so that after the election, we can have a frank discussion with Disney about what it is they really do need in order to thrive, without having both sides of the negotiating table represented by Disney.”


It’s important to note neither Moreno nor Ward called on their political allies to refrain from “interfering” in the November elections. Moreno isn’t asking his allies on the Left – the unions, progressive activists, etc. – to “cease to participate” in Anaheim elections – and those allies are spending huge sums of campaign cash to turn city government into their ally in organizing and bargaining. If Howard Ahmanson funds an independent expenditure to assist Ward’s candidacy, will she call upon the savings and loan heir to stop his “interference and “allow the people of Anaheim to choose their representatives?”


Don’t hold your breath.<<

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

Spare us your Marxist proletariat rants. I don't want the government to do anything but provide basic services such as fire, police, zoning, and enforcement services. Anaheim's economy is based on tourism no matter how much you want it to be something else. That means it needs to be clean and safe for visitors for the 15% occupancy tax and 2% Tourism District Improvement tax they are charged to stay in the city. The ARA isnt what this is all about, it's about Orange County's own 22 billion dollars of Municipal debt sword of Damocles ... Anaheim itself owes 1.76 billion of that total, most of which is for the convention center expansion (like 857 million) all paid for by tax levies.

Dude, get a grip. I am far from a Marxist proletariat. I am squarely at the center of American democratic capitalism. I favor a balance between healthy capitalism and reasonable social programs. But as a taxpayer I'm fed up with corporate welfare. I support reasonable government support of infrastructure to benefit Disneyland. But the Mickey and Friends subsidy went too far for my taste. And I think it's entirely reasonable to expect Disney to pay a decent wage and not depend on government programs to subsidize their profits.

 

[Darkbeer1]

http://www.anaheimblog.net/2018/09/...asure-l-aitken-for-mayor-and-moreno-re-elect/

>>
The Anaheim Resort unions have kicked off their formal political mail campaign to pass Measure L, which would spike the minimum wage at targeted Resort businesses to $18 an hour by 2022 – the highest in the nation. This mailer landed today:








Note the unions repeat the false claim that Measure L applies to the Disneyland Resort. Then again, truthfulness has never been a strength of UNITE-HERE Local 11 and its hangers-on.


Taking a page from Larry Agran’s playbook in Irvine, the Resort unions are using Measure L as an independent expenditure vehicle for promoting their endorsed candidates: Ashleigh Aitken for mayor and the re-election of their current champion on the council, Jose F. Moreno.


The Resort unions have spent $624,000 thus far on their Measure L efforts. While Councilman Moreno is fond of decrying the political influence of special interests, his silence about big spending by the unions speaks volumes about the selectivity of his outrage – especially since he is a beneficiary of their largess.


UNITE-HERE Local 11, working with allies like Moreno and vassals like OCCORD, in 2012 helped launch a political initiative to capture Anaheim city government. Shifting council elections to a by-district basis was the first step. Electing close ally Jose F. Moreno to the council was the next step. Re-electing Moreno and ensconcing Aitken in the mayor’s seat is the next. Electing a progressive Democrat in District 4 – and maybe District 1 – in 2022 will be the next phase. By that time, maybe even the benighted remnant who blocked an OC GOP endorsement of Harry Sidhu and Trevor O’Neil will wake up and smell the coffee.<<

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK folks, notice that 2/3'rds of a MILLION of Union Members Dues have been spent on this, which more than likely won't hep the Disneyland CM's, which has funded this campaign!

Also notice the flyer only mentions the $15 per hour rate, not the $18 per hour rate Measure L increases the wages to.

Also the comment about tips. Companies can't take tips now, that is against Federal and State law.

Trying to deflect the facts that the new wages would be the Highest Minimum Wage in the USA, PLUS tips.

 

[networkpro]

Dude, get a grip. I am far from a Marxist proletariat. I am squarely at the center of American democratic capitalism. I favor a balance between healthy capitalism and reasonable social programs. But as a taxpayer I'm fed up with corporate welfare. I support reasonable government support of infrastructure to benefit Disneyland. But the Mickey and Friends subsidy went too far for my taste. And I think it's entirely reasonable to expect Disney to pay a decent wage and not depend on government programs to subsidize their profits.

Then recognize that the Anaheim government made that deal to grow thier tax base as the lack of parking left money on the table.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Then recognize that the Anaheim government made that deal to grow thier tax base as the lack of parking left money on the table.

And that NOT one dime of the city's money was used to pay for it. They teamed up with Disney to lobby and apply for transportation grants to pay for it.

Pretty smart move, as Disney was given something to help get the $150 million for the convention center and seal the deal.

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

Then recognize that the Anaheim government made that deal to grow thier tax base as the lack of parking left money on the table.

Anaheim made that deal because Disney was playing Long Beach against them. You think it was a smart deal for Anaheim. I don't.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Anaheim made that deal because Disney was playing Long Beach against them. You think it was a smart deal for Anaheim. I don't.

Financially, it was a VERY smart deal. What did Anaheim give up, nothing. The agreement added a 2% surcharge to the TOT Taxes, which has brought in Millions more each year than projected to the General Fund . The Anaheim Convention Center is now the largest on the West Coast, and is the premiere Center in California, bringing in more conventions each year, and without the bond money, that wouldn't be the case. The Parking Structure didn't cost Anaheim anything, just administrating the grant money.

The Resort Area got cleaned up and has added many new Hotels, plus Stores and Restaurants. All bringing in new sales taxes, property taxes and more jobs. Many of which pay well due to tips.

For the residents, we have better roads in the area, our utilities are the lowest in the region due to the volume buying and spreading out the overhead, same with building permit fees. Much of the additional funds (the amount above the expected amount) has improved our parks with many new facilities, plus an increase of almost 10% in Police Officers, and an increase in Firefighters/Paramedics.

And at no risk, as Disney guaranteed the bonds.

Other nearby cities have or are trying to increase the sales tax rate.

We have the funds to build a few hundred shelter beds for the homeless (in partnership with the Salvation Army) addressing a major issue in the region.

If you want to look at a bad deal for the state, look at all the breaks, and even a free factory (used) Tesla got. The company is struggling and not delivering what they promised.

Even with the DCA problems in the early years, and the disappointment financially Downtown Disney was and still is, Disney has outperformed what was expected.

 

[Darkbeer1]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disneyland-contract-hotel-workers-20180923-story.html#

>>The contract takes effect Monday.

Members of Unite Here Local 11 voted 96% in favor of the contract, the union said.

“We are very proud to offer our cast peace of mind through affordable healthcare options and free educational opportunities with our groundbreaking new program called Disney Aspire,” Disneyland Resort President Josh D’Amaro said, referring to a program that launched recently with an initial $150-million five-year investment by parent Walt Disney Co.

The program pays for hourly Disneyland Resort employees to take vocational or language classes and to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Disneyland Resort said the new contract will roll out affordable employee healthcare coverage for workers, their families and eligible dependents. One plan could have an employee contribution of as little as $6 a week for single participants.<<

 

[Darkbeer1]

ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Disneyland Resort announced today that thousands more of its cast members will receive $15 minimum rates, one of the highest minimum wages in the country—three years before California's scheduled increase. Delivering on the largest wage increases for cast members in its history, the Disneyland Resort is also paying increased minimum rates to thousands of hourly non-union cast members.


Tonight, an additional 2,700 Disneyland Resort hotel cast members from Unite Here! Local 11 ratified a five-year term with a minimum wage increase of 40 percent over the next two years of the agreement, with the $15 minimum wage taking effect January 2019. Housekeepers move to $15.80 immediately.


Unite Here! Local 11 cast members will join 9,700 other cast members from Master Services Council who separately ratified an agreement in July that establishes a $15 minimum wage for those cast members by January 2019 as well.


Separately, the resort is undertaking two other major initiatives that will provide employees comprehensive and affordable healthcare options and free employee skills training and education.


Starting next month, Disneyland Resort will roll out employee healthcare coverage that offers affordable options for many cast members, their families and eligible dependents. One plan could have an employee contribution for as little as $6 per week for single participants.


In August, the company introduced Disney Aspire, an extensive education investment program which is providing cast members the resources to learn, grow and achieve within or outside of the company. The program allows hourly Disneyland Resort cast members to pursue a bevy of educational pursuits, from vocational or language studies to bachelor and master's degree programs. Announced at the beginning of this year by The Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger, Disney Aspire represents an initial investment of $150 million over the next five years. Cast interest in Disney Aspire has exceeded company expectations.


"The strides we have made to implement $15 an hour minimum wages will have an immediate and lasting impact on the quality of life of our cast members and their families," said Josh D'Amaro, president of the Disneyland Resort. "Additionally, we are very proud to offer our cast peace of mind through affordable healthcare options and free educational opportunities with our groundbreaking new program called Disney Aspire."


D'Amaro continued, "Cast members often join Disney because of their love for our brand, and stay with us because of the opportunities and overall employment experience they are exposed to throughout their careers. In fact, over the past five years, 89 percent of the open entry-level leadership roles have been filled by frontline, hourly cast members providing career options and a strong and bright future."


President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council Lucy Dunn said, "Over the last several months, Disney has found common ground on significant labor contracts, increased wages for union and non-union workers and introduced a comprehensive no-cost education program for hourly cast members that's unlike any we've ever seen. This is not only good for Disney and its cast members, it sets the bar for our entire Orange County community and we applaud their efforts."


"Disney Aspire is one of the most accessible and comprehensive, free educational programs offered in the country. This significant investment by Disney in the future of their employees is the gold standard for the service industry," said Rachel Carlson, CEO of Guild Education.


Over the last decade, Disneyland Resort employment numbers have increased by 50 percent, adding 10,000 new jobs, for a total of 30,000 cast members, as it continues to be largest employer in Orange County. With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019, and other expansion projects, thousands of additional roles will be added. In addition to operations jobs, Disney's significant investment in Anaheim has created nearly 2,000 construction jobs since 2016.