Affordable Housing Vs. Disneyland

A pitched battle between housing advocates and Disney officials turned into a political convention of sorts Tuesday. Low-wage employees — a few near tears — and well-connected business types — many wearing red "Save the Anaheim Resort District" stickers — vented over the future of the city's tourist neighborhood.

Although the council indicated last year that it supported the idea of bucking Disney and approving a large residential complex with low-cost units near the gates of Disneyland, that support dissolved into a 2-2 council split by evening's end — a tie that meant the housing plan was dead.

In its place, the land in the resort district — adjacent to acreage where Disney has toyed with the idea of a third amusement park — can now be developed as a hotel-condominium project.