City leaders say taxes from Anaheim’s entertainment district could be redirected to a housing fund in the wake of a corruption scandal.
An Anaheim City Councilwoman is proposing to shift tourism tax revenue to an affordable housing trust, in part as a response to a report that found the city’s Chamber of Commerce improperly used funds for lobbying.
According to an article by Hosam Elattar in Voice of OC, “The state auditor’s report came on the heels of sworn FBI affidavits in 2022 and an independent investigation report released in 2023 that both allege Disneyland resort interests exert undue influence over city hall.”
Now, Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava, who faces a recall election herself, says a dedicated fund for affordable housing could help build more housing for workers and lower-income families in the resort city. When the council unanimously voted to support a proposed expansion of the Disneyland resort last year, the company vaguely promised to contribute $30 million to an affordable housing fund, a figure housing advocates say is not enough to support the number of new affordable units needed to meet demand.
FULL STORY: Will Tourism Dollars Help Fund Anaheim’s Affordable Housing Trust?
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Journal of the American Planning Association