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.
Read the full story: Will Tourism Dollars Help Fund Anaheim’s Affordable Housing Trust?
Balancing Act: 7 Strategies to Curb Overtourism
What’s a popular travel destination to do? From ice cream bans to “Stay Away” marketing campaigns, cities and countries across the world are getting creative in their efforts to curb the negative impacts of mass tourism and tourists behaving badly.
Lack of Affordable Housing Causing Labor Shortages
Sky-high housing costs are driving workers away from Colorado's mountain towns, leading to labor shortages in some of the state's key industries.
Sports Stadiums as a Battleground for Affordable Housing
Thanks to new enforcement powers, California's Department of Housing and Community Development can now cite cities for failing to meet affordable housing requirements in stadium redevelopment projects.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic place names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority