Anaheim Investigator

03/24/2026

"The truth: this tax is not a threat to innovation — it is a long‑overdue public dividend from a class of billionaires who became rich on the backs of the government. These tech titans did not bootstrap themselves into existence. Their wealth was built atop federal research grants, defense contracts, regulatory frameworks, and state‑guaranteed markets that shaped every stage of California’s rise as a global technology hub. The mythology of the “free market” has always obscured the reality that Silicon Valley’s success was engineered through massive state intervention."

-- DUANE ROBERTS

The public helped create tech fortunes via government grants, defense contracts and corporate-friendly regulation. Some payback is in order.

01/27/2026

The Anaheim Investigator has obtained internal emails, letters, reports, and financial forms showing that State Treasurer Fiona Ma—who is currently running for Lt. Governor—quietly aided Swyft Cities, a crowdfunded high-tech startup based in northern California, encouraging it to seek state financing for its projects, especially a loan guarantee from a public bank she oversees.

The aforementioned documents, all gathered through public records act requests filed with multiple local and state agencies, also reveal a key investor in this firm has known Ma since 2012, and that she is "actively engaging in her network [of contacts] on the company's behalf," which, according to one unusual email, includes James Vanderpool, the city manager of Anaheim.

James Vanderpool, City Manager of Anaheim, and Fiona Ma, State Treasurer of California, in a restaurant bar in March 2017. By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publisher The Anaheim Investigator has obt…

11/04/2025

On Tuesday, October 28th, the Anaheim City Council rejected a push by the Anaheim Police Association—the union representing 400 sworn personnel employed by the city’s police department—to place a measure on the ballot that would impose a “gate tax” on Disney theme park admissions.

Despite a parade of police union leaders speaking out in favor of the measure during public comments, proponent Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava, whose political campaigns have been heavily funded by law enforcement, was forced to acknowledge that it was “dead on arrival” after a lengthy debate.

Jose Duran, president of the Anaheim Police Association, speaks in favor of a “gate tax” on Disney theme park admissions during public comments. By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publishe…

10/31/2025

“Despite all of the hoopla we’ve heard about a gate tax, most of the funds collected won’t be spent on parks, housing and vital social services. Much of it is going to be used to pay for a massive, decade-long expansion of the Anaheim Police Department — the biggest in this city’s history.” -- DUANE ROBERTS

Anaheim Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava's push for a gate tax ballot measure failed to persuade her colleagues.

10/28/2025

The Anaheim Police Association—the union representing 400 sworn personnel employed by the city’s police department—conducted a survey in mid-August asking residents if they supported “new taxes” on Disney theme park admissions providing revenue would “help with long-term budget issues without cutting services.”

Although the police union has not yet publicly endorsed a “gate tax,” evidence indicates that they, along with the Anaheim Municipal Employees Association, are part of an “emerging coalition” supportive of it–something proponent Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava acknowledged in a brief conversation earlier this month.

Campaign photo of Natalie Rubalcava with Jose Duran (second left), president of the Anaheim Police Association, and three of their board members (right). By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publisher T…

10/11/2025

Let’s stop drawing lines to win. Let’s start designing systems to represent.

09/02/2025

Internal emails, contracts, and PowerPoint presentations obtained by The Anaheim Investigator reveal that city planners are exploring the option of constructing an aerial gondola system to connect the Platinum Triangle with the Anaheim Resort in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The gondola system, which an estimate suggests will cost $125.7 million, would be built by Swyft Cities, a high-tech firm based in northern California, and begin at a station near the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, a transit hub located close to the Honda Center and Angel Stadium.

Concept image of what a gondola stop at Anaheim GardenWalk, located on the northside of Katella Avenue, might look like. By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publisher Internal emails, contracts, and Po…

02/07/2025

Photographs obtained by The Anaheim Investigator reveal that City Manager James Vanderpool not only attended an annual holiday party thrown by Curt Pringle & Associates, a prominent lobbyist firm, in December 2022, but he was there along with two other elected officials, including then Councilman Jose Diaz and current Councilwoman Natalie Meeks.

Furthermore, The Investigator has photos of Vanderpool at other events either hosted or co-hosted by this lobbyist. One taken of a reception in May 2018 shows him mingling with Matt Cunningham, a political consultant who at one time had close ties to the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, and Katie Cawelti, the daughter of Curt Pringle, the firm’s president.

Gloria Ma’ae, James Vanderpool, Jose Diaz, and Scott Voigts at a holiday party thrown by Curt Pringle & Associates in December 2022. By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publisher Photographs …

01/28/2025

The Anaheim Investigator has evidence which suggests that Councilwoman Natalie Meeks might have deliberately withheld information from her public calendar to conceal the fact she met with a registered lobbyist hired by a company that seeks future contracts with the city potentially worth millions of dollars.

The lobbyist, Curt Pringle, president of Curt Pringle & Associates, not only has known Meeks since 2007 when she served under him as director of public works while he was mayor, but campaign finance paperwork filed with the city clerk shows both he and his wife contributed $4,400 to her city council campaign in 2022.

Curt Pringle. president of Curt Pringle & Associates, with Councilwoman Natalie Meeks at OCV!be Unveiled on September 25, 2024. By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publisher The Anaheim Investigato…

01/17/2025

The Democratic Foundation of Orange County, the political machine the family of Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has used over the years to exert their influence over local politics, received about $22,710 in cash from The Walt Disney Company between the years of 2011 and 2019, according to campaign finance records reviewed by The Anaheim Investigator.

Moreover, The Investigator has compelling evidence the Disneyland Resort gave them free meeting space for a fundraiser that was held inside their Grand Californian Hotel, even providing food and drinks at no charge--an event which was attended by Michael Penn, the mayor's husband, and Carrie Nocella, the controversial Disney executive.

Ken Potrock (l), president of the Disneyland Resort, with Carrie Nocella (r) while Mayor Ashleigh Aitken’s father (c) sits at a table behind them. By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publisher On…

08/14/2024

More than 200 photographs currently in the possession of The Anaheim Investigator show that although the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Angel Stadium on June 7th attracted far less council members than it did back in 2023, there were more candidates. Furthermore, a number of new faces were present this year, including Paul Kott, a local realtor, and Josh Newman, a state senator that represents the 29th district.

Berenice Ballinas, Kristen Maahs-Kolberg, Mayor Ashleigh Aitken, and Pepe Avila at Angel Stadium on June 7, 2024. By DUANE J. ROBERTSEditor & Publisher More than 200 photographs currently in th…