New Anaheim

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…

10/15/2025

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…