By Brooklynn Wong
A controversial advisory board in Anaheim has just received a promise of $250,000 from the city.
Anaheim First, an advisory council formed last year, is made up of members of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Visit Anaheim and the Anaheim Community Foundation. And Mayor Harry Sidhu is moving forward with his “2030 Neighborhood Investment Program” in partnership with Anaheim First.
The Investment Program has as its goal the improvement of Anaheim’s neighborhoods, including cleaning up and improving parks, making neighborhoods safer, and bringing in new businesses. It would unlock $250 million over the next ten years to that end.
It was on the agenda and up for vote at the April 16 City Council Meeting. Many people showed up to express support for the initiative, saying they want more investment in neighborhoods and community infrastructure. One resident said she no longer feels safe walking her dog in her community park and has started going to one in Stanton, so she is glad the city is working to allow people to come back and do such things in their city without feeling unsafe. And members of the Anaheim First board spoke, expressing enthusiasm for what could be accomplished should everything pass.
Some have been resistant to Anaheim First, however, because of its links to Disney and to Mayor Sidhu, despite his claims that the board is nonpolitical.
Because of this, Sidhu’s dissenters have expressed great skepticism about Anaheim First and the Neighborhood Investment Program.
The Council decided to parse out the various things up for vote, rather than passing or failing everything in one fell swoop. They first removed the funding aspect for vote, and simply voted to “support the 2030 Neighborhood Investment Program and City partnership with Anaheim First.” It passed unanimously. Everyone was on board with the intent of the initiative, but the funding, or perhaps the huge number attached to it, was where the Council became torn.
Then up for vote was whether or not to fund the first $250,000 and form a related ad hoc committee.
Councilwoman Denise Barnes moved to postpone this to the next meeting, to give everyone more time to look into this and think it over. She called this “bad government,” saying they needed more discussion and felt they were rushing it through.
Her motion failed, and the item was not postponed.
This sparked a bizarre moment in which Barnes accused the rest of the Council of racism towards her and Councilman Jose Moreno, who was the only other member expressing disdain for the item. Moreno in turn requested a recess, and Mayor Sidhu granted them three minutes. After everyone had composed themselves, they returned.
Councilman Jordan Brandman said that had “not [been] a good moment for Anaheim,” and requested that everyone make an effort to be more sensitive.
The Council then voted on the matter at hand, and the motion to invest $250,000 passed 5-1-0, with Moreno voting against, and Barnes abstaining.
