There’s No Such Thing as a Free Pass : * Anaheim Officials Should Limit Gifts From Disney Until Expansion Plans Are Final

Anaheim can hardly be blamed if it is charmed by Disneyland. After all, since 1955 the Magic Kingdom has brought more than 300 million visitors, and countless millions of dollars in sales taxes and business profits, to Anaheim’s door.

But Anaheim’s city officials must steer clear of pixie dust as they negotiate with Disneyland on a proposed $3-billion expansion. Anaheim could be asked to pay for $500 million in parking lots and other amenities for the massive expansion. The magnitude of the proposal dictates that city officials be free of the perception of influence from Disney in order to strike the right deal.

Campaign contributions made by Disney in Anaheim, which have risen from $4,250 in 1987 to $24,250 in 1990, could erode public confidence in the objectivity of elected officials. And gifts, even poinsettia plants at Christmas or Disneyland passes, obviously are intended to endear city officials to Disney. Such largesse by any company, while it may be legal, is yet another example of the need for campaign financing reform at local, state and national levels.

In this case, the magnitude of the project and the amount the city might have to kick in argue for a city no-gifts policy that goes beyond state law, which limits public officials to receiving no more than $250 in gifts a year. The City Council should also institute strict campaign contribution limits on all givers, Disney included; currently, there are none.

City officials maintain that they are free of influence, but that’s hard to define. Would a City Council member feel more kindly toward Disney because he received $10,250 in campaign funds in 1989-90, as did Anaheim Mayor Fred Hunter? Would a city finance director be less tough in his analyses because he’s taken free Disneyland passes? Or a city manager pull his punch because he socialized with Disney executives at a Disney-paid golf and fishing trip to San Diego’s posh Hotel del Coronado?

The city officials involved in these instances--all of which are legal--would say, “Of course not.” But the time has come to step back.

The city’s growing discomfiture with Disney’s largesse has surfaced in recent years as the expansion proposal has come closer to reality. For example, the San Diego fishing and golfing trip--a traditional social event for Anaheim officials for more than 30 years--was stopped this year because of fears it might be viewed as a conflict. That was a step in the right direction. Other steps, such as banning gifts and limiting campaign contributions, should follow.