Disney’s Sweet Deal With OCTA

* In 1990, Disneyland bankrolled the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Measure M sales tax campaign. Now, the OCTA is applying for federal and state grants so taxpayers will pick up the tab for Disney’s $220-million parking structure and connector roads to the Santa Ana Freeway. Could these facts be linked?

Last year, Michael Eisner, Disney’s head honcho, was paid over $200 million. If Goofy needs a garage and Donald wants a driveway, why doesn’t Uncle Mikey pay for them?

I hope the voters watch closely and at the next election tell the Looney Toons political porkmeisters responsible for this giveaway, “Th-th-that’s all, folks.”

BILL WARD

Costa Mesa

* The decision by the Orange County Transportation Authority to commit $50 million in tax dollars to build a parking garage for the Disney corporation regardless of whether the project is built is further proof of official willingness to sell out the public.

How long will OCTA’s decision and Gov. (Pete) Wilson’s gift delay true public transportation needs? How much longer will we sit gridlocked on quake-prone freeways while Disney profits are guaranteed by our sales taxes?

The much-quoted “public-private partnership” is bureaucratized for the use of public funds to underwrite a private project.

The governor, OCTA and the city of Anaheim are diverting public resources from public needs to fund the private project of a very profitable multinational entertainment giant.

Disney could issue its own bonds or seek private financing for the project, but the Euro Disneyland debacle would make this costly. Better to pass the risk to the taxpayers.

Anaheim officials are considering a development agreement to fund one-third of the project cost through city bond sales. Since reasoned objections to the project have been consistently ignored by our elected representatives, we hope to put this rip-off before the voters through the referendum process.

STEVE WHITE

Vice President

Anaheim Homeowners

Maintaining Their Environment