Update: The Anaheim City Council dismissed the admission tax proposal without voting on it. You can read more from local news site Voice of OC.
A 2 percent tax on admission to Disneyland and other Anaheim entertainment venues will be on the agenda for Tuesday’s Anaheim City Council meeting.
The proposed tax would cover any venues in the city with a capacity of 15,000 or more — meaning Disneyland’s two theme parks and the city’s two pro sports venues, Angel Stadium and the Honda Center. Before being enacted, the tax would have to clear two hurdles: first, five of the city’s six councilmembers would have to vote for it, and then it would be placed on the November ballot, requiring approval from a majority of voters to take effect.
Back in 2015, the council had passed a measure banning any Disneyland admission tax for up to 45 years, leading some Disney bloggers and influencers to claim the current proposal was dead on arrival. However, Councilman Jose Moreno (who supported a tax in 2015 before being elected) told Theme Park Tribune that the 2015 agreement was “mutually dissolved” when the city, at Disney’s request, eliminated some tax incentives for the resort in 2018.
Moreno told KABC that the proposed tax could raise up to $82 million per year for the city, and could be used for services such as a new senior center, restoring library services, and hiring more police officers and firefighters.
Knott’s Berry Farm increasing security after weekend’s violent fights
After violent fights closed Knott’s Berry Farm three hours early this past Saturday, the park says it will beef up security and increase the presence of local police.
The sudden closure was due to multiple fights among teenagers, including one that appeared to show a Knott’s security guard being jumped by guests, and some guests ran towards exit amid inaccurate reports of gunfire inside the park.
According to the Los Angeles Times, there was extra security and staff monitoring the park when it reopened Sunday.
Current Knott’s policy states, “We strongly recommend that minors (under 18) be accompanied by an adult.” Other parks with similar issues have responded with more age-related restrictions. Kennywood, located near Pittsburgh, instituted a chaperone policy in 2021 requiring that anyone 17 and under had to be accompanied by an adult 21 or older after 4 p.m.
Sesame Place Philadelphia says Rosita character was not shunning kids due to race
Sesame Place Philadelphia says accusations of racism over a viral video involving the Rosita character was a misunderstanding.
As reported by NBC News, the video shows two Black girls reaching out towards the costumed character, who appears to shake their head “no” and walk away without interacting with the two. The post by the mother claimed, “THIS DISGUSTING person blatantly told our kids NO then proceeded to hug the little white girl next to us!”
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The SeaWorld-owned Sesame Place apologized in a statement posted to Instagram and said the “no” gesture was directed to multiple requests from spectators for the costumed character to hold children for photos, which isn’t allowed.
“The Rosita performer did not intentionally ignore the girls and is devastated about the misunderstanding,” the statement said.