Opponents of a ballot measure to require the Disneyland Resort and some hotels in Anaheim to pay a living wage say it would have severe consequences for businesses and neighborhoods.
The opponents, including the resort and the city's Chamber of Commerce, Friday night submitted their position against the measure to appear alongside the ballot initiative in the Nov. 6 election.
"It helps very few workers while creating severe consequences that harm EVERY Anaheim neighborhood and resident," according to their argument.
They argued that the higher pay would scare off business and force the city to cut "city funds to pay for vital services such as police, fire parks and homeless support."
Supporters of the measure, who also submitted their argument to the city clerk's office Friday, say the living wage, starting at $15 an hour, would help Anaheim because "if workers get paid more, they spend more, lifting the economy for everyone."
In the pro-living-wage argument, supporters also point to an Occidental College study that said many Disneyland employees don't earn enough to pay for basic necessities, such as rent and utilities.
The Walt Disney Co. agreed on a contract last month with four labor groups representing about 9,700 workers at the resort, agreeing to raise the minimum hourly wage of $11 to $13.25 immediately and $15 in January.
The ballot measure, which targets only large hospitality businesses that accept city subsidies, would raise the minimum hourly wage to $15 for workers at large hotels and for all 30,000 workers at the Disneyland Resort. The measure would take effect 10 days after the vote is confirmed.
The supporters of the measure say the city of Anaheim is on track to give more than $600 million in tax subsidies in and around the Disney resort over the next 20 years.
An analysis of the measure by the Anaheim city attorney's office does not include a prediction on the financial impact of the measure on the city or its businesses if approved.
