Anaheim's Big Tax Talk: What's the Deal?

Anaheim is thinking about adding new taxes on fun stuff. The city council is going to talk about it on October 28. Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava is leading this idea. She wants to add a 3% tax on tickets for big events and a 10% tax on parking at large venues. The plan is to tax places with more than 20, 000 seats or 1, 500 parking spots. But not all places will be taxed. For example, Honda Center and the new OCVibe project won’t be included because they don’t meet the size requirements. Also, the Anaheim Convention Center is off the hook. Disneyland and Angel Stadium would be affected. But Angel Stadium has a special deal until 2038, so they might get their money back. Anaheim doesn’t have an entertainment tax right now. If this plan goes through, it could bring in a lot of money—between $108 million and $164 million every year. But first, five out of seven council members need to agree to put it on the ballot for the 2026 election. This is a big decision. It could mean more money for the city, but it also means higher costs for visitors. What do you think? Is it fair to tax fun activities like this?