Anaheim Council Members Hope to Continue Angels Ticket Donations Despite Backlash

Last year the FBI filed affidavits in court alleging that resort interests in Anaheim have a disproportionate presence in the Anaheim City Council. In the now-infamous attempted sale of Angel Stadium, the city council and other high-ranking government officials allegedly violated transparency laws when they attempted to sell the 153-acre property for $150 million to Angels owner Arte Moreno.

With all what Councilman Jose Moreno called "a pandemic of corruption" looming, council members are still given hundreds of free tickets to Angel Stadium and the Honda Center each year.

Each council member gave at least a quarter of the free tickets to schools and nonprofits, according to city ticket disclosures reviewed by Voice of OC. The remainder went to sources closer to the council, including campaign donors, friends and family or individual staff members, including city council members themselves.

To some, the continued practice sheds light into a city council seemingly desperate to keep their practices in the shadows.

"It's a terrible look. Even if every council member since Anaheim was created has gotten these same things. Things look different in the light of an FBI investigation," said Fullerton College Political Science Professor Jodi Balma. "If I were the FBI, I'd really ask some questions about a council that was still accepting (tickets) while still negotiating (a potential sale)."

(Via Voice of OC)

While city officials told Voice of OC that the ticket distribution is aimed at giving community groups access to games and to reward city volunteers, their disclosure system makes it difficult to track each gift down.

A review of local records showed that Councilman Carlos Leon gave 54% of his tickets to local nonprofits, the most of any council member. Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava gave the most tickets to herself while Councilwoman Natalie Meeks gave the most tickets to family members.

Given the influence the council has over decisions that directly affect both stadiums, some think that any gifts between the two parties could be seen as innapropriate.

"Anytime that elected officials are getting perks," Neil deMause, an author and stadium expert, said. "That's something that is going to potentially sway them and how they will vote on anything from a lease extension to stadium upgrades to land sales and things like that."

(Via Voice of OC)

Voice of OC provides a detailed report on the ticket managements of Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken as well as the city council members.