Anaheim Observer Civic affairs in OC's largest city.

The Orange County Health Care Agency is recommending Governor Newsom allow the Disneyland Resort and Knott’s Berry Farm be allowed to re-open, reported the OC Register: Local health authorities have given the green light for Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm to reopen while California theme parks await reopening guidelines from Gov. Gavin Newsom after more than six months of coronavirus ...

[Editor: Last week, County CEO Frank Kim sent this letter to Govenor Gavin Newsom. This is part of the ongoing movement to safely re-open Orange County continues pressuring Governor Newsom to expeditiously issue guidelines so that long-dormant segments of the local economy can re-open – permitting people to go back to work, tax revenues to begin flowing again, and generally ...

[This originally appeared on EyesOn11.com September 21, 2020.] The City of Anaheim is asking California to issue reopening safety protocols for theme parks, “citing that the city is facing unprecedented financial woes due to the closure of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.” The city currently has a $100 million deficit, and a 15 percent unemployment rate. Unite Here Local 11’s members aren’t ...

[Editor: This op-ed originally appeared in the OC Register on September 21, 2020] by Will O’Neill, Jennifer Fitzgerald, Beth Haney, Janine Heft and Brian Goodell We need to safely re-open California – or at least Orange County – now.  We are three weeks into the new “tier” system to reopen California.  The official guidelines have changed three times and we ...

The JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort, the first 4-Diamond hotel in Anaheim since the construction of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, opened for business today. The property was previously scheduled to open in March of this year, but was delayed due to the pandemic-induced statewide economic shutdown that closed the Disneyland Resort. The JW Marriott boasts 466 rooms, which include 19 suites. ...

The County of Orange yesterday announced the launch of a new SafeDineOC COVID-Safe Restaurant Campaign to incentivize Orange County restaurants to followCalifornia Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Our restaurant owners across Orange County need help right now, and we need to take steps wherever possible to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Orange County Board ...

From the Anaheim Packing District: Eager Orange County craft beer enthusiasts are elated as Modern Times, the San Diego famed brewery, plunges into the heart of Anaheim. Modern Times, CFO, Chris Sarette, proudly describes the latest 33,000-square-foot Modern Times luxury island paradise, which opened on July 28, 2020. “After four years of construction and restoration, we’re thrilled to open Leisuretown ...

The Westin Anaheim Resort, located next to the Anaheim Convention Center on the site of the old Ana Bella Hotel, is now scheduled for an October 2020 grand opening, delayed a few months by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new 4-Diamond property will feature seven restaurants, including Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, and Puesto, offering authentic Mexican ...

From the City of Anaheim: Anaheim’s City Council has selected James Vanderpool, city manager of Buena Park, as Anaheim’s next city manager. The City Council on Tuesday voted to appoint Vanderpool as city manager, pending an employment agreement. An employment agreement could come before the Council in August, and Vanderpool could join Anaheim in early September. Vanderpool has served as ...

Last week, the Anaheim Convention Center became the first convention center on the West Coast to receive the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation. As one of the first facilities in the U.S. to be certified in outbreak and infectious diseases preparation and response, the Anaheim Convention Center is on the forefront of creating an approved healthy and safe ...