OC Board Set To Waste $150k On Corporate Subsidies For Tourism

Companies worth billions demand taxpayer gifts again

​The Orange County Board of Supervisors is on the verge of subsidizing local tourism businesses with $150,000 in taxpayer funds.

According to the agenda for the all-Republican board's Oct. 25 meeting, the Orange County Tourism Council--which includes politically well-connected officials from revenue-rich Disneyland, corporate lobbying firms and resort hotels--will use the public money to sell "Orange County as a beautiful place to visit" on the private group's website.

But the website--www.visittheoc.com--already exists, touting this place as "forever summer."

"Think of what it is that you like to do most," the website message asks. "Relaxing on a breathtaking stretch of sun-drenched beach? Losing yourself in a world of fantasy, magic and fun? Now go out and do it. Because you're in Orange County, where there's more to do than you could even imagine."

The website also declares that we're known as "The OC."

Really?

(Perhaps the public's $50,000 a year for the next 36 months will go to produce a better message.)

Whatever happened to the notion that private companies should be responsible for attracting their own customers?

--R. Scott Moxley / OC Weekly