The Wanda Group is accused of blocking the Beverly Hills ballot measure, a legislation that would allow the construction of a 26-storey hotel.
The accusation came from the Beverly Hilton union, Unite Here Local 11, the Southern California chapter of a labor union that represents 270,000 workers across North America. The union said that the Wanda Group is funneling money to oppose the measure.
The ballot measure would allow the Hilton to build a 26-storey establishment without usual public review. The Wanda Group and its partner, Athens Group, is building a hotel adjacent to the Hilton property.
The funding is said to be coursed through Lakeshore East Parcel LLC, a Wanda-owned property developer in Chicago.
"This is a campaign fully funded and controlled by American interests with no foreign control or money in any way, shape or form," said Adam Englander, a representative from Wanda.
The Wanda Group also said that they have not received any complaint.
A spokesperson from the ballot measure also said that they had no knowledge of the complaint.
Rachel Torres, a research analyst at Unite Here Local 11, said, "Hotel workers have fought to ensure good jobs at the Beverly Hilton and other area hotels. We do not want to see illegal foreign contributions from a company that has no such history and has made no such commitment attempt to take away our quality jobs and undermine our standard."
Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch also opposes the construction of the new Beverly Hilton property while indicating his favor on the Wanda Group.
He said, "Beverly Hills is not Manhattan; we are not Dubai; and we are not Century City. There is simply no good reason for us to allow such a ridiculously outsize monstrosity just to satisfy the financial desires of a developer."