Politics 19 state legislators call on Newsom to reopen California theme parks - OCR/SCNG

This thread contains political discussion related to the original thread topic

Darkbeer1

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
September 28, 2020

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, California 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

We write to ask you for immediate consideration of the responsible reopening of California’s theme parks. We all share a commitment to protecting the health and safety of all Californians – employees and theme park guests alike – and much has been learned about COVID since these parks voluntarily shut down more than six months ago.

Many indoor facilities are already operating safely at reduced capacities, with face covering and physical distancing requirements, and with heightened hygiene practices. Logic would suggest that since theme parks are controlled venues operating predominantly outdoors, that they too could reopen with similar health and safety protocols.

Meanwhile, theme parks throughout the country and internationally have successfully reopened and one glance at the news makes it obvious that outbreaks simply aren’t being traced back to these theme parks. Your Administration has been rightfully reliant on data and science and, to date, the data and science do not point to theme parks as sources of transmission.

We greatly appreciate your Administration’s persistent efforts to bend the COVID curve while also unveiling your “Blueprint for a Safer Economy.” With this “statewide, simple, slow, stringent” process, you are showing that fighting this virulent disease does not have to preclude the state from steadily reopening its economy and getting people back to work. Theme parks, however, have not been addressed in this Blueprint – they have no path forward, no guidance documents for the state’s expectations related to reopening, and no sense of timing to share with their anxious employees and guests. Counties are already beginning to move through tiers and yet none know when this large sector within their communities will be allowed to reopen.

With this as backdrop, we believe the time is now to move forward with theme park reopenings. Theme parks have spent the past six months preparing to reopen in a responsible manner. They have comprehensive plans that include capacity reductions, thorough health and safety protocols, and park-wide modifications to support these efforts.

We ask your Administration to provide the theme park industry with their guidance documents promptly so they can ensure their preparations are consistent with state expectations. We furthermore ask your Administration to place theme parks appropriately within the Blueprint in a way that allows them to responsibly reopen soon for the good of our constituents, communities, economies, local businesses, and local governments.

Again, we all share a commitment to health and safety and letting science and data guide our decisions. Data seems to point to a path for responsible reopening of theme parks. Doing so will not only provide safe, outdoor activities for families but also put people back to work and generate much needed income for our local governments.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

SHARON QUIRK-SILVA, Chair Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, & Internet Media Committee

Tom Daly Assemblymember, 69th District

Kansen Chu Assemblymember, 25th District

Chad Mayes Assemblymember, 42nd District

Bob Archuleta Senator, 32nd District

Tom Umberg Senator, 34th District

Sabrina Cervantes Assemblymember, 60th District

Blanca Rubio Assemblymember, 48th District

Heath Flora Assemblymember, 12th District

Phillip Chen Assemblymember, 55th District

Ling Ling Chang Senator, 29th District

Cathleen Galgiani Senator, 5th District

Tim Grayson Assemblymember, 14th District

Patrick O’Donnell Assemblymember, 70th District

Adrin Nazarian Assemblymember, 46th District

Pat Bates Senator, 36th District

Christy Smith Assemblymember, 38th District

John Moorlach Senator, 37th District

Richard Bloom Assemblymember, 50th District
 

180º

Well-Known Member
Very interesting! After reading David Koenig’s column yesterday I was thinking about how the public response Disney was trying to elicit last week never really happened. This proves otherwise.
 

cmwade77

Well-Known Member
Very interesting! After reading David Koenig’s column yesterday I was thinking about how the public response Disney was trying to elicit last week never really happened. This proves otherwise.
He isn't exactly well known for getting all the facts right.
 

britain

Well-Known Member
Not really, his track record has been 50/50 at best and the reality is not even Disney knows when they can reopen, so how would he?

He's a reliable operations & history insider. Which also gets him some news & rumor tidbits occasionally. But yes, Disney itself is in the dark, so all bets on all insiders are off.
 

el_super

Well-Known Member
Many indoor facilities are already operating safely at reduced capacities, with face covering and physical distancing requirements, and with heightened hygiene practices. Logic would suggest that since theme parks are controlled venues operating predominantly outdoors, that they too could reopen with similar health and safety protocols.

Is Disneyland considered predominantly outdoors? If they had guidance to open without any indoor attractions, would it even be worth it?

I don't think I would feel too safe on a dark ride, or really any sort of ride on a track. Imagine if the guy in the toad car in front of you was coughing up a storm and there was no way to avoid passing right thru his wake without bailing from the car. Yikes.
 

180º

Well-Known Member
Not really, his track record has been 50/50 at best and the reality is not even Disney knows when they can reopen, so how would he?
The TWDC insider situation is a hot mess and you should always take information with a pinch of salt. Koenig, Al Lutz, and a few of our own forum members are some of the better connected and more discerning.

On the other hand, you have insiders who will tell you anything they know, sometimes with low likelihood and dubious context, like our own WDW Pro and others—the granddaddy of this method being Jim Hill. (Always sketchy but always a fun read!)

And then you have those who are purely actors.

Aaaaaaanyway, I also thought it would be interesting to see party affiliations, to see if this letter was politically charged in any sort of obvious way. It would seem not.


SHARON QUIRK-SILVA, Chair Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, & Internet Media Committee
Democrat

Tom Daly Assemblymember, 69th District
Democrat

Kansen Chu Assemblymember, 25th District
Democrat

Chad Mayes Assemblymember, 42nd District
Independent (formerly Republican)

Bob Archuleta Senator, 32nd District
Democrat

Tom Umberg Senator, 34th District
Democrat

Sabrina Cervantes Assemblymember, 60th District
Democrat

Blanca Rubio Assemblymember, 48th District
Democrat

Heath Flora Assemblymember, 12th District
Republican

Phillip Chen Assemblymember, 55th District
Republican

Ling Ling Chang Senator, 29th District
Republican

Cathleen Galgiani Senator, 5th District
Democrat

Tim Grayson Assemblymember, 14th District
Democrat

Patrick O’Donnell Assemblymember, 70th District
Democrat

Adrin Nazarian Assemblymember, 46th District
Democrat

Pat Bates Senator, 36th District
Republican

Christy Smith Assemblymember, 38th District
Democrat

John Moorlach Senator, 37th District
Republican

Richard Bloom Assemblymember, 50th District
Democrat
 

GimpYancIent

Well-Known Member
The TWDC insider situation is a hot mess and you should always take information with a pinch of salt. Koenig, Al Lutz, and a few of our own forum members are some of the better connected and more discerning.

On the other hand, you have insiders who will tell you anything they know, sometimes with low likelihood and dubious context, like our own WDW Pro and others—the granddaddy of this method being Jim Hill. (Always sketchy but always a fun read!)

And then you have those who are purely actors.

Aaaaaaanyway, I also thought it would be interesting to see party affiliations, to see if this letter was politically charged in any sort of obvious way. It would seem not.


SHARON QUIRK-SILVA, Chair Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, & Internet Media Committee
Democrat

Tom Daly Assemblymember, 69th District
Democrat

Kansen Chu Assemblymember, 25th District
Democrat

Chad Mayes Assemblymember, 42nd District
Independent (formerly Republican)

Bob Archuleta Senator, 32nd District
Democrat

Tom Umberg Senator, 34th District
Democrat

Sabrina Cervantes Assemblymember, 60th District
Democrat

Blanca Rubio Assemblymember, 48th District
Democrat

Heath Flora Assemblymember, 12th District
Republican

Phillip Chen Assemblymember, 55th District
Republican

Ling Ling Chang Senator, 29th District
Republican

Cathleen Galgiani Senator, 5th District
Democrat

Tim Grayson Assemblymember, 14th District
Democrat

Patrick O’Donnell Assemblymember, 70th District
Democrat

Adrin Nazarian Assemblymember, 46th District
Democrat

Pat Bates Senator, 36th District
Republican

Christy Smith Assemblymember, 38th District
Democrat

John Moorlach Senator, 37th District
Republican

Richard Bloom Assemblymember, 50th District
Democrat
More politburo hot air and smoke. The Peoples Republic of California does not need more. Deed's and actions not words are needed.
 

mickEblu

Well-Known Member
Is Disneyland considered predominantly outdoors? If they had guidance to open without any indoor attractions, would it even be worth it?

I don't think I would feel too safe on a dark ride, or really any sort of ride on a track. Imagine if the guy in the toad car in front of you was coughing up a storm and there was no way to avoid passing right thru his wake without bailing from the car. Yikes.


Well you could just stay home for the rest of your life?
 

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