Letters to the Editor: Gavin Newsom is right to resist pressure on reopening Disneyland

Los Angeles Times Opinion
·1 min read
ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Stanchions that normally direct long lines remain empty at the Disneyland Park ticket booth while Disneyland remains closed on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020 in Anaheim, CA. After suffering losses for months due to Gov. Newsom's mandatory coronavirus shut-down, Disney says it will lay off 28,000 employees across its parks, experiences and consumer products segment.(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Ticket booths outside Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim are empty as the theme parks remain closed Sept. 30. (Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: I thank Gov. Gavin Newsom for resisting pressure from Walt Disney Co. to allow Disneyland and other such attractions in California to reopen. Our society has far more important priorities than theme park rides. ("Disneyland's push to reopen sets up critical moment in California's coronavirus fight," Oct. 1)

It is heartbreaking, though, that tens of thousands of livelihoods are at risk while the park remains closed. Here, corporate greed offers a solution.

In 2018, then-Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger, now the company's executive chairman, earned $65 million. Surely he can spare a bit to support his out-of-work employees and their communities.

Kristin Roberts, Pasadena

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To the editor: Would Disney rather have opened its parks in California and then learned from contact tracing that hundreds of deaths would have been traced back to its visitors?

Also, does it really expect people to believe that it cannot afford to continue to furlough workers instead of laying them off? Maybe it should not point fingers at Sacramento and instead tighten the belts of its executives.

Christi Engel, Topanga

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.