Senator Pat Bates Urges California Governor to Reconsider Position on Reopening California’s Theme Parks

Iain

Senator Pat Bates Urges California Governor to Reconsider Position on Reopening California’s Theme Parks

California senator and former Disneyland employee Pat Bates is “shocked and heartbroken” to learn that 28,000 Cast Members are being laid off at Disney Parks.

The layoff announcement was made today by Disney Parks Chairman, Josh D’Amaro:

In light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the continued uncertainty regarding the duration of the pandemic – exacerbated in California by the State’s unwillingness to lift restrictions that would allow Disneyland to reopen â€“ we have made the very difficult decision to begin the process of reducing our workforce at our Parks, Experiences and Products segment at all levels, having kept non-working Cast Members on furlough since April, while paying healthcare benefits. Approximately 28,000 domestic employees will be affected, of which about 67% are part-time. We are talking with impacted employees as well as to the unions on next steps for union-represented Cast Members.

His specific reference to the state’s unwillingness to reopen Disneyland Parks prompted Senator Bates to urge the California governor to reconsider opening California’s theme parks.

Disneyland Parks have been closed since March 14 due to COVID-19 and while Disney Parks across the world have reopened to the public, a reopening date for Disneyland Resort theme parks is still in limbo.

To learn more about the Disneyland Resort, phased reopening of the Downtown Disney District and park announcements, please visit disneyland.disney.go.com.

What do you think about Senator Bates’ response? Let us know in the comments.

18 thoughts on “Senator Pat Bates Urges California Governor to Reconsider Position on Reopening California’s Theme Parks”

  1. Newsome should be dragged out by his feet from the state capitol. The impact to local CA economies, jobs and people’s livelihoods is tremendous. CA and Disney will never be able to recover as each day passes, and more CMs lose their jobs. Disgusting.

  2. Thank you so much senator because they’re already making the phone calls we’ve already had lost three friends from the Disneyland Hotel. Also my husband passed away in January from covid-19 on January 8th of this year so now I’m a single mom trying to raise her kids pay for the bills pay the rent for the verge of being a month behind on our rent and with Disney letting some of us go me and my kids will be jobless too and we’ll be on the street

  3. It is extremely important to open Disneyland for the future of these employees and to the economy. Suppressing this is hurting so many families. It could be done cautiously but Newsom keeps closing the door.

  4. Dude disney is ruthless. While most blame the gov of California. Many employees with long standing are being let go in FL as well. This is a Disney and dollars decision more than a government restriction

    • This is very true! Universal Studios Hollywood is doing the same thing, but no one is talking about it. These parks have always had a history of treating their employees horribly, while they continue making billions.

    • Idiot. Disney + brought in a lot of money. They care about their employees. Not everyone thinks like you!

    • They were still paying employee benefits even though they were losing tons of money…. Would it take Disney to go bankrupt for you to not have this relief? How many hundreds of millions do you think Disney should have lost?

  5. I have been a Disney lover for my entire life. I believe with other states opening up the theme parks, California needs to do the same. Californians are experiencing wild fires, unemployment, frustration on so many levels…let’s bring a little happiness back. We need it!!! Those workers bring such Joy to the Disney parks, we need to help them???

  6. This all just breaks my heart. I live in Anaheim I hate for people to loose there jobs. It’s been long enough. I also miss Disneyland.

  7. Just got “the call” from Disney HR. 19+ years with Disney down the drain. Thanks governor! Your disregard to middle class to concentrate on lower class just increased your margin. Born and raised in the US same as last 5 generations. I was undecided on elections overall. I’m Independent now voting Republican in State and Country elections. I will now vote no on all bills trying to be passed by Newsom.

  8. It’s so sad. She should have said something earlier. I can’t help but feel like we here in California are being punished. Disneyland brings so much joy and happiness to people and the government is keeping it closed with no hope of reopening.

  9. Governor Nuisance needs to be recalled ! 28,000 people and families need those jobs that Disney provides ! He is making things worse than they have to be.

  10. Disney finally getting payback for their money grubbing, mean ways. Recall the 3 yr old and his mom detained for hrs because he took a small item from a store? Oh, let’s raise the admission so high a family would have to take put a loan to get in. I have brought my kids up to value National Parks, not fake ones

  11. I think it is apparent that Disney Corp will be able to handle opening the two calif parks with safety restrictions if there foreign parks and Florida can be used as examples. Ib admire what Governor Newsom head done with the pressures of COVID 19 and the horrific fires, by the way, but it’s time to open socal parks, Disney, Knott’s: we cannot survive this blow since after October 10th or there about, UI ends! There are not enough jobs, too many people and a few years of economic recovery ahead of us. We want and need to go back to work. Disney has lost millions, we have lost even more; how many more homeless does the system need to see before it’s too many. A rhetorical question.
    Please open the parks in October.

Comments are closed.