California lawmakers bill to allow Disneyland to reopen ahead of schedule – deadline

On Thursday, two California Assembly members representing districts affected by the closure of Disneyland and Six Flags Magic Mountain were set to co-sponsor a bill that will place all theme parks in the “Orange – Moderate – Tier 3” category. de Covid- 19 Industry orientation for amusement parks and theme parks. Governor Gavin Newsom’s Project for a Safer Economy guidance currently restricts the reopening of theme parks until the county in which they are located reaches “Yellow – Minimum – Level 4.”

Even so, the limit of visitors in the parks would be 25% and the closed restaurants could only operate with 25% of the capacity. Disneyland, Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm were closed in March 2020.

Amusement park operators have long been irritated by what they see as the very restrictive demands placed on them by Newsom’s Blueprint. They argue that there has not been a single documented case at a theme park, and the California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA) has established its plan for rigorous virus prevention measures.

“We must be at Level Three, along with other industries that have proven they can reopen responsibly,” said Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Studios Hollywood in October. “Our employees are ready to get back to work and the fact that they won’t be able to do it until next year is shameful.”

NEW: California is launching a project for a safer economy.

It’s simple.

Your county will receive a color based on:
– Case fee
– Rate of positivity

Its color determines how companies can operate in your municipality.

Find your color and what’s open ➡️ https://t.co/xtXFwVeWc2 pic.twitter.com/fFXR7rbtU1

– Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 28, 2020

Named AB 420, the bill is being sponsored by Assembly members Sharon Quirk Silva (D-Buena Park, West Anaheim) and Suzette Valladares (R-Santa Clarita). Quirk-Silva is chairman and vice chairman Valladares of the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Media Committee on the Internet. Disneyland is, of course, in Buena Park, adjacent to Anaheim, and Magic Mountain is located in Santa Clarita.

The bill’s main objective is that authorities should “treat both large and small theme parks equally” In December 2020, the state policy was changed to allow smaller theme parks to reopen at moderate orange level, but confining larger parks to remain closed until their cities reach the most difficult level, minimum yellow. Read a preliminary version of the bill’s language here.

CAPA came out with a statement strongly supporting the plan of legislators.

“We deeply thank the members of the Quirk-Silva and Valladares Assembly for their leadership and for introducing legislation on the reopening of safe theme parks,” said Erin Guerrero, executive director of the California Attractions and Parks Association.

“Around the world, theme parks have proven that they can reopen responsibly, protecting the health of guests and staff. Science and data show that it can be done. California must allow theme parks to responsibly reopen on Orange – Moderate – Tier 3. ”

Newsom disagreed. Although he did not cite any specific data, the governor says the danger is evident.

“Of course,” said Newsom last fall, “we should be concerned with opening up a large theme park that, by definition, brings together people from all walks of life and putting ourselves and others at risk of seeing transmission rates rise” .

“Nearly a year after the parks closed in response to the pandemic, tens of thousands of employees remain unemployed, while local businesses, communities around theme parks and local governments face continuing negative consequences,” said Guerrero on Thursday.

“COVID transmission rates are improving and vaccination distribution is underway, but California’s major theme parks have no timetable and no realistic path for reopening if left at state-level ‘Yellow Minimum – Level 4’. “

On Wednesday, Newsom said he saw “the light at the end of the tunnel”, citing increased vaccination and lower case rates. But although he apparently took other positions related to the closure, such as his insistence that the state remain closed last spring and the ban on eating in restaurants, the governor has not yet moved into the state’s amusement parks.

Guerrero and others hope so. But in the absence of Newsom’s action, they applaud the bill being presented.

“California’s iconic theme parks are important economic drivers for the state and local regions,” she said. “AB 420 is necessary so that theme parks can plan to reopen responsibly and return to contributing to our state’s economic recovery.”