To the editor:
I nearly spilled my coffee when I read about Governor Gavin Newsom enlisting Mark Walter and Magic Johnson from the Dodgers’ ownership group to spearhead a new fire recovery initiative.
Apparently, Walter, alongside his foundation and the L.A. Dodgers Foundation, plans to contribute up to $100 million to jump-start the fundraising efforts for this cause. While that’s certainly commendable, there’s something crucial everyone seems to be missing.
The Dodgers’ ownership is closely tied with Phillips 66, an oil company that has played a part in exacerbating climate change—the very force behind one of the most expensive disasters the U.S. has faced recently. The 76 brand, owned by Phillips 66, has its logo prominently displayed at Dodger Stadium, making it a glaring example of greenwashing from a company dealing in harmful fossil fuels.
While Los Angeles is undoubtedly grateful for their generosity, it’s essential for the Dodgers to reconsider their endorsement of a company that contributes to the very problem they are now helping to address. It’s nothing short of hypocritical, positioning the Dodgers as complicit in the factors that have intensified our fires.
The Dodgers should terminate their sponsorship deal with Phillips 66. The people of Los Angeles are paying close attention, even as they mourn.
Paul Scott, Santa Monica
