Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has won a battle against the Walt Disney Co. The Republican now has effective control of the board that oversees development in and around the company’s theme parks. The bill, which received legislative approval on Friday (2/10), gives the politician the authority to appoint five supervisors to administer what is now known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a self-governing district of Disney, created in 1967, covering nearly 25 square miles of Orange and Osceola counties, which include Disney theme parks and resorts. The district gave the company great autonomy and tax exemption.
DeSantis waged political and ideological warfare against the House of Mickey Mouse after Disney objected to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, which bars state elementary school teachers from addressing gender issues and empowers parents to sue schools for alleged violations. In April of last year, the politician created the project to end Disney’s exemptions in retaliation.
Reiterating that this was purely an ideological act, he accused Disney in 2022 of promoting an LGBTQIAP+ agenda to “inject sexuality into the programming provided for our youngest children.” And stated, “I don’t want this kind of program to get special treatment in my state. I just don’t accept it.”
Celebrating the legislative victory, DeSantis spokesman Bryan Griffin tweeted, “Reedy Creek has granted extraordinary special privileges to a single company. Until Governor Ron DeSantis took action, Disney retained sole control of the entire area. That amounted to irresponsible corporate reign, but that is all over and we are beginning a new era of accountability and transparency.”
Disney World is Florida’s largest employer, with about 75,000 employees, expected to draw 36.2 million guests in 2021, according to the Themed Entertainment Association. Tax experts and lawmakers have warned that the borough’s June 2023 elimination will leave Disney in debt to Orange and Osceola counties that could exceed $1 billion for road and sewer maintenance at their destinations. , parks and for the provision of other public services, such as water and electricity. Additionally, Orange County alone is estimated to earn $163 million annually in taxes from Disney.
The new bill preserves the Reedy Creek Special District, though it will be renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District within 2 years and have the authority to raise revenues, pay off debts and provide a range of government services. Starting in June, the district will be prohibited from, for example, operating its own airport or building nuclear power plants. The legislation also expressly prohibits anyone with ties to the theme parks within the past three years from serving on the board of directors.
Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle said in a statement, “For more than 50 years, the Reedy Creek Improvement District has operated to the highest standards of quality, and we appreciate all that the district has done to help us grow and become one of the largest economic contributors to the state. Now we are focused on the future and ready to work in this new framework”.
Source: Terra
I am Amanda Gans, a motivated and ambitious professional in the news writing industry. With over five years of experience in this field, I have developed an eye for detail and an ability to craft stories that captivate readers. I currently write for Gossipify, where I specialize in beauty & celebrities news. My passion lies with exploring the world of beauty through writing, interviewing experts and developing articles that are both informative and entertaining.
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