“Florida is dissolving the Corporate Kingdom and beginning a new era of accountability and transparency,” said deputy press secretary Redfern.
QUICK FACTS:
- Disney has agreed to hand over its self-governed Reedy Creek district to the government of Florida.
- After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) informed Disney that the company would have to pay $700 million in debt and begin paying taxes, Disney agreed to allow DeSantis to have control over the independent district.
- Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said the company is “ready to work within this new framework.”
- The “new framework” includes renaming Reedy Creek to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, wherein DeSantis will appoint a five-member board of supervisors to ensure transparency and government oversight of the district.
- “Florida is dissolving the Corporate Kingdom and beginning a new era of accountability and transparency,” said deputy press secretary Redfern.
DESANTIS GOES AFTER DISNEY:
- Ron DeSantis’ culture war with Disney took off following his parental rights bill, which critics have inaccurately dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
- Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek called DeSantis to “express [Disney’s] disappointment and concern that if [the] legislation becomes law, it could be unfairly used to target gay lesbian, non-binary and transgender kids and families.”
- In April 2022, DeSantis asked lawmakers to expand the redistricting and reapportionment special session to include the “termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968, and that includes the Reedy Creek Improvement District.”
- Detractors of the bill dissolving Disney’s special tax status said DeSantis’ move was “retaliation” for “publicly quarreling” with the Florida governor.
- DeSantis responded to the accusations, saying, “You’re a corporation based in Burbank, California, and you’re gonna marshal your economic might to attack the parents of my state. We view that as a provocation, and we’re going to fight back against that.”
BACKGROUND:
- American Faith reported that Disney’s woke values have made Christians and Conservatives feel unwelcome.
- Disney “has made it very clear that conservative Christian voices have no place visiting their parks or working at their parks,” said one employee.
- Another employee stated that Disney’s political agenda is making it “increasingly harder” to show up to work.
