Changes continue to hit the Reedy Creek Improvement District (now known as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District).
Reedy Creek Improvement District
The District’s Board of Supervisors is made up of Governor DeSantis’ appointees, and over the past few months, they have declared some of Disney’s agreements with the old board to be invalid, filed a lawsuit against Disney in state court, heard some complaints and fears from Disney Springs restaurant operators, and more. A recent district meeting revealed even more important changes and now there’s been another shakeup.
John Classe, former District Administrator was set to become a special advisor to the board of supervisors after a meeting in May this year. Classe was replaced at the same time with Glenton Gilzean who is a “supporter of Gov. DeSantis, who has appointed him to several other positions, including the Florida Commission on Ethics.”
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board
Now, there has been a big change involving Classe. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Classe is not working with the District’s board anymore. This comes after working as a special advisor for a few months and his 7 years as a District Administrator here. Alexei Woltornist, a district spokesperson, noted that Monday, July 31st was Classe’s last day.
Reedy Creek Building
“Mr. Classe was offered a consulting contract … to assist with the transition to the new leadership,” Woltornist said in an email. “That transition is now complete. The district thanks him for his service.”
©Governor Ron DeSantis Website
Classe was under a contract in this advisor role that was set to run through May 10th, 2024, however, the contract allowed Classe to resign or for the district to terminate the agreement early or without reason.
Examples used for what could have led to a termination include criminal or ethical violations and “a failure or refusal to comply with directives from the Board or Board designees.”
Reedy Creek
The District has not answered any questions about which party decided to end the contract early or why this change was made. It is now part of the long list of changes that have happened in the District since it became the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
This isn’t the only recent change for the District — Gilzean announced that the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs will be abolished at the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The district’s DEI committee will be dissolved and any DEI job duties will be eliminated.
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board
Gilzean said, “The so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were advanced during the tenure of the previous board and they were illegal and simply unamerican. Our district will no longer participate in any attempt to divide us by race or advance the notion that we are not created equal. As the former head of the Central Florida Urban League, a civil rights organization, I can say definitively that our community thrives only when we work together despite our differences.”
We’ll continue to keep you updated on the latest Disney District news, so stay tuned to DFB.
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It’s too bad Disney can’t move out of Florida. it’s too bad DeSantis is governor of Florida. Those two things cannot be changed. At least, not at this time. It’s just too bad it has come down to this.