The Disney/DeSantis feud has been ongoing for quite a while now.
Cinderella Castle
From Disney opposing Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill to Gov. DeSantis dissolving the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the two have been in an ongoing battle. Disney is currently in the process of suing Ron DeSantis for what they say is retaliation against the company and an infringement on its right to free speech. Now, a neighboring theme park just added a new pawn in this game.
While Disney has been removed of its special taxing district, another theme park has been approved for one. According to The Street, Universal Orlando had recently filed for a special taxing district “that includes 719 acres and encompasses Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park that’s under construction and 13 acres for a new SunRail train station on Destination Parkway.”
Universal Orlando
On October 10th, the Orange County (Fla.) The Board of County Commissioners voted to approve this district now called The Shingle Creek Transit & Utility Community Development District.
Not only did Universal Orlando get approved for a special taxing district, but all of the board members are Universal Orlando employees, including Bradley Goeb, Bryan Julian, Erica Klostermeier, John Hanebrink, and Teresa Crews.
Universal Orlando
If you recall, the previous Reedy Creek Improvement District board of supervisors was also made up of Disney employees. However, that was changed as they were removed and replaced. The special taxing district Disney was part of was changed to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board, and the board was hand-picked by Gov. DeSantis.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ©Deadline
What’s interesting about this is that we remember DeSantis stating this about Disney: “We’re not going to have a corporation controlling its own government…That’s going to be reverted to the state. I’d rather it be the local [governments], but I don’t think that they’re prepared for it. So the state is going to have a board to run it.” He made this statement at a news conference in Tallahassee. But now, he’s approving a massive theme park to do just that.
©Fox10 News | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
DeSantis said that he’s “making sure [Disney is] paying their fair share of taxes and paying the debt.” However, he seems unconcerned that Universal has been approved for a special taxing district, and there are currently almost 2,000 other special districts in Florida that he has not attacked.
Reedy Creek Fire Department ©Reedy Creek
We’ll be interested to see how this progresses. For more Disney news, follow DFB!
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What a waste of taxpayers dollars. Vendettas have no place in governments .
The Florida residents needs to wake up remove this vengeful who has a little man complex called napoleon and his wedding was n disney world and his wife use to go there when she lived at home so this is how he shows his kids if someone disagrees with some one says them go out to try to destroy them I have family still n Florida and they want him gone he is a tyrant we have gone to Disney world many many times and love it and grew up on Disney so Florida residents I better wake up and get him and his little minons gone he is destroying your state and leave the mouse house alone
And use Carole u r so right and that is what is wrong with our government now and so sick of hearing the word woke
Such a petty little man wasting everyone’s time and energy and tax payer money simply because he hates the trans and LGBTQ+ community. He Durant even need to admit it, because actions speaks much louder than any words everything he says and dies screams HATE! What an awful governor
How is that going to look to a Judge and Jury, Governor?
Neither does DeSantis but there are enough people that agree with him in spirit and in action that he got voted in. When you see people like this in elected positions you have to realize there are that there is a majority of people who are voting these people in. So basically Florida is singing anti hero,
It’s misleading from the information provided in this article. I’ve been following this elsewhere. Disney is the largest company with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District. It was discovered there a number of inconsistencies, a significant amount money was not sent to the state for a long period of time, and they had not met some agreements to the state or county. The news of the accounting and practices between Disney and RCID are ongoing.
In this recent tax district, Universal will be paying millions via a bond for construction related to the train station near them which benefits Orange County instead of the county paying for it. It will help bring traffic to Disney as well via bus or rental transportation.
Desantis is a embarrassment to public office and should be removed. Abuse of power and control is so obvious it is almost childish.
Is anyone surprised? Did anyone really believe DeSantis was operating in anyone’s best interests except his own? Would America really consider electing such a petulant man-child consumed with self-interest for President? Ooops, we already did. Will we never learn?
Next step is Disney amending its lawsuit. DeSantis is definitely losing now.
To be clear, Disney still has a special taxing district. But DeSantis decides who controls it (which I believe is illegal).
That’s excellent news for Disney as I’m sure they’ll bring this up as evidence of retaliation for free speech in both the State and Federal lawsuits.
Ron DeSantis has again demonstrated he doesn’t have the intelligence to tie his shoes, much less govern a State or a Country.
DeSantis is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He just handed Disney lawyers another good argument that his actions against Disney were about retaliating for protected speech.
Governor DeSantis had no problem with Reedy Creek Improvement District during his first four year term, but all of a sudden had an epiphany after his government policy was criticized by Bob Chapek. DeSantis was in full presidential campaign mode when he was re-elected as Florida’s governor and decided to use Disney as a pawn to show his toughness. DeSantis is has largely abandoned his anti -woke campaign because he was losing traction in the polls. It will be interesting to hear him explain how Universal is different from Disney regarding special tax districts.
Despite what political party someone associates themself with, anyone should be able to see (especially now!) that this whole thing is a childish ploy bc it hurt his feelings when Disney didn’t agree with him.
Yeah, that won’t come back to bite him. It’ll be finnnne.
Neither does special privileges
I live in Florida and the Governor (when he can fit in being Governor) only sees what he wants and makes sure he caters to those who will give it to him.