Disney World went through some HUGE changes in 2022.
Walt Disney World entrance
After a battle with Florida State Governor Ron DeSantis, the Reedy Creek District was dissolved and replaced by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, with board members appointed by DeSantis. One member of that board is Glen Gilzean, who resigned from the Florida Ethics Commission after being advised that public employees were not permitted to serve on the government watchdog panel. Now, a member of the Florida Ethics Commission has been awarded a large contract by the board.
Here’s a little background: Gilzean was a chairman of the Florida Ethics Commission but was also an administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. However, Steven Zuilkowski, the ethics commission’s general counsel, stated that Gilzean could not hold both positions. Therefore, Gilzean resigned from the Florida Ethics Commission
©Orlando Sentinel | Glen Gilzean, left, and board member Ron Peri, right
According to Fox 30, though, a current Florida Ethics Commission member who worked with Gilzean just several months ago, Freddy Figgers, has been hired to develop a new system to improve wireless 911 calls. Gilzean said, “The district is investing a million dollars for a new communication network and completely separating from the Walt Disney World system.”
©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream
Emails show that district board members reached out to Figgers early in August 2023, who is also the CEO of Figgers Communication, Inc. A week later, the board sent a contract to Figgers’ consulting firm and finalized it without accepting bids from other companies. According to the board, this was because Figgers committed to a shorter timeframe to do the work.
The contract is to improve wireless 911 calls
Figgers media team said, “This new architecture will enable all wireless emergency calls to be directly routed to the district’s 911 system, significantly reducing response times and potentially saving lives.” The team also said the agreed-upon contract would be less than a million dollars, although it did not provide an actual number.
EPCOT
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There is no end to the disingenuous and disgusting ways DeSantis will show that he’s just a petty, mean little person. How typical of DeSantis to appoint political cronies – with absolutely NO expertise or experience in construction, planning or any other area of importance to properly manage Disney World. The icing on the cake? A former member of the State (lack of) Ethics Commission participates in an underhanded, no competitive bid process for a million dollar contract.
DeSantis can criticize Reedy Creek all he wants, and the agreements they made with Disney before their dissolution, but at least everything they did, was above board, open and legal.
They have no business messing with a system they know nothing about.
Exactly 100% correct, Larry.
Having worked in government for almost 30 years, this just does not pass the “smell test”.
No surprise that an “ethics” guy seems to not get ethics!
And still DeSantis is beloved by many Floridians. Ethics does not matter when the voters either do not understand or the do not care.
I hope Florida citizens plan to vote out of office those in power during the next FL elections. And put in to place someone who will immediately reverse every single one of DeSantis policies. If Florida residents do not vote to do so, it shows the majority of the state supports and is complicit in every move DeSantis and his cronies make.
Whatever happened to our Florida, Sunshine Laws?
Seems DeSantis just changes or creates new laws to benefit him and his cronies. Being vindictive is not a good quality Ronnie!!
Amen to that Matt. I sincerely hope that all our fellow Floridians vote DeSantis and his minions out of office. He is destroying our state.
Sorry but this all started when Disney got into politics, I love Disney but not their stand on indoctrination of children supported by recent Disney leadership, most Floridians support DeSantis in that regard
I guess the questions are what exactly is wrong with the old system that it needs a million dollar overhaul? What were the old response times? What are the new ones expected to be?
Government contacts are supposed to include other bids. The board can’t say it was granted to this buddy on the ethics board bc of quicker completion date bc they can NOT know that bc they didnt bid it out!
More corruption than ever! Who believes this is OK? There are Republicans still saying DeSantis is the best governor ever! They must only listen to extreme RT news or not read or listen to any news! Very said indeed for FL and FL residents who will be paying the repercussions including financial for a long time. Losing the Disney suit alone will cost them!