DeSantis flaunts one year anniversary of Disney self government dissolution
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis celebrated Tuesday being the one year marking since he officially dissolved Walt Disney World’s self governing district in Central Florida, formerly known as Reedy Creek.
“One year ago, I signed legislation ending what an independent audit found to be one of the worst examples of cronyism in modern U.S. history: Reedy Creek, a local government controlled by a single company; Disney,” DeSantis said. “While so many claimed ending the cronyism would be bad for Florida, the result has been transparency and accountability, including a reduction of taxes and local businesses being allowed to compete for projects, saving the district millions of dollars.”
Rep. Fred Hawkins, R-St. Cloud, sponsored the 2023 legislation.
“The federal lawsuit filed by Disney has been dismissed and the new state board continues to initiate positive reforms,” the governor said.
He posted a video running through the past year of him urging Disney “move on” from legal battles against Florida. The federal lawsuit was recently dismissed.
“I predicted then that it wasn’t going anywhere,” DeSantis recently said. “That case has been dismissed by a federal district judge […] We had basically moved on.”
The governor signed legislation replacing the former Reedy Creek board, strongly influenced by Disney, with the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board members.
Last week, DeSantis hosted a press conference in the new district touting how its new authorities have cut taxes on tenant business and that debt has not transferred to surrounding taxpayers, a common rumor dispelled since rumblings began of the Reedy Creek dissolution.
“It really provided unprecedented authority [to Disney],” DeSantis said, echoing sentiments since his war with Disney kicked off. “There was supposed to be a community that would develop [and] that just never happened.”
DeSantis said that Disney ought to be subject to the same kinds of regulations on its competitors like Universal Studios Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.
“This whole district was being run by and for the one company,” he said. “It was just a question of political power […] It was clearly not a situation that was emblematic of good government.”
According to DeSantis, $18.4 million has been saved as a result of the cuts in the last year.
He described the district’s first year of governance as a “good story” of good government, also bragging that it abolished diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI policies.
Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said that the district’s oversight has resulted in more businesses moving into the area.
