By Skyler Swisher
Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. 鈥� Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Monday that gives the state control of Disney World鈥檚 Reedy Creek Improvement District, stripping the resort of its self-governing powers amid a feud with the governor.
鈥淭oday, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,鈥� said DeSantis at Reedy Creek Fire Station No. 4 on Disney property where he signed the bill. 鈥淭his is what accountability looks like.鈥�
The law, effective immediately, gives the governor the power to appoint all five members of the governing board of the district. Members face Senate confirmation.
The governor also announced his choices for the board: Bridget Ziegler, a member of the Sarasota County School Board and a supporter of Moms for Liberty; Seminole County attorney Michael Sasso; attorney Martin Garcia of Tampa as chairman; Ron Peri, CEO of The Gathering USA, a ministry that focuses on faith and culture; and Clearwater attorney Brian Aungst.
The law also renames Reedy Creek as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
Disney and Reedy Creek officials did not respond to requests for comment.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, issued a statement slamming the state takeover. While the district鈥檚 leadership has changed, most of its special powers remain intact.
鈥淒isney still maintains the same tax breaks 鈥� but their First Amendment rights have been suppressed, and it sends a message to any private individual or company that if you don鈥檛 purport to what the governor wants, then you鈥檒l be punished,鈥� she said.
Under the old law passed by the Legislature as Walt Disney prepared to build his theme park in 1967, the district鈥檚 landowners elected the board members. Because Disney owns almost all of the land in the district, it picked all of them.
That law gave Disney unique control over development and other services within its boundaries, something usually reserved for cities and counties.
DeSantis said the arrangement gave Disney an unfair advantage.
The change in the law comes amid the company鈥檚 opposition to what critics call the 鈥渄on鈥檛 say gay鈥� law approved by DeSantis and the Legislature last year. It prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for grades kindergarten through 3 or in a manner that is not 鈥渁ge appropriate.鈥�
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against the law, and Disney suspended political contributions in Florida after DeSantis signed it.
Last year, the governor pushed Florida lawmakers to abolish Reedy Creek effective June 1 of this year, but they left the option of keeping it with changes, which is what lawmakers ultimately did in a special session this month.
Dissolving the district could have saddled Orange and Osceola counties with Reedy Creek鈥檚 $1 billion in debt.
DeSantis signed the bill in a bay at Reedy Creek鈥檚 fire department, standing in front of a fire truck with an American flag. Reedy Creek firefighters and emergency workers backed him and presented a ceremonial ax to DeSantis as spectators applauded.
John Shirey, president of Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters, praised the state takeover and criticized the previous board for its handling of public safety issues, which he said led to personnel and ambulance shortages.
The union of about 200 firefighters, paramedics and emergency workers has clashed with the district鈥檚 administration in contract negotiations and endorsed DeSantis鈥� reelection effort.
鈥淔or many years, there has been a blatant disregard and bias against the first responders here,鈥� Shirey said. 鈥淭he lack of concern for public safety has been very apparent by the Reedy Creek administration and this current Board of Supervisors. This bias has created major public safety shortcomings.鈥�
DeSantis suggested that one of the board鈥檚 first acts could be boosting compensation for emergency personnel. Disney also could pay more for transportation projects with the state now in charge of the board, and taxpayers will not be stuck with extra costs, DeSantis said.
He also used the event to criticize Disney for COVID-19 restrictions, such as mask requirements for children and vaccine mandates for employees, and what he considers to be 鈥渨oke鈥� corporate policies.
鈥淲e want our kids to be kids,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淲e want them to be able to enjoy entertainment (and) school without having an agenda imposed upon them.鈥�
Other speakers included an Osceola mother upset at Disney entertainment offerings and an employee who didn鈥檛 like the company鈥檚 vaccine and mask policies.
The new board is scheduled to meet on March 8.
鈥淏uckle up,鈥� DeSantis told the crowd.
鈥斺赌斺赌�
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