Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he is “receptive” to the Florida legislature repealing the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which essentially allows Walt Disney World its own self-governing district.
DeSantis has repeatedly criticized Disney after CEO Bob Chapek and divisions of the company denounced the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Disney released a statement announcing they hope to get the new bill repealed.
The Orlando Sentinel reports that DeSantis said of the Reedy Creek Improvement Act on Thursday in Titusville, “As the governor, I could be presented with changes to that. And I think I’ve said I’d be receptive to that. But ultimately, the Legislature would have to move forward. So I know that there’s a lot of discussion about that. And we’ll just see how that shakes out.”
He also said that the state tax breaks awarded to Disney apply to all businesses equally and he was not looking to end them.
At a different event in Palm Beach on Thursday, DeSantis said of Disney, “I don’t support special privileges in law, just because a company is powerful, and they’ve been able to wield a lot of power.”
On Friday, DeSantis said of Disney’s individual power over their property granted by the act, “I think a lot of those things that have accumulated over the years would probably not be justifiable. …I was shocked to see some of the stuff that’s in there. They could do their own nuclear power plant. Is there any other private company in the state that can just build a nuclear power plant on their own?”
A bill was previously introduced to specifically revoke Disney’s ability to build a nuclear power plant, but it did not pass the 2019 legislative session.
DeSantis said regarding tax breaks, “I think what people are pointing to is just a general program that we have for every business … Now the Legislature can certainly reevaluate that as a whole. But my view is, we should just treat everybody equally.”
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Its sad that its come to this. I really feel like Disney’s woke leadership is slowly driving the company off of a cliff. Maybe threatening to take something back that’s been taken for granted will teach Disney leadership some manners. The left lean seems to be another example of the tail wagging the dog,
Disney poked the bear…
The RCID served it’s purpose when it was enacted and for several decades. Perhaps it HAS outlived it’s purposes.
It’s seems even he is a bit hesitant on it.
Go ahead and do it Gov. Santis sign the bill when it comes up. The current Disney Co. does not hold the same values as Walter (Walt) Elias Disney the Founder of the Disney Co. They are in the process of destroying this great company and the fault is theirs alone with this Wake garbage. Maybe with this bill they might start thinking, whoops we missed up. Heads need to roll at Disney from the top down & the folks who are radical about Woke need to be let go and never allowed on property ever again. You notice what is going on TV here & I think it will be going on TV world wide soon. And you think you are busy answering phones & e-mails wait till this gets going! So wise up is that understood I said is that understood!!!
Since 1984 with the hostile takeover of Disney Productions, Reddy Creek Improvement District could have been repealed. Disney Corporate have been profiteering and been going against Roy O Disney and the final straw was the overpriced HoJo called Galactic Starcruiser. Time to tax Disney Corporate!!! 33
“But my view is, we should just treat everybody equally” [Unless you are gay or trans or black or brown or an immigrant in which case screw you!] -Ron Desantis
He’s such an embarrassment.