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☆ Disney agrees to settle Florida lawsuit with special district backed by DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board chairman Martin Garcia, right, delivers remarks as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis listens during a news conference at CFTOD headquarters at Walt Disney World on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Disney agreed Wednesday to end litigation in state court involving a Florida special tourism district that the entertainment giant effectively controlled for more than five decades until last year after Gov. The lawsuit was originally filed in state court by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to void agreements the old district board had signed with Disney right before it was dissolved at DeSantis' behest after Disney opposed Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill backed by the governor. Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle, in a statement, said "We are pleased to put an end to all litigation pending in state court in Florida between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

Persons: Martin Garcia, Ron DeSantis, Disney, Jeff Vahle, Vahle, DeSantis Organizations: Florida Gov, Walt Disney, Disney, Gov, Central, DeSantis, Republican Locations: Florida, Lake Buena Vista , Florida, Orlando, Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The shakeup of Walt Disney World's governing district more than a year after it was taken over by Gov. Ron DeSantis' appointees continued Wednesday with the departure of its board chairman who had been highly critical of Disney. In an email, DeSantis' communications director, Bryan Griffin, thanked Garcia for “successfully navigating” the transition of the district from a governing body controlled by Disney supporters to the current iteration controlled by DeSantis appointees. As punishment for opposition to the law, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors. Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation.

Persons: Walt Disney, Ron DeSantis, Martin Garcia's, Glen Gilzean, DeSantis, Martin didn't, Bryan Griffin, Garcia, “, Garcia “, ” Griffin, Stephanie Kopelousos, Kopelousos, ”, Disney, Mike Schneider Organizations: Gov, Disney, Central, Republican, DeSantis, Florida Legislature, Straight Alliance Locations: ORLANDO, Fla, Central Florida, Orange County, Orlando, Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Morale and trust within the Walt Disney World government has deteriorated since allies of Florida Gov. With the departure of so many district employees in such a short period of time, the district is “no longer functional,” a facilities director who left last month wrote in her exit survey. Disney has sued DeSantis and the members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board in federal court in Tallahassee over the takeover, claiming its free speech rights were violated. Disney is also battling the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in state court in Orlando. Before control of the district changed hands, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney to shift control over design and construction at Disney World to the company.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, ”, “, there’s, DeSantis, hadn't, Matthew Oberly, Martin Garcia, ” Garcia, Glen Gilzean, Gilzean, Mike Schneider Organizations: —, Walt Disney, Florida Gov, Central, District, Associated Press, Republican, GOP, Florida Legislature, Disney, Improvement Locations: ORLANDO, Fla, Florida, Central Florida, “, Reedy, cronyism, Tallahassee, Orlando

☆ DeSantis' Disney board wants to cut millions from road fixes at the park. Meanwhile, it's facing huge legal fees to keep fighting Mickey Mouse in court.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

DeSantis' Disney board may cut $3 million for roadway repairs and maintenance from its 2024 budget. The tentative budget cuts come as the board expects millions in legal fees in its battle against Disney. The chairman of the board slammed the ousted Disney board, accusing it of "cronyism." Chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, Martin Garcia. Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, YouTubeThe district expects to spend over $2.6 million more in 2024 on legal fees — largely connected to DeSantis' ongoing feud with Disney.

Persons: DeSantis, Ron DeSantis, Florida —, Martin Garcia, Garcia Organizations: Disney, Service, Central, The Central, Politico, District Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida, Central Florida, The Central Florida

☆ Disney firefighters push back against DeSantis board appointees over decision to end free park passes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Disney firefighters are upset over the loss of free park passes, a perk they had long cherished. one firefighter told the DeSantis-crafted board last week. Ron DeSantis created the board to take the place of the existing district. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe board's stance has put the firefighters in a frustrating dilemma, as they once welcomed DeSantis' takeover of the tax district. In lieu of the passes, Garcia indicated that the Central Florida district was poised to give employees a roughly $1,400 pay bump.

Persons: what's, DeSantis, Ron DeSantis, Pete Simon, Aaron Clark, Ricky Clark, Martin Garcia, Garcia Organizations: Disney, Service, Walt Disney, Improvement, Central, Republican Gov, Associated Press, DeSantis Locations: Wall, Silicon, Orlando, Central Florida, Reedy

☆ Disney's governing board picked a DeSantis ally as new administrator. He'll make a $400,000 salary to oversee the governor's agenda for the district
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Disney's special tax district has a new administrator who will make a $400,000 salary. Ron DeSantis ally to run the day-to-day operations of the resort's special tax district. It is equal to what US presidents get paid, but less than what administrators of other special tax districts in Florida make. Disney's special tax district status exempts it from running its plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments. The five board members DeSantis appointed in March to oversee Disney's special tax district are unpaid.

☆ Ron DeSantis’s Oversight Board Moves to Sue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Arian Campo-Flores | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chairman Martin Garcia, third from left, said the board aims to enforce its declaration that development approvals Disney struck with a previous board were null and void. Photo: Zack Wittman for The Wall Street JournalThe board overseeing the district covering Walt Disney Co.’s Orlando-area theme parks authorized its lawyers to sue the entertainment giant in state court, without explaining what the suit would allege. The lawsuit, expected in a central Florida court, would mark the latest salvo in the escalating battle between the company and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis .

☆ Florida board picked by DeSantis to countersue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) -An oversight board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday said it would file a countersuit against Walt Disney Co in state court, according to prepared remarks seen by Reuters. Slideshow ( 2 images )The decision, which further escalates tensions between Disney and the state of Florida, comes in response to a lawsuit Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district board. The skirmish began last year after Disney criticized a Florida measure banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney’s virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. “The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business,” Martin said.

☆ Florida board picked by DeSantis countersues Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | Tom Hals | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

(Reuters) - A district board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee development around Walt Disney Co’s Florida theme parks sued the company on Monday to void “backroom deals” favorable to the entertainment giant. The state court lawsuit escalates tensions between Disney and the Republican governor and likely presidential candidate. It comes in response to a case Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district board. DeSantis who is expected to soon declare his candidacy for U.S. president, has repeatedly attacked “woke Disney” in public remarks. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board maintained that Disney rushed through the agreement before the new board assumed oversight of municipal services and development within the 25,000 acres of land in and around Walt Disney World.

☆ DeSantis-aligned board votes to sue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis – voted on Monday to sue the company days after the entertainment giant filed its own lawsuit against the board. “Since Disney sued us – yes, we didn’t sue Disney, Disney sued us – we have no choice now but to respond,” said Martin Garcia, chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors. Before the board was selected in February, Disney had reached agreements with the outgoing board that limited the power of DeSantis’ appointees. The new board voted last week to nullify those agreements, prompting Disney to sue DeSantis and the new board. Disney sued DeSantis and the board in federal court in the Northern District of Florida.

☆ DeSantis Disney oversight board votes to sue company over tax-district fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis to oversee Walt Disney World's operations voted Monday to sue Disney in response to the company's recent federal lawsuit alleging a campaign of political retaliation by the governor. The panel, which challenged the company's long-standing self-governing status when it replaced a Disney-backed board weeks earlier, unanimously voted to authorize a lawsuit in state court. Disney sued DeSantis last Wednesday and the oversight panel in U.S. district court in Tallahassee, Florida. DeSantis, who is expected to announce his presidential plans after the Florida state legislature ends in early May, is considered a top contender against former President Donald Trump. But the extended row against Disney, one of Florida's top employers, has recently begun to generate criticism from some of DeSantis' fellow Republicans.

☆ In emergency meeting, DeSantis-appointed board votes to counter-sue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The DeSantis-appointed board that oversees Disney's district has sued the company. The move comes after Disney filed a lawsuit in federal court in Tallahassee. The board lawsuit will be filed in Central Florida, where Disney World is. Under a decadeslong arrangement with the state, Disney doesn't have to run its plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments. Last week, DeSantis' newly appointed board said "nothing is off the table" as it took on a major overhaul of the area.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. "Disney now is forced to defend itself against a State weaponizing its power to inflict political punishment," the company said. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in Florida, had been enjoying unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight body on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney's virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks are located and attract millions of visitors each year. In the action filed in federal court in Tallahassee, Disney said it had no choice but to take legal action. DeSantis has argued that Disney, which employs roughly 75,000 people in the Florida, had been operating with unfair advantages for decades. Carlos Curbelo, a former U.S. Republican congressman from Miami, said DeSantis' attacks on Disney "made sense for a time." Florida's new oversight board on Wednesday said Disney's plans for potential expansion of Disney World did not comply with state law, and declared that agreement void.

☆ DeSantis Allies Vote to Nullify Disney’s Control of Florida Resort
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ron DeSantis of Florida to oversee government services at Disney World voted on Wednesday to nullify two agreements that gave The Walt Disney Company vast control over expansion at the 25,000-acre resort complex. Mr. Langley and another board lawyer said Disney violated Florida law in multiple ways, including by failing to fully notify the public of the actions it took. The nullification — the latest in a string of actions against Disney by Mr. DeSantis and his allies — is likely to result in legal fireworks. Disney, the state’s largest taxpayer, has signaled a willingness to fight any attempt to revoke the agreements, which it contends were done in compliance with Florida law. One of the agreements gives Disney the ability to build 14,000 additional hotel rooms, a fifth theme park and three smaller parks.

April 26 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) sued Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, asking a court to overturn state efforts to control the Walt Disney World theme parks and intensifying a battle between a global entertainment giant and a potential White House contender. A DeSantis spokesman called Disney's action "an unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of Florida voters." Disney also argues it was denied its First Amendment rights to free speech. State Republicans last year targeted Disney after it publicly clashed with DeSantis. But before the takeover by DeSantis' appointees, Disney pushed through changes to the special tax district agreement that limit the board's action for decades.

Disney alleges that DeSantis tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. It alleges that DeSantis' continued action against Disney "threatens Disney's business operations." Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging that he tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. As retaliation to the Disney executives' pledges, DeSantis took aim at a decades-long provision that gives Disney special self-governing privileges in Florida. Unlike rival parks Universal Studios and Sea World, Disney doesn't have to run their plans by zoning commissions or building-inspection departments.

It will not work,” said Martin Garcia, chairman of the DeSantis-picked Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors. Wednesday’s moves are the latest escalation in the fight between DeSantis and Disney as DeSantis moves toward a 2024 presidential bid. Disney responded by suing DeSantis, the board and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity acting secretary Meredith Ivey, seeking to block the board’s moves. But the special district also freed Disney from bureaucratic red tape and made it cheaper to borrow to finance infrastructure projects around its theme parks, among other significant advantages. DeSantis then targeted Disney’s special governing powers.

☆ Disney and DeSantis have been in a yearlong feud that began after the company spoke out against a controversial bill. Here's a timeline of the events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

After a yearlong feud, Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday, alleging that the Florida governor tried to "weaponize government power" over the company. The state Board of Education voted on Wednesday to expand that law to cover grades four to 12. Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, our state has seen record growth in jobs, GDP, and net domestic in-migration. It was the first time the board met since the revelation of the agreement between the prior district board members and Disney. On April 19, the state board approved a ban on classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades, including grades four through 12.

☆ Disney and DeSantis have been in a year-long feud that began after the company spoke out against a controversial bill. Here's a timeline of the events.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The feud began after the entertainment giant spoke out last March against a controversial piece of legislation critics have called the Don't Say Gay bill. The state Board of Education voted on Wednesday to expand that law to cover grades 4 to 12. The new district board also is considering more inspection regulations, building workforce affordable housing on land that borders the resort and theme park, and selling the district-owned utilities. It was the first time the board met since the revelation of the agreement between the prior district board members and Disney. On April 19, the state board approved a ban on classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades, including grades 4-12.

☆ Disney struck a second secret agreement to mess up DeSantis’ power grab on the company, official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The board appointed by Ron DeSantis to oversee Disney said the company struck a secret agreement. A member of the board said Disney agreed a last-minute deal to set its own utilities rate. But Disney outmaneuvered DeSantis, striking a new deal for the land Disney World occupies back in March, shielding its status for the foreseeable future. According to the board chairman, it struck the utilities deal at the same time. DeSantis has claimed there are problems with the new land deal Disney struck, and he will seek to have it overturned.

☆ Ron DeSantis allies on Disney oversight board threaten company with taxes, rate hikes and affordable housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“It really is shameful what Disney tried to do,” board chairman Martin Garcia said. However, Disney in February reached agreements with the outgoing board that seemed to render the body powerless to control the entertainment giant. Garcia said that the agreements went unmentioned by a representative for Disney when the two sides met soon after DeSantis appointed the new board. “Our board truly wished to work with Disney,” Garcia said. The board plans to vote at its April 26 meeting to void the previous agreements reached with Disney.

☆ DeSantis-picked board seeks new taxes and affordable housing at Disney after the company's 'blatant and hostile' grab for control
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

DeSantis' board overseeing Disney is considering new taxes, public transit, and housing. The board met for the first time since Disney's surprise maneuver. The five-member board met Wednesday for the first since Disney stealthily arranged a deal that would allow the theme park and resort to maintain control of its land, virtually in perpetuity. Much of the meeting made the legal case for the new board moving ahead, despite the maneuver Disney pulled last month. Firefighters who work for Disney's district said the previous board failed to give them the resources they needed to do their jobs, including new ambulances, even as Disney grew.

April 19 (Reuters) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' new oversight board has discovered another "11th hour agreement" that allows Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) to set its own utility rates at its Orlando theme parks, the board's chairman said on Wednesday. A Disney subsidiary, which provides utility services to the central Florida district that includes the Walt Disney World Resort, negotiated an agreement in February to extend its contract through 2032, Chairman Martin Garcia said at a public meeting. "Last Friday afternoon I learned for the first time about one of these new 11th hour agreements entered into between Disney and the district. "We'll have to evaluate the legality of that agreement, that essentially enables Disney to set their utility rates. The board was established to provide state oversight of a special district around Walt Disney World.

☆ DeSantis strips Disney World of its self-governing power in Florida: 'There's a new sheriff in town'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

DeSantis has officially stripped Disney World of its self-governing status. DeSantis appointed political allies to the board, which have to be approved by the Florida Senate. Ron DeSantis abolished Walt Disney World's special authority on Monday, nearly 11 months after the company spoke out publicly against his controversial education agenda. Under the new law, board members cannot be employees, owners, or operators at Disney World. DeSantis said several times during the press conference that Disney World now had to follow the same rules as other Florida theme parks.

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