![]() ![]() ![]() It's also the target of a new law the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature passed last week that seeks to rescind the deal.ĭisney made a whopping $7.4 billion from its parks for the most recent quarter of the 2022 financial year - up 70 percent from a year earlier, when it was recovering from COVID shutdowns. The agreement, which also gave Disney control of design and construction of the theme park resort, is at the center of the dueling lawsuits. Those included tattoo parlors, liquor stores, adult entertainment, oil refineries and trailer parks. 'If the goal is leveling the playing field,' Iger said, 'then a uniform application of the law or government oversight of special districts needs to occur or be applied to all special districts.'īefore DeSantis' allies took over Disney World's governing district, the old board - controlled by Disney supporters - reached an agreement in February with the company to prohibit a long list of businesses from ever operating near its property. 'This is plainly a matter of retaliation.' 'There was no concreted effort to dismantle Reedy Creek until we spoke out on legislation,' Iger said on Wednesday. The Disney CEO repeated his argument that his company faced retaliation in return for speaking out. To take away Disney's self-governing power, DeSantis appointed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District controlled by Disney and oversaw development at Disney World. The DeSantis/Disney clash began when the company spoke out against the governor's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law - a state law prohibiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity.Īs part of that war, DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida legislature terminated the self-governing privileges that Disney World had held since 1967. He pointed out the other special districts weren't targeted like Reedy Creek was. ![]() 'It's easy to say Reedy Creek benefits us, but it's misleading not to say how it benefited the state of Florida.' 'There are 2,000 special districts in Florida to foster business and investment,' he said, pointing to one maintained by Daytona International Speedway. He pointed that Florida maintains special districts, like the old Reedy Creek that housed Disney before DeSantis removed it, to encourage investment. He's also turned it into part of his 'war on woke' as he makes the culture wars a centerpiece of his strategy.īut Iger launched his own counter-offensive on his call with his investors on Wednesday. The governor's battles against Disney have elevated his national profile ahead of speculation he will announce a presidential bid this spring. Both have made threats, including ones from DeSantis that include increasing hotel taxes and road tolls and building a prison on ground the state owns near the Disney theme park. Disney sued Florida and the state countersued. Neither Iger, the 72-year-old long time CEO of Disney, nor DeSantis, the 44-year-old Republican governor with presidential ambitions, are showing signs of backing down in their war.Įach side has, instead, attempted to one up the other. 'We certainly never expected to be in the position of defending our business interests in federal court considering the relationship we've had with the state for 50 years,' Iger said.ĭeSantis hasn't yet responded directly to Iger's threat but, in the past, has shown no hesitancy in taking on the company, saying: 'Disney does not have a right to corporate welfare.' He said he's 'closely evaluating where it makes sense to direct future investments' in Disney's theme parks. Iger said Florida is acting unfairly and asked the shareholders: 'Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people and pay more taxes or not?' Disney CEO Bob Iger warned the company could rethink its plans for $17 billion in investments and 13,000 new jobs at Disney World - above Iger is seen with actress Halle Bailey at 'The Little Mermaid' premiere this week
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