Disney World board picked by DeSantis hints future actions
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. –
The first assembly of the brand new board of Walt Disney World’s authorities — overhauled by sweeping laws signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as punishment for Disney publicly difficult Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” invoice — handled the rote affairs some other municipal authorities would deal with: requires higher firefighter tools, classes on public data requests and bond scores.
But the 5 board members appointed by DeSantis hinted Wednesday at future controversial actions they could take, together with prohibiting COVID-19 restrictions at Disney World and eliminating two cities that had been created when the Florida legislature in 1967 permitted the theme park resort’s self-governance.
The board additionally permitted hiring the identical legislation agency that suggested the governor’s workplace in making modifications to the governing district to assist interpret the brand new laws.
For probably the most half, the brand new board members listened in a resort ballroom exterior Disney World as members of the general public and employees from the district’s departments defined what they do.
Martin Garcia, the board’s new chair, stated the key distinction between the previous board managed by Disney and the brand new one appointed by DeSantis will probably be a broader constituency encompassing greater than only a single firm, as an alternative additionally representing employees and residents of surrounding communities.
“You didn’t elect us, but the people of Florida elected a governor who appointed us,” Garcia stated. “I see there will be much broader representation.”
The different new board members for what has been rechristened the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District included Bridget Ziegler, a conservative faculty board member and spouse of the Florida Republican celebration chairman Christian Ziegler; Brian Aungst Jr., an lawyer and son of a former two-term Republican mayor of Clearwater; Mike Sasso, an lawyer; and Ron Peri, head of The Gathering USA ministry.
They changed a board that had been managed by Disney through the earlier 55 years that the federal government operated because the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
The takeover of the Disney district by DeSantis and the Florida legislature started final 12 months when the leisure big, dealing with intense strain, publicly opposed “Don’t Say Gay,” which bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender id in kindergarten by means of third grade, in addition to classes deemed not age-appropriate.
DeSantis moved shortly to penalize the corporate, directing lawmakers within the GOP-dominated legislature to dissolve Disney’s self-governing district throughout a particular legislative session, starting a intently watched restructuring course of.
In taking up Disney, DeSantis furthered his fame as a tradition warrior prepared to battle perceived political enemies and wield the facility of state authorities to perform political objectives, a technique that’s anticipated to proceed forward of his potential White House run.
During public feedback at Wednesday’s assembly, the chief of the union for the district’s firefighters, which had clashed with the earlier board, welcomed the brand new members, calling the brand new board “a fresh start.” Jon Shirey urged the brand new board to commit assets to buying new hearth vehicles, enhancing pay and growing employees, saying the 32 firefighters who’re on obligation every day is simply two greater than it was in 1989.
“It’s safe to say that Disney has grown exponentially,” Shirey stated.
