DeSantis’ Disney board says predecessors stripped them of energy

Members of the Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed board tasked with overseeing Disney World mentioned Wednesday they’ve been successfully rendered powerless after their predecessors quietly handed a restrictive improvement settlement simply earlier than the change of arms.

The board members mentioned the earlier Disney-controlled board signed an settlement with the corporate on Feb. 8, someday earlier than state lawmakers voted to place DeSantis in control of the Mouse Home.

The settlement gave Disney most authority to develop the 27,000 acres that make up the theme park for many years into the long run.

The restrictive covenants got here to gentle throughout the brand new board’s first assembly final month.

DeSantis had created the brand new board and ended Disney’s long-held self-governance in retaliation to the corporate publicly criticizing his “Don’t Say Homosexual” invoice that bans dialogue of sexual orientation within the decrease grades in Florida public colleges.

The prior board oversaw what was referred to as the Reedy Creek Enchancment District which lined the Disney World resort — however beneath DeSantis, the district was renamed to the Central Florida Tourism District.

The brand new district can’t use the identify “Disney” or any characters like Mickey Mouse, symbols or mental property related to the resort beneath the phrases of the settlement, which stays in impact till perpetuity, in line with the declaration.

Different phrases enable Disney the suitable to construct throughout the district with out restrictions and the suitable to promote developmental rights to different landowners with out the brand new board’s enter or approval.

Disney may sue for damages for any violations of the settlement, the prior board had dominated.

The board plans to take authorized motion to invalidate the settlement.

“We’re going to need to take care of it and proper it,” board member Brian Aungst mentioned Wednesday. “It’s a subversion of the desire of the voters and the Legislature and the governor. It utterly circumvents the authority of this board to manipulate.”

However Disney mentioned they adopted all the foundations when creating the settlement.

“All agreements signed between Disney and the District had been acceptable, and had been mentioned and permitted in open, observed public boards in compliance with Florida’s Authorities within the Sunshine legislation,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.

With Submit wires