The Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney may have prevented Florida from seizing control of the district that houses its theme parks.
The
board appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says Disney signed a
covenant with the district's previous authority that restricts the new
board's power to govern.
- Florida's
Republican-controlled legislature voted to give DeSantis power to
appoint a board to replace the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
- The 27,000-acre district houses several Disney theme parks and has historically functioned as a self-governing entity with close ties to the entertainment giant.
- A day before the vote, the previous board agreed to enter into a covenant with Disney.
- The covenant gave Disney complete control over development in the area and restricted the decision-making power of the district.
- "It completely circumvents the authority of this board to govern," said Brian Aungst Jr., one of the new board members appointed by DeSantis.
- Aungst called the covenant, "a naked attempt to circumvent the will of the voters and the will of the Florida Legislature."
- Disney
said that all the agreements it signed with the district" were
appropriate, and were discussed and approved in open, noticed public
forums."
- Critics said Florida's attempted takeover of the Reedy Creek district was a form of political retaliation against Disney for opposing a Republican-led bill that restricts Florida schools from teaching sexual orientation and gender identity to young children.
