Ron DeSantis Calls the State Takeover of Reedy Creek a “Win For Florida”
Almost a year after signing the law that dissolved Disney Reedy Creek Improvement District and replaced it with the governor-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, Ron DeSantis held a press conference today at the CFTOD Administrative Building.
Just weeks after a federal judge dismissed Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit against the governor and the new district, DeSantis deemed the new district a success.


Photo: The Wall Street Journal
“That is a win, not just for people in this region, but the state of Florida,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis Lauds the CFTOD
During his speech, the governor lauded the CFTOD for creating more transparency and accountability. He also claimed that the district has reduced the tax burden for Disney and other companies operating on property, and made the awarding of contracts more competitive.


Photo: CFTOD
While DeSantis painted a rosy picture of the CFTOD’s first year, the district has consistently been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
A String of Controversies
Reedy Creek firefighters publically lambasted the CFTOD after district administrators stripped them of their Disney-related benefits, replacing them with a yearly stipend.


Photo: Jon Shirey
Since the takeover, 50 of the district’s 370 employees have departed. Many of the former employees stated that the district had become politicized and that politically connected individuals had been hired and awarded contracts.
Despite DeSantis’s proclamations today, the battle over the former Reedy Creek Improvement District is far from over. As the state lawsuit between the CFTOD rages on, Disney is also preparing to appeal the ruling on its federal First Amendment suit.


Ron DeSantis and Glen Gilzean. Photo: Central Florida Urban League
If anything, the battle has only begun.
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