They also said a district can't confer governmental powers to a private entity.

At Wednesday's meeting, the attorneys outlined their arguments for why the deals were illegal, claiming they weren't properly noticed and were self-dealing. The new supervisors have hired a team of high-powered lawyers that includes a former Florida Supreme Court justice to possibly challenge the agreements between Disney and the old board. This governor is.'ĭisney has said all agreements made with the previous board were legal and approved in a public forum.ĭisney CEO Bob Iger earlier this month said that any actions against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort was not only 'anti-business' but 'anti-Florida.' Blaise Ingoglia said he had a message for Disney: 'You are not going to win this fight. The lawmakers also plan to consider legislation that would revoke the agreements between the previous board supervisors and Disney. Last month, the new DeSantis-appointees claimed their Disney-controlled predecessors pulled a fast one by stripping the new board of most powers and giving Disney control over design and construction at the theme park resort before the new members could take their seats.Īt Wednesday's meeting, Garcia said the new supervisors last week discovered another '11th-hour agreement' between Disney and the previous supervisors that allows the company to set its own utility rates.ĭeSantis and state lawmakers ratcheted up the pressure on Disney on Monday by proposing upcoming legislation that would require state inspections of Disney rides, which would be an unprecedented move since Florida's largest theme park operators have been able to conduct their own inspections. Disney previously had controlled the board for its 55-year existence. In retaliation, Florida lawmakers passed, and DeSantis signed, legislation reorganizing Disney World's company-controlled government, allowing the governor to appoint the five members of the Board of Supervisors.

Wednesday's meeting continued a battle pitting prospective presidential candidate DeSantis and Republican state lawmakers against Disney that started last year when the entertainment giant publicly opposed what critics call the state's 'Don't Say Gay' legislation, which barred school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Retaliation for opposing 'Don't Say Gay' law Hours after the board meeting ended Wednesday, the company announced that groundbreaking would be next year with the first units finished in 2026. Florida governor signs bill putting Disney district under state control 00:28ĭisney also said last year it would donate almost 80 acres (32 hectares) for the construction of 1,400 affordable housing units by a third-party developer.

The vow of thieves