Iger's predecessor announced plans in July 2021 to relocate jobs from Southern California to a new facility in central Florida, citing its "business-friendly climate." While Disney has never disclosed the value of its investment, the Los Angeles Times reported that it would receive nearly $580 million in tax credits over the next 19 years. "This is first obvious negative consequence of an overly aggressive approach to governing and to politics," Curbelo said. Linda Stewart, who represents part of Orange County, called it "disappointing" that Florida would lose jobs.įormer Congressman Carlos Curbelo, a Republican who represented Miami, praised DeSantis's leadership during the pandemic, but said the governor was tarnishing his own record and dissuading businesses from coming to Florida or expanding in the state. The governor argued that "woke Disney" should not receive special treatment in the state.ĪLSO READ | Florida board appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis countersues Disney over 'backroom deals'ĭisney called the move political retaliation over what should be protected free speech and sued the state last month to have the moves reversed.įormer President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign was quick to seize on the news, with the Trump War Room account tweeting that DeSantis's actions cost the state jobs and investment. president, then moved to strip Disney of its long-standing self-governing power over Walt Disney World in Orlando. Redfern wrote that given the company's financial position, "it is unsurprising that they would restructure their business operations and cancel unsuccessful ventures."ĭisney and DeSantis have been locked in an increasingly acrimonious battle that started in March 2022, when Disney's then-CEO, Bob Chapek, criticized legislation in Florida that would limit discussion of gender identity and sexuality in elementary schools.ĭeSantis, who is expected to soon announce that he will seek the 2024 Republican nomination for U.S. Redfern, wrote that while Disney announced the possibility of a Lake Nona campus nearly two years ago, "nothing ever came of the project, and the state was unsure whether it would come to fruition." "Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people and pay more taxes, or not?," Iger asked.ĭeSantis's press secretary, Jeremy T. In a call with investors to discuss quarterly results, he noted that Disney employed more than 75,000 people in Florida, attracts millions of visitors each year to Walt Disney World and had plans to invest $17 billion to expand the resort over the next decade. A week ago, Disney CEO Bob Iger publicly questioned Florida's interest in the company's continued investment in the state.
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