Disney’s Reedy Creek Tenure Called “Akin To Bribery” In Report From Ron DeSantis-Appointed Oversight Board
05.12.2023 - 18:31
/ deadline.com
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board, a Ron DeSantis-staffed entity that replaced Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District council, is set to consider a scathing report it commissioned that calls the media giant’s actions during its time in control over the area where Walt Disney World is located “akin to bribery.”
The 90-page document, a fusillade of allegations, will be the focus of a meeting of the Board tomorrow along with exhibits meant to show how Disney co-opted officials of Reedy Creed with season passes and other perks. It comes amid a legal battle between the company and the Florida governor.
“What is now evident is that Disney not just controlled the Reedy Creek Improvement District, but did so by effectively purchasing loyalty. The vast majority of employees at the RCID were working hard to do their jobs and were diligent in doing so. Nonetheless, because of the decisions made by RCID management and the Board of Supervisors, their work was tainted with the appearance of impropriety. As comprehensively documented within, for years, the company treated district employees like Disney employees by, for instance, providing complimentary annual passes and steep discounts — benefits and perks that were akin to bribes. Not surprisingly then, the District’s employees believed that it was their job to prioritize the interests of Disney.”
The report also says “control over the inner workings of the District was exercised in additional ways. For instance, contract offers were sent out only to a closed list of approved bidders. Not only was there no way for new businesses to enter the mix, no mechanism existed to determine whether the district was receiving the services rendered at fair-market prices.”
A Disney
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