- Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered an investigation into possible civil and criminal breaches by the previous Board of Supervisors of the now-defunct Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID), particularly related to its relationship with Disney.
- The investigation will focus on the legality of a contract between Disney and RCID that granted the company more developmental control over the area and any financial benefits derived by the entities.
- The DeSantis administration considers the contracts void and unenforceable. The Florida Attorney General has also requested all records, emails, and other communications related to developmental negotiations mediated by the RCID.
On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis directed Florida’s Chief Inspector General to launch an inquiry into possible civil and criminal breaches by the previous Board of Supervisors of the now-defunct Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID).
Per information given to The Capitolist, the investigation, in consultation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, will be launched to examine RCID’s adherence to Florida’s civil and criminal laws and ethics requirements.
Last week the DeSantis administration discovered that in the days leading up to Reedy Creek’s transition to state control, attorneys working for Disney brokered last-minute contract agreements granting the company more developmental control over the area.
The new state-controlled board notified the DeSantis administration that the outgoing Disney-controlled members signed a thirty-year agreement that allows Disney to retain major control of the authority over public lands, land-use agreements, and various operational responsibilities.
The investigation will also deliberate the legal validity of RCID’s former Board of Supervisors’ actions, as well as the involvement of Walt Disney World employees and agents in executing RCID’s actions.
Furthermore, the state will focus on any financial benefit derived by Walt Disney World and RCID, with all communications among board members, employees, and agents to be examined.
“These collusive and self-dealing arrangements aim to nullify the recently passed legislation, undercut Florida’s legislative process, and defy the will of Floridians,” wrote DeSantis. “In addition, based on initial observations of counsel, the RCID board’s actions appear to suffer from serious legal infirmities, including, among other things, inadequate notice, lack of consideration, improper delegation of authority, and ethical violations, such as conflicts of interest and self-dealing.”
The district’s new oversight group also stated last week that it will employ outside legal counsel to examine the legality of the agreements. During a conference call on the matter, the DeSantis Administration stated that they view the contracts void as a matter of law and unable to be enforced. The administration also said that they were unaware of the agreements until the new board solicited all financials and documentation.
Last week, the office of state Attorney General Ashley Moody initiated an official request for the procurement of all pertinent records, emails, text messages, and other correspondences pertaining to developmental negotiations mediated by the RCID.
Example of apparent self-dealing: Corcoran gets $699,000 per year to lead a 700 student college, please investigate as well. No side can truthfully claim “the will of Floridians” with respect to running Disney World. Until recently, conservatives, myself included tended to leave such matters to the marketplace.
Florida current politics is a cesspool of self dealing , political favors and a governor that have done more damage to Florida and to our future than good.
I am a Republican and in all honesty, between the incompetence of Democrats in our state and all the negative changes done by this crew of Republicans to our freedoms , how are we going to recover from this. I hope we remember the names of all those who just rubber stamp this governor dogmatic changes and vengeful retributions and be able to kick them out of office never to be allowed in politics again.
Can the Disney corporation buy our state? Pleaseeeeee?
If you think corporate government is a good thing, you should look into the sweatshops that Disney employs to produce its merch. They have been sued for so much wrong doing. I kind of hope you get what you want though so you can come back a few years from now and post about how terrible Disney is. 🤣🤡
The Reedy Creek Improvement District was a blueprint of graft and corruption 60 years ago as it is today letting the rotten Disney company poison our waters, build whatever building they wanted however they wanted however unsafe and underpay employees. All the while, escaping vast amount of taxes, building inspectors, EPA, DNR, growth management, etc., etc.
NO ONE has had the guts to strip this protectionism from the Disney company that was only to have lasted to the opening over 50 years ago. OK, DeSantis seeming motivation is lousy. Or is it? Is he, like me, of the knowledge of this rotten, antiquated deal over the decades and he found a way to make Disney join the rest of the state with some kind of proper oversight????
Next to whip into place is, the now-worst polluter in the state, after Disney, The Villages.
About time they incorporated and taxed and took care of themselves!
Another boondoggle created by Ron Destupidist. And aided and abetted by the clown car that calls itself the Republican majority legislature.
Joe, you are a moron.