At a meeting today, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly Reedy Creek Improvement District) Board of Supervisors met to discuss new items of business for the District. One of the agenda items was to obtain legal counsel for the District ahead of what the Board of Supervisors calls “potential legal challenges” for matters that occurred under the previous Board. The agenda item specifically calls out Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as a possible adversary.
A few different law firms were engaged by the Board and law firm of Cooper & Kirk and the Lawson law firm were assigned to deal with constitutional and contract matters. In today’s meeting, there were already some actions from the previous Board that were flagged as “unlawful” by the lawyers. According to reporting from WESH reporter Bob Hazen, the retained counsel flagged agreements that would give Disney wide reign over RCID property for the next 30 years. The master plan that was approved by the prior Board in recent months reportedly contains language that allows the agreement to remain in effect no matter what the new Board says.
While the new Board was mostly benign in the initial orientation meeting, it looks like they are exploring the possibility of adding some bite to their bark by challenging Disney in court. The new Board, which was wholly appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, appears to be readying a court fight over the previous contract. Board member Ron Peri complained that the previous agreement stripped the Board of its powers over Disney. The special counsel in attendance said that the current Board of Supervisors should hire more law firms to create a deeper bench to fight Disney.
Board member Martin Garcia said that the Board may take an “adversarial position” against Disney World and even said that the legal fight may have to go to the US Supreme Court, according to reporting from Hazan.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
It really is amazing to see this battle play out. Keeping our eyes peeled!!!
Disney let Ron off with a loss that he could claim as a “win”….
I dont think it’s going to nedbup going well for him if he tries to fight the mouse in court.
Imagine that, a lawyer/law firm recommending more lawyers! And that, of course, means more legal fees!!
And we wonder what’s ailing us.
Let’s waste more tax payer money on this culture crap and, in the mean time, piss off the States largest employer.
Florida will never cease to amaze by how stupid they are.
Seriously, the new incoming Board felt like there was no need to attend any of the final Board Meetings being held by the old Reedy Creek Board even though they easily could have. And if any of the new Board members had attended, they would have realized what was going on. Sounds like the new Board and the New Sheriff in Town (as Ron DeSantis described himself) was asleep at the wheel. Highly impressed at how savvy this “new” group seems to be (lol).