Florida Gov. Ron Desantis’ plan to strip Disney of their special district, which the company has been allowed to self-govern, has now been publicly supported by the union representing Walt Disney World’s firefighters.
Disney has had virtually full control over the 25,000-acre district since it was founded in 1967. Now, DeSantis approved a bill that would disband the Reedy Creek Improvement District in April 2022.
The district, according to the Orlando Sentinel, manages land use and environmental laws, can levy taxes, issue bonds, and offer its own public services like utilities.
Reedy Creek will transition to new management, and a state-appointed board will be in charge of the district in June. The New York Post report said that Disney will be obliged to pay approximately $700 million in unsecured debt that the business has accrued as a result of managing the district at that time.
The union representing first responders in Reedy Creek told the Sentinel that many of their members were worried about their jobs and benefits, not long after DeSantis signed the bill.
However, claiming that they have spoken with the governor and have confidence in his track record of looking out for Florida’s first responders, the union leaders are now backing DeSantis’ plan.
With Tim Stromsnes, communications director for the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters Local 2117, told the Sentinel,
“Anything has got to be better than what we currently have. We really hope that this new board will bring the morale up for Reedy Creek [and] will make us an elite emergency services department again.”
“We’ve got our faith in the governor that we’re going to be around and that it’s going to be a better place to work,” he added.
The district employs close to 400 individuals, half of whom work in emergency fire and medical services, the Sentinel reported. The safety of visitors and Disney employees has allegedly been jeopardized by modifications made to the fire department’s mutual aid policies with adjacent departments, according to Reedy Creek union members who have long complained about understaffing, insufficient employee support, and understaffing.
The district has not been able to negotiate a new contract for first responders, according to the union, which also highlighted a lack of accountability and communication with Reedy Creek officials. The Sentinel claims that the previous contract terminated four years ago. Officials from Reedy Creek and Disney have both refuted the union’s allegations.
District Spokeswoman Eryka Washington Perry delivered a message from District Administrator John Classe to district staff on Monday informing them of the impending management change.
Classe wrote, the Sentinel report, “It is very clear that there is legislative intent for the District to continue to do the great work you do every day.”
She said, “As the legislative process continues to play out in the weeks/months ahead, it is imperative that we continue to provide excellence in our government services to the tens of thousands of visitors who come here daily.”
Sources: FlagandCross, NyPost, Orlando Sentinel , WesternJournal
