Disney Pulls Plug on $1 Billion Development in Florida

[sunonmars]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/business/disney-ron-desantis-florida.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

A new office complex, and relocation of a division from California, would have created more than 2,000 jobs but was scuttled as the company and Gov. Ron DeSantis continue to feud.

In March, Disney called Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida “anti-business” for his scorched-earth attempt to tighten oversight of the company’s theme park resort near Orlando. Last month, when Disney sued the governor and his allies for what it called “a targeted campaign of government retaliation,” the company made clear that $17 billion in planned investment in Walt Disney World was on the line.

“Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people, and pay more taxes, or not?” Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, said on an earnings-related conference call with analysts last week.

On Thursday, Mr. Iger and Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s theme park and consumer products chairman, showed that they were not bluffing, pulling the plug on a nearly $1 billion office complex that was scheduled for construction in Orlando. It would have brought more than 2,000 jobs to the region, with $120,000 as the average salary, according to an estimate from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Link to tweet

Epic Troll from Newsome, quick off the mark......
....................

Lost Florida a billion dollars and thousands of jobs on the day It leaks that you’re running for POTUS?

That’s pretty damn impressive,

[grumpyduck]

1. You go, Mickey!

[Probatim]

2. Really? "scuttled as the company and Gov. Ron DeSantis continue to feud"

Are they really feuding? Or is Disney standing up for its First Amendment rights to run their business as they please?

I posted earlier about "nuance" in the media and this is a perfect example. Here is Ronnie D acting like a tinpot dictator and Disney is within its right to do as they damn well please - and the media makes it sound like Disney shares equal blame.

Terrible.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Good Point

A feud requires both sides to be on the attack, right?
Defending one's self does not make one "fueding".

[newdayneeded]

9. Well, this was a pretty well landed upper-cut.

it's a feud, but it's obvious who started it.

DeSantis is starting out at the gate losing millions of Disney family and friend votes. this guy is a horrible politician.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Still Differ

When it's this one sided, I'd describe it as a vendetta.
All Disney wanted was to be left alone.
We agree, however, that the bully is getting a bloody nose.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

58. Desantis has been crowing daily about beating Disney --- "you dont hear a peep from them"

Disney was quietly planning it's next move

[ProfessorGAC]

62. No Doubt

I think they're pissed. Still see it as vendetta. Getting even.
Besides, "not a peep" includes a lawsuit? Seems like a "peep" to me. Stupid statement by Ronnie.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

8. Yep. Disney didn't pick this fight.

Snowflake Ron did.

[Marthe48]

25. Laissez faire

U.S. Government adopted the policy time out of mind. At least in regards to policy, maybe not employee welfare, environmental protection, and other regulatory concerns.

I'd like to see Disney World rebuild elsewhere. Or desantis fly to the moon without a rocket.

[niyad]

35. And the LA Times referred to it as a "long brawl". Nuance and accuracy

are still important.

[malaise]

65. Nailed it

[edisdead]

67. Had the same thought as I read it.

[flamingdem]

3. Hah!

Thanks Disney

[BumRushDaShow]

5. L.A. Times

Disney cancels plan to move 2,000 workers to Florida amid DeSantis fight

By Ryan Faughnder Company Town Senior Editor
May 18, 2023 11:15 AM PT


Walt Disney Co. has canceled its plan to open a new Florida campus that would’ve relocated some 2,000 employees to the state, a change that comes as the company is engaged in a long brawl with the state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. The company in July 2021 said it planned to move staffers, including many theme park designers (known as Imagineers) and consumer products workers, to new office space in the Orlando community of Lake Nona to take advantage of roughly $570 million in tax breaks.

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s parks, experiences and products division, on Thursday said in an email to staff that the relocation is no longer happening, citing “new leadership and changing business conditions.”

“Given the considerable changes that have occurred since the announcement of this project, including new leadership and changing business conditions, we have decided not to move forward with construction of the campus,” D’Amaro said. “This was not an easy decision to make, but I believe it is the right one. As a result, we will no longer be asking our employees to relocate.”

While some employees have already moved to Central Florida, the plan faced considerable pushback from other workers, especially as the political climate in the state became openly hostile toward Disney and DeSantis embraced legislation that many people viewed as anti-LGBTQ+.

(snip)

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-05-18/disney-cancels-plan-to-move-2-000-workers-to-florida-amid-desantis-fight

[sunonmars]

7. Florida is gonna be a pariah for most things soon enough.

I think the GOPers in Florida are gonna get very twitchy when the money stops coming.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. I know since Raygun pushed it

Democrats have been yelling and screaming about "business" and nefarious corporate practices and we have been accused of being "anti-business" by the right because the GOP considered themselves "pro-business".

But the GOP has now gone so full-on loon, that they truly have no idea which way they are spinning.



And "big business" is gonna show them what happens when they bite the hand that has fed them for decades.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Lost a Billion? Is that why De Santis took a billion in invesments from the gov. pensions?

[Wounded Bear]

10. FAFO - Florida style...

[bluestarone]

12. Hotels, motels, restaurants and others should start to SCREAM

SOON!

[RandySF]

13. .

[underpants]

21. 😆

[Scottie Mom]

22. The Mighty Mouse finger!!!

You go, Mickey!

[orangecrush]

41. +1

[sprinkleeninow]

83. A Mouse flips a Bird...

😆

[SunSeeker]

14. I am sure all those California employees are delighted they're not moving to Florida!

I know someone who works for Disney here in Southern California. They would be devastated if they had to move their family to Florida.

[sunonmars]

17. Hilarious, quick troll from Newsome.

Link to tweet

[onetexan]

45. Gov Newsom's spot on as usual. Desatan is an idiot.

[Initech]

15. Fuck you, Ronnie!

[Takket]

16. interesting of note: why Disney was building the complex in the first place....

https://winknews.com/2021/07/25/walt-disney-to-move-thousands-of-jobs-from-california-to-florida/

They wanted to leave California for a more "business friendly" environment. Be careful what you wish for.

article:

Disney announced it will be moving 2,000 jobs from California to Orlando to cash in on $580 million in tax credits.

The jobs include positions in finance, human resources, technology, communications and Imagineers – with average salaries of $120,000.

The company said it favors Florida for its business-friendly climate, better housing prices, lower income tax, less crowded schools and less traffic.

But experts say ultimately the move comes down to money.

[gratuitous]

24. It's always the money, isn't it?

I'd like to think there are some large employers who don't think the sole criterion for their company location is money. Or just one measure of money, like income taxes or property taxes. You want happy employees? You might want to locate where there are good schools. You know how schools get good in a particular area? The citizens vote to tax themselves to fund them. For just one example.

[SouthernDem4ever]

72. They can leave out better housing prices

I can't even afford the insurance in Fla.

[CaptainTruth]

18. Every company is watching what DeFascist is doing to Disney.

I guarantee that every company in the country, heck every company in the world, that has considered opening or expanding their operations in Florida is watching what DeFascist is doing to Disney & reconsidering their plans.

I don't think we'll ever be able to calculate how much DeFascist's vendetta has cost FL, especially lost opportunity cost.

[sunonmars]

20. and thinking as President, he'd be even worse....companies better be paying attention.

[Joinfortmill]

59. This.

[Paladin]

23. Outstanding action by Disney! Encore! (nt)

[IronLionZion]

26. Republicans are anti-business in many ways

Their policies screw many consumers who have less money to spend at businesses.

[Sky Jewels]

27. That's a big EFF YOU to Kim Jong Ron.

Love it!

[Sky Jewels]

28. I also wonder if the employee relocation part was hitting resistance, especially from women.

I'm sure not too many were eager to move to a Taliban state where they'd have no body autonomy.

[sunonmars]

29. I'm sure there was quite a lot of staff going "no fucking way"

[Sky Jewels]

30. Yup.

I hope corporations will let it be known they will not consider doing business in Florida because of its extremist policies.

[CTyankee]

34. I have been predicting this: a "brain drain" from states like Florida and Texas to better places for

women. enough is enough!

[louis-t]

48. But Florida and Texas are "the only free states left!"

according to a RWNJ I have to deal with.

[CTyankee]

49. Maybe help him buy a ticket to either place?

"So sorry. You lose."

[keithbvadu2]

64. 'Free' as long as you follow the right path.

[yonder]

38. +1. Good point.

I dont know if Disney is a "do it or else" company but if they were getting internal pushback on top of the governor's deShanigans they probably just shrugged and said "let's see how he'll react".

A billion dollar departure from a planned 17b investment might be enough to open some eyes.

If was required to move to Florida by an employer I'd be looking for different work: A complete non-starter for me.

[Sky Jewels]

47. Yep.

Apparently some of them did quit in anticipation of being transferred to HandmaidTaleLand.

[SouthernDem4ever]

73. aka Gilead.

[70sEraVet]

61. From women, from gay couples, from families with trans kids, from minorities who don't want...

their right to vote to be turned into an obstacle. And maybe even from people who do not want to die in the next pandemic!

[lpbk2713]

31. It's not just the 2,000 jobs that won't happen.

Thousands of construction workers and suppliers will lose out.

And they won't forget who is to blame.

[groundloop]

32. DAMN.... I can't believe I'm siding with a huge corporation (at least temporarily).

But I suppose it's a case of "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" until Death Sentence goes away.

I've disliked Disney and their business practices for years, but Death Sentence is way over the top in his dealings with them. Plus Disney has come around to be more LGBTQ friendly which I applaud.

[ancianita]

33. Newsom needs to keep slammin' DeSatan. We need that kind of help.

[Norbert]

36. The definative example of "Fuck around and find out"

[FakeNoose]

37. DeSantis will be term-limited after 2026, he can't run for Governor again

All Disney has to do is wait him out.

[SouthernDem4ever]

39. Can the Fla legislature override that? Seems they can override anything else.

[Arazi]

40. "His" legislature will probably change that requirement

[obamanut2012]

42. lololololol no he won't

His handpicked SCOFL will change that, after his Legislature goons set it up.

[Lovie777]

43. This..........................

and the farmlands, agricultural lands, etc are also under attack. i.e. immigration/immigrants.

DeSatan is attacking education, schools, libraries, books, teachers, students.

And that's to name a few.

[sunonmars]

46. Bitten off more than he can chew comes to mind.

[CatWoman]

44. ....

[blue neen]

54. Wow.

Those crops in Florida are usually shipped all over the country. DeSantis' policies will affect the whole nation.

That'll really impress voters! NOT.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

50. The NYT article suggests that the planned move was unpopular among employees...

... and the project of Disney's recently fired CEO. So it was already on shaky ground, and DeSantis's stupidity finished it off.

In any case, California is proud to keep those smart, creative, talented, highly-paid folks around.

[spanone]

51. 👍🏼K&R👍🏼

[nowforever]

52. I think I figured it out

DeSantis's face is very mouse like and I think this has resulted in his inordinate dislike of Mickey...jealousy or sheer stupidity pick one.

[OhioTim]

53. DeInsantis Voters Don't Care

[C Moon]

55. But he'll promise to bring in even MORE money from Russia.

[Joinfortmill]

56. Good.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

57. i was waiting for this. Remember when it was announced that CA was losing Disney employees to Fl

glad that's not gonna happen

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

60. DeSantis office trying to save face, Orange County Mayor upset about it

A spokesperson for DeSantis said it was “unsurprising” that Disney would cancel the project “given the company’s financial straits, falling market cap and declining stock price.”

-----------------------

“It is unfortunate that Disney will not be moving forward with construction of the Lake Nona campus,” Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings said in a statement. “However, these are the consequences when there isn’t an inclusive and collaborative work environment between the state of Florida and the business community. We will continue to work closely with our valued partners at Disney.”

The head of the state’s Democratic party slammed the governor’s “unhinged personal vendetta against Disney” for costing Florida 2,000 jobs and millions in additional revenue.


https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/18/media/disney-florida-desantis/index.html

[Cha]

66. Good on Nikki Fried!

The head of the state’s Democratic party slammed the governor’s “unhinged personal vendetta against Disney” for costing Florida 2,000 jobs and millions in additional revenue.

Fuck any deSatan spx person.. they're Lying Gaslighters.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

79. "isn't collaborative environment btwn FL and business community": means it's all DeSantis ambition

Autocrat DeSantis has laid down the law and to hell with Disney if they are in the way. All about riding an issue very popular with Republicon and RepubliQon base. A manufactured moral panic.

DeSantis may be announcing Wednesday his candidacy.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

63. tweet from Adam Schiff who represents Burbank, California (Disney headquarters)

Link to tweet

[Cha]

68. TY for Adam Schiff's Tweet!

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[OverBurn]

69. Different subject, but I'd love for Newsom to be the next president.

[Sky Jewels]

75. Yes!

[Demsrule86]

88. Joe Biden will run in 24...and I don't see Newsome able to win the rustbelt...he would need to

work hard on it...time will tell. We have no other path at this moment to the presidency.

[musclecar6]

70. Defascist

Is a perfect moniker for this would be megalomaniac tyrant. Smarter than the Orange Menace, which isn’t saying much, but more evil and ruthless.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

71. DeSantis Vows to End Disney In Florida

DeathSantis is an idiot and has declared full war on Disney. Disney is already cutting back on investment and new jobs for Florida

Link to tweet

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/desantis-vows-to-end-disney-in-florida/ar-AA1bl0Yt?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=d3c6157cd89e4bdb8aabf37551d559dc&ei=5

During a “Law and Order” press conference on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced plans to pass legislation nulling immense power currently held by Walt Disney World Resort. His statement came hours after the state-controlled Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board revealed it would countersue The Walt Disney Company.

Though the press conference was focused on signing anti-crime bills, DeSantis commented on his ongoing battle against The House of Mouse. He argued that Disney is acting “like they have the ability to veto.”

“It is basically putting their thumb in the eye of the voters,” he said.

Furthermore, the Republican Governor promised to pass legislation nullifying the hastily-passed resolution that effectively revoked power from Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. The former board quietly took action one day before the Disney Park was forced to hand control to DeSantis’s hand-selected committee.

The new board already voted to nullify the agreement, which Disney maintained was passed legally. DeSantis promised widespread retaliation, threatening increased taxes, government control of the Monorail system, and a new state prison steps from Walt Disney World Resort.

[Botany]

74. F.A.F.O.

[yardwork]

76. I've never, ever seen a governor behave this way.

[Blue Owl]

77. wRONg DeSantis: wRONg for Florida... wRONg for America...

[pwb]

95. Good one.

.

[TomSlick]

78. If, as it appears, Disney is concerned about the welfare of its employees,

it should not be moving any of them to Florida. If anything, Disney should be moving as many of them as possible to safer, saner state.

Don't mess with the mouse.

[tinymontgomery]

80. Move their cruise ship to Savanna or Charleston. n/t

[live love laugh]

81. Maybe Musk will throw some more money away and bail DeSantis out.

[sprinkleeninow]

82. Hey Mickey!

[Jimbo S]

84. Relocation of employees

Would have this been voluntary or "an offer you can't refuse" situation?

How many of the targeted employees are CA natives? To move 2,000 miles away from family and friends? I'll react to this Disney news with subdued adoration.

Luckily, I've never been placed in this situation in my career. I wouldn't want to have to face this.

[The Jungle 1]

85. I believe it is a real possibility that Disney moves out of FL

When you consider their infrastructure is 50 years old moving is a reality. The numbers probably work.
Why fix it, just move and rebuild bigger and better. Then walk away and stop paying taxes on the property.
Mice can live anywhere. So Mickey Mouse and Mighty Mouse are related. Or Mickey is the Clark Kent of mice.

I worked at a manufacturing operation in the 90s. I offered up several capital investments with fast returns. They were all turned down. That was a light bulb moment. Not long after the company informed us they were moving.
I live in southeastern Pa. We used to have a lot of good union manufacturing companies. Most of them moved. It is not that big a deal to relocate.
The mouse has legs.

[pstokely]

86. to where?

?

[The Jungle 1]

94. The decision process of moving would be a huge corporate welfare bidding war.

Most likely to some place with less threat of hurricanes. Disney could be destroyed in just a few hours.
The threat of hurricanes is getting worse and the ocean is rising. By 2050, Florida sea levels are headed for a 1-foot rise on average. Miami already must pump the ocean from its streets. There are about 30 pumps installed so far, with up to 90 planned in total.
Moving is the right business decision.
However if it happens the decision could create a panic in Florida. It is already the most expensive place in the country to live and people will leave. I would never invest any money in Florida. That state will be very different in 25 years.

[Ligyron]

87. To go to the enormous expense of rebuilding elsewhere because of a term limited governor's actions?

It took decades to get Disney World up and running. To throw all that away just because of DeSatan is kind of a hasty move when you consider the fact that the political climate in the Sunshine State could change drastically in the next few years.

The RW doesn't have a big enough presence here, like many people seem to think, and even some of their goons are pissed at their idiot governor's bone headed moves which are, by and large, geared to simply get as much media coverage of him as possible in the run up to his announced intent to run for President.

[machoneman]

89. What makes you think the next Gov. and R lead House/Senate would be better? Heck, even with...

another less controversial Gov., it'll still likely be an R backed up by majority R rule in both Houses. Don't forget almost all of DeSatan's moves would have died on the House/Senate floors unless he had an overwhelming majority of R votes on his side. Sad but true.

[The Jungle 1]

93. A lot of it is 50 years old

Maintaining old infrastructure is expensive.
If you start over then all the people who have visited your park now have a reason to visit your new park.
****The weather in Florida is a constant and growing threat.****
The corporate welfare that a state would hand over to attract Disney would be staggering. It would be an epic bidding war.
DeSuckass and politics would only be part of the decision. Although the value of the Disney bargaining chip that a real threat to move creates is huge. Disney just canceled a major project that they probably already had millions invested in. That is an eye opener.
There are a lot of moving pieces here, this could happen.

[AllaN01Bear]

90. good on disney bad on florida . figured hed be a 1 term gov w prez ambitions .

[LetMyPeopleVote]

91. California Governor Gavin Newsom out with a statement this afternoon, praising Disney

Link to tweet

[GreenWave]

92. Reminds me of this: