Disney is scrapping plans for a new $1 billion Florida campus

STARTS NOW FIRST AT NOON A NEW LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN DISNEY AND THE GOVERNOR’S PEOPLE NOW IN CHARGE OF GOVERNING THE LAND WHERE IT SITS THE CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT NOW SAYS IT PLANS TO SUE THE COMPANY AND THIS COMES JUST DAYS AFTER DISNEY ANNOUNCED THEIR PLANS TO SUE THE GOVERNOR WEST WHO’S BOB HAZEN WAS AT THE BOARD MEETING THIS MORNING AND EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? THIS IS THE DISTRICT’S ATTEMPT TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST DISNEY AND ITS FEDERAL LAWSUIT. THEY NOW SAY THAT THEY’RE GOING TO SUE DISNEY AND STATE COURT, BUT AFTERWARDS MEMBERS WOULDN’T ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. DISNEY IS ASKING A FEDERAL COURT IN TALLAHASSEE TO RUSSELL BACK THE HANDS OF TIME TO 1967 THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT HAD THIS SPECIAL MEETING AFTER DISNEY SUED THEM AND THE GOVERNOR IN FEDERAL COURT ACCUSING THEM OF VIOLATING THE COMPANY’S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH DISNEY’S GOAL IS TO GET A JUDGE TO THROW OUT THE LAW THAT GAVE THE GOVERNOR POWER OVER THE BOARD. BUT TODAY BOARD CHAIR MARTIN GARCIA SAID IT WILL FILE ITS OWN LAWSUIT AGAINST DISNEY HERE IN LOCAL COURT THIS DISTRICT. WILL SEEK JUSTICE IN STATE COURT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA WERE BOTH IT AND DISNEY RESIDE AND DO BUSINESS. YES, WE’LL SEEK JUSTICE. IN OUR OWN BACKYARD THAT LAWSUIT WOULD BE DESIGNED TO UPHOLD THEIR MOVE TO DECLARE DISNEY’S DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE FORMER REEDY CREEK BOARD VOID AFTER THE MEETING NEITHER GARCIA NOR OTHER MEMBERS WOULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. BECAUSE OF THE BASIS WILL BE FOR THE LAWSUIT. NO, COMMON GUYS, SO COMMENT. SORRY BEEN SUEDS AT THIS MORNING’S MEETING THE BOARD MEMBERS BOTH AUTHORIZED ITS LAWYERS TO DEFEND THEM IN THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT AS WELL AS DRAW UP THE LAWSUIT AGAINST DISNEY IN STATE COURT. REPORTING AT DISNEY BOB HAZEN WEST TWO NEWS OUR GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS EXPECTED TO SPEAK AND TITUSVILLE THIS AFTERNOON. HE WILL BE AT THE AMERICAN POLICE HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM AT 12:30 A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF HOUR FROM NOW ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHLEY MOODY AND BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF WAYNE, IVEY WILL ALSO BE THERE. WE WILL BRING YOU THE GOVERNOR’S COMMEN

Disney on Thursday upped the ante in its battle with Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, and it cost his state 2,000 white-collar jobs.Disney is scrapping plans to build a $1 billion office complex in Florida, citing “changing business conditions,” according to a memo provided by a Disney spokesperson.The decision comes at a time when the company is openly feuding with DeSantis, who is expected to officially enter the 2024 GOP presidential race next week, CNN reported Thursday.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.”Disney, along with the broader media industry, is grappling with a difficult advertising environment and a massive writers' strike. Earlier this year it announced it would be cutting 7,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting effort.Separately, the company confirmed Thursday that it would shut down its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser resort at Disney World just over a year after it opened.The popular attraction “will take its final voyage” at the end of September, Disney said, adding that it is working with guests to rebook reservations for later in the year.The campus in Lake Nona, Florida, in the greater Orlando area, was expected to add 2,000 jobs, many of which were set to be relocated from California.“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.”Video below: Florida teacher says she's being investigated after showing Disney movie with gay characterDisney and DeSantis have been sparring for over a year about controversial legislation the governor signed that restricts the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Critics have labeled the law “Don’t Say Gay.”The fight has intensified in recent months after DeSantis moved to take over the company’s special tax district setting rules for Disney World and surrounding areas. DeSantis has tried to install a hand-picked board to oversee the district. Before the Florida government selected the board in February, Disney had reached agreements with the outgoing board that limited the power of DeSantis’ appointees.The two sides are now locked in a legal battle, with Disney arguing in its federal lawsuit that the actions by DeSantis and the state of Florida were a violation of its First Amendment rights to free speech.Last month, Disney CEO Bob Iger told shareholders at its annual meeting that he believed DeSantis’ actions to punish Disney, one of the state’s largest employers, were “anti-business” and “anti-Florida.”And on a call with investors following its quarterly earnings report last week, Iger suggested that DeSantis and Florida’s legislature was putting at risk the company’s plans to invest $17 billion in Florida, and create 13,000 jobs, over the next 10 years.“Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people and pay more taxes or not?” Iger asked rhetorically during that investor call.Following those comments, Disney did not respond to inquires as to whether it was changing those Florida investment plans. Thursday’s announcement was perhaps a first step in changing those plans.Disney’s stock rose slightly after its announcement.

Disney on Thursday upped the ante in its battle with Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, and it cost his state 2,000 white-collar jobs.

Disney is scrapping plans to build a $1 billion office complex in Florida, citing “changing business conditions,” according to a memo provided by a Disney spokesperson.

The decision comes at a time when the company is openly feuding with DeSantis, who is expected to officially enter the 2024 GOP presidential race next week, .

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.”

Disney, along with the broader media industry, is grappling with a difficult advertising environment and a massive writers' strike. Earlier this year it announced it would be cutting 7,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting effort.

Separately, the company confirmed Thursday that it would shut down its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser resort at Disney World just over a year after it opened.

The popular attraction “will take its final voyage” at the end of September, Disney said, adding that it is working with guests to rebook reservations for later in the year.

The campus in Lake Nona, Florida, in the greater Orlando area, was expected to add 2,000 jobs, many of which were set to be relocated from California.

“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.”

Video below: Florida teacher says she's being investigated after showing Disney movie with gay character

Disney and DeSantis have been sparring for over a year about controversial legislation the governor signed that restricts the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Critics have labeled the law “Don’t Say Gay.”

The fight has intensified in recent months after DeSantis moved to take over the company’s special tax district setting rules for Disney World and surrounding areas. DeSantis has tried to install a hand-picked board to oversee the district. Before the Florida government selected the board in February, Disney had reached agreements with the outgoing board that limited the power of DeSantis’ appointees.

The two sides are now , with Disney arguing in its federal lawsuit that the actions by DeSantis and the state of Florida were a violation of its First Amendment rights to free speech.

Last month, Disney CEO Bob Iger told shareholders at its annual meeting that he believed DeSantis’ actions to punish Disney, one of the state’s largest employers,

And on a call with investors following its report last week, Iger suggested that DeSantis and Florida’s legislature was putting at risk the company’s plans to invest $17 billion in Florida, and create 13,000 jobs, over the next 10 years.

“Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people and pay more taxes or not?” Iger asked rhetorically during that investor call.

Following those comments, Disney did not respond to inquires as to whether it was changing those Florida investment plans. Thursday’s announcement was perhaps a first step in changing those plans.

Disney’s stock rose slightly after its announcement.

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