The statement from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) cited an internal investigation into the policies of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, stating that the district “implemented hiring programs that discriminated against Americans based on gender and race, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.”
“The so-called diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives advanced during the previous board’s tenure and were illegal and simply un-American. Our district will no longer engage in any attempt to divide us by race or promote the notion that we are not created equal,” said District Administrator Glenton Gilzean.
CFTOD will disband the district’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee and remove any DEI-related employment obligations. District employees will also be prohibited from using staff time to conduct DEI initiatives, according to the statement. However, this change affects only the government and not businesses that operate within the district (i.e. Disney) and would appear to remove hiring protocols that in the past gave women- and minority-owned businesses special consideration during processes of recruitment.
According to the new oversight district, Reedy Creek “wasted taxpayer money” by entering into contracts based on race and gender targets and “aggressively” monitoring the race and gender practices of contractors under its Minority/Women Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Programs. CFTOD said it estimates the former district spent millions of dollars finding companies that helped meet these DEI quotas.
DeSantis signed a bill establishing state power over Reedy Creek in February, nearly a year after then-Disney CEO Bob Chapek apologized for refusing to comment on Florida’s controversial bill, dubbed by critics such as “Don’t Say Gay,” to restrict certain classroom instruction regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, CNN previously reported. Responding to the rejection, Chapek said in an apology letter that the bill was “yet another challenge to basic human rights,” adding that Disney would increase its support for advocacy groups fighting “similar legislation in other states.” and would create a new framework to ensure promotion of the company that “best reflects” its values.
CNN has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment but has not yet heard back.
Disney is suing the board and DeSantis in federal court arguing the state retaliated against the company for exercising its First Amendment rights. The board sued Disney in state court, where a Florida judge recently denied Disney’s request to dismiss the case.
