Disney's governing district in Florida slashes all DEI programs

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

CNN — In the ongoing battle between Walt Disney World and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Disney’s governing district – whose current board was hand-picked by DeSantis and took control of the district in February – abolished all of its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the district said in a Tuesday news release.

The statement from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District cited an internal investigation into the Reedy Creek Improvement District’s policies, claiming the district “implemented hiring and contracting programs that discriminated against Americans based on gender and race, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.”

“The so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were advanced during the tenure of the previous board and they were illegal and simply un-American,” district administrator Glenton Gilzean said. “Our district will no longer participate in any attempt to divide us by race or advance the notion that we are not created equal.”

CFTOD will dissolve the district’s DEI committee and eliminate any job duties relating to DEI. District employees will also be prohibited from using staff time to pursue DEI initiatives, the statement said. However, this change affects only the government and not the companies that operate inside the district (i.e. Disney) and would seem to eliminate contracting protocols that in the past gave special consideration of women and minority owned businesses during the procurement processes.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/02/politics/disney-reedy-creek-dei/index.html

[Initech]

1. This so called fucking asshole governor of Florida is a tyrant and will get his.

Argh I hate this man and his enablers with every micro fiber of my being.

[Demovictory9]

15. He will go down in history like those segregationists of the 1950s

[Initech]

17. I think it's insane that the MAGAs are vehemently opposed to a tyrannical government...

Yet are actively voting for, and supporting politicians who are tyrants.

[EndlessWire]

24. I agree. n/t

[ificandream]

2. Irony, thy name is DeSatan.

"The statement from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District cited an internal investigation into the Reedy Creek Improvement District’s policies, claiming the district “implemented hiring and contracting programs that discriminated against Americans based on gender and race, costing taxpayers millions of dollars.”

So if they discriminate, it's ok.

[Jimvanhise]

3. NO DISCRIMINATION? REALLY?

Then why did DeSantis threaten to fine the Special Olympics millions of dollars for planning to have a vaccine mandate for their group in Florida? That's not breaking a law and it is illegal for a government (state or federal) to threaten to punish a private business which is not breaking the law. But then all of that is illegal anyway because DeSantis broke the law when he cancelled Disney's more than 50 year old contract, something which cannot be done without cause. Disney did nothing to break their contract, that is all on DeSantis and he will eventually be brought to terms for that action.

[intheflow]

11. I can't wait until he gets his.

My actual dream is that Disney just relocate to NY or PA. Take all their tourist tax dollars and go someplace that loves all they do for DEI. DC would be great, too, but they don’t have any real estate to spare.

[canuckledragger]

12. They are going to have to move at some point anyway...Florida is being reclaimed by the ocean.

When you have sea water coming up from the sewers in Miami...it's time to move.

[intheflow]

14. Orlando is a long way from Miami, and well inland.

And Disney is on the highest point in that area. The NOAA interactive sea level rise map goes up to 10’ rise. It indicates Disney won’t be underwater, though Miami will be completely submerged at that rise. Whoever scouted that land for Disney was worth every penny they were paid.

Edited to add a link to the map. It’s a fascinating tool to play with.
https://coast.noaa.gov/slr/#/layer/slr

[AZLD4Candidate]

4. Republicans, don't forget to vote "More Ron" in 2024.

[Cha]

5. Fucking Florida Government.. hey

at least Disney is Not involved in this Fascist SHIT.

[samsingh]

6. Disney should completely leave Florida

[BumRushDaShow]

7. They won't

They were there before he was born (he is only 44 years old and will turn 45 next month) and they'll be there after he is out of office (and he is term-limited). They have a WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY deeper pocket than him, let alone the state of FL.

[Javaman]

9. Wouldn't bet on the term limit thing

He already had Florida laws changed to allow him to run for prez without giving up being gov.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. I wouldn't be surprised if that requires a state Constitutional amendment in FL though

[Maeve]

23. I'm agreeing with you

In two years, he sill be out of power and the Mouse will get the last squeak

[iluvtennis]

8. SMDH

[bluestarone]

10. Come on Florida residents

Get rid of this BASTARD!! Hate him as much as i do TFG!!!

[Sympthsical]

20. They enthusiastically voted for this

By nearly 20 points. Not even close. And everyone knew very well who he was by November 2022.

He's term-limited now. However, that doesn't preclude someone with very similar ideas trying to bounce on in based on that electoral success.

I don't think wheeling out Charlie Crist helped, though.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

16. While this seems like a bonehead move ...

how many employees does it actually impact? It is a shame for those effected, and I hope they all quit to find better jobs working for a more reasonable employer, I think giving it national attention is probably better for De Santis than ignoring them as irrelevant.

Rewarding culture warriors with attention, especially negative attention from "libruls", is one of the main reasons they do such ignorant things, along with the pleasure of incrementally rolling back years of progress.

Just my opinion.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. "how many employees does it actually impact?"

So promotion of unchecked bigotry is now okay.

'Mkay.

(hint - don't narrow the focus on the loss of jobs of the people implementing these programs but instead consider the whole point of having those programs in the first place including reducing the instances of ignorant stereotypical behaviors against certain people and helping to expand the range of potential future employees)

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

22. You are probably right.

It was not my intention to minimize the racist underpinnings of the order and the negative impact on those involved. But I had not considered the ongoing effect on future employees and those that might want to (or be forced by circumstance to) work there.

And I can see the importance of constantly reinforcing how bad DeSantis would be for the nation as a whole should he continue forward with his presidential ambitions.

I just hate giving the attention-seeking ignorami and pernicious blackguards the attention they seek so assiduously.

Thank you for pointing out my error.

[Joinfortmill]

19. Hope some investigative entity is doing a deep dive into DeSantis... Gotta be a lot of stuff there.

[SouthernDem4ever]

21. No one is going to want to visit Disney World

You can't tell if you have any rights in Florida anymore so don't go there unless you want to hang out with a bunch of dumb magats who are oblivious to the idiocy in their state government.

[Carlitos Brigante]

25. Sounds like Glenton Gilzean is the typical "I got mine, so fuck you." self hating, piece of shit

the right is so adept at finding.