Disney's decision to cancel the $1 Billion project to relocate its Imagineering department from California to Lake Nona has sent shockwaves through the local community.
Today, Disney shelved its $1 Billion plans to relocate Walt Disney Imagineering from California to Lake Nona here in Orlando, a project that would have created 2,000+ jobs here in Central Florida.
Many are speculating that the cancellation of the project is in direct response to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his current war against Disney here in Florida.
Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger threatened to pull a planned $17 billion in investment in Walt Disney World due to the Governor's recent actions against the company.
Iger who was speaking at an investors conference call stated “Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people, and pay more taxes, or not?”
Fast forward to today, and with the Lake Nona project now cancelled, local leaders and lawmakers are responding to the bombshell news and are either hinting at or directly blaming the Florida Governor for the loss of investment and thousands of jobs in the local area.
Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings has issued a statement saying it's "unfortunate" Disney won't move forward with the Lake Nona Project, and in an apparent dig at Florida Goivenor Ron DeSantis and his war against Disney in Orlando, he commented, "these are the consequences when there isn’t an inclusive and collaborative work environment between the state of Florida and the business community."
Democrat Anna Eskamani, who is a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 42, went further and laid the blame squarely at DeSantis for the cancelation of the Disney project, "Governor Ron DeSantis is a job killing moron who cares more about his own political ambitions and culture wars than Florida and our future. According to him, ‘woke makes you go broke’ but this is another example of how it’s actually the complete opposite. DeSantis is not who you want for President - ever."
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried has issued a statement pulling no punches, fairly and squarely blaming DeSantis, "Florida just lost 2,000 jobs and millions in additional revenue because of Ron DeSantis’ unhinged personal vendetta against Disney. DeSantis has single-handedly and decidedly made Florida an anti-business state, not only with his continued attacks on companies that dare challenge his fascist policies, but also by forcing draconian laws that will decimate the workforce of the backbone industries of our state’s economy. Unfortunately, today’s news isn’t a shock for those of us who have been living through his reign of terror, and Floridians are already paying a high price."
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