Amid the ongoing feud with Governor Ron DeSantis, the relocation of 1,000 jobs to Lake Nona, (and a $1 billion construction project), has been stopped.
During the post-lockdown wave back to the office, the Walt Disney Company planned on relocating employees from its theme parks and experiences Imagineering division in Southern California to a new campus in Lake Nona, Florida. Those plans are now canceled, as reported by the New York Times, with Disney effectively striking a blow back against Governor Ron DeSantis by not bringing more jobs and construction dollars to Florida.
About 200 employees and families have since made the move to Florida; as the Times reports, Disney Parks chair Josh D’Amaro sent
an email to employees saying the company will explore “the possibility of moving you back.” He also explained the Lake Nona plans are being terminated due to “changing business conditions.” Originally, the move was meant to cultivate Disney’s relationship with Florida through the construction of a $1 billion office complex, which would have brought 2,000 jobs to the region—before DeSantis decided against the best interest of his state’s economy and people.
Let’s take it back to the initial plans for the move, set in motion during the rocky tenure of former CEO Bob Chapek. Disney employees cited concerns with the growing threat against LGBT+ families as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation was being put in place. The company’s initial reluctance to take a stand was not well-received, and neither was the expectation that 1,000 employees and their families would relocate somewhere that could potentially endanger loved ones.
Article URL : https://gizmodo.com/disney-cancels-imagineering-florida-move-ron-desantis-1850451053