The Walt Disney Co. has paused plans to move 2,000 high-paying jobs from California to Orlando amidst an ongoing battle with Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
The company says the delay, which moves the target date for the move back to 2026, was “to give people more time” and allow for construction of the new offices. That workspace was originally expected to be operating last December.
Disney originally announced plans to move the theme park staffers and consumer products workers to Florida last July. The move was meant to take advantage of $570 million in tax breaks.
While the company says the delay is not tied to its battles with DeSantis, the rancor between the entertainment giant and the expected presidential hopeful has been growing for months. Disney denounced the state’s Parental Rights in Education law, which opponents have dubbed the Don’t Say Gay bill, after facing internal criticism for not speaking out sooner.
Once CEO Bob Chapek issued a statement, DeSantis accused the company of being “woke” and convinced the Florida state legislature to strip the company of self-governing privileges in the area surrounding its theme parks near Orlando.
Even before the political battles, the relocations were a sore subject among Imagineers and other affected employees, who were told they risked losing their jobs if they did not want to move to the other side of the country.
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