Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been in a legal battle with Disney World for over a year. The conflict began when Disney spoke out against a controversial state law limiting discussions of sexual orientation and gender expression in Florida schools 1. In response, DeSantis stripped Disney World of its special tax district status, which had made it a self-governed enclave in the Sunshine State for more than 50 years.
DeSantis has continued to escalate the battle with Disney. On April 17, 2023, he announced that the state’s Republican legislature would take steps to nullify the company’s effort to circumvent state oversight of Walt Disney World 2. DeSantis said the legislature would revoke a development agreement Disney struck with outgoing members of an oversight board. The ongoing tussle between DeSantis and one of Florida’s largest employers shows no signs of slowing down. DeSantis has yet to announce a presidential bid but is considered a likely Republican presidential candidate.
The board appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee Walt Disney Co.’s central Florida theme parks is called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors. The board was created when Florida lawmakers passed a bill in February giving DeSantis effective control over a board that oversees municipal services and development in a special district that encompasses Walt Disney World resort. The board is made up of DeSantis appointees, including Bridget Ziegler, a proponent of his education policies; Ron Peri, who heads the Christian ministry the Gathering USA; and Michael Sasso, president of the Federalist Society’s Orlando chapter. The board has been working to invalidate an agreement between the Central Florida board that had been controlled by Disney and the company. This agreement gave Disney authority over its theme parks despite a new law that formed a new board controlled by the governor.
Previously Disney had pushed through an agreement with the Central Florida board that had been controlled by Disney. This agreement gave Disney authority over its theme parks despite a new law that formed a new board controlled by the governor . The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors, which was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee Walt Disney Co.’s central Florida theme parks, has been working to invalidate this agreement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/19/business/ron-desantis-disney-world.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ron-desantis-takes-aim-disney-vows-void-florida-theme-park-development-agreement-2023-04-08/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/florida-desantis-disney-dispute-1.6800259
5 comments:
Desantis' fight with Disney is such a ludicrous waste of time and just seems to highlight his personal insecurity. Desantis is clearly just angry that Disney doesn't agree with his states' educational policies. Voicing disagreement with government policy is not illegal, and in fact is a crucial part of the American political system, so Disney is not in the wrong here. Disney World shouldn't put up with this nonsense and should just move to a better state.
Although Disney cannot be entirely exempt from fault, as they, as all corporations, can sometimes have a morally grey underbelly, this fight is extremely frustrating because it is such a blatant abuse of power by DeSantis. Disney's ability to disagree with the actions of the government is a constitutionally protected right, and yet they are facing harsh backlash and punishment from local leaders. DeSantis's actions are immature and honestly a little mind-boggling in how others are making excuses to themselves out of some sense of loyalty. Should Disney be allowed to function as an independent city, more or less, and therefore exempt itself from a lot of government regulation? Probably not. But that doesn't mean that the established guidelines, ones that have been in place for decades, can be ripped away for doing something that was not even illegal. Being anti- big business does not mean that having a power-abusive governor is a better solution. On top of that, the consequences of Disney finally snapping and leaving Florida would be drastic for the economy, as the employer of over 77,000 Floridians and one of the largest sources of tourism for the state.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World
It is funny that these republicans are all about freedom yet they want to restrict freedom of speech and strike down anyone who speaks out against it, therefore censoring it more. Their hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me.
This whole incident is just completely unnecessary and unneeded. The fact that this all stemmed from Disney simply expressing their beliefs and support for a large community makes the matter far more ridiculous, considering this is protected by the Constitution and a literal right. I can't help but feel like there is something else DeSantis can put his energy towards that would actually be helpful and a contribution to society.
It’s annoying that DeSantis gets so easily upset over dissenting opinions, but thankfully it seems like it’s not going too well in his favor. Sure enough, Disney World is already pulling back and scrapping a $1b investment for a Florida Campus. Disney World’s CEO Bob Iger has asked “Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people and pay more taxes or not?”. I wonder if DeSantis will regret his battle with Disney.
Post a Comment