Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis added another episode to his feud with Disney.
On Friday, DeSantis signed into law a bill that would allow a commission — the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — to oversee the development of the Walt Disney World theme park to repeal the agreement signed by its predecessor, Reuters reported.
The Republican-controlled legislature passed the bill, which would enable the board to cancel all development deals Disney had struck three months before the board was formed.
The state legislature, in a special session in February, gave DeSantis the power to appoint current board members, which replaces the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the outlet reported.
“There’s no question that the reason the legislature has to act is not because of what we did,” DeSantis said at a news conference on Friday, according to Reuters, subcontracting around Florida’s formally enacted law. . That’s wrong.
It’s the latest blow in an ongoing feud between Republican and likely presidential nominee DeSantis and Disney, which dates back to Disney’s opposition to so-called “don’t say gay” laws that limit comments on gender identity. Discussion of school orientation and sexuality.
That drew the ire of DeSantis, and the state legislature voted last year to Stripping away Disney’s special tax zone, which gives the company the power to effectively act as a local government, can issue bonds and approve construction plans for its 25,000-acre theme park complex.
But the measure ran into immediate problems because it would require Orange and Osceola counties to pay for the services the region typically receives, including road maintenance, police and fire protection, the Times reported. The region is also saddled with a $1 billion debt load that will also be transferred to the counties.
The Legislature repealed the law and voted for DeSantis to appoint new board members.
However, before the law came into force, Disney quietly manipulates Continue to control its Florida theme parks for at least 30 years.
Disney also recently filed a lawsuit in federal court against DeSantis and the board that oversees the development of the Walt Disney World theme parks, claiming the company is denies its First Amendment rights.
The Central Florida Travel Watchdog filed a lawsuit last week seeking to cancel the deal that favored Disney, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, current board members appointed by DeSantis said last week that Disney’s future multibillion-dollar expansion deal in Orlando is “null and void” and “unenforceable.” NBC News Report.
The constant bickering would have been unthinkable a few years ago because Disney — the state’s largest private employer — is Florida’s cash cow, raking in $1.2 billion in local and state taxes last year, according to public disclosures.
— Ted Glazer
