Ron DeSantis Comments on the Latest Disney Developments
In case you haven’t heard, earlier today the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District announced that it would be suing the Walt Disney Company in state court.
The basis of the lawsuit revolves around Disney’s agreements with the Reedy Creek Improvement District in the waning days of that entity’s existence. Those contracts essentially gave Disney the self-governing rights that it had under the guise of Reedy Creek in perpetuity.
Photo: Fox Business
DeSantis Comments On Today’s Developments
Following the news that the CFTOD would be suing Disney, Governor Ron DeSantis, who has largely spearheaded the campaign against Disney, was asked his thoughts on the latest developments.
In his latest comments, DeSantis largely stayed away from his political differences with Disney. He instead focused on Disney’s long-held self-governance.
Photo: Maria Tamo/Getty Images
“So first of all, no corporation is above the law and the people of this state. It is wrong for one corporation to basically corrupt the local government, run it as their own fiefdom, be exempt from laws, have all kinds of befits that nobody else has.”
Legal Case Pending
Legal experts have questioned whether or not Disney’s self-governing status is particularly unique in Florida, considering other locales like The Villages have similar structures in place.
Photo Credit: https://www.worldofwalt.com/disney-private-government-disneys-reedy-creek-improvement-district.html
DeSantis, however, argues that only Disney is getting special privileges. By creating binding contracts with Reedy Creek, they have usurped the will of the people.
“But at the end of the day, it’s a question about good governance. So the people of Florida through their representatives made the decision that they should not be able to be a law unto themselves. They shouldn’t be able to govern themselves,” he began.
Photo: The Wall Street Journal
“So that’s why they came with these development agreements to try to basically keep their self-governing status when the legislature had determined they were no longer going to have self-governing status.”
Disney Says Florida Is Infringing On Their Rights
The crux of the decision of Disney versus Florida will likely come down to whether or not a judge deems that the company was unfairly singled out by the state government, in response to the company exercising their First Amendment rights.
Photo: Greg Angel/Spectrum News 13
Furthermore, the question of whether or not stripping Disney’s self-governing status constitutes an infringement on basic rights will have to be answered.
DeSantis Attacks Disney Again
In his statement, DeSantis also talked about the problems he has with Disney’s recent company direction. Using Disney as a culture war may boost DeSantis’s popularity with his base, but it will also help Disney’s case that his actions are retaliatory.
Ron DeSantis
“Yes I mean I think it’s been very disappointing to watch this particular company, what they’ve done by advocating things like the sexualization of children, very close relationship with the Chinese Communist party. You know that’s all very problematic,” DeSantis said.
Photo: The Walt Disney Company
In the end, the dispute between Disney and DeSantis will be settled in a court of law. Then, mercifully and hopefully this story will be put to rest once and for all.
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