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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that took control of the special tax district around Walt Disney World that for half a century allowed Walt Disney Co to operate with a high degree of autonomy.
“The corporate empire is finally over,” DeSantis said during a news event in Lake Buena Vista near Orlando.
State Republicans last year targeted Disney after publicly clashing with DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024, over legislation that would limit classroom instruction on gender and sexual orientation, known by opponents as the “Don’t Talk About Gay” measure. district
In March, Disney’s chief executive officer, Bob Chapek, publicly expressed his dismay at the bill limiting LGBTQ discussion in schools, saying he called DeSantis to express his concerns about the legislation becoming law.
In a move political observers saw as retaliation, Florida lawmakers this month passed a bill, which DeSantis signed into law, that would authorize the governor to appoint five supervisors to oversee traditional municipal services, such as fire protection, public utilities, garbage collection and road maintenance. in the area where Disney World operates.
Quasi-governmental entities also have the authority to raise revenue to pay off outstanding debts and cover service costs.
“We have a situation here that is basically untenable from a policy perspective,” DeSantis said. “How do you give your own theme park and then treat all the other theme parks differently? We believe that’s not a good policy.”
Speakers at the bill signing ceremony included parents who criticized Disney for its remarks on the state education bill, saying the company “picked the wrong side of the moral argument.” Another self-identified longtime Disney theme park employee took issue with the company’s policy on vaccinations.
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District keys to make Disney World
The new law changed the name of the district from the Reedy Creek Improvement District to the Central Florida Tourism Monitoring District and subject to various layers of state supervision.
The creation of the self-contained district was instrumental in Disney’s decision to build near Orlando in the 1960s. The company told the country that it plans to build a futuristic city that will include transit systems and urban planning innovations, so it needs autonomy to build and decide how to use the land. The futuristic city never materialized and instead became the second theme park to open in 1982.
A Disney spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Disney World is central Florida’s largest employer with nearly 75,000 employees and is expected to attract 36.2 million visitors by 2021, according to the Theme Entertainment Association.
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In taking on Disney, DeSantis cemented his reputation as a culture warrior willing to fight perceived political enemies and use the power of state government to accomplish political goals, a strategy he is expected to continue before he runs for the White House.
The dispute also reinforces the governor’s go-it-alone style of leadership, condemning large employers, tourism drivers and political donors in the state for their corporate stance on legislative policy.
DeSantis, whose book, Dare to be independentwill come out Tuesday, has moved in recent weeks to expand his political network through fundraisers and meetings with donors, elected officials and conservative influencers, fueling speculation about his larger political aspirations.
The coming months will be critical for DeSantis as he builds his profile outside of Florida. He is expected to use the upcoming regular legislative session, which begins next week, to push his conservative agenda before announcing his candidacy for president.
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