Disputed practice: People visit the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando. The entertainment giant says the state of Florida is illegally punishing the company for voicing an opinion. — Reuters
NEW YORK: A district board appointed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis to oversee development in and around Walt Disney’s Florida theme parks said on Monday it would file a countersuit against Disney in state court, according to prepared remarks seen by Reuters.
The decision, which escalates tensions between Disney and the state of Florida, comes in response to a lawsuit Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board.
The company accused the governor and his supporters of illegally using the state government to punish the company for voicing an opinion that should be protected by free-speech rights.
“Since Disney sued us, we have no choice now but to respond,” board chairman Martin Garcia said.
The lawsuit has yet to be filed. Previously, the board agreed with its legal experts that the agreement Disney reached with its predecessors was invalid for several reasons, including inadequate public notice to other property owners within the 25,000-acre district in central Florida who would be affected.
Disney argued in its lawsuit that it did what any prudent developer would do: use tools to secure its future development plans. The company said the oversight board, then known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, complied with public notice requirements and held public meetings.
The skirmish began last year after Disney criticised a Florida measure banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children.
DeSantis, a Republican who is expected to soon declare that he will run for US president, repeatedly attacked “woke Disney” in public remarks.
Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney’s virtual autonomy in central Florida, where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year.
In its lawsuit, Disney also took issue with the DeSantis-appointed board’s assessment that the development contracts Disney reached with its predecessors, which laid the foundation for billions of dollars of future Disney investment in its Walt Disney World resort, were “void”.
“The government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional,” Disney said in its legal filing.
Martin said the oversight board had no role in enacting the legislation that Disney “has been complaining about” but is merely following the laws enacted by the Florida legislature.
Martin said the oversight board’s actions were taken to promote the public good.
“The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business,” Martin said.
DeSantis weighed in on the Disney dispute at a press conference held Monday to sign several bills that he said would strengthen law and order in the state.
“It is wrong for one corporation to basically corrupt the local government and run it as its own fiefdom, be exempt from laws, have all kinds of benefits that nobody else has,” DeSantis said.
The Florida governor said he is carrying out the “will of the people” and Disney is “putting their thumb in the eye of the voters of the state”.
DeSantis’ clash with Disney has been a centrepiece of his speeches as he tours the country ahead of his expected presidential bid. But as the battle has intensified, it has brought mounting political risk.
Former President Donald Trump, the favourite for the Republican nomination, slammed DeSantis’ stance, and said that the governor “is being destroyed by Disney” and warned that the firm would reduce its investments in Florida. — Reuters
