The group has largely withdrawn its amusement park in Florida from political access, at least for the time being.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Washington There has been an unexpected turn in the dispute between the Disney group and Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis. According to reports, the group secured the administrative rights for the area, which is home to the Disney World amusement park, among other things, through a legal ruse. DeSantis had previously attempted to legislate the ten square kilometer district near the city of Orlando to a body he had appointed.
A clause passed at the last minute before the law came into force by the old administrative body, which was mainly staffed by Disney, transferred extensive powers from the body to the entertainment giant, as reported by the media. “This basically makes Disney the government,” said Ron Peri, a member of the newly installed body, according to a report by the Orlando Sentinel.
The DeSantis law, which was supposed to revoke Disney’s old special status from the 1960s with extensive self-government of the area, was seen as a tit-for-tat response from the ultra-conservative governor to Disney.
About a year ago, the entertainment company sharply criticized a Republican law that bans teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through third grade and restricts it in higher grades. DeSantis, who is said to have ambitions for the next US presidency and is now seen as a Trump adversary in the right wing of the Republicans, took the opportunity to present himself as a hardliner.
With the old special status, Disney had control over the construction of the huge amusement parks and also the right to issue municipal bonds. Legally, the deal would also have allowed the entertainment company to build an airport or power plant there.
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In addition to Disney World, there are also a number of other amusement and water parks, hotels and the associated infrastructure in the area. The new law would have given the DeSantis-appointed board broad say over the future development of the area. US media reports that the new administrative body can basically only have a say in decisions about traffic routes and the sewage system.
The panel is now examining legal action against Disney, it said. However, US media also say that all formalities have been complied with, including publication of the transmission in the Orlando Sentinel.
More: Disney loses management rights over theme park area in Florida