Disney sues Ron DeSantis over control of Reedy Creek, accuses him of 'weaponizing' his power
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Disney has sued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state's Tourism Oversight Board for the elimination of their special tax district. The company which has now lost control of Reedy Creek escalated its fight against the Republican by accusing him of inflicting political punishment by "weaponizing" his power.
A board appointed by DeSantis voted to eliminate a deal the company attempted to make before their control was taken away as the new board's lawyers concluded that the agreement was created unlawfully which resulted in Disney filing a lawsuit against the governor and the board, reported Daily Mail.
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'A targeted campaign of government retaliation'
As per the lawsuit, Disney executives accused the governor and the state of a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" in the issue followed by Disney's criticism of the 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Reedy Creek, a special tax district that was previously under the control of Disney World has nearly 75,000 employees and has nearly 50 million visitors to the theme parks every year.
Disney had authority over the district in terms of decisions and property since 1967. "For more than half a century, Disney has made an immeasurable impact on Florida and its economy, establishing Central Florida as a top global tourist destination and attracting tens of millions of visitors to the State each year," read the filing.
"People and families from every corner of the globe have traveled to Walt Disney World because of the unrivaled guest experience it provides and the deep emotional connection that generations of fans have with Disney's timeless stories and characters," the lawsuit continued.
"A targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney's protected speech—now threatens Disney's business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights," read the filing.
Lawyers claim Disney's made agreements unlawfully
The year-long spat between the company and the state sparred in 2022 and the lawsuit has now been filed after the five-member board moved ahead with legislation related to dissolving Disney's power over the district by giving control to the corporation.
Lawyers of the board claimed the agreements were made unlawfully as none of the proceedings and notification timelines were followed. Disney previously celebrated their victory over the governor in a battle sparred after the ex-CEO denounced DeSantis' Parental Rights in Education law in public. The law restricted classroom instruction of gender identity and sexual orientation.