Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Calls On Lawmakers To End Walt Disney World’s Special Self-Government District

Florida Governor Ron Desantis escalated his attack on Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday, calling on the state legislature to end the special self-governing constituency that includes Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Landing said lawmakers in a special session this week “will also consider closing all special counties that were operational in Florida prior to 1968, including the Reed Creek Improvement District.” The latter is a special district established by state law in 1967 that controls Disney matters such as land use and infrastructure.

DeSantis’ move was the latest in a series of disputes with Disney after the company came out against a parenting bill that critics called the “Don’t Say Gay” law. It prevents teachers from discussing issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade.

The state legislature will hold a special session this week.

A spokesperson for Disney, which is one of the state’s largest employers, did not make immediate comments. The company initially was publicly silent on the legislation as it addressed the legislator. But after employees and activists called for a halt to the company’s biggest action, CEO Bob Chapek announced the company’s opposition. On the day DeSantis signed the bill, the company released a statement stating that the law “should never have been approved and should not have been signed.”

Representative Alison Tant, a House Democrat representing the Tallahassee constituency, took to Twitter to protest the governor’s abolition of special districts. “I never thought I’d see the day Florida’s largest employer, @Walt Disney’s worldThe Florida legislature would be under attack. Disney is bigger than most cities, with fire stations, police officers, crowded hospitals, and is now adding affordable housing. #ImpresaDemocratica “.

Since the company announced its opposition to the parental rights bill, it has become a target for the right, some political figures like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) used advertising and said Disney would integrate its content. With LGBTQ communities. Meanwhile, other companies operating in Florida, such as NBCUniversal, have been publicly hushed up.

DeSantis also wanted Disney to be subject to a new law that would allow social media companies to sue for content moderation. This law was challenged in court.

Several LGBTQ activists see the Florida Parents’ Rights Act as a landing strip to attract right wing attention and support ahead of the 2024 presidential election.