The governor of Florida, the ultra Ron DeSantis, signed this Monday the law that wrests control of the district of its Orlando theme park from Disney to assign it to the state itself. In this way, the Republican best placed to challenge Donald Trump for the conservative candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections unequivocally punishes the entertainment giant for rejecting his anti-gay policies.
“There is a new sheriff in town and accountability will be the order of the day. Today the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end," DeSantis proclaimed during the signing ceremony of the law that strips Disney of its autonomy to manage the district of its facilities.
The new legislation settles a special rule that since 1967 allowed the great "dream factory" to act as a local government, with its own taxes and bonds, in the vast area where Walt Disney World was installed more than half a century ago.
The political expropriation of the Disney district is the response of the governor of Florida to the adverse reaction of the executive president of the entertainment firm, Bob Chapek, before the law known as "Don't say gay": a set of educational rules that since last March, and under DeSantis' personal urging, prevents state public school children through third grade from being taught sexual orientation and gender identity.
Under those rules, Florida school districts "may not encourage discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity at the elementary grade levels or in a manner that is not age or developmentally appropriate to students."
Protesting the new law, Chapek announced in April that the company would stop making political donations to state leaders after decades of contributing heavily to their campaigns, especially those of Republicans, with DeSantis among the beneficiaries.
The far-right governor's bill calls for him to appoint a five-member board to oversee government services provided by the Disney district on its sprawling theme park properties.
The territory also loses its name until now, the Reedy Creek Improvement District, to be renamed the Central Florida Tourism Supervision District. But the bottom line is that the legislative text subjects local government to various levels of supervision by the state.
The blow to Disney is part of what appears to be the movements prior to the official presentation of DeSantis' candidacy for the 2024 elections. In this context, the governor published a book on Tuesday, The Courage to be Free. free). And lately he has not stopped organizing meetings with donors, senior officials and public figures of all ranks.
DeSantis goes for it all.
