Disney Files Counterclaim Against DeSantis-Appointed Board
Do you think businesses will reconsider operating in Florida?
Updated on August 21, 2023, 10:20 a.m. PST
- Disney is filing a counterclaim against the board appointed by DeSantis to take control of Walt Disney World's special tax district, claiming Florida is infringing on their freedom of speech.
- The 55-page filing, which includes a breach of contracts claim, was filed against a May lawsuit brought by the Desantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board, which was itself a countersuit.
- During his campaign for the Republican party nomination, DeSantis said he wanted the legal battle to end, claiming he had "basically moved on."
- DeSantis has attacked Disney while on the campaign trail, accusing the company of sexualizing children. Disney CEO Bob Iger has called the accusation “preposterous.”
Updated on April 28, 2023
- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) expressed concern that the battle between Disney and DeSantis could scare off other businesses:
“I think where it gets problematic in the eyes of some people is when you start creating the idea . . . that somehow if you run crossways against us politically, whoever’s in charge, you may wind up in the crosshairs of the legislature for political purposes to make a statement at you."
“I do worry that if this happens too many times, businesses that are thinking about coming to Florida are saying ‘Maybe we don’t want to go there because if we get into a firestorm with them politically, they might come after our business."
- Despite his reservations, Rubio supports DeSantis in his attack on Disney, saying:
"I don't have a problem with taking on Disney. I think the fundamental question here is if what we're trying to fix is if Disney had some arrangement that gave them governmental-type powers, I think it's a perfectly legitimate thing."
Updated on April 26, 2023
- Disney has sued Florida Gov. DeSantis and his hand-picked oversight board for weaponizing his political position to punish the company for their opposition to his policies, particularly their disagreement with his "Don't Say Gay" bill.
- Disney has accused the governor of infringing upon their free speech rights.
- The lawsuit was filed immediately after DeSantis' oversight committee took steps to regain its power over Disney and the special tax district in which it is located. Disney's lawsuit is seeking an injunction to block the oversight committee's actions.
- The 77-page lawsuit states:
“Disney finds itself in this regrettable position because it expressed a viewpoint the Governor and his allies did not like. Disney wishes that things could have been resolved a different way. But Disney also knows that it is fortunate to have the resources to take a stand against the State’s retaliation – a stand smaller businesses and individuals might not be able to take when the State comes after them for expressing their own views. In America, the government cannot punish you for speaking your mind.”
“The governor got very angry about the position that Disney took, and it seems like he’s decided to retaliate against us. … in effect, to seek to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right.”
Updated on April 10, 2023
- DeSantis has threatened to impose taxes on the hotels and roads leading into the Disney theme park in light of his ongoing dispute with the corporation over their censure of his "Don't Say Gay" bill.
- DeSantis said:
"[W]e're going to look at things like taxes on hotels, we're going to look at things like tolls on the roads, we're going to look at things like developing some of the property that the district owns."
"[T]hey are not superior to the people of Florida. And so come hell or high water, we're going to make sure that policy of Florida carries the day."
"[W]e are going to win on every single issue involving Disney."
- Disney CEO Bob Iger said his company has a "right to freedom of speech just like individuals do" and that DeSantis' moves were "anti-Florida."
Updated on March 30, 2023
- Disney has referenced an obscure royal clause to render Gov. DeSantis' decision to take control of Disney's theme park district ineffective.
- Disney ran the district for over half a century until DeSantis made a move to take control of the district, citing Disney's defiance of state sex education laws and Disney's criticism of the Parental Rights in Education Act, known colloquially as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.
- Disney has bypassed the Republican board selected by DeSantis by using an archaic covenant known as a "royal lives clause", which has been used in legal documentation since the late 17th century.
- The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District says the agreement passed last month by the previous board gives the Disney corporation control over the area and restricts the power of the new board due to a stipulation contained in the agreement that states:
"[It is valid until] 21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England."
"We're going to have to deal with it and correct it. [Disney's actions are] a naked attempt to circumvent the will of the voters and the will of the Florida Legislature."
"The Executive Office of the Governor is aware of Disney’s last-ditch efforts to execute contracts just before ratifying the new law that transfers rights and authorities from the former Reedy Creek Improvement District to Disney. An initial review suggests these agreements may have significant legal infirmities that would render the contracts void as a matter of law.”
"Governor DeSantis’ new board would not, and will not, allow Disney to give THEMSELVES unprecedented power over land (some of which isn’t even theirs!) for 30+ years.”
- DeSantis' selected board is liaising with lawyers to settle the dispute.
What’s the story?
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill earlier this week to take control of Walt Disney World’s municipal services and development for the special district surrounding the park.
- DeSantis said the special zone encompassing the park — known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District — enabled the company to avoid local rules and building codes.
- During a news conference, he stated:
“The corporate kingdom finally comes to an end. There’s a new sheriff in town, and accountability will be the order of the day.”
What’s in the bill?
- The bill appoints a five-person board to oversee the municipal services where Disney operates, including fire protection and road maintenance. The committee will include people who “very much want to see Disney be what Walt envisioned,” as put by DeSantis, and will have a role in Disney's revenues and debt.
- Members of the board include local elections lawyer Michael Sasso and conservative school board member Bridget Ziegler, who is also the wife of a Flordia Republican Party chairman Christian Ziegler.
- The bill would also end some of Disney’s privileges, including an exemption from state regulatory reviews, as well as remove its self-governing status.
- DeSantis hopes that while the board handles infrastructure and maintenance, it also stops Disney from “inject[ing] woke ideologies.” He said:
“When you lose your way, you’ve got to have people that are going to tell you the truth. So we can hope they can get back on. But I think all of these board members very much would like to see the type of entertainment that all families can appreciate.”
Criticisms
- Opposers say the bill seems to be a part of a growing feud between Disney and DeSantis, as the governor said the company “crossed the line” by opposing his ‘Don’t Say Gay' bill. DeSantis has said he’s fighting the “woke indoctrination” of the company, including Disney’s move to require proof of vaccination, mandate masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and make changes to the park to promote diversity.
- Critics are stressing that DeSantis’ bill is an attempt to push his own ideological agenda and a dangerous step towards punishing entities that exercise their First Amendment right to criticize his positions.
- Rep. Rita Harris (D-FL) questioned just how far DeSantis would go to control his opponents. Citing Disney’s decision to change Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in an effort to be more inclusive, she said:
“What if the governor didn’t like that? Would the board be able to push the company into changing their business model?”
Do you support DeSantis' bill?
-Jamie Epstein
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SuperCalifragilisticExpialiFascist.
This is government overreach. This is big government at its worst. He is trying to regulate free speech and creativity.
Beware the mouse's wrath.
Remember when Republicans were pro-business and would do everything to reduce the regulatory and tax burden on corporations?
Well, I guess that only lasted so far as companies keeping their mouths shut and staying out of politics other than donations.
This is fascism, and it's anti-business.
I don't think Disney will move out of Florida, but they can reduce headcount and change who they donate to. And they can stand stronger against fascists like DeSantis.
I hope they do.
Disney sidesteps DeSantis 1 day before DeSantis's appointed board members take over by transferring all powers from Reedy Developnent board to Disney, and leaving only the responsibility of roads & infrastructure to DeSantis run Reedy Develoomeny board.
In addition Reedy Decelopment Board can't use Disney characters or the Disney name, and the minimum wage was increased to $18/hr for 45,000 Disney workers which as the major employer forced the states hand in the minimum wage.
Looks like the mouse 🐭 will have the last word!
"Gov. Ron DeSantis' move to take over Walt Disney World's governing board in Florida may have backfired due to a prior obscure agreement that new governor-appointed board members argue stripped them of their power."
"According to the agreement text, Disney was given a slew of powers including development rights for the next thirty years, or 2053, and the authority to approve any design improvements."
"This essentially makes Disney the government," board member Ron Peri said during a meeting on Wednesday. "This board loses, for practical purposes, the majority of its ability to do anything beyond maintain the roads and maintain basic infrastructure."
"The 151-page Florida agreement also states that no "fanciful characters" owned by Disney, including Mickey Mouse, can be used by the board. The use of the name Disney is also banned."
"Disney World service workers on Wednesday were voting on whether to accept a union contract offer that would raise the starting minimum wage to $18 an hour by the end of the year."
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/29/1166925827/disney-world-board-desantis-power-florida
https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-board-overseeing-disney-district-may-be-powerless-2023-3?amp
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65120369.amp
Corporations just like individuals, voicing their opinion, can be a target of political pressure of a want-a-be dictatorship, whether you are right or not. It is dangerous to allow retaliation by government or corporations.
We shouldn't use government to take aim at companies that disagree with politicians.
Here's something new and fun.
"Jewett also said that scheme DeSantis’ allies refer to in their complaint to Florida’s Inspector General amounted to a perk for the district’s employees, including the firefighters and safety administrators."
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/22/business/ron-desantis-disney-free-theme-park-passes-and-discounts/index.html
CAUSES TELLS ME, THEN ASKS: "Disney is filing a counterclaim against the board appointed by DeSantis to take control of Walt Disney World's special tax district, claiming Florida is infringing on their freedom of speech.Do you think businesses will reconsider operating in Florida?" ME: GO DISNEY! And I most certainly hope business reconsider operating in -- and stay away from or move out of -- Florida...and Texas...and Alabama ...and...and...
Free speech should have no penalties!
It's not just about Disney World!
DeSantis’ ‘anti-woke’ bills are costing Florida millions of dollars in business
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/06/economy/florida-convention-business-cancellations
By Alicia Wallace, CNN
06-Aug-23
Minneapolis (CNN) — A slew of new bills signed into law by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has draped the Sunshine State in controversy, spurring protests, lawsuits and travel advisories warning the state is “openly hostile” toward people of color, immigrants, women and LGBTQ+ community members.
The fallout is starting to spread to a key economic artery for an income-tax-free state heavily reliant upon tourism taxes: Florida’s convention business.
In recent weeks, at least a dozen organizations have announced plans to either cancel or relocate their upcoming conferences scheduled to take place in Florida, making a statement by having their thousands of attendees and millions of dollars flow into other states deemed safer and more welcoming.
While DeSantis’ office brushes this off as a “media-driven stunt,” tourism officials and community organizations in the state say what’s happening now may be just the beginning.
“Unlike leisure business, which is a very short-term booking window [in weeks or months], conference business is long term,” said Stacy Ritter, president and chief executive officer of the Visit Lauderdale tourism marketing agency in Broward County, Florida. “We’re booking ’26 to ‘30 now, so any impact that this might have is not going to be seen for years to come.”
As of July 26, Ritter said that Visit Lauderdale has tallied 10 events and conventions that were canceled by organizations citing recently enacted laws, policies and travel advisories. That amounts to 15,000 lost hotel room nights and an estimated $20 million economic impact, she said.
MORE:
Businesses will return when Disney destroys DeSantis.
This is a confusing question and answer pairing! Yes, I think businesses will reconsider business in Florida. Our only choice is to move into the future. We cannot move into the past, which is what Republicans want to see us do. Not only will businesses reconsider their options when faced with bass-ackwards policies of such individuals such as DeSantis and Abbott, other investments will suffer as well. Large donors of e.g., universities will also be rethinking their gifts. In the long run, the state and the people will suffer under the petty, vindictive and discriminatory policies of DeSantis and Abbott.
If Disantis wants to create an environment hostile to businesses. I guess the population that voted him in can bear the brunt of his actions. I have no sympathy.
Just read a article how California and New York are continuing to lose big tech and investment companies to Florida and Texas. They have lost over a trillion dollars in assets and investments. I think that is the asnwer to your question.
Disney isn't any business and Disney's deal far exceeded what any other company could do today in getting these concessions
Only the woke who prefer broke-Budweiser, Target etc
Ron DeSantis is a sissy boy joke, he has made an ass out of himself and he knows it that's why he's trying to distance of himself from the whole Disney farce DeSantis himself concocted.
This sissy boy man spends almost all of his time picking on those that have nothing that can't fight back a classic Sissy boy move. DeSantis is nothing short of a waste of human organs. An idiot that has totally proven that he doesn't have the mental capacity to be governor let alone president of this country. What the hell is wrong with republican party.
Disney Files Counterclaim Against DeSantis-Appointed Board
I approve of this latest move.
Do you think businesses will reconsider operating in Florida?
I think business have different agendas which may or may not be immediately impacted by DeSantis' Anti-Truth, Anti-Education, Anti-Voter, Anti-LGBT+, Anti-Immigrant, etc. Policies. In the end, it is likely Florida businesses will take a hit in three to five years.
I read that the convention business is already facing a long term impact since conventions are booked years in advance. Tourism has also been impacted to a slight degree. The League of United Latin American Citizens, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the L.G.B.T.Q. organization Equality Florida have issued Travel warnings. Thus far, the warnings seem to have had minimal impact. It may take time for people to decide on alternatives to doing business with Florida's businesses.
NYTimes: Despite Battle Over Politics, Florida Tourism Rolls On
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/travel/florida-tourism-advisories-desantis.html?
The cost of ignorant hate must have a price. That, for DeSantis and the Florida legislors, should be the most effective: ones that hurt their pocketss. Consequently, let businesses seek other locations and citizens boycott Florida travel and spending. I'm with THE MOUSE on this one!
Businesses support Trump DeSantis and the Republican Party what do they expect when they support fascist dictatorships? The supreme courts support the extreme right propaganda and screw up the country, now the reality of their decisions is setting in. It's too little to late for a reality check!
I'm glad to see Disney standing up to Republican fascists
Come on folks. I can not believe this guy was elected to be governor of Florida, much less run for the President of our Country. I support Disneys right to speak out against the unprecedented hatred and actions agains freedom of speech.
A record-breaking blob of smelly seaweed is arriving in Florida
This blob dwarfs the stink exuded by swamp inhabitants desantis and trump
please don't let them pollute the rest of the country !
Disney great and I support them all the way too 🤗
I think that businesses shouldn't be political anyway!!!! So, if that is what you are about, hit the pike.