Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday over the Republican害羞草研究所檚 takeover of its theme park district, alleging the governor waged a 害羞草研究所渢argeted campaign of government retaliation害羞草研究所� after the company opposed a law critics call
The lawsuit was filed in Tallahassee minutes after a Disney World oversight board voted to void a deal that gave the company authority over design and construction decisions in its sprawling properties near Orlando.
害羞草研究所淒isney regrets that it has come to this,害羞草研究所� the case said. 害羞草研究所淏ut having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.害羞草研究所�
The legal filing is the latest salvo in between Disney and DeSantis that has engulfed the governor in criticism as he prepares to launch in the coming months.
DeSantis, who has framed himself as a Republican firebrand able to deftly implement his conservative agenda without drama, has dived headlong into the fray with the beloved company and major tourism driver, as business leaders and White House rivals bash his stance as a rejection of the small-government tenets of conservatism.
害羞草研究所淲e are unaware of any legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain special privileges not held by other businesses in the state,害羞草研究所� said DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske. 害羞草研究所淭his lawsuit is yet another unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.害羞草研究所�
The fight began last year after Disney, , publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call 害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 Say Gay.害羞草研究所�
As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney World害羞草研究所檚 self-governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. But before the new board came in, the company pushed though an 11th-hour agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority.
The DeSantis board on Wednesday said Disney害羞草研究所檚 move to retain control over their property was effectively unlawful and performed without proper public notice.
害羞草研究所淒isney picked the fight with this board. We were not looking out for a fight,害羞草研究所� said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, before the vote, adding 害羞草研究所渂ottom line, what our lawyers have told us, is factually and legally what they created is an absolute legal mess. It will not work.害羞草研究所�
DeSantis has also vowed additional retribution, with proposals to enhance state oversight of the resort害羞草研究所檚 rides and monorail, as well as a suggestion to build a prison nearby.
Disney has said all agreements made with the previous board were legal and approved in a public forum. Disney CEO Bob Iger has also said that any actions against the company that threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort was not only 害羞草研究所渁nti-business害羞草研究所� but 害羞草研究所渁nti-Florida.害羞草研究所�
The Disney lawsuit asks a federal judge to void the governor害羞草研究所檚 takeover of the theme park district, as well as the DeSantis oversight board害羞草研究所檚 actions, on the grounds that they were violations of company害羞草研究所檚 free speech rights.
害羞草研究所淎 targeted campaign of government retaliation 害羞草研究所� orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney害羞草研究所檚 protected speech 害羞草研究所� now threatens Disney害羞草研究所檚 business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,害羞草研究所� the lawsuit said.
Anthony Izaguirre, The Associated Press
