DeSantis calls takeover of Disney authorities a ‘success’ regardless of employee exodus, litigation
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Nearly a 12 months after state lawmakers handed a legislation giving Florida’s governor management over Walt Disney World’s governing district, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday known as the takeover a hit, regardless of an exodus of employees, ongoing litigation and scandal surrounding certainly one of his appointees.
DeSantis made a victory lap of kinds throughout a information convention at Disney World, touting a first-round victory in litigation with Disney over who controls the district, which had been led by Disney supporters for greater than 5 a long time till the takeover final 12 months.
The governor additionally stated the takeover of the district along with his appointees had created extra transparency and accountability, diminished the tax burden for Disney and outdoors outlets and eating places on the theme park resort and made the awarding of contracts by the district extra aggressive. The district offers municipal companies corresponding to firefighting, planning and mosquito management, amongst different issues.
“That could be a win, not only for individuals on this area, however the state of Florida,” DeSantis stated.
DeSantis’ go to to Disney World got here three weeks after a federal decide in Tallahassee dismissed Disney’s free speech lawsuit towards the governor and his appointees to the board of the governing district. Disney is interesting the ruling.
Disney had argued that the laws which transferred control of the district from Disney supporters to DeSantis appointees was in retaliation for the corporate publicly opposing the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. The 2022 legislation banned classroom classes on sexual orientation and gender id in early grades and was championed by DeSantis, who had used Disney as a punching bag in speeches on the marketing campaign path till he suspended his campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination earlier this 12 months.
A separate lawsuit over who controls the district continues to be pending in state court docket in Orlando. Earlier than management of the district modified arms early final 12 months, the Disney supporters on its board signed agreements with Disney shifting management over design and building at Disney World to the corporate. The brand new DeSantis appointees claimed the “eleventh-hour deals” neutered their powers, and the district sued the corporate in state court docket to have the contracts voided.
Disney has filed counterclaims that embrace asking the state court docket to declare the agreements legitimate and enforceable.
For the reason that takeover, round 50 of the district’s 370 staff have departed, elevating questions on how properly the district is ready to function with so many vacancies. Most of the departing employees complained that the district has change into politicized, that politically-connected associates have been employed or awarded contracts, and that the backgrounds of the 5 DeSantis appointees have been distracting.
One of many appointees, Bridget Ziegler, a co-founder of Mothers for Liberty, has been known as out for hypocrisy after admitting to a sexual relationship along with her husband and one other girl, despite the fact that the Zieglers very publicly have fought towards LGBTQ+ rights. Her husband, Christian Ziegler, not too long ago was ousted as the top of the Republican Get together of Florida, and the Sarasota Police Division has asked prosecutors to cost him with illegally video recording the sexual encounter he had with the lady.
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Comply with Mike Schneider on X, previously referred to as Twitter: @MikeSchneiderAP.
