A Florida state panelist reportedlyโข reacted with uncontrollable โlaughter to Governor Ron DeSantis‘ escalating dispute with โขThe Walt Disney Company,describing physical discomfort โfrom the โamusement. The exchange occurred duringโ aโ meeting ofโ the Central Floridaโฃ Tourism Oversight District, established earlier this year to oversee Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.
The conflict stems from Disney’s opposition to Florida’sโข Parental โRights in Education Act, dubbedโ byโ critics as the “Don’tโข Say Gay” law. Following Disney’s public criticism of the legislation โขin March 2022, โขDeSantis moved to dissolve the Reedy Creek district, which had grantedโฃ Disney a degreeโข of self-governanceโ forโ decades. The subsequentโข creation of the CFTOD and ongoing legal โขbattles represent a important power struggle betweenโค the state โgovernment and โคone of Florida’s largest employers. The panelist’s reaction highlights โthe unusual nature of the situation and the heightened political tensions surrounding โขit.
Duringโ the CFTOD meeting on October 24, 2023,โ atโ 14:17 EST, discussion centered on DeSantis’ recent vow to pursueโข further action against โฃDisney,โ potentially including increased state control over โthe company’s theme park infrastructure. A member of the โคoversight โboard was overheard stating, “my stomach is hurting from laughing,” in response to DeSantis’ threats, accordingโ to CNN reporting. โThe comment underscored โthe perceived imbalance of power inโ theโฃ dispute and the board’s apparentโฃ confidence in the state’s position.
The CFTODโฃ is currently โworking to โฃassert its authorityโ overโ Disney’s property, reviewing contracts andโค progress โฃagreements previouslyโ approvedโ by the Reedy Creek district. โLegal experts anticipate aโค protracted legal fight, with Disney likely to challenge any attempts to infringe uponโข its existing rights and agreements. The outcome of โขthis dispute could โขhave far-reaching implications for the relationship between businesses and state governments in โFlorida andโข beyond.
