Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Calls For Lawmakers To End Walt Disney World’s Self-Governing Special District

deadline.com:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis escalated his attack on The Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday, as he called on the state legislature to end a self-governing special district covering Walt Disney World.DeSantis said that lawmakers in a special session this week “also will be considering termination of all special districts that were enacted in Florida prior to 1968, and that includes the Reedy Creek Improvement District.” The latter is the special district established by state law in 1967, giving Disney control over issues like land use and infrastructure.DeSantis’ move was the latest wrinkle in an ongoing feud with Disney after the company came out against a parental rights bill, which critics have dubbed the “don’t say gay” law.

It restricts teachers from discussing issues of sexual orientation and gender identity from Kindergarten through the third grade.The state’s legislature is planning a special session this week.A spokesperson for Disney, which is one of the state’s largest employers, did not have immediate comment.

The company initially remained publicly silent about the legislation as it made its way through the legislature. But after employees and activists called for greater company action to try to stop it, CEO Bob Chapek announced the company’s opposition.

On the day that DeSantis signed the bill into law, the company released a statement saying that the legislation “should never have passed and should never have been signed into law.”Rep.