Name: Disney Sues DeSantis Over Takeover of Special District
Uploaded: 2023-04-27T01:11:10.000Z
Description: On April 26, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts filed a lawsuit against Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his hand-picked oversight board.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

China’s Broken Promises Loom Over New Trade Deals

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Californians React as Trump Calls for Gas Tax Suspension

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Federal Agencies Announce ‘Summer Surge’ of Law Enforcement into DC Ahead of 250th Anniversary

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Trump Administration Reports Zero Border Releases

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

US to Host 1st Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show, Featuring Shakira, Madonna

Savannah Pointer is a politics reporter for The Epoch Times. She can be reached at savannah.pointer@epochtimes.us

Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Health News

Texas Children's Hospital to Open First-Ever Detransition Clinic Under Deal With DOJ

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

On April 26, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts filed a lawsuit against Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his hand-picked oversight board.

According to the complaint (pdf), filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northwestern District of Florida, the theme park giant is accusing DeSantis of engaging in “a targeted campaign of government retaliation” as “punishment for Disney’s protected speech.”

“At the Governor’s bidding, the State’s oversight board has purported to ‘void’ publicly noticed and duly agreed development contracts, which had laid the foundation for billions of Disney’s investment dollars and thousands of jobs,” the complain reads. It also claims that the move was “patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional.”

The complaint states that DeSantis doesn’t plan to stop there, noting that his team “also planned ‘to look at things like taxes on the hotels,’ ‘tolls on the roads,’ ‘developing some of the property that the district owns’ with more amusement parks,’ and even putting a ‘state prison’ next to Disney World.'”

The complaint quotes DeSantis as saying, “Who knows, I just think the possibilities are endless.”

The battle between DeSantis and Disney began nearly two years ago when the family theme park mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for its employees in July 2021. On Nov. 18, 2021, DeSantis countered by signing legislation effectively banning vaccine mandates in the Sunshine State.

In March 2022, under pressure from LGBT activists, Disney opposed the governor’s Parental Rights in Education legislation, dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. CEO Bob Chapek sent a message to all employees “especially [the company’s] LGBTQ+ community,” apologizing for not acting sooner, adding that Disney would pause all political contributions in the state. Disney doubled down by stating that the bill should be struck down by the courts.

In April 2022, DeSantis retaliated with a threat to repeal the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act (RCIA), which established a special jurisdiction and taxing district for Disney World.

The battle raged on until Disney finally filed its lawsuit.

The complaint states: “Disney regrets that it has come to this. But having exhausted efforts to seek 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.”

Office of DeSantis Communications Director Taryn Fenske told The Epoch Times in a statement: “We 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. This 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.”

Disney didn’t respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
<h2>Past Statements</h2>
In a March 28, 2022, statement, Disney vowed that its new goal was “for [the RCIA] to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts,” promising to support organizations working to make such a thing happen.

In a March 29, 2022, rebuttal on social media, DeSantis wrote that Florida “is governed by the interests of the people of the state of Florida—it is not based on the demands of California corporate executives.”

On March 30, 2022, Republican state Rep. Spencer Roach warned on social media that lawmakers had already met twice to discuss the repeal of the RCIA, writing, “If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County.”

On April 3, 2022, Roach wrote on social media, “CEO Bob Chapek needs to be removed.”

In a Nov. 20, 2022, press release, the Walt Disney Company Board of Directors announced Chapek was gone.

On March 16, DeSantis signed a bill into law to strip Disney of control over the district. A fight for control of the oversight board ensued. DeSantis won. Then came the lawsuit.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/disney-sues-gov-desantis_5223087.html">The Epoch Times</a></em>

DISNEY

Videos

Business News

01_Lead Story

04_Top Stories

Takeover

Latest Clips

DeSantis

Management

Patricia Tolson is an award-winning Epoch Times reporter who covers human interest stories, election policies, education, school boards, and parental rights.

Ms. Tolson has 20 years of experience in media and has worked for outlets including Yahoo!, U.S. News, and The Tampa Free Press. Send her your story ideas: patricia.tolson@epochtimes.us

Patricia Tolson

Alison Lee

02_Second Lead

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.