And on Friday the governor signed the bill into law surrounded by children and people holding signs with the message “Stop woke.”
On Wednesday, it passed in the state House in a 70-38 vote. The next day, the Senate voted 23-16 in favor of the bill. Last Monday, DeSantis asked the Florida Legislature to revoke Disney’s privileges. If the meeting took place, it doesn’t seem to have had much of an effect. By that point, more than 150 companies had signed a letter opposing the act.Ĭhapek explained that he had called DeSantis to express his “disappointment and concern” about the law arguing “it could be used to unfairly target gay lesbian, nonbinary and transgender kids and families.” “The governor heard our concerns and agreed to meet with me and LGBTQ+ members of our senior team in Florida to discuss the ways to address them,” Chapek added. The conflict between Disney and DeSantis, who is leading the polls in the gubernatorial race and has already raised more than $100 million for the reelection campaign, intensified in early March, when Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against the “Don’t Say Gay” law following pressure from company workers. Ahead of the midterm elections in November, Republicans are using the word to promote the idea that the left is only concerned with social issues such as transgender rights and critical race theory, and not the real problems of the people. The keyword in this statement is “woke,” a term that has taken on special importance in the so-called culture wars in the United States. In a campaign fundraising email on Wednesday, he wrote: “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy,” adding, “I will not allow a woke corporation based in California to run our state.”
It also dominates the Central Florida tourism industry, with an annual economic impact of around $75 billion.īut the Florida governor – who is tipped to be the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential candidate – has no qualms about taking on the entertainment giant. The company – which has not yet responded to the DeSantis’ attack – employs about 80,000 workers in Florida, making it the largest employer in the state. Now that the district is set to be dissolved, tax experts estimate that local governments will inherit a debt of around $1 billion, while property owners in the area may face tax hikes of up to 20%.Īs far as Disney is concerned, it will now have to ask authorities for permission to reform or expand Disney World. The 1967 decision to create the Reedy Creek Improvement District was not solely aimed at providing autonomy and encouraging new business development, it was also intended to spare the then rural and underdeveloped counties of Orange and Osceola from paying for new infrastructure and services. Disney is not the only company with these special privileges in Florida: the Daytona International Speedway and The Villages, a famous retirement community, also have similar conditions. It also manages policing and other emergency services such as ambulances and firefighters. Up until now, it has been in charge of building and maintaining infrastructure and providing municipal services such as electricity and water. When that happens, Disney will no longer have sole control over the land. The new rule takes effect on July 1, but its sweeping changes won’t come into force until June 1, 2013. Disney purchased the land in the early 1960s, but the park did not open until 1971. The company has had almost total control over the area since 1967, when the state created a special taxing district called Reedy Creek Improvement District. Until now, Disney World in Orlando has operated like a country government.
Disney heiress blasts entertainment empire’s poverty wages in new documentaryįlorida’s decision to revoke Disney’s special status also affects the counties of Orange and Osceola, where Disney World is located, which will inherit the debts of the theme park district.