[The Epoch Times, April 22, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Daphra comprehensive report) Once upon a time, not having a public fight with Disney was considered a basic rule of Florida politics.
Disney, the iconic American brand has long been a symbol of health and childhood joy, just as Florida is seen as a symbol of sun and beaches.
But Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature have moved swiftly in recent days to push to dismantle the “autonomy” Disney has enjoyed in Florida for half a century.
On Tuesday (April 19), Gov. DeSantis proposed to the state legislature to convene a special session to discuss passing a bill that would end Disney’s autonomous territorial status in Florida. On Wednesday, the Republican-led Florida Senate voted 23 to 16 to pass the bill; on Thursday, the Republican-majority state House passed the bill by a vote of 70 to 38.
When asked why the bill was brought to the special session, DeSantis’ deputy press secretary, Bryan Griffin, replied that it’s to help level the playing field for businesses in Florida.
Disney Privileges in Florida: “Reed Creek Improvement District”
In May 1967, following a lobbying effort by Disney, then-Governor Claude Kirk signed the Reedy Creek Improvement Act into law.
At the time, the entertainment giant proposed to build an entertainment-oriented development on 25,000 acres of land in remote Orange and Osceola counties in central Florida that included 38.5 A square mile of mostly uninhabited pastures and marshes.
Orange and Osceola counties did not have the services or resources needed to realize the project, so the state legislature partnered with Disney to create the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special tax district that The Disney Company is allowed to have the same powers and responsibilities as the county government.
For decades since the bill was signed, Disney has been able to build its own buildings, collect taxes and issue bonds without requiring approval from local planning boards.
Chris Lyon, an attorney who handles the District, said one of the big benefits of the District is tax-free purchases for the services it provides and the issuance of municipal bonds at much lower rates for major infrastructure projects.
“The Vatican with Mouse Ears”
The move could have huge tax ramifications for Disney, whose string of theme parks has turned Orlando into one of the world‘s most popular tourist destinations and further soured the rift between the Republican-led government and the state’s big business. Relationship.
As this shift takes place, business leaders who once seemed like natural allies are starting to look more like part of an elite that conservatives distrust.
At the same time, America’s big business and Republican creeds and constituencies are divided as cultural issues become more prominent. Big business and big tech believe that catering to younger consumers who tend to embrace social liberalism (and their own young employees) is good for their brands and their businesses; while Republicans represent culturally conservative voters who want to boycott recent years to the wave of awakening that has swept through most American institutions.
The rights to the Disney Autonomous District are so great that one analyst called the Reed Creek Improvement a “Vatican with mouse ears.”
As Florida author Carl Hiaasen points out in his book Team Rodent, “Never before or since has such an outlandish dominion been granted to a private company.” “Disney owns its own It manages its own planning and zoning. It sets its own building codes and employs its own inspectors. It has its own fire department. It even has the power to collect taxes.”
DeSantis and Disney’s Recent Public Opinion War
Recently, Disney has been at war with Florida’s “Parental Educational Rights” bill signed by DeSantis, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” Act by opponents. The bill prohibits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten to third grade.
While Disney remained silent during the debate in the state legislature, it expressed strong opposition after Florida ratified the bill in March.
Shortly after the bill was signed, Disney issued a statement slamming the bill, echoing headlines in the media, labelling it a “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
“Florida’s HB1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Homosexual’ Act, should not have been passed nor signed into law,” Disney said. “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or Overturned in court, we remain committed to supporting national and state organizations working to achieve this goal.”
Disney has urged the bill to be repealed and even stopped all political donations to elected officials in Florida.
DeSantis ends Disney’s special status
Democratic lawmakers could be heard trying to protest and shouting as the Florida House of Representatives met on Thursday to discuss passing the bill.
Now, the bill will go to Governor DeSantis for his signature.
“As a first principle, I would say that I don’t support legal privilege just because a company is powerful and holds a lot of power,” DeSantis said at a news conference last month.
“I don’t think a lot of these perks are justified, but because Disney has so much influence, they’ve been able to maintain a lot of perks over the years,” he added.
DeSantis also issued an announcement listing various reasons why Disney’s special status should be revoked.
DeSantis has repeatedly opposed the so-called “awakeningism” that Disney is promoting.
“But when you want to impose an ‘awakening ideology’ on our state, we see that as a significant threat,” DeSantis said earlier this month.
“If we let it go, this awakeningism is going to destroy the country,” DeSantis added. “So here in Florida, we’re taking a very strong stand against it.”
Responsible editor: Lin Yan#