‘A new sheriff in town’: DeSantis could soon control Disney government

A battle for control over Disney’s self-governing zone in Orlando is heating up once again. Florida Republicans are taking center stage with a controversial bill that would give the governor control over the special tax Reedy Creek Improvement District, which operates Walt Disney World.

Gov. Ron DeSantis stated in a recent news conference with WESH, “Disney is no longer going to have self-government.” The bill, if passed, would change the district’s name to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and allow the governor to appoint his own five-member oversight team to govern it.

While this push would largely leave the district and its powers intact, The Associated Press reports that the effort is the governor’s way of punishing Disney over its public opposition to the Parental Rights in Education Act – which critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

“There’s a new sheriff in town and that’s just the way it’s gonna be,” DeSantis said at the news conference.

As DeSantis is widely expected to be launching a presidential run, Florida Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat representing parts of Broward and Miami-Dade, says Disney’s strategy is to just wait it out and resolve the battle when DeSantis leaves office.

“I think Disney anticipates having to litigate on this issue, to sue, hope to get a stay from the court to keep things status quo, and then basically just drag it out until DeSantis is gone and people need, or don’t care, about Disney,” Pizzo told reporters during a press conference in Tallahassee. However, Disney’s official response to this proposed bill remains unclear.

Disney is one of Florida’s biggest employers and political donors, with its theme park in the state attracting nearly 50 million people every year. DeSantis stated, “Disney’s gonna pay its debt.”