MONORAILED: Disney SUES DeSantis over ‘relentless’ weaponization of government

MONORAILED: Disney SUES DeSantis over 'relentless' weaponization of government

Disney is suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over what it calls a pattern of governmental retaliation against the corporation for expressing a view on a piece of legislation.

It’s potentially a very damaging case for a governor with higher political aspirations, and as we reported last week, he’s been laying the grounds for it himself.

DeSantis Fairy Godmothered around, and he may be about to find out.

He has repeatedly, openly expressed that his attacks on Disney stem from the company’s support of LGBTQ rights and its opposition to laws attacking those rights and promoting discrimination, and Disney’s legal department — which is legendary itself — should have no difficulty producing evidence of this.

Specifically, along with various verbal attacks, DeSantis moved to yank Disney World’s special tax district, which was formed to simplify access to the park’s massive need for utilities and emergency services.

He’s been criticized for making things more difficult not only for the park but potentially for taxpayers, who could end up affected by the redistribution of costs.

Now, he’s trying to punish the company further after learning that the previous oversight board approved some of the park’s needs or wants, including additional hotels and parks and limiting the use of adjoining land.

In response, he says he’ll overturn those agreements and has threatened to allow other amusement parks or even a new prison to be built on neighboring land and to add new state oversight of rides. The New York Times reports:

“Disney’s lawsuit accused Mr. DeSantis of a ‘relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint.’ The campaign, the complaint added, ‘now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region and violates its constitutional rights.'”

Only this week, the new Board of Supervisors, appointed by DeSantis, did his bidding and voided the previous agreement with the park.

It claims that they’re doing so because of a failure to follow proper procedures and due to missing documents, according to WDWNT, rather than acknowledging DeSantis’ longstanding feud with the company and his promise to make doing business in the state of Florida difficult for the park.

Watch below to see just one example of DeSantis admitting that his attacks on Disney are intended to chill “left-wing activism” and silence corporations that might otherwise be influenced to stand up for marginalized groups.

Stephanie Bazzle

Steph Bazzle is a news writer who covers politics and theocracy, always aiming for a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. Follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph. Sign up for all of her stories to be delivered to your inbox here: