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NEWS POLITICS

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Takes on Disney with New Legislation

ByAlki David

May 7, 2023

In a bold move, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed legislation that will nullify the agreements made between Walt Disney Co. and the district governing its Orlando-area theme parks. The agreements, which allowed Disney to retain some control over future development in the area, have been a source of controversy for some time. This latest move by the Republican governor is the second effort aimed at invalidating the accords, after a board that oversees the district declared them null and void last week.

Governor DeSantis has been engaged in a yearlong battle with Disney over the agreements. His latest action is likely to intensify the conflict, as it opens another front in the ongoing dispute. The governor has been a vocal critic of Disney, accusing the company of exerting undue influence over the district and thwarting the will of local officials.

The legislation signed by Governor DeSantis will strip Disney of its power to control development in the area, which includes the company’s theme parks and other properties. The move has been hailed by some as a victory for local officials and residents, who have long complained of Disney’s heavy-handed tactics.

However, the new law has also been criticized by some who see it as an attack on Disney and its business interests. Some analysts have suggested that the move could have negative consequences for the state’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on Disney’s theme parks to attract visitors.

Despite these concerns, Governor DeSantis remains committed to his goal of limiting Disney’s influence in the area. He has vowed to continue his efforts to challenge the company and protect the interests of the district and its residents.

In conclusion, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed new legislation that will nullify agreements made between Walt Disney Co. and the district governing its Orlando-area theme parks. This latest move is part of the governor’s ongoing battle with the entertainment giant, and is likely to intensify the conflict between the two sides. While some have praised the legislation as a victory for local officials and residents, others have expressed concerns about its potential impact on the state’s tourism industry.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.