In a legal confrontation that unveils growing tensions between Disney and the DeSantis-appointed government, the entertainment giant alleges a failure to release public records, sparking a contentious battle over transparency and accountability.
According to the Associated Press, a lawsuit filed on Friday by Disney claims that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, also commonly referred to as CFTOD, has been slow in implementing its public records duties and has also failed to respond to a request the company made earlier this year to retrieve emails and texts belonging to the five district board members appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
U.S. Congressman Ron DeSantis of Florida speaking at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland.
The lawsuit, which was filed in state court, revealed that, "CFTOD has prevented Disney from discovering the actions of its government through public records requests, in violation of Florida law," The lawsuit went ont to admonish the court to"...grant Disney relief."
Disney, DeSantis, and DeSantis' appointees are, as reported by the AP, currently embroiled in two lawsuits, contending for control of the government in federal and state courts. The lawsuit seeks a judge to examine documents the district will not release, to declare that the district is in direct violation of state public records law, as well as mandate the district to disclose the documents Disney has requested.
The conflict between DeSantis and Disney started last year when the company openly criticized the state's "don't say gay" law, which prohibits classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. DeSantis, who is vying for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, supported the law. In response, DeSantis and Republican lawmakers assumed control of the district that Disney had overseen for over five decades. Five board members loyal to the governor were appointed as a form of retaliation.
Business News goes on to report that the region is experiencing the economic impact as it currently plays out in court, such as Disney's decision to dismantle its $1 billion campus in Orlando. This may significantly influence other development projects in the area.
