In his yearlong battle with Disney, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has repeatedly leaned on the element of surprise in his attempts to outmanoeuver the entertainment giant and its army of executives, high-priced lawyers and politically connected lobbyists.
"Nobody can see this coming," DeSantis told a top Republican legislative leader as they planned a move against Disney last year, he recalled in his new book.
The unlikely fracturing of Florida's relationship with its most iconic business started during the contentious debate last year over state legislation to restrict certain classroom instruction on sexuality and gender identity. Disney's then-CEO, Bob Chapek, facing pressure from his employees, reluctantly objected to the bill, leading DeSantis to criticize the company. When DeSantis signed the legislation into law, Disney announced it would push for its repeal.
Morgan's legal career was inspired by his family's failed attempts to sue the special district after his brother was paralyzed while working as a Disney lifeguard. But Morgan learned through that episode the difficulties of challenging a corporate titan.What remains unanswered is how DeSantis appeared unaware of Disney's manoeuvering after spending the past year fixated on punishing and embarrassing the company.
"I made quite clear to him and the other Disney representatives that the validity of any such last-minute agreement would likely be challenged," Treadwell said in the statement. DeSantis' office wouldn't say if he had read the book. Foglesong said there's a message in its pages that DeSantis should have heeded: "Simply don't count Disney out."Last May, as DeSantis began to feature his battles with Disney in political speeches, two state officials quietly met with top administrators at Reedy Creek.
The timing of the next move remained secret until January 6, when DeSantis' office posted on the Osceola County government website its intent to seek legislation to overhaul Reedy Creek. In Florida, changes to a special district must be published for the public to see at least 30 days in advance. Disney was on the clock.
Instead, DeSantis, speaking an hour after the Reedy Creek board handed Disney the requested powers, declared that the company was "no longer going to have self-government" and teased that the new board might push for more Disney World discounts for Florida residents. Historically, the Reedy Creek board oversaw a fire department, water systems, roadways and building inspections around the Disney theme parks and could issue bonds and take on debt for long-term infrastructure programs. But DeSantis suggested that the new board could also influence Disney's entertainment offerings.
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