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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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Ron DeSantis struck back at Disney on Monday, laying out plans to void a development agreement that will allow the company to largely maintain control over its special district in Florida.
The deal was approved by Florida's State Land Planning Agency in 2022, before the governor's current objection, according to Alejandra Caraballo, a civil rights attorney who has been strongly critical of DeSantis, referring to him as weak, pathetic, petty and tiny.
DeSantis has been locked in a conflict with Disney since the entertainment giant criticized his Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law by opponents. The Florida governor is widely believed to be weighing up a possible 2024 presidential bid, with polling indicating he is Donald Trump's most credible challenger for the GOP nomination, though he has yet to officially declare.
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DeSantis on Monday said he would use legislation to nullify a move by Disney that would allow it to continue running the Reedy Creek Improvement District in Florida, a self-governing authority first created in 1967.
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The governor originally sought to impose a new board on the district, controlled by his loyalists. But this was sidestepped by Disney in an unusual legal maneuver that largely grants the company continued control over the district in perpetuity, or until "21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England."
Caraballo said that Disney managed to gain state approval for its plans in 2022. She has more than 133,000 followers on Twitter, where her profile gives the description: "Wise Latina. Clinical Instructor, Harvard Law Cyberlaw Clinic. Gender & Tech."
She retweeted Kevin Connolly, another Twitter user, who shared a legal notice from July 2022 in which Florida authorities described the Disney plan as "in compliance."
Caraballo added: "Disney outsmarted DeSantis again. The plan they passed to keep control of Disney World was comprehensively reviewed and approved by his own State Land Planning Agency last year."
DeSantis announced a number of other measures targeting Disney on Monday, including legislation to end the exemption of its theme park rides from state inspection. He also suggested land in Florida near the Disney resort could be developed, possibly with a new state prison being constructed.
The governor commented: "People have said maybe create a state park, try to do more amusement parks. Someone said another state prison. Who knows? The possibilities are endless."
In response to DeSantis' statement, Caraballo had tweeted: "Disney has revealed to the world just how petty and tiny DeSantis is. While Florida residents struggle with a homeowners insurance crisis, retaliating against Disney is his biggest priority. What an absolutely pathetic person."
Disney's legal position wasn't immediately clear and the company has yet to publish a response. Newsweek has contacted Governor DeSantis and Disney for comment by email.
Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger previously accused DeSantis of taking an "anti-business" position, and aiming "to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right."
The controversy began when Iger came out in opposition to Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill, following pressure from Disney employees, describing it as "potentially harmful to kids."
The legislation bans classroom discussion of "sexual orientation or gender identity," up until third grade.
Update 03/18/23, 1:37 p.m. ET: This article was updated with further comments from Caraballo
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