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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Fiona Leishman

Disney bans strip clubs, tattoo parlours and booze shops from its parks - but not prisons

In the ongoing battle between Disney and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Disney made a move which would prohibit certain types of businesses from ever being operated on its property.

Before allies of DeSantis took over, Disney World's governing district, which at the time was controlled by Disney, reached an agreement with the company to prohibit a long list of businesses from ever being operated on its property - including strip clubs, tattoo parlours, and booze shops, but interestingly, not prisons.

The agreement was reached in February, which forbids not just adult entertainment, tattoo parlours and liquor stores but also oil refineries and trailer parks.

While prisons weren't included on the list, DeSantis recently mused they could be built on the land when talking in a trolling tone about his year-long feud with the entertainment giant.

DeSantis made a trolling comment about building a prison on the land as the feud continues (Getty Images)

"What should we do with this land?" DeSantis asked. "And so, you know, it's like okay, kids - I mean, people have said, you know, maybe have another - maybe create a state park. Maybe try to do more amusement parks.

"Someone even said, like, maybe you need another state prison. Who knows? I mean, I just think that the possibilities are endless."

The agreement, which DeSantis allies said stripped them of power by giving Disney control of design and construction of the theme park resort, is at the centre of dueling lawsuits between the DeSantis-appointed board and Disney. This is as well as a new law seeking to rescind the deal that the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature passed.

Among the wide-ranging list of businesses banned in the agreement were establishments selling X-rated items, gun stores or ranges, bowling alleys, hotels, lumberyards, massage parlors, head shops, nursing homes, marijuana dispensaries, doctors' offices and anything taller than four storeys.

Millions flock to Orlando to visit the Walt Disney World resort (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The board of the governing district, which has been made up of allies of DeSantis since March, met last week to approve new district administrator, hire the previous administrator as a special adviser, and authorise a new method for enforcing codes or rules that could be used to fine Disney for any violations.

The new enforcement measure would let code officers issue citations for as much as $500 (£401) per day and appoint a magistrate to hear contested cases. It would also permit the placement of liens - a claim or legal right against assets that are typically used as collateral to satisfy a debt - on property where violations exist, and allow foreclosures on properties with unpaid liens.

Glen Gilzean, the new administrator, previously served as president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League and gets a $400,000 (£321,000) salary with the new position. He said he was enthusiastic about efforts by the district to support affordable housing for Disney employees, many of whom struggle to make ends meet, and proposed a new study on the impact of the millions of tourists who visit Disney to look into their impact on the resources of surrounding communities.

Disney and DeSantis have been in a fight over the land for more than a year (Getty Images)

"My job is to make this district, and in turn, this entire region, a much better place," Gilzean said.

The feud between Disney and DeSantis has been going on for more than a year, with the GOP governor engulfed in criticism as a result as he prepares to launch an expected presidential bid. The fight began last year after Disney, faced with both internal and external pressure, publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades - a policy critics have titled 'Don't Say Gay'.

As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney World's self-governing district through legislation passed by Florida lawmakers, appointing a new board of supervisors that would oversee municipal services for the sprawling resort of theme parks and hotels.

Among the banned establishments are bowling alleys, liquor stores, and anything taller than four storeys (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But, before the new board came in, Disney made agreements with members of the previous oversight board that stripped the new supervisors of their authority when it came to design and construction.

Disney went on to sue DeSantis and the board of five members, asking a federal judge to void the governor's take over of the theme park district, as well as the oversight board's actions, on the grounds they were violations of the company's right to free speech.

In a counter, the board sued Disney in state court, in an effort to maintain its control of construction and design at Disney World. It claimed the agreements between the company and previous board members "reek of a backroom deal".

The creation of Disney's self-governing district by the Florida Legislature was instrumental in the company's decision in the 1960s to build near Orlando. The company had told the state at the time that it planned to build a futuristic city that would include a transit system and urban planning innovations, so the company needed autonomy in building and deciding how to use the land. The futuristic city never materialised and instead morphed into a second theme park that opened in 1982.

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