It doesn't appear that Florida's Governor and putative Republican presidential candidate is interested in dropping his dispute with Disney anytime soon.
In the latest salvo, Gov. Ron DeSantis sent out the state's chief financial officer, a former state representative named Jimmy Patronis, to offer veiled threats.
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"If I'm Bob Iger, I'm working around the clock to try to figure out how to make amends with Ron DeSantis," Patronis told Fox News. "You don't want to pick a fight with this guy," Patronis warned Disney.
The comments follow a threat by DeSantis to open up a prison next to Disney World. (DeSantis is widely speculated to plan to run for president in 2024.)
The fight began last year when Disney offered opposition to a Florida law known as the "Don't Say Gay" legislation.
“A year ago the company took a position on pending Florida legislation and while the company may not have handled the position that it took very well, a company has a right to freedom of speech just like individuals do,” Iger said in response to a question at its recent annual shareholder meeting.
“The governor got very angry about the position Disney took and seemed like he’s decided to retaliate against us, including the naming of a new board to oversee the property and the business in effect to seek to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right,” He added.
DeSantis pushed a bill through the Republican-controlled state legislature to take over control of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a legal entity that effectively gave Disney governing control over the huge swath of land it acquired to build Disney World's Magic Kingdom and its subsequent theme parks.
However, Disney had a counter to this political move.
"A February 8th Development Agreement between Disney Parks & Resorts and the Reedy Creek Improvement District sets a plan for the next 30+ years," BlogMickey.com reported." The effect is to leave the new board with little to do other than fume.
