Florida’s governor DeSantis is in an ongoing feud with Disney. Many see it as the exaggerated campaign of an arch-conservative career politician – others see it as a diversionary tactic by the company.
Friday morning in the “European American Bakery Café” in Fort Myers: The members of the South West Florida Business Network always meet here at the end of the week to exchange ideas – they are small business owners, shop owners, self-employed.
It’s the week that Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The latest chapter of the saga also moves the participants of the entrepreneur round table. “Disney is wrong and the company is treating the region unfairly,” says Katrina Salokar. She’s the head of a real estate management company and is fully on DeSantis’ side. Disney’s special rights and tax benefits are no longer up-to-date, she says: “Disney’s special status must be phased out.”
Dispute over taxes and the “don’t say gay” law
When the company came to Florida in the early 1970s to set up its “Magic Kingdom” there – the now four amusement parks near Orlando – Florida had all sorts of incentives to settle there. Disney was granted a “Special Taxing District,” a low-tax zone. Fort Myers’ middle class, who have to shoulder the full tax burden, feel equal rights should now apply to all.
“Disney wins when the company keeps the issue in the media,” says Dawn Cassara. She owns Aspen Contracting & Roofing, a roofing company. She is convinced that the debate about the so-called “Don’t say gay” law is just a diversionary maneuver.
Disney has publicly criticized DeSantis’ highly controversial ban on teaching sexual orientation and transgender issues in Florida elementary schools. Since then, it has been said, especially in the national media, that DeSantis wants to withdraw Disney’s special status solely out of a desire for revenge.
Disney has manipulated the debate in such a way that it is now only about the Kulturkampf and no longer about tax justice, says Cassara.
presidential candidacy in danger
While Florida’s middle class remains loyal to DeSantis, elsewhere the Republican Party is increasingly distancing itself. “Threatening to build a prison next to a family amusement park like DeSantis has done might not be the best idea,” said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
And Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, governor of South Carolina, has already suggested that the Disney company move to her state.
The Disney feud threatens to jeopardize DeSantis’ possible presidential candidacy, predicts Professor Julian Zelizer, who teaches political science at Princeton, in a CNN interview.
“It makes him look more and more like a far-right culture warrior, rather than a moderate Trump Republican with presidential aspirations.” DeSantis got lost – of all times now that ex-President Donald Trump has also targeted him.