2023-05-19 07:12:23
GUSTAVO CABALLERO / Getty Images via AFP
Disney announced on Thursday May 18 that it was giving up building a nearly $900 million campus in Florida near its amusement park.
UNITED STATES – This decision comes in the midst of a political battle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The entertainment giant announced on Thursday, May 18 that the group is giving up on building a nearly $900 million campus in the state near its amusement park.
For these reasons, “we have decided not to continue the construction of the campus”writes Josh D’Amaro, the manager of amusement parks.
The decision also comes against the backdrop of strong political tensions with local authorities.
They consider the company too progressive since its leaders publicly denounced, in 2022, a bill that restricted the teaching of subjects related to sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida elementary schools. .
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a rising star of the American hard right who has launched an offensive against a supposed “woke” culture, ended in February the special status that Disney had enjoyed in his state since the 1960s.
The construction of a prison near Disney World
The governor has also publicly mentioned the construction of a prison near Disney World or new taxes on hotels on the site, which employs 75,000 people and attracts 50 million visitors a year.
Disney responded by filing a complaint, saying it was a “targeted revenge” against him to punish him for having exercised his ” freedom of expression “.
A figure of the populist right in the United States, Ron DeSantis is widely seen as Donald Trump’s most serious competitor for the Republican primary preceding the next presidential elections.
According to US media, the Governor of Florida may soon announce his 2024 presidential bid.
And a sign of the political significance of the dispute with Disney, Donald Trump vituperated Ron DeSantis in a press release on Thursday, accusing him of having lost ” all alone “ the group’s investment, because the governor would be “too weak to fight for his state”.
“Ron DeSantis’ failed conflict with Disney hasn’t really helped his phantom and wobbly campaign”added the Republican billionaire.
A special status for Disney since the 1960s
Criticism over the row had already begun to emerge on the right, with some Republicans lambasting an anti-corporate fight that goes against their party’s tradition.
On the Democratic side, the head of Orange County – which includes the city of Lake Nona where the campus was to be located – judged « regrettable » Disney’s decision.
More “It is a predictable consequence when the working environment between the State of Florida and the business community is not inclusive and collaborative”lamented Jerry Demings.
Since the 1960s, Disney had enjoyed a special status with many advantages – administrative facilities, self-management of the site, advantageous loans, etc.
The group had announced in July 2021 its intention to ask more than 2,000 employees to move to Florida.
This project was led by the former managing director, Bob Chapek, replaced in November 2022 by Bob Iger when Disney’s results were weakened by the weak performance of the group’s streaming platform, Disney+.
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to comment on Disney’s decision on Twitter: “It’s more than 2,000 jobs that will be welcomed with open arms in the Golden State (California, where Disney has a park, in Anaheim, editor’s note). Thank you for doing the right thing Disney”.
Turns out, bigoted policies have consequences.
That’s 2,000+ jobs that will be welcomed back with open arms to th…
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom)
The cost of the campus, according to press reports, was estimated in 2021 at $864 million. The decision to abandon this project “wasn’t easy to take, but I think it’s the right one”notes Josh D’Amaro in the memo Thursday.
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