The New York Times: “DeSantis’s Oversight Board said Disney stripped it of its Power”

Over the past two months, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has repeatedly declared victory in his yearlong effort to restrict the autonomy of Disney World, the state’s largest employer. There’s a new sheriff in town, he said numerous times, including at a news conference last month on Disney property, hours before appointing a new, handpicked oversight board.

Nobody seemed to have paid attention, however, to an important detail: Disney had been simultaneously maneuvering to restrict the governor’s effort. In early February — at a public meeting held by the previous, Disney-controlled oversight board — the company pushed through a development agreement that would limit the new board’s power for decades to come.

And now, the governor’s appointees, having belatedly discovered the action, are none too pleased. It completely circumvents the authority of the board to govern, Brian Aungst Jr., a member of the new council, said on Wednesday at the group’s second meeting. We’re going to have to deal with it and correct it.

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The agreement is effective for perpetuity. It uses contractual language known as a “royal lives” clause: Shall continue in effect until twenty one (21) years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, King of England living as of the date of this declaration. (The royal language quickly spawned numerous internet memes, striking people as odd in a matter involving a theme park that is home to Cinderella’s castle.)

Brooks Barnes

This piece of news has sparked a round of gleeful comments bashing Ron DeSantis’s dumbness and celebrating Disney’s clever ploy. To me, this episode exemplifies instead the polarization of US political life and increasing erosion of democratic norms. Would Democrats cheer on if the situation was reversed? If for instance an oil company would have similarly maneuvered around local authorities from the Democratic party to maintain its drilling rights? Covertly undermining representative power and shifting control in the hands of corporations are hallmarks of plutocracy, not of a healthy democratic system.

A move by the Florida Legislature was meant to restrict the autonomy that Disney has over development of its 25,000-acre complex near Orlando. Joe Raedle/Getty Images