The Walt Disney Co. filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and his board officials, accusing the Florida politician of punishing their organization with deliberate attacks to restrict their self-governing privileges in Orlando.
“A targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Gov. DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech—now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,” the company said in the lawsuit.
Disney alleged that the state violated their freedom of speech rights, as they have been engaged in a year-long dispute over the park’s opposition to what critics dubbed the Don’t Say Gay law. Disney’s former CEO Bob Chapek, spoke out against the law, formally known as the Parental Rights in Education Act, a year ago.
In response, the governor requested to pass a law dissolving the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special government agency responsible for oversight and taxation created by the special Act of Florida Legislature in 1967. The District entered into an agreement with the state to support certain aspects of economic development and tourism within its boundaries.
The governor not only seeks to abolish the development agreement but also plans to look into taxes on hotels, adding toll roads, developing district-owned property and other amusement parks or even building a state prison.
By making the Orlando area a premier tourist destination, Walt Disney World has attracted millions of visitors to the state every year. The average annual attendance to the parks is over 58 million.
“Florida’s elected officials have long understood how consequential Disney is to the state’s economy and future, just as Disney has sought to be a constructive, responsible and charitable Florida resident,” the company said.
Disney expressed regret that they must resort to taking legal action after trying all possible means to find a solution. The company is now threatened by the state, along with its business operations and economic future in Central Florida.
Drag queens protest anti-LGBTQ+ laws in march on Florida Capitol
LGBTQ+ supporters and drag queens gathered Tuesday in Tallahassee to object the new “Safety in Private Spaces Act” bill introducing laws concerning to their livelihoods.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Erin Grall, seeks to prohibit gender dysphoria treatments for minors, drag shows for children and only provide male and female restrooms based on biological sex.
“The Legislature finds that females and males should be provided restrooms and changing facilities for their exclusive use in order to maintain public safety, decency and decorum,” according to the Florida Senate.
The document provides requirements for the exclusive use of restrooms and changing facilities by gender, while defining key terms to distinguish sex.
Dozens of allies rallied against this Senate-proposed legislation, wearing matching T-shirts, holding up signs and waving flags. Pictures shared on social media reflect the dedicated crowd of protestors.
Drag queens and supporters used their voices to defend themselves against the bill’s restrictions and express that “drag is not a crime.” Alongside footage of the event, the hashtag #DragDeSantis could be found trending across social media platforms.
Advocates believe their existence as drag queens and transgender are threatened by these potential laws, whereas Republicans believed this will protect the well-beings of children.
Supporters hope to take advantage of upcoming elections to enforce a change and to protect their tight-knit community.
Pinellas County School Board greenlights adjustments to school start times
The Pinellas County School Board met Tuesday to vote on changing class start and end times to ensure more timely bus routes which would improve the arrival of students to school.
The change was approved by the board with a 7-0 vote after a series of discussions and meetings.
“The issue that we’re having this year is that we have a shortage of bus drivers and by shortening those routes, what we’re hoping to do is have those drivers be able to pick up more students on their runs, get them to school, and get them their on time and that’s the number one goal that we have,” Clint Herbic, Associate Superintendent of Operational Services said.
Herbic is hoping that the altered bus times will eventually reduce the number of arterial stops from over 300 to around 50-70. This reduced amount will enable bus drivers to get from one stop to the other quicker.
Three schools were affected with notable time changes.
- Pinellas High Innovation School, formerly known as Clearwater Intermediate School, is moving from 9:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. to 7:25 a.m. – 1:55 p.m.
- Bay Point Middle School is moving from 9:40 a.m. – 4:10 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.
- East Lake Middle School is moving from 9:40 a.m. – 4:10 p.m. to 7:25 a.m. – 1:55 p.m.
Students attending these particular schools will have to make major adjustments to their sleeping schedules for the upcoming year. However, the school day will be much shorter in the afternoon which may prove to be beneficial for some families.
Other school times will remain the same for now. For additional details on bell times and bus routes for all schools in Pinellas County, click here.
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