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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 28 February 2023
DeSantis takes over Disney district, punishing company

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE ed to utilize the coming
Associated Press regular legislative session,
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — which begins next week,
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to bolster his conservative
on Monday signed a bill agenda before he an-
that gives him control of nounces his candidacy for
Walt Disney World’s self- president.
governing district, punish- The new law changes the
ing the company over its district’s name from the
opposition to the so-called Reedy Creek Improve-
“Don’t Say Gay” law. ment District to the Central
The bill requires DeSantis, Florida Tourism Oversight
a Republican, to appoint District and subjects it to
a five-member board to various layers of state over-
oversee the government sight. Board members were
services that the Disney dis- previously named through
trict provides in its sprawling entities controlled by Dis-
theme park properties in ney.
Florida. It leaves the district and its
“Today the corporate financial abilities and debt
kingdom finally comes to obligations intact, address-
an end,” he said at a bill ing a chief concern of sur-
signing ceremony in Lake rounding governments. It
Buena Vista. “There’s a Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks, Feb. 15, 2023, at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm also prevents people who
new sheriff in town, and ac- Beach, Fla. Associated Press have worked with or con-
countability will be the or- tracted with a theme park
der of the day.” not age-appropriate. return to the Capitol for nalizing a massive employ- in the past three years from
The signing came as De- DeSantis moved to quickly another special session to er, tourism driver and politi- serving on the district’s new
Santis gears up for an ex- to penalize the company, finalize state control of the cal donor in the state over governing board.
pected presidential run directing lawmakers in the district, as well as approve the company’s stance on a At his news conference,
and marks a high-profile GOP-dominated Legisla- legislation around some of piece of legislative policy. DeSantis said he would ap-
legislative victory for a ture to dissolve Disney’s his other key legislative pri- DeSantis, whose book, “The point Tampa attorney Mar-
governor whose leverag- self-governing district dur- orities on immigration and Courage to be Free,” is tin Garcia as the chairman
ing of cultural and political ing a special legislative ses- voter fraud.In taking on coming out Tuesday, has of the district’s new govern-
divides has pushed him to sion, beginning a closely Disney, DeSantis furthered moved in recent weeks to ing board, along with new
the fore of national Repub- watched restructuring pro- his reputation as a culture expand his political net- board members Bridget
lican politics. cess. DeSantis and other warrior willing to battle per- work through fundraisers Ziegler, a conservative
The takeover of the Dis- Republican critics of Disney ceived political enemies and meetings with do- school board member and
ney district began last year slammed the company for and wield the power of nors, elected officials and wife of the Florida Republi-
when the entertainment gi- coming out against the state government to ac- conservative influencers, can party chairman Chris-
ant, facing intense pressure, education law, calling it a complish political goals, a adding to the speculation tian Ziegler; Brian Aungst
publicly opposed “Don’t purveyor of “woke” ideol- strategy that is expected to around his larger political Jr., an attorney and son of
Say Gay,” which bars in- ogy that inject inappropri- continue ahead of his po- aspirations. a former two-term Repub-
struction on sexual orienta- ate subjects into children’s tential White House run. The coming months will be lican mayor of Clearwater;
tion and gender identity in entertainment. The feud also reinforced critical to DeSantis as he Mike Sasso, an attorney;
kindergarten through third This month, the governor the governor’s brash, go-it- builds his profile out be- and Ron Peri, head of The
grade and lessons deemed called on lawmakers to alone leadership style, pe- yond Florida. He is expect- Gathering USA ministry.q

Ex-SC mayor taking over White House Office of Engagement

state that has become cru- ble way,” according to the the candidates considered
cial to the Democratic Par- White House. In a release, for Hillary Clinton’s running
ty ahead of the 2024 elec- Biden called Benjamin a mate that year. He opted
tion cycle. “longtime public servant” not to run for a fourth term
Benjamin will become di- whose “deep relationships in 2021.
rector of the White House across the country” would The appointment comes
Office of Engagement. well serve the administra- at a time when Benjamin’s
He takes over from anoth- tion. home state is becom-
er former mayor, Keisha Benjamin, 53, has long ing even more critical to
Lance Bottoms, who had been considered a rising Democrats as they face
assumed the role in June star in Democratic politics, the 2024 presidential cam-
and is returning to Atlanta, serving three terms as Co- paign. Earlier this year, the
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin speaks at a campaign rally for officials said. lumbia’s mayor, and the Democratic National Com-
Democratic Senate hopeful Jaime Harrison of South Carolina, Benjamin will oversee White first Black mayor in the city’s mittee voted to hold their
Oct. 26, 2020, in Columbia, S.C. House efforts “to ensure history. Serving as president first nominating contest
Associated Press community leaders, diverse of the U.S. Conference of of the next cycle in South
By MEG KINNARD appointment of former perspectives, and new Mayors and African Ameri- Carolina, supplanting Iowa,
Associated Press Columbia, South Carolina, voices have the opportuni- cans Mayors Association, New Hampshire and Ne-
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mayor Steve Benjamin as ty to inform the work of the Benjamin spoke at the 2016 vada in an effort to more
President Joe Biden on a top adviser, filling a key President in an inclusive, Democratic National Con- deeply represent the de-
Monday announced the White House role from a transparent and responsi- vention and was among sires of Black voters. q