News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[lazyboy97o]

That's correct. Corporations are also expected to make decisions in the best interests of their shareholders. This is why, generally, when a corporation engages in political speech, it's related to an issue that directly impacts their company and you don't see this kind of uproar.

Here, Disney is choosing to take a political side on an issue that doesn't directly impact their company and it's having a negative impact to their business. If the elimination of the RCID were good for Disney, they'd have done it themselves years ago. There's no reason for Disney to be involved other than having individuals in the company who think it would be a good thing if Disney used its power to support their political leanings. Like I said in my original post, that is a BAD precedent to set.

Having the right to engage in political speech doesn't mean that you should in every instance.

Anyone supporting a corporation like Disney wading into politics like this should ask themselves if this is something that they actually support in principle, or if they just support it here because it aligns with their views. My guess is it's the latter for most people.

I believe freedom of speech is a fundamental human right. Not a constitutional right merely granted by the First Amendment, an inalienable right of all people regardless of where they live. People should be free to express themselves, to organize themselves and make similar expressions. I find the idea of using government to attack political opponents abhorrent.

I have also been very consistent regarding the District. I have long provided detailed explanation of unique aspects of how it operates, particularly in regards to building and development. I am more than willing to have a good faith discussion on the specifics of the District and how it’s powers effects the counties. I even recommended people read a book highly critical of the District.

 

[flynnibus]

Expect an official statement somewhere past 4PM EST. They’re waiting for the early financial reactions.

Meh - expect "we don't think this has merit and the involved parties will pursue the appropriate legal actions" statement at best.

 

[GoofGoof]

Disney went out of its way to involve itself in a political issue that didn't directly impact its business and attempted to use its power and influence to pressure the politicians who passed it.

The politicians are now using their power and influence to strip Disney of a special privilege that it held because it acted (in this case) as a purely political entity and not a neutral corporation.

I think both actions have some pretty dire consequences if they set a precedent, but so does letting the first one stand without any reaction. It's bad enough that corporations have massive political influence over areas that impact their business. This country doesn't need corporations flexing their power on issues just to support the political priors of their leadership... THAT should worry everyone, regardless of where your politics lie.

My hope is that this interaction causes corporations and politicians alike to think twice and avoid issues like this in the future... because apparently they weren't smart enough to use common sense and avoid it in the present. This is bad for business.

Chapek absolutely (and unnecessarily) stepped in it here and he 100% deserves what comes next.

Politicians using their political power to attack a person or entity who has an opposing view is inherently wrong in a democracy. Their power only exists because the people elected them. Their job is to serve. If the government leaders believe they are passing a bill that is in the best interest of their constituents then they should stand by it and not worry about what a person or corporation says about it. Disney has no power to overturn the bill or stop the government and anyone who is paying attention knows that’s not what this is about. In Russia if you speak out against Putin the government comes after you and silences you. Is that what we want for the United States? It frightens me that people are so quick to sign up for and support this type of action because they happen to fall on one side of an issue. Remember that the next time the government may come for you or your business because you dared to speak out against something they did. This is the government of the state of FL and not a Facebook group argument. It has nothing to do with Chapek “getting what he deserves”. We’re better than that as a people and a country.

 

[CJR]

My bets are on the following...

1. RCID sue the state over the dissolution citing the Reedy Creek Act and the attack on their municipal powers - with the Bonds being the big hammer
2. The counties sue the state over the way the dissolution is structured and the consequences and division of stuff
3. No dissolution happens in the next 3-5 years as all as the case is bogged down in courts

I bet TWDC does not directly challenge the law on 1A grounds because it's a fight they don't really need *YET*. They let the RCID issue stay a state issue and let that process play out.. as RCID likely has a strong position to tear up the law as written now.

Then, TWDC only enters the fray on 1A claims if the challenges to the law faulter and TWDC opens up the potential nuclear war with the GOP and the national stage. I think it's in Disney's interest to downplay this whole thing and suggest it will all be cleared up in the existing courts.. without something that could lead to getting blood on their hands directly.

Letting RCID defeat this on existing laws is cleaner.. and avoids escalating the Disney vs GOP fight. I don't think Disney is eager to win that fight and would rather not have it in the news.

I agree, I think this is exactly what's going to happen. Disney has stayed silent on this specific issue for a reason. I don't think they're about to put their name into it any more than it already is.

 

[Stang95svtcobra]

Incorrect.

Disney pays taxes to the Reedy Creek improvement district and orange/Osceola counties. Disney will continue to pay taxes to Orange/Osceola Counties. Counties don’t get to just collect the tax formerly collected by RCID

Nope Disney pays the taxes to Reedy Creek. Orange / Osceola get nothing. The state doesn't either. That's how Disney pays for everything. That's how roads get fixed so quickly. They don't have to ask for authority to do work to anyone It takes care of it's own water, electric, property taxes and other infrastructure

 

[Lilofan]

This "news" article states as if it is a "fact" that Gov. DeSantis is retaliating. Does Reuters or the media have a quote from the Governor that he is RETALIATING? In the good old days "reporters" would use words to qualify something...words like allegedly or seemingly. Now Reuters is supposed to be like The Associated Press....is that true? Shouldn't they report down the middle and not just openly lean left?

What DeSantis is doing is obvious. His supporters and his party believe he is not

 

[Gringrinngghost]

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

Expect an official statement somewhere past 4PM EST. They’re waiting for the early financial reactions.

Hell of a week!

 

[lazyboy97o]

Nope Disney pays the taxes to Reedy Creek. Orange / Osceola get nothing. The state doesn't either. That's how Disney pays for everything. That's how roads get fixed so quickly. They don't have to ask for authority to do work to anyone It takes care of it's own water, electric, property taxes and other infrastructure

You are just wrong. Reedy Creek Improvement District taxes are in addition to state and county taxes.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Just throwing this out there, BUT, could the 2 affected counties consider allowing casinos? I know WDW and the Seminole Indian tribe has spent a lot of $$$ to stop the spread of casinos in the Orlando area, but if the counties are put in the hook for the losses, could revenues from gambling defray that cost? Also, wouldn’t that be another middle finger from the state to the mouse? Just wondering…

 

[Married5Times]

confessed retaliation by 4 Florida parliament members may not be enough to prove jack...........looks like enough legislators kept their mouths shut as to the intent behind the dissolution measure


70 to 38 in the diminutive HR

23 to 16 in the diminutive Senate

 

[EPCOT-O.G.]

Just throwing this out there, BUT, could the 2 affected counties consider allowing casinos? I know WDW and the Seminole Indian tribe has spent a lot of $$$ to stop the spread of casinos in the Orlando area, but if the counties are put in the hook for the losses, could revenues from gambling defray that cost? Also, wouldn’t that be another middle finger from the state to the mouse? Just wondering…

Chapek has hinted no so subtly that he wants gambling

 

[Chip Chipperson]

This "news" article states as if it is a "fact" that Gov. DeSantis is retaliating. Does Reuters or the media have a quote from the Governor that he is RETALIATING? In the good old days "reporters" would use words to qualify something...words like "allegedly" or "seemingly". Yet Reuters is supposed to be neutral...like The Associated Press....is that true? Shouldn't they report down the middle and not just openly lean left?

"Disney has alienated a lot of people now," DeSantis said at a West Palm Beach press conference. "And so the political influence they're used to wielding, I think has dissipated. And so the question is, why would you want to have special privileges in the law at all? And I don't think that that we should."

Ron DeSantis signals support for stripping Disney of special self-governing status as feud escalates

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signaled support for stripping Disney of its 55-year-old special status that allows the entertainment company to operate as an independent government around its Orlando-area theme park.

www.cnn.com

So Disney speaks out against the bill and DeSantis says that they've "alienated people" and that somehow justifies repealing the RCID - and just so happens to say that after Roach said this (quoted from the same article but certainly available in other places that might appeal more to you):

"Yesterday was the 2nd meeting in a week [with] fellow legislators to discuss a repeal of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which allows Disney to act as its own government," state Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican, wrote Wednesday on Twitter. "If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County."

 

[GimpYancIent]

The whole Disney can build its own nuclear power plant thing is now a sub note in the historical record along with other things.

 

[peter11435]

Nope Disney pays the taxes to Reedy Creek. Orange / Osceola get nothing. The state doesn't either. That's how Disney pays for everything. That's how roads get fixed so quickly. They don't have to ask for authority to do work to anyone It takes care of it's own water, electric, property taxes and other infrastructure

You are severely mistaken. Reedy Creek is a special tax district that levees an additional tax on Disney. The tax Disney pays to Reedy Creek is in addition to the tax they already pay to the counties. It is not paid instead of paying local property taxes. This is not even up for debate. The taxes Disney pays, how much they pay, And to who is all public record viewable to everyone. Disney pays taxes to the county just like every other tax payer.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

What DeSantis is doing is obvious. His supporters and his party believe he is not

In the 1970s the Associated Press, Walter Cronkite, and Reuters would not have stated as FACT what you feel is obvious. They would have qualified it with certain vocabulary words. They would have printed a quote from both sides.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Chapek has hinted no so subtly that he wants gambling

He wants to be a high roller but he is a loser. I do not think that is a good combination.

 

[GimpYancIent]

You are severely mistaken. Reedy Creek is a special tax district that levees an additional tax on Disney. The tax Disney pays to Reedy Creek is in addition to the tax they already pay to the counties. It is not paid instead of paying local property taxes. This is not even up for debate. The taxes Disney pays, how much they pay, And to who is all public record viewable to everyone. Disney pays taxes to the county just like every other tax payer.

Not anymore.

 

[AEfx]

Just to clarify your position.

Should a corporation, any corporation, have no say or role in politics? No opinion permitted?

Are you in favour of removing corporate lobbying, and corporate donations to politicians? Ending the stronghold of the NRA? Health Insurance Companies?

Absolutely. On all counts. And more. Corporate "personhood" is one of the worst blights on society. That's why I find many of the posts here so disheartening - and shocking.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

"Disney has alienated a lot of people now," DeSantis said at a West Palm Beach press conference. "And so the political influence they're used to wielding, I think has dissipated. And so the question is, why would you want to have special privileges in the law at all? And I don't think that that we should."

Ron DeSantis signals support for stripping Disney of special self-governing status as feud escalates

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signaled support for stripping Disney of its 55-year-old special status that allows the entertainment company to operate as an independent government around its Orlando-area theme park.

www.cnn.com

So Disney speaks out against the bill and DeSantis says that they've "alienated people" and that somehow justifies repealing the RCID - and just so happens to say that after Roach said this (quoted from the same article but certainly available in other places that might appeal more to you):

"Yesterday was the 2nd meeting in a week [with] fellow legislators to discuss a repeal of the 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act, which allows Disney to act as its own government," state Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican, wrote Wednesday on Twitter. "If Disney wants to embrace woke ideology, it seems fitting that they should be regulated by Orange County."

OK. I back off my post then.
Call off the dogs