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

[GladToBeHear]

In case you didn't notice... Disney employees are parents, have kids, and maybe don't have opinions on how their way of life is handled socially too.

When someone makes broad statements like 'stay out of politics' - one has to accept there is a wide range of political topics. Labor, rights, livelihood, and more.

Of course they are. But how is a bill addressing classroom instruction for 5-8 year olds attacking Disney employees? Especially when the majority of parents in the state on both sides of the political spectrum support it? Including a number of Disney employees themselves? Not to beat a dead horse -- but I think it's pertinent to the topic about how we got here.

Good point about my "stay out of politics" statement. I should've clarified. I would like to see a Disney that stayed out of hot-button/culture-war-type politics. But it's obvious that with their current leadership this isn't a reality.

 

[GoofGoof]

If the legislation were actually targeting Disney employees. Sure.

It has a big impact on employees of RCID. They may not work directly for TWDC but a firefighter or EMT who works for RCID doesn’t know right now if they will have a job a year from now. About 400 full time emplyees work for RCID and a bunch of contractors.

There‘s also an indirect impact on employees. If Disney ends up pulling back on investment in FL as a result of this it will also potentially hurt current and future CMs.

 

[GladToBeHear]

It has a big impact on employees of RCID. They may not work directly for TWDC but a firefighter or EMT who works for RCID doesn’t know right now if they will have a job a year from now. About 400 full time emplyees work for RCID and a bunch of contractors.

There‘s also an indirect impact on employees. If Disney ends up pulling back on investment in FL as a result of this it will also potentially hurt current and future CMs.

Sorry. I'm replying to an earlier response about the original legislation.

 

[GoofGoof]

Good point about my "stay out of politics" statement. I should've clarified. I would like to see a Disney that stayed out of hot-button/culture-war-type politics. But it's obvious that with their current leadership this isn't a reality.

The sponsors of the bill to dissolve RCID agree with you. They had no issues cashing the checks when Disney donated to their campaigns (including Ronnie) but now that Disney opposed something they wanted to do they should stay out of politics.

 

[GoofGoof]

Sorry. I'm replying to an earlier response about the original legislation.

OK. I have nothing to say on the original legislation one way or the other. I do have a big problem with using the power of political office to attack someone who opposes you politically which is what the RCID bill does.

 

[lazyboy97o]

But how is a bill addressing classroom instruction for 5-8 year olds attacking Disney employees?

That’s not what it is. You shouldn’t need to constantly mischaracterize something if it really is so popular.

 

[JoeCamel]

I have no problem with a business advocating for itself in the halls of power. If it is publicly owned I would expect it as they should be looking out for it's best interests.
I also believe the halls of power should be run on a straight up basis without being swayed by influence but I do live in this world and know the poor, fallible politicians that told us they would work to make our lives better when they wanted our votes fell to the irrepressible force that causes them to act in puerile ways without regard for their core mission of spending the money we allow them to collect from us. It is the only mandate they have but they flail around tilting at windmills real or imagined.
Such a system we have set up for ourselves, I fear we will be ever disappointed with how it works.

 

[GladToBeHear]

That’s not what it is. You shouldn’t need to constantly mischaracterize something if it really is so popular.

The question still stands though. But I'll leave it at that.

 

[GladToBeHear]

OK. I have nothing to say on the original legislation one way or the other. I do have a big problem with using the power of political office to attack someone who opposes you politically which is what the RCID bill does.

I won't argue with you there. I am honestly curious to see how this plays out legally. I suspect that the legislature/governor knows this could get struck down and their motive is more about "sending a message".

 

[peter11435]

The question still stands though. But I'll leave it at that.

Not really though because your question mischaracterizes the bill and fails to recognize the impact it will have.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Have not yet listened, but The Season Pass Podcast has a new episode with lawyer Chad Emerson who Project Future and the law article shared by @flynnibus earliesnin the thread.

tspp #396- Project Future Has Been Encroached by Florida Government w/ Chad Emerson 4/25/22 — The Season Pass: The Essential Theme Park Podcast — Overcast

overcast.fm

 

[Nubs70]

Time to severely limit "public/private" partnerships. Businesses need to stand on ther own.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Time to severely limit "public/private" partnerships. Businesses need to stand on ther own.

Something that Republicans once held sacred. Oh, how times have changed!

 

[Kingoglow]

Time to severely limit "public/private" partnerships. Businesses need to stand on ther own.

We will never be able to separate most business from the government. The government relies on low-bid contract work too much. The biggest stand out are private defense companies laying in bed with politicians.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Time to severely limit "public/private" partnerships. Businesses need to stand on ther own.

How is a company paying more not standing on its own?

 

[peter11435]

Time to severely limit "public/private" partnerships. Businesses need to stand on ther own.

RCID allowed one of the biggest businesses in the state to “stand on their own”

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Time to severely limit "public/private" partnerships. Businesses need to stand on ther own.

I agree! I'm tired of these fat cat corporations building/operating/maintaining their own roads, sewer lines, fire departments, etc. It's high time they share that burden with the taxpayers!

 

[Nubs70]

How is a company paying more not standing on its own?

One example, the funding of infrastructure by RDIC bond issuance allowing for WDW to finance off the books.

 

[ctrlaltdel]

I agree! I'm tired of these fat cat corporations building/operating/maintaining their own roads, sewer lines, fire departments, etc. It's high time they share that burden with the taxpayers!

It is very strange. It doesn't work out always, but public private partnerships are pretty key to modern local governance. It helps to leverage both the individual strengths of private investment and the legal power of government to do things that otherwise wouldn't get done. Disney/RCID is a model in this respect.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

One example, the funding of infrastructure by RDIC bond issuance allowing for WDW to finance off the books.

But without RCID, those projects would largely (if not entirely) be funded by the taxpayers of the county in which the projects took place. Maybe not the Disney Springs parking garages (but there would probably be some amount of public funding there, too, possibly resulting in parking fees to cover the cost of financing). Or the projects just wouldn't get done at all. Do you think Disney would build and maintain new roads on its own without any sort of ability to get a lower interest rate on its financing like it does with RCID?