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

[UNCgolf]

Corporations represent the interests of their employees too. If laws damage a particular industry (especially regulations) it can and will result in layoffs and cost cutting at the corporation which directly impacts the employees. At higher levels things like bonuses and equity comp is also impacted but I get most people don’t care as much about that impact. I get that corporations are focused on profits and making money for shareholders but millions rely on those corporations for work too.

I work in the energy industry and I know the company I work for lobbies politicians and makes political donations at various levels. In some cases that lobbying and those donations are done at a more local level in an attempt to keep a particular power plant from shutting down. If that effort is unsuccessful it may hurt the company’s bottom line some but it’s devastating for the employees of that plant and depending on the demographics could have a ripple effect on the local economy. So while it’s easy to view corporations as generally just being evil and focused on their own profits, they are also an integral part of a lot of people’s lives.

To an extent, but I still think that's fundamentally different from a labor union.

Corporations also lobby for things that will hurt their employees -- they're generally not trying to make things as good for employees as possible; that's often (although not always) a side effect rather than the specific purpose of the lobbying.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

To an extent, but I still think that's fundamentally different from a labor union.

Corporations also lobby for things that will hurt their employees -- they're generally not trying to make things as good for employees as possible; that's typically (although not always) a side effect rather than the specific purpose of the lobbying.

If unions stuck to work related issues I’d agree, but they delve into a lot of other issues that have absolutely nothing to do with work conditions, that might not reach the level of “hurt” but it’s directly opposite the beliefs of roughly half their members.

The biggest problem with money in politics is those with the money ultimately pick the winners, a million people can donate to candidate A and 1 corporation/union/pac/mega rich donor can outspend them and ultimately get candidate B nominated. If you don’t have your own money or at least one huge backer you have little chance of winning anything in American politics.

 

[Schmidt]

A Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case describes corporations can spend unlimited monies to give to politicians. Money in politics will never go away. That’s for sure. One can buy their way into getting what they want.

This has turned out to be a big problem for this country! Thank you Supreme Court!

 

[Tha Realest]

To an extent, but I still think that's fundamentally different from a labor union.

Corporations also lobby for things that will hurt their employees -- they're generally not trying to make things as good for employees as possible; that's often (although not always) a side effect rather than the specific purpose of the lobbying.

Yes, but there are numerous instances where unions have lockstep supported candidates or causes that are far afield from its ostensible charter and are in opposition to the views of many of their rank and file members.

 

[GoofGoof]

To an extent, but I still think that's fundamentally different from a labor union.

Corporations also lobby for things that will hurt their employees -- they're generally not trying to make things as good for employees as possible; that's often (although not always) a side effect rather than the specific purpose of the lobbying.

Corporations lobby for things that benefit the corporation. In most cases that is an indirect and sometimes a direct benefit to their employees too. I suppose if for example a corporation lobbied against an increase in minimum wage that would directly hurt a subset of their employees who make minimum wage but it would have no negative impact for any worker earning above minimum wage already and could actually benefit all workers if the increase in minimum wage would result in layoffs or closures. Unions represent the interest of their workers in general but that isn’t always going to be in the best interest of every individual. Again, in the minimum wage example, if a union successfully lobbied for an increase in minimum wage that obviously benefits the minimum wage employees but would be neutral to others making more and could even be harmful if it results in layoffs.

 

[UNCgolf]

I'm not going to quote everyone, but that's why I appended (in theory) to my original statement about labor unions. Of course they don't always do things that are supported by 100% of their membership, or even the large majority of the membership.

My point was that a labor union exists for the benefit of its members, even if it doesn't always function that way. That's the whole purpose of a labor union.

A corporation does not exist for the benefit of its employees. It does exist for the benefit of its shareholders, but when talking about large, publicly held corporations, the majority of shareholders are generally so far removed from the corporate structure (due to so many shares being held by index funds and mutual funds) that they're not really a consideration beyond broad economic markers.

 

[pdude81]

They may have thought the likeliest scenario was that Desantis will be the governor for the next 4 years, and winning this battle could/would cost them more in the long run than just waiting it out.

 

[GoofGoof]

They may have thought the likeliest scenario was that Desantis will be the governor for the next 4 years, and winning this battle could/would cost them more in the long run than just waiting it out.

I definitely think that’s a factor and depending on what happens with his future plans may be less than 4. There have been 10 Governors of FL since WDW opened and there will probably be 10 more in the next 50 years. They are likely playing the long game to some extent. I also think the goal is that future relations with the Government go back to being more behind closed doors.

 

[Willmark]

A Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case describes corporations can spend unlimited monies to give to politicians. Money in politics will never go away. That’s for sure. One can buy their way into getting what they want.

It is, but money in politics is not something unique to American politics which is what I was responding to.

 

[MandaM]

It is, but money in politics is not something unique to American politics which is what I was responding to

It is rather unique to American politics. Most comparable countries have limits on how much money can be spent for campaigns and/or how much money can be donated.

 

[flyakite]

This was published in the Orlando Sentinel legal notices this morning:

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on March 29 th at 10:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District will meet in special session at The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort 1850 Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, Florida in the Horizons Ballroom. The purpose of the Special Board of Supervisor’s meeting is for the Board to discuss priorities and forthcoming deadlines for the District and to give the District staff and legal counsel direction on the Board’s priorities and deadlines.

It is not posted on the Reedy Creek website yet.

 

[castlecake2.0]

This was published in the Orlando Sentinel legal notices this morning:

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on March 29 th at 10:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District will meet in special session at The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort 1850 Hotel Plaza Boulevard, Lake Buena Vista, Florida in the Horizons Ballroom. The purpose of the Special Board of Supervisor’s meeting is for the Board to discuss priorities and forthcoming deadlines for the District and to give the District staff and legal counsel direction on the Board’s priorities and deadlines.

It is not posted on the Reedy Creek website yet.

Might have to attend this

 

[mkt]

Might have to attend this

post updates.

 

[flyakite]

Here is the agenda posted on the website:

https://www.rcid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03-29-23-BOS-Agenda-for-rcid.org_.pdf

 

[Tha Realest]

“independent financial advisor”

 

[afterabme]

Looks like they updated BOS Sheet again and there is definitely some interesting content in it. This is for the special session tomorrow.
The interesting stuff begins on page 61 of 97.

Looks like Reedy Creek/ CFTOD are going to retain Cooper &Kirk and Lawson for: "regarding certain constitutional and contract matters and potential legal challenges for matters involving the District that occurred under the prior board of supervisors and that may involve the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiary and related entities."

They also will retain Nardella & Nardella to" represent the District on those matters specifically assigned by the District and accepted by the firm. " Also retaining Waugh Grant LLC to "represent the District and provide litigation and dispute resolution counsel for the District for any matters designated by the District."

In addition to all of this, by browsing around on RCID's site I saw there is a special meeting being held for the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista on April 6.


Link to updated BOS: https://www.rcid.org/document/3-29-23-bos-package/

 

[Tha Realest]

Looks like they updated BOS Sheet again and there is definitely some interesting content in it. This is for the special session tomorrow.
The interesting stuff begins on page 61 of 97.

Looks like Reedy Creek/ CFTOD are going to retain Cooper &Kirk and Lawson for: "regarding certain constitutional and contract matters and potential legal challenges for matters involving the District that occurred under the prior board of supervisors and that may involve the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiary and related entities."

They also will retain Nardella & Nardella to" represent the District on those matters specifically assigned by the District and accepted by the firm. " Also retaining Waugh Grant LLC to "represent the District and provide litigation and dispute resolution counsel for the District for any matters designated by the District."

In addition to all of this, by browsing around on RCID's site I saw there is a special meeting being held for the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista on April 6.


Link to updated BOS: https://www.rcid.org/document/3-29-23-bos-package/

That’s some expensive legal firepower. Seems like they’re gearing up for a fight - one they’re picking or one they’re defending is anyone’s guess.

 

[afterabme]

That’s some expensive legal firepower. Seems like they’re gearing up for a fight - one they’re picking or one they’re defending is anyone’s guess.

Cooper & Kirk is a well-known firm and not a cheap one. Whatever the new Board wants to do, it must be broad in scope.

Given the scope of these firms being hired by the district, WDW's in-house and maybe outside counsel is probably going to be closely monitoring the actions of the District.

 

[castlecake2.0]

What’s the meetings about Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista going to be for?

 

[Tha Realest]

Cooper & Kirk is a well-known firm and not a cheap one. Whatever the new Board wants to do, it must be broad in scope.

Given the scope of these firms being hired by the district, WDW's in-house and maybe outside counsel is probably going to be closely monitoring the actions of the District.

What’s interesting to me is the general sense they’re reassessing what’s come before. Reevaluating decisions of the previous board. Not just prospective changes, but second guessing what’s already been done.