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

[LAKid53]

I don’t think Disney felt RCID wasn’t worth saving. I think if given a choice they would have kept it as is and moved on. They were not given a choice. When they determined it was likely they were going to lose the district (remember the original plan was to dissolve the district and move control to the counties) I’m sure they began planning for this. The original plan may have even been to sign a similar development agreement with RCID and then when the district was dissolved and control went to the counties the contract would be assigned to the counties.

The point is that the main thing Disney was concerned with was having control of developing their own property as they saw fit to continue to provide entertainment to guests. It’s all political buzz words when people claimed Disney wanted a quasi-government or a tax break or some unfair competitive advantage. RCID was never any of that. Disney could care less about running a municipality they just wanted control of their future development which they mostly have now with the contract.

The bigger question people should ask is why is DeSantis so desperate to void that contract? If the whole reason to seize control of the district was to stop Disney from controlling their own government that mission was accomplished with the development agreement in place. Done deal. Both sides get mostly what they claim they want. The truth as we all know it is the move had next to nothing to do with stripping Disney of controlling their government. He wants to control Disney. He wants to dictate what their content is. He wants to punish them for speaking out and for being inclusive.

If you read the law review article @Chi84 posted, that's the point the author makes. That Walt wanted to have more control over development in around what he planned to do with the property, especially after what popped up around DLR after it was built.

 

[GoofGoof]

Why does everybody always blame the Governor exclusively. Everything people hate about this starts with the legislators. The bill is created and voted on by LIKE-MINDED people over there FIRST. Only after it passes by majority on both sides does the Governor get it and sign it.

All the legislators are free from people's criticism? People only think about "ONE" guy in all of this? Laws cant be blamed on "one" person because it takes MANY representatives to make and vote and sign a bill into law. The Governor cannot do this on his own.

The Governor literally just held a press conference claiming credit for doing all of this. If he wanted to “spread the blame” that’s his first mistake. The legislature isn’t free from criticism but they also aren’t holding press conferences claiming victory or talking about building prisons or child trafficking.

 

[LAKid53]

Beyond the setup for applying for the bonds though, do you think it's wise that a state should dedicate more resources to propping up industry than overseeing housing development or education, or to the other functions that a good government should provide?

Don't you think the people should generally have a say in such matters?

They do...it's called the Florida Legislature.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

What happens a year from now if/when he’s not the candidate? He’s back for 2.5 more years and extremely grumpy that Disney did him wrong and hurt his national image. I could see him dragging this out then. Of course as a term limited lame duck maybe the legislature will come to their senses and stop blindly following. Sounds like maybe they did to some extent with the tolls.

What happens is, Disney files a lawsuit, a judge will issue an injunction to halt any additional changes until the case is heard, and it will be status quo until the trial…by that time, he may be gone, if they expedite the case, SCOTUS, here it comes…

 

[Lilofan]

Kind of funny to see Trump taking Disney's side against DeSantis.. politics indeed makes strange bedfellows..

Discrediting opponents any which way how.

 

[durangojim]

This is so shortsighted of DeSantis. I think a lot of people who were going to support him in 24 because they felt he was a more measured Trump are now changing their minds. I don't understand how this guy can be so obsessed with Disney when no one - conservatives included feel this is worth his time or important.

 

[LAKid53]

Here’s a photo for everyone to see. Disney would have an outstanding case.

View attachment 711052

Get out the popcorn, folks. Thus is going to court if that bill passes.

 

[Lilofan]

DeSantis revealed this this morning...

View attachment 711055

Birds eye for the Disney inmates - view of MK and Epcot nightly fireworks !

 

[Kamikaze]

Always amazing how suddenly everyone is a legal expert. I have two questions-

1) Will the monorail have a station at the new prison?
2) Will run Disney events go through the new prison?

These are really basic issues. They don't require a law degree to figure out.

 

[GBAB1973]

Why does everybody always blame the Governor exclusively. Everything people hate about this starts with the legislators. The bill is created and voted on by LIKE-MINDED people over there FIRST. Only after it passes by majority on both sides does the Governor get it and sign it.

All the legislators are free from people's criticism? People only think about "ONE" guy in all of this? Laws cant be blamed on "one" person because it takes MANY representatives to make and vote and sign a bill into law. The Governor cannot do this on his own.

1) DeSantis was a big reason the education bill even came about.

2) DeSantis is the one who started this fight against Disney. He then got the legislature to do his bidding.

 

[el_super]

They were not given a choice. When they determined it was likely they were going to lose the district (remember the original plan was to dissolve the district and move control to the counties) I’m sure they began planning for this.

They didn't have a choice? Is that to say the previous 500+ pages of this thread from last year, suggesting Disney had a solid first amendment case to keep control of the district was all wrong?

Disney could care less about running a municipality they just wanted control of their future development which they mostly have now with the contract.

And I agree with this. There is some factor that makes fighting the development agreement in court, more attractive to Disney than trying to fight a first amendment case against the bill from last year removing their control.

The truth as we all know it is the move had next to nothing to do with stripping Disney of controlling their government. He wants to control Disney. He wants to dictate what their content is. He wants to punish them for speaking out and for being inclusive.

Yeah... but as others have pointed out, it seems ridiculous to think that he would ever get that level of control. Win or lose, he really just needs to come out as someone willing to fight to score enough PR points.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

This is the best timeline.

 

[GBAB1973]

At the January 25, 2023 meeting of the Board, they announced the upcoming February 8, 2023 meeting at which the Agreement was adopted. It's in the minutes of the January meeting. Which was attended by several reporters from Orlando TV stations WESH, WKMG and WFTV. If Disney was doing something "nefarious", do you think they'd do it in front of reporters from the 3 network stations in Orlando?

Exactly. We agree on this. I am more speaking to Cliff who seems to be pushing this idea that maybe there are nefarious acts behind the scenes.

 

[Figgy1]

Get out the popcorn, folks. Thus is going to court if that bill passes.

 

[peter11435]

Of course they do. They always did. Trying to dumb down this argument to a simple question on what the government did feels comfortable because it's easier to defend, but it was ALWAYS more nuanced than that. Always.

Disney could have spoke up and worked to stop the legislation being proposed last year but they didn't. They could already be in court fighting this, but they are not. There is a lot they could have done but choose not to, for all of the reasons out there that made maintaining control of RCID indefensible.

They will most likely fight the development agreement in court and draw this out as long as they can, but make no mistake: their position as a corporation fighting the government makes them enemies on all sides, and it's not a position they want to be in. They will find a way out, even if that means settling with the government, as quickly as possible.

And even if no one admits it, it will have an impact on the type of content that Disney starts releasing.

If all of these other reasons have anything to do with it then why hasn’t the governor or legislature bothered to mention any of them throughout any of this?

Further, why didn’t they address this perceived issue. Because as it stands the districts ability to utilize municipal bonds has not been altered. Neither has the process which would still allow the district to claim bonds for district infrastructure potentially ahead of other municipalities that may want it for affordable housing.

 

[tissandtully]

Predictably, a certain former POTUS is going after DeSantis about this situation.

View attachment 711056

what is the "squatter mess" or do I not want to know the latest brain worm?

 

[GBAB1973]

Of course they do. They always did. Trying to dumb down this argument to a simple question on what the government did feels comfortable because it's easier to defend, but it was ALWAYS more nuanced than that. Always.

Disney could have spoke up and worked to stop the legislation being proposed last year but they didn't. They could already be in court fighting this, but they are not. There is a lot they could have done but choose not to, for all of the reasons out there that made maintaining control of RCID indefensible.

They will most likely fight the development agreement in court and draw this out as long as they can, but make no mistake: their position as a corporation fighting the government makes them enemies on all sides, and it's not a position they want to be in. They will find a way out, even if that means settling with the government, as quickly as possible.

And even if no one admits it, it will have an impact on the type of content that Disney starts releasing.

Does any of this happen if Disney just never says anything about the education bill?

And LOL at suggesting Disney fighting DeSantis would make them look like the enemy. For some, sure. DeSantis supporters would. But for most independents and Democrats, Disney would absolutely not look like the bad guy here if they had decided to sue DeSantis right from the start.

 

[LAKid53]

The “propping up industry” was sewer and water system infrastructure. Something the counties would otherwise have to provide. They even enter into agreements to guarantee service to such large developments to ensure they happen and without interruption. Impact fees would not be high enough to cover these costs alone.

The people are able to vote in state elections and work to change how the state allocates and limits the issuance of bonds.

And to sell lots in those developments. Del Webb has a retirement community planned in the Flamingo Crossings area. To date, there's no roads or other infrastructure. Make it difficult to sell lots in that instance.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I commend everyone who managed to watch the press conference yesterday, I couldn’t even make it though a Disney fansite recap video without turning it off.

I often turn off political events thinking “these may be the dumbest people on the face of the planet” but it’s normally Dem events… between DJT and now DeSantis and his cronies the Reps may have truly lost me.

I’ve voted in every election since I turned 18 but I’m starting to think there’s no point anymore. I’ve voted for a lot of bad candidates as the “lessor evil” but if these are our choices there is no less bad anymore, they are both 100% incompetent at this point.

 

[LAKid53]

Always amazing how suddenly everyone is a legal expert. I have two questions-

1) Will the monorail have a station at the new prison?
2) Will run Disney events go through the new prison?

1. Maybe
2. Nope