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

[Tha Realest]

There are 1,800+ special districts in the state. RCID is not that unique.

How many of those special districts have one single corporate owner which restricts who it permits to live within boundaries of said districts?

 

[Ghost93]

My opinion, morals, and values come into play when I vote. Or I could run for office. At the same time, we have to have some level of trust in the courts. Otherwise, we can’t function. They ultimately decide what is unconstitutional. That’s their role in our society.

Trust in the courts is at an all-time low.

 

[Bullseye1967]

I'm pretty sure I got a flintlock cap pistol in the POTC gift shop when I was a kid. It may have come from somewhere else, though.

You are remembering correctly. My brother and I both had one, and we would run around Ft. Wilderness "killing" everything in sight! The sold them at the campground and in Frontier Land.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Legit question, is that a power provided by RCID that other districts do not have or is it just that Disney can afford to bring on more staff as needed?

As for reading the book, it’s been on my list for a while now. I really need to just break down and do it.

It’s an indirect power that comes from Disney’s control because Disney doesn’t have to compete with other constituents. If the City of Orlando was short staffed Universal could lobby for more staff but could ultimately not prevail.

I would guess that Universal’s recently proposed community development district is all about gaining some control and special treatment from SunRail. While many are still focused on Brightline, SunRail offering transit for $2 - $3 per person is probably the bigger win for Universal. SunRail though is a rather Spartans service: stations are just open air platforms, ticketing is by self service kiosks, station staffing is minimal to non-existent and service is not consistent or offered on weekends. The new CDD could use its transit authority to build a station with amenities, subsidize service, contract for more frequent service, provide bus services through the district, etc. all to the clear advantage of Universal. Depending on the final boundaries of the district, Universal’s large land holding could definitely make them a major player in how this new district operates.

 

[Andrew C]

Trust in the courts is at an all-time low.

Yeah. Unfortunately the fault of the two other branches IMO.

 

[Dranth]

None of which are controlled by or exist for the near-exclusive benefit of a single multi-billion dollar international corporation.

I'm sorry but I don't buy this. NOTHING is stopping other companies from doing the same thing. There are laws to setup a special district and any one of them can do that anytime they want. They don't because they don't need to. None of them own a sprawling, city size complex that requires city level public works.

 

[Tha Realest]

Well the Supreme Court has decided that corporations have the right to engage in political speech.

Of course they do.

But you have to also agree that an arrangement where a corporation that also functions as a quasi-governmental entity and prohibits people from living within “its” district so it can continue to run business as it sees fit free of messy governmental interference is antithetical to bedrock notions of “democracy”?

 

[lazyboy97o]

I agree that free speech without retaliation is a bedrock of democracy.

But what Disney uniquely enjoys with RCID is a corporatocracy.

What unique things do you take issue with? Why won’t you give use specifics? Is it the more restrictive building code? Running their own sewage services?

How many of those special districts have one single corporate owner which restricts who it permits to live within boundaries of said districts?

Disney is not the sole landowner. Many districts are created by a single land owner. Nothing prohibits districts from encompassing only a single landowner. You could right now go buy up 1000 acres and get yourself a community development district and you would be free to decide to who lives there just like any other property owner.

 

[fgmnt]

My opinion, morals, and values come into play when I vote. Or I could run for office. At the same time, we have to have some level of trust in the courts. Otherwise, we can’t function. They ultimately decide what is unconstitutional. That’s their role in our society.

Like it or not, faith in the institution of the courts has been in decline recently. If I were to communicate why I think that is the case here, I would probably get zapped. I will at least say that when it comes to granting expansion of the rights of expression to people, I have more faith in the lay person's thoughts than whatever opinion the current majority the highest court in the states has.

 

[Dranth]

It’s an indirect power that comes from Disney’s control because Disney doesn’t have to compete with other constituents. If the City of Orlando was short staffed Universal could lobby for more staff but could ultimately not prevail.

I would guess that Universal’s recently proposed community development district is all about gaining some control and special treatment from SunRail. While many are still focused on Brightline, SunRail offering transit for $2 - $3 per person is probably the bigger win for Universal. SunRail though is a rather Spartans service: stations are just open air platforms, ticketing is by self service kiosks, station staffing is minimal to non-existent and service is not consistent or offered on weekends. The new CDD could use its transit authority to build a station with amenities, subsidize service, contract for more frequent service, provide bus services through the district, etc. all to the clear advantage of Universal. Depending on the final boundaries of the district, Universal’s large land holding could definitely make them a major player in how this new district operates.

Got it, but that is kind of my point. RCID itself is not providing a direct special power that somehow only Disney has and that seems to be what a lot of people (not you) are trying to argue while ignoring the fact that other companies can do similar if and when it makes sense for their business.

 

[Chi84]

Of course they do.

But you have to also agree that an arrangement where a corporation that also functions as a quasi-governmental entity and prohibits people from living within “its” district so it can continue to run business as it sees fit free of messy governmental interference is antithetical to bedrock notions of “democracy”?

How did that come about?

 

[GoofGoof]

None of which are controlled by or exist for the near-exclusive benefit of a single multi-billion dollar international corporation.

The district doesn’t just exist for the benefit of TWDC it also exists to help the local counties from bearing the infrastructure cost for WDW which is unique in itself. For 50 years it benefited Disney and the citizens of FL. Without RCID other local taxpayers would almost certainly pay higher taxes and would absorb at least part of those expenses. It’s a false narrative that it was some windfall benefit for Disney.

How many of those special districts have one single corporate owner which restricts who it permits to live within boundaries of said districts?

Not sure what you mean by that. Disney owns the majority of the land. Why would they not be allowed to decide who lives on it? There are technically 19 landowners in the district but Disney is the overwhelming largest. Remember that RCID is not a full municipality it’s a special district with limited authority over specific tasks. It’s not like Disney controls Orange County.

 

[lightningtap347]

I just don't want my home insurance to double every year in this nightmare of a state.

 

[lazyboy97o]

None of which are controlled by or exist for the near-exclusive benefit of a single multi-billion dollar international corporation.

Community development districts very much exist for the benefit of developers.

 

[Andrew C]

Like it or not, faith in the institution of the courts has been in decline recently. If I were to communicate why I think that is the case here, I would probably get zapped. I will at least say that when it comes to granting expansion of the rights of expression to people, I have more faith in the lay person's thoughts than whatever opinion the current majority the highest court in the states has.

And I respect their decisions even when I disagree with them. Although you would likely find 99.99% consensus on 99.99% of their decisions.

 

[GoofGoof]

Of course they do.

But you have to also agree that an arrangement where a corporation that also functions as a quasi-governmental entity and prohibits people from living within “its” district so it can continue to run business as it sees fit free of messy governmental interference is antithetical to bedrock notions of “democracy”?

Do you think this new board for RCID will allow people to live within the district now? Are they planning to take the land from Disney and give it to others or force them to sell?

 

[Dranth]

I just don't want my home insurance to double every year in this nightmare of a state.

I’m sorry, that just isn’t important enough to your state government to address. Punishing Disney for having an opinion is much more important right now.

 

[GoofGoof]

I just don't want my home insurance to double every year in this nightmare of a state.

Careful what you say out loud. If the Governor hears he may take offense and create a special district over your property to punish you.

 

[fgmnt]

And I respect their decisions even when I disagree with them. Although you would likely find 99.99% consensus on 99.99% of their decisions.

They rule on all kinds of things; but their legitimacy in the public consciousness depends on how congruent the public's understanding of citizens' rights is to the court. The court has no real, functional check on its power once a justice gets their seat; they can be impeached and convicted but outside of a violent state crime, I can't see that ever happening. That people can choose to think the court is not a legitimate institution is the closest check the people have on the power of the court. At some point, that could become a problem for those on the bench.

 

[lightningtap347]

Careful what you say out loud. If the Governor hears he may take offense and create a special district over your property to punish you.