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

[MandaM]

I think I do that because so many people keep replying to my posts here. I'm trying to politely answer their questions and/or comments to me about how I feel about this topic. Eventually though I'm going to go have some leftover lasagna and watch some TV.



I do not believe it is acceptable, or even kind, for any elected official to use their power to punish or silence or attempt to diminish opponents or people/organizations they disagree with or oppose.

But do I know that happens in every government organization from Junior High Student Councils to the White House? Yes. It happens.

And it just happened here in Florida.

Was it legal for the Florida legislature and Governor to change and amend the RCID charter from 1966? Yes, it appears to be legal. And it happened.

When has a White House proudly punished a corporation for disagreeing with a policy of their?

Violating the 1st amendment is NOT legal. Disney just hasn’t chosen to take DeSantis to court over it so far.

 

[mkt]

Disney just hasn’t chosen to take DeSantis to court over it so far.

And they've got plenty of time.

IIRC, it's a 6 or 7 year statue of limitations in federal court. They have several years to measure the damages before filing suit, and plenty of resources to Florida hard if they choose to.

 

[TP2000]

Who knew the constitution doesn’t apply to anyone who is blunt and popular? Apparently, it’s ok for any politician to take away whatever rights he/she wants from us as long as they’re overt about it and have a modicum of popularity. Just like the founders intended…

If Governor DeSantis has just committed a federal crime or violated the US Constitution in some way, then whomever is advising him and the Florida Legislature is in very big trouble. Not to mention the trouble the perpetrators (DeSantis?) will be in legally.

Florida and its Governor are in the political crosshairs nationwide now. There is no shortage of well-funded political organizations that could/will sue him for violating Disney's constitutional rights if such a legal case can be reasonably made.

But so far, radio silence on that front...

 

[peter11435]

If Governor DeSantis has just committed a federal crime or violated the US Constitution in some way, then whomever is advising him and the Florida Legislature is in very big trouble. Not to mention the trouble the perpetrators (DeSantis?) will be in legally.

Florida and its Governor are in the political crosshairs nationwide now. There is no shortage of well-funded political organizations that could/will sue him for violating constitutional rights if such a legal case can be reasonably made.

But so far, radio silence on that front...

Judges have already ruled in prior cases that DeSantis has violated the US constitution.

 

[MandaM]

If Governor DeSantis has just committed a federal crime or violated the US Constitution in some way, then whomever is advising him and the Florida Legislature is in very big trouble. Not to mention the trouble the perpetrators (DeSantis?) will be in legally.

Florida and its Governor are in the political crosshairs nationwide now. There is no shortage of well-funded political organizations that could/will sue him for violating constitutional rights if such a legal case can be reasonably made.

But so far, radio silence on that front...

Only Disney can sue DeSantis for violating its constitutional rights. Nobody else would have standing, so your point is moot.

Can you explain how on earth DeSantis’ actions aren’t a first amendment violation? So far, not a single person who has agreed with his action has been able to.

Also, on at least two occasions, DeSantis has been found in court to have violated the constitution. It isn’t stopping him from continuing to do it.

 

[lazyboy97o]

If Governor DeSantis has just committed a federal crime or violated the US Constitution in some way, then whomever is advising him and the Florida Legislature is in very big trouble. Not to mention the trouble the perpetrators (DeSantis?) will be in legally.

More bullocks. Legislators and executives are not personally liable if actions are overturned on constitutional grounds.

 

[TP2000]

More bullocks. Legislators and executives are not criminally liable if actions are overturned on constitutional grounds.

Oh, really? As you can tell, I'm not a constitutional law expert.

But surely there must be some sort of legal recourse a person or organization can take if they feel an elected official has violated their constitutional rights.

 

[GoofGoof]

If Governor DeSantis has just committed a federal crime or violated the US Constitution in some way, then whomever is advising him and the Florida Legislature is in very big trouble. Not to mention the trouble the perpetrators (DeSantis?) will be in legally.

Florida and its Governor are in the political crosshairs nationwide now. There is no shortage of well-funded political organizations that could/will sue him for violating constitutional rights if such a legal case can be reasonably made.

But so far, radio silence on that front...

I think it would have to be Disney that sues not some other entity. As we discussed here many pages back Disney made a business decision not to pursue a Federal suit. No telling how a judge and then ultimately the Supreme Court would rule but just because Disney doesn’t sue doesn’t mean they don’t have a case or even don’t think they could win. The benefit of winning (namely keeping the original RCID) may not be worth more than the negative publicity from a long drawn out court case. Disney doesn’t want the publicity which is exactly what the Governor does want. He’s dropping in the polls and could use that boost. Republicans go to Disney World too, and buy their products and see their movies and watch their networks. I don’t think you can draw the conclusion that because they haven’t filed a lawsuit means they don’t have a case.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think it would have to be Disney that sues not some other entity. As we discussed here many pages back Disney made a business decision not to pursue a Federal suit. No telling how a judge and then ultimately the Supreme Court would rule but just because Disney doesn’t sue doesn’t mean they don’t have a case or even don’t think they could win. The benefit of winning (namely keeping the original RCID) may nit be worth more than the negative publicity from a long drawn out court case. Disney doesn’t want the publicity which is exactly what the Governor does want. He’s dropping in the polls and could use that boost. Republicans go to Disney World too, and buy their products and see their movies and watch their networks. I don’t think you can draw the conclusion that because they haven’t filed a lawsuit means they don’t have a case.

Disney’s avenues are not just in federal court. Even just on the issue of speech, speech is protected by the state constitution.

 

[TP2000]

Judges have already ruled in prior cases that DeSantis has violated the US constitution.

So then what happened?

 

[GoofGoof]

Oh, really? As you can tell, I'm not a constitutional law expert.

But surely there must be some sort of legal recourse a person or organization can take if they feel an elected official has violated their constitutional rights.

I think what he’s saying is if Disney sued and won that the politicians wouldn’t be personally criminally charged. The result of the lawsuit would be a reversal of the damage and/or financial compensation if that isn’t possible so in this case probably they would revert back to the original RCID.

 

[TP2000]

I think it would have to be Disney that sues not some other entity. As we discussed here many pages back Disney made a business decision not to pursue a Federal suit. No telling how a judge and then ultimately the Supreme Court would rule but just because Disney doesn’t sue doesn’t mean they don’t have a case or even don’t think they could win.

Well, you're probably right. This brings up again the Government Relations teams big companies like Disney have. I can only imagine the meetings and email chains that went around on this topic with that group!

The benefit of winning (namely keeping the original RCID) may nit be worth more than the negative publicity from a long drawn out court case.

I think also because the end result wasn't much change, at least for the foreseeable future. The RCID continues mostly unchanged for now, but with five new board members appointed by Tallahassee who are no longer chosen and paid by Disney to do that job for Disney.

 

[TP2000]

Oh it is much worse than that. Not to derail the conversation, but since we are talking about insincere virtue signaling by Disney.

They not only film in Georgia, they spend several tens of millions every year producing their huge Marvel productions in a long-term deal at a studio owned by....wait for it...Dan Cathy! That would be the same Dan Cathy of the Chick-fil-A family who put big money behind the anti-gay marriage Prop 8 in CA in 2008.

Way to stand up for your LGBT+ peeps, Disney! That showed them!

(But, um, we really like the dressing rooms there...and um...it's close to the airport....so.....yeah)

Isn't that incredible? I find it unsurprising, but still incredible. It just makes me laugh at the hypocrisy of it all. Hollywood!

And they even brought Bob Iger back. And at Disney employee town halls he hosted two months ago in Burbank, not a single person mentioned Georgia and their naughty voters. It's as forgotten as whatever the Hot Summer Jam! hit was on the Top 40 charts in 2019.

2019's Very Important Issue That Official Good People Care Deeply About!

Bob Iger: Disney Will Probably Leave Georgia If Anti-Abortion Bill Becomes Law

“If it becomes law I don’t see how it’s practical for us to continue to shoot there,” the CEO said.

www.vanityfair.com

2023's Business Reality...

‘Captain America: New World Order’ to film at Georgia’s Trilith Studios in 2023

Marvel’s “Captain America: New World Order” is expected to start production at Trilith Studios in Fayetteville next year.

www.ajc.com

 

[GoofGoof]

Well, you're probably right. This brings up again the Government Relations teams big companies like Disney have. I can only imagine the meetings and email chains that went around on this topic with that group!



I think also because the end result wasn't much change, at least for the foreseeable future. The RCID continues mostly unchanged for now, but with five new board members appointed by Tallahassee who are no longer chosen and paid by Disney to do that job for Disney.

As I said a few pages back (most likely deleted), Disney has a theme park in mainland China so they know how to run a business with a hostile government looking over their shoulder .

They are also playing the long game here. WDW is 50 years old. DeSntis could be gone in a year. Just because the current bill allows the Governor to appoint the board doesn’t mean that cannot be changed later and also doesn’t mean every future Governor will be hostile towards Disney, the state‘s largest single site employer and major catalyst for the state’s top industry. Party is irrelevant. Disney traditionally donated much more to GOP candidates in FL than Dems.

There is also nothing to stop Disney from suing the district over any perceived infraction later on. If the district really does take some of the actions suggested as possible here they can be handled one off which won’t make headlines.

 

[TP2000]

As I said a few pages back (most likely deleted), Disney has a theme park in mainland China so they know how to run a business with a hostile government looking over their shoulder .

Oh, gosh yes! I said that myself in a different way two days ago. Running Disneyland in highly regulated California is many times more difficult and trying than running WDW is in lightly regulated Florida.

If Disneyland can still operate more rides in Anaheim than WDW operates in Orlando, then nothing the RCID could do will stop that.

They are also playing the long game here. WDW is 50 years old. DeSntis could be gone in a year. Just because the current bill allows the Governor to appoint the board doesn’t mean that cannot be changed later and also doesn’t mean every future Governor will be hostile towards Disney, the state‘s largest single site employer and major catalyst for the state’s top industry. Party is irrelevant. Disney traditionally donated much more to GOP candidates in FL than Dems.

There is also nothing to stop Disney from suing the district over any perceived infraction later on. If the district really does take some of the actions suggested as possible here they can be handled one off which won’t make headlines.

I can agree with all of that. I imagine at some point Disney's execs had to step back and just admit defeat on the RCID thing, and wait to see how the new board members act/react and how the new CFTOD plays out in the next year or three.

If anything, I can easily imagine ten years from now the CFTOD no longer exists and WDW property is governed by its county and local governments just like Universal Studios, and Sea World, and Legoland, and the Cracker Barrel on I-Drive all are.

 

[lazyboy97o]

As I said a few pages back (most likely deleted), Disney has a theme park in mainland China so they know how to run a business with a hostile government looking over their shoulder .

They are also playing the long game here. WDW is 50 years old. DeSntis could be gone in a year. Just because the current bill allows the Governor to appoint the board doesn’t mean that cannot be changed later and also doesn’t mean every future Governor will be hostile towards Disney, the state‘s largest single site employer and major catalyst for the state’s top industry. Party is irrelevant. Disney traditionally donated much more to GOP candidates in FL than Dems.

There is also nothing to stop Disney from suing the district over any perceived infraction later on. If the district really does take some of the actions suggested as possible here they can be handled one off which won’t make headlines.

You said this game would be over now and yet it keeps escalating despite Disney’s “cool headed” response.

 

[UCF]

Can you explain how on earth DeSantis’ actions aren’t a first amendment violation? So far, not a single person who has agreed with his action has been able to.

That is really easy. Disney hasn't been prevented from saying anything, they're still allowed to protest the Parent Rights bill if they so choose. Disney has not lost a single right that is given to every other corporation is Florida over any of their speech, they still have every right every other corporation has in this state, and DeSantis has committed to keeping it that way.

 

[mkt]

That is really easy. Disney hasn't been prevented from saying anything, they're still allowed to protest the Parent Rights bill if they so choose. Disney has not lost a single right that is given to every other corporation is Florida over any of their speech, they still have every right every other corporation has in this state, and DeSantis has committed to keeping it that way.

How can you say that with a straight face, even after DeSantis clearly said that this was retribution for their vocal dissent with his legislation, AND the fact that DeSantis has already lost in court twice for first amendment violations?

 

[lazyboy97o]

That is really easy. Disney hasn't been prevented from saying anything, they're still allowed to protest the Parent Rights bill if they so choose. Disney has not lost a single right that is given to every other corporation is Florida over any of their speech, they still have every right every other corporation has in this state, and DeSantis has committed to keeping it that way.

So the whole land owners having to approve special districts isn’t actually a thing? Home rule isn’t a thing? Having building permits threatened over the content of movies is a right that Disney previously was denied?

 

[peter11435]

That is really easy. Disney hasn't been prevented from saying anything, they're still allowed to protest the Parent Rights bill if they so choose. Disney has not lost a single right that is given to every other corporation is Florida over any of their speech, they still have every right every other corporation has in this state, and DeSantis has committed to keeping it that way.

You could have just said you didn’t understand the first amendment.