Florida Legislature votes to strip Disney self-government

[mystery-ak]

 Florida Legislature votes to strip Disney self-government
by Anthony Izaguirre | The Associated Press - 04/21/22 1:12 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida House of Representatives on Thursday gave final passage to a bill that would dissolve Walt Disney World’s private government, handing Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis a victory in his feud with the entertainment giant over its opposition to a measure that critics have dubbed the “ Don’t Say Gay ” law.

The move could have huge tax implications for Disney, whose series of theme parks have transformed Orlando into one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and serves to further sour the relationship between the Republican-led government and a major political player in the state.

For DeSantis, the attack on Disney is his latest salvo in a culture war waged over policies such as race, gender and the coronavirus, battles that have turned him into one of the most popular GOP politicians in the country and a likely 2024 presidential candidate.

The dispute with Disney involves the company’s criticism of a new law barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade as well as instruction that is not “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate.”

In March, Disney said it would suspend political donations in the state and added that it would in turn support organizations working to oppose the new law. DeSantis and his fellow Republicans then lashed out at Disney, and have defended the law as reasonable.

“Disney and other woke corporations won’t get away with peddling their unchecked pressure campaigns any longer,” DeSantis wrote in a fundraising pitch Wednesday. “If we want to keep the Democrat machine and their corporate lapdogs accountable, we have to stand together now.”

The bill passed by the legislature on Thursday would eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District, as the Disney government is known, as well as a handful of other similar districts by June 2023. The measure does allow for the districts to be reestablished, leaving an avenue to renegotiate its future. It now moves to DeSantis’ office to be signed into law.

more
https://thehill.com/news/wire/3275973-florida-legislature-votes-to-strip-disney-self-government/

[Wingnut]

Groomers are all up in arms.

[Ghost Bear]

Wow, a lot of analysts are going to be surprised this is happening at all, let alone that it happened so fast.

[Hoodat]

The influx of new tax revenues into Orange County will be astronomical.

[Hoodat]

“Disney and other woke corporations won’t get away with peddling their unchecked pressure campaigns any longer,” DeSantis wrote in a fundraising pitch Wednesday. “If we want to keep the Democrat machine and their corporate lapdogs accountable, we have to stand together now.”

   ↑   ↑   ↑   ↑
   T   H   I   S

I am sick and tired of Republicans who look the other way (or in many cases vote for) taxpayer dollars funding Democrat slush funds.  DeSantis at least gets it.

[Wingnut]

Wow, a lot of analysts are going to be surprised this is happening at all, let alone that it happened so fast.

It happened at Warp Speed.  left committee on Tuesday. Senate approved Wednesday. House approved today. The DeSantas Claus will sign it soon. 

It's like Christmas year round down here in FL with our great gov!.

[Ghost Bear]

It happened at Warp Speed.  left committee on Tuesday. Senate approved Wednesday. House approved today. The DeSantas Claus will sign it soon. 

It's like Christmas year round down here in FL with our great gov!.

I wish our Texas governor was more like your Florida governor.  Not to mention the Presidency...

[cato potatoe]

This needed to happen, but Desantis probably should lay low for a while.  He has spent a lot of political capital over the past few weeks. 

[Free Vulcan]

If you want to jump into politics and use your company to cater to a small minority of radical nutjobs overtly sexualizing kids, you shouldn't be allowed to ride for free on the taxpayer dime.

[Wingnut]

This needed to happen, but Desantis probably should lay low for a while.  He has spent a lot of political capital over the past few weeks.

He was here this morning announcing red snapper season will be extended to 57 days!   

I loves me some Red Snapper!

[Hoodat]

He was here this morning announcing red snapper season will be extended to 57 days!   

I loves me some Red Snapper!

I once went snapper fishing off the coast of Corpus Cristi, but the boat had to travel way out beyond the edge of the shelf.  Is that the case in Florida?

[Wingnut]

I once went snapper fishing off the coast of Corpus Cristi, but the boat had to travel way out beyond the edge of the shelf.  Is that the case in Florida?

I'm not sure how far out to the south from Destin to catch them.  I'm gonna ask.  I'll get back to you.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I wish our Texas governor was more like your Florida governor.  Not to mention the Presidency...

Abbott is a politician foremost.   And he follows people like DeSantis, not leads.

[mystery-ak]

Radical Left Goes Bonkers After Florida Votes to Eliminate Woke Disney’s Special Tax District

Wendell Husebø21 Apr 20221

The radical left on Thursday went bonkers after the Florida legislature voted to eliminate woke Disney’s special tax district.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) proposed terminating Disney’s 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement District because the entertainment company pursued anti-family, transgender programming for young children.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District is a 50-year-old special statute that shields Disney from massive amounts of tax obligations and regulations. The statute allows Disney to essentially self-govern. It should be noted Disney employs 38 lobbyists in Florida and has a strong hold on state Democrats and establishment Republicans.

After the House successfully voted to end the district, the radical left immediately took to Twitter to voice their anger over the legislative initiative.

Huffington Post writer, Ann Brenoff, stated Disney should uproot its 25,000-acre theme park complex in Florida and move it elsewhere.

https://twitter.com/AnnBrenoff/status/1517205497048301568

more
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/04/21/radical-left-goes-bonkers-after-florida-votes-to-eliminate-woke-disneys-special-tax-district/

[mystery-ak]

Huffington Post writer, Ann Brenoff, stated Disney should uproot its 25,000-acre theme park complex in Florida and move it elsewhere.

Yeah just pick it up and move it..it only took them 50 years to build it all!

[Hoodat]

Radical Left Goes Bonkers After Florida Votes to Eliminate Woke Disney’s Special Tax District

Democrats are Corporate Welfare's biggest proponents.

[Wingnut]

Yeah just pick it up and move it..it only took them 50 years to build it all!

That land is worth a fortune.  prolly worth more than the shitty attractions that sit on it. 

[Kamaji]

Fascinating how the left is so dead-set on supporting privately run plantation towns owned lock, stock, and barrel by a private corporation.

[cato potatoe]

Where are they going to move it?  Connecticut?  I don't forsee Greg Abbott throwing incentives at these turkeys.

[Ghost Bear]

Abbott is a politician foremost.   And he follows people like DeSantis, not leads.

Yes I agree. At best Abbott is a decent manager. Not a leader.

[Smokin Joe]

Radical Left Goes Bonkers After Florida Votes to Eliminate Woke Disney’s Special Tax District

Wendell Husebø21 Apr 20221

The radical left on Thursday went bonkers after the Florida legislature voted to eliminate woke Disney’s special tax district.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) proposed terminating Disney’s 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement District because the entertainment company pursued anti-family, transgender programming for young children.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District is a 50-year-old special statute that shields Disney from massive amounts of tax obligations and regulations. The statute allows Disney to essentially self-govern. It should be noted Disney employs 38 lobbyists in Florida and has a strong hold on state Democrats and establishment Republicans.

After the House successfully voted to end the district, the radical left immediately took to Twitter to voice their anger over the legislative initiative.

Huffington Post writer, Ann Brenoff, stated Disney should uproot its 25,000-acre theme park complex in Florida and move it elsewhere.

https://twitter.com/AnnBrenoff/status/1517205497048301568

more
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/04/21/radical-left-goes-bonkers-after-florida-votes-to-eliminate-woke-disneys-special-tax-district/

What happened to "paying their fair share"? Or is that only "fair" if companies the Left doesn't like have to do it?

[Free Vulcan]

Fascinating how the left is so dead-set on supporting privately run plantation towns owned lock, stock, and barrel by a private corporation.

That doesn't pay taxes.

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Democrats in the Florida House of Representatives can be heard yelling & shrieking after lawmakers voted to remove Disney’s special tax status—a privilege it held for 55 years. Disney employs 38 lobbyists in Tallahassee & donates generously to politicians."  (Video)

https://mobile.twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1517203394699702272

[Right_in_Virginia]

This needed to happen, but Desantis probably should lay low for a while.  He has spent a lot of political capital over the past few weeks.

He can't ..... campaign season is in full swing.

[Hoodat]

"Democrats in the Florida House of Representatives can be heard yelling & shrieking after lawmakers voted to remove Disney’s special tax status"

And there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Jack Posobiec
@JackPosobiec

No one is even talking about the fact that Disney Inc had its own functioning government within the confines of the United States

5:26 PM · Apr 21, 2022·Twitter Web App

[mystery-ak]

Disney Stock Continues Slide After Florida House Sends Bill Dissolving Special District to DeSantis’s Desk

David Ng21 Apr 202217
1:47

Shares of the Walt Disney Co. continued their downward slide Thursday after the Florida House voted to approve a bill that would strip Walt Disney World in Orlando of its self-governing district, paving the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to sign the bill into law.

Disney shares dropped more than 2 percent in Thursday trading and are down more than 6 percent so far this week. The stock has been on a downward spiral for the past year, dropping more than 30 percent in 12 months to make it the worst performing stock on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Florida’s House voted 70-38 on Thursday to pass  S.B. 4-C, the legislation that would eliminate the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the special governing jurisdiction for the Walt Disney World Resort that was established more than 50 years ago.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2022/04/21/disney-stock-continues-slide-after-florida-house-sends-bill-dissolving-special-district-to-desantiss-desk/

[mystery-ak]

Florida Dems disrupt session, scream out in tantrums as bills pass to strip Disney, approve new maps


https://www.bizpacreview.com/2022/04/22/florida-dems-disrupt-session-scream-out-in-tantrum-as-bills-pass-to-strip-disney-approve-new-district-maps-1228549/

[mountaineer]

Disney World’s Reedy Creek: What happens after the special district is abolished?
Posted on April 22, 2022

...  What happens next is unclear, but Orange County’s tax collector and other opponents of the bill say ending Reedy Creek could lead to higher taxes for Orange and Osceola residents.

The Legislature did not conduct an economic study on the ramifications of dissolving the district. Legislators spent only two days examining the bill, unveiled on Tuesday, providing little opportunity for public input.

Not even the bill’s sponsors — Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay — could provide the intricate details of how Reedy Creek would be dissolved, saying the matter will be hammered out in the next year.   ...

Disney’s private government has been likened to Florida’s 68th county or a “Vatican with mouse ears.” The unique government structure involves Reedy Creek and two cities that Disney controls — Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista.

Those cities have a combined population of about 53 people, according to census data. The residents are trusted Disney employees, making the two cities company towns controlled by Disney, said Richard Foglesong, author of “Married to the Mouse,” a book about the creation of Disney World.

If Reedy Creek is dissolved, top-line items will include determining how its 40 square miles of land straddling both Orange and Osceola Counties would be governed, how its assets would be distributed and its debt paid, said Lee Constantine, a former state representative and senator and the incoming president of the Florida Association of Counties. ...

Orlando Sentinel via Nordot

[cato potatoe]

If a tax increase is involved, DeSantis had better table the bill until the matter can be studied.  I have my doubts about the Orange County tax collector.  This sounds like propaganda.

[Hoodat]

If a tax increase is involved, DeSantis had better table the bill until the matter can be studied.  I have my doubts about the Orange County tax collector.  This sounds like propaganda.

The Orange County tax collector is lying.  It will lead to higher taxes for Disney property in Orange County, but should lead to lower taxes for Orange County residents.

[Wingnut]

Orlando Sentinel via Nordot

The Orlando Sentinel is the propaganda wing of the FL dem party.  Never lets an opportunity go by to take a shot at DeSantis.  They darn near canonized Fake Whistle blower Rebekah Jones spouting her Covid data lies.

[cato potatoe]

The Orange County tax collector is lying.  It will lead to higher taxes for Disney property in Orange County, but should lead to lower taxes for Orange County residents.

Yeah I figured as much.  In his interview he sounded like a tired old queen ... typical slimy bureaucrat.  But this propaganda is everywhere.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah I figured as much.  In his interview he sounded like a tired old queen ... typical slimy bureaucrat.  But this propaganda is everywhere.

Imagine how much work this creates for the Tax Assessor!  He might just be opposing it because he's not looking forward to crash assessing thousands and thousands of parcels.  If he's a Rat he doesn't give a squirt about the money anyway.  It grows like saw-grass in the Glades.

[Bigun]

Abbott is a politician foremost.   And he follows people like DeSantis, not leads.

Abbott's LONG time chief of staff now works for the Tides Foundation if that tells you anything.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Disney is bringing out my inner Marxist. Let's nationalize Disneyworld. Not like they provide a necessary service anyway.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

And there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Orlando Sentinel via Nordot

Uh, just ask Disney to raise ticket prices to cover the difference.

That's what libs ask citizens to do by paying more in taxes.

[Hoodat]

There is a heck of a lot of information here that is not being brought up.  If Disney is receiving services from Reedy Creek, then how much is it paying for those services?  Because that is money that they will soon be paying to Orange County.  Also, their millage rate is about half that of Orlando and Winter Park.   So Disney has been giving themselves a very good deal for a very long time.

https://www.rcid.org/folder/2022/

[Cyber Liberty]

It's done.  DeSantis just signed.

[Cyber Liberty]

There is a heck of a lot of information here that is not being brought up.  If Disney is receiving services from Reedy Creek, then how much is it paying for those services?  Because that is money that they will soon be paying to Orange County.  Also, their millage rate is about half that of Orlando and Winter Park.   So Disney has been giving themselves a very good deal for a very long time.

https://www.rcid.org/folder/2022/

I have possibly more interesting questions.  Universal Studios and Nickelodeon have theme parks in very close proximity.  Were they included in the Reedy Creek zone?

Does this mean they were effectively governed by their largest competitor, maybe even paying them taxes?  Is this anywhere close to being legal?

[Hoodat]

I have possibly more interesting questions.  Universal Studios and Nickelodeon have theme parks in very close proximity.  Were they included in the Reedy Creek zone?

No.

[Wingnut]

I have possibly more interesting questions.  Universal Studios and Nickelodeon have theme parks in very close proximity.  Were they included in the Reedy Creek zone?

No. this was set up for Disney only back 55 years ago when they bought up all those orange groves and swamps to build
"The happiest Place on earth"

[Kamaji]

I came across an interesting point online that I am going to run up the flagpole here:  some are taking the position that governing law prohibits the FL. legislature from rescinding a special district like this without the votes of at least a majority of the landowners whose property sits within the special district - the point of contention being that Disney (or the employees who are identified as the "landowners" for these purposes) would not consent to rescinding the Reedy Creek district, and therefore this statute will not accomplish its intended purposes.

Thoughts?

[Kamaji]

Also, there is, or so certain information on the internets claims, about $1 billion in debt of the Reedy Creek district that will now be assumed by the county into which the former district will be folded, thereby beggaring all of the county residents with substantial new debt.

Thoughts?

[Wingnut]

Also, there is, or so certain information on the internets claims, about $1 billion in debt of the Reedy Creek district that will now be assumed by the county into which the former district will be folded, thereby beggaring all of the county residents with substantial new debt.

Thoughts?

Unreliable sources. No One knows...yet.   But that never stopped questionable reporting before all the facts are in.

Also the 27000 acres are spread over 2 central FL Counties.

[Kamaji]

Unreliable sources. No One knows...yet.   But that never stopped questionable reporting before all the facts are in.

Also the 27000 acres are spread over 2 central FL Counties.

Ok.  But, is there such debt, and what are the risks that the county now taking over control will have to assume that debt?

[Kamaji]

According to the 2021 Annual Report for the Reedy Creek district - https://www.rcid.org/document/2021-rcid-annual-financial-report/ - the district had total liabilities relating to "governmental activities" of $897,711,050, which is pretty close to $1B, and total liabilities relating to "business-related activities" of $229,617,766.

It seems to me that those debts have to follow the assets, and end up on the county's balance sheet at the end of the day; certainly the government-related debts.

[Cyber Liberty]

No.

No. this was set up for Disney only back 55 years ago when they bought up all those orange groves and swamps to build
"The happiest Place on earth"

Thanks!!!

[Wingnut]

According to the 2021 Annual Report for the Reedy Creek district - https://www.rcid.org/document/2021-rcid-annual-financial-report/ - the district had total liabilities relating to "governmental activities" of $897,711,050, which is pretty close to $1B, and total liabilities relating to "business-related activities" of $229,617,766.

It seems to me that those debts have to follow the assets, and end up on the county's balance sheet at the end of the day; certainly the government-related debts.

Okay Karen.