Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Politics In General Disney and de Santis Clause

Could this be Ron DeSantis' Big Goof?

I predict that stripping Disney's great 'privilege' to manage its own infrastructure as punishment for corporate free speech - an act of malice without forethought - is going to be a long lasting bugaboo for the budding Strong Man.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District is a solution to a common problem for land developers, where local governmental authorities (and property owners) won't foot the bill for upfront infrastructure cost - the developer has to agree pay for that before being allowed to proceed. In the case of subdivisions, a deal is often struck where the public will assume the responsibility for maintenance of the roads, sewers, water, etc at some time in the future when the tax base resulting from the development has grown enough to cover the costs. Sometimes no deal is made (on the assumption that the infrastructure will always be the burden of the property owners), but the new residents of the subdivision eventually get to be plentiful (and loud) enough that they 'persuade' the county (or whomever) to take it over..."What are we paying property taxes for if we ain't getting services!?!?"

It's a novel concept that being on the hook for services (including police protection, and more than the short list above) is regarded as a 'privilege'.

In the instance of a mega-development like Walt Disney World, where there was not going to be an increase in the property tax base from new home buyers, that the transition to assumption of the liability to pay for services would never pass from the corporation to the local county government. Disney would pay, either by directly providing the services, or by pay taxes to the county to do it. Considering the specialized nature of the services needed, it is unlikely that a normal county would be equipped, or competent, to be the provider.

In their haste to punish Disney, the Republicans (led by His Highness, Exalted Anaconda of the Everglades) fell for the ConROT notion that being responsible for community services was a privilege, and cancelling that privilege was an easy cruise missile to launch against their rich nemesis.

But alas, and alackaday, it was the first shot in a classic war, doomed to end as they all do...

War, at first, is the hope that one will be better off; next, the expectation that the other fellow will be worse off; then, the satisfaction that he isn't any better off; and, finally, the surprise at everyone's being worse off. -Karl Kraus, writer (28 Apr 1874-1936)

What's Next?

Disney says they can't do it without paying off the $Billion dollar debt first.

The hastily written two page legislation makes no effort to explain how it is done nor to unravel 50 years of contracts and agreements that ALL benefitted the two counties(Orange and Polk) and the state.

DeSantis has promised that Floridians won't pay a single cent in taxes and that Disney will now pay "its fair share".

DeSantis just self-owned without any help from a mouse.

He will become known for increasing taxes on property owners, raising taxes on corporations, and bigger government - all with reduced benefits for everyone.

Goddam Mickey hater!

People oughta know better than to try screwing with "The Mouse".

Today the governor vetoed a solar metering bill backed by FP&L which would have limited payouts to customers with solar panels. The bill was opposed by the solar power industry.

Rather the opposite of what you'd expect.

I keep reading Orange and Osceola counties, not Polk. Maybe my sources have it wrong.

No, you're right. Lake, Polk, Osceola, and Orange counties all come together down at US 27 and 192. I get Polk and Osceola confused. I'm in Lake County.

I'm not really worried about the Disney corporation. They'll be okay.

OMG! This is MUCH worse than they previously thought. The state of Florida promised that the Reedy Creek district could never be dissolved until all the Disney bond debt and interest was paid off. Disney has over a BILLION dollars worth of bond debt! DeSantis didn't know that when he signed the law.



And this is the guy who wants to run for President!

It's the reality tee vee factor.
Nixon failed to appreciate the need to LOOK GOOD on television and now one needs to not only look good, one must appear SENSATIONAL and DRAMATIC! on television. Part of Biden's poor numbers has to do with the fact that he does not "LOOK DRAMATIC!" enough ON television.

Old school white conservative Christian America has succumbed to two decades of full court press reality TV conditioning, so now if you want to be a Republican candidate you must flap your arms all around, jump up and down, pound the podium, make a lot of noise, smoke and fire, threaten companies that don't bow down, club a few baby seals, nuke some whales for BayBay Jeebus and keep those darkies down, unless of course they're Diamond & Silk or a knuckleheaded NFL star.
And above all, one must OWN DEH LIBS at all costs...it HAS to look like you've OWNED THE LIBTARDS.

Outside of that, you don't have to do no actual law-makin nor guvernatin.
You just have to yell a lot and keep the yokels scared and pissed off at someone else.