DeSantis' tourism district takes aim at Disney 'perks' but offers $1,000 stipend - Orlando Sentinel

Fucking with the voters directly isn't going to end well for FL Republicans.

ronda santis, republican kamikaze...

Fucking with the voters directly=  n addition to constituting unethical benefits and perks, the scheme raises significant questions regarding self-dealing as the board members were only permitted a maximum of $100 per month in compensation per the Reedy Creek Improvement District Act

Taking away 2.5 million in illegal perks is "fucking with voters"

lol. 

It's amazing how Democrats shill for and excuse any corruption so long as its on their team.

It's amazing how Democrats shill for and excuse any corruption so long as its on their team.

It's amazing how alt+right populists shill for and excuse any corruption so long as it's against being 'woke'. OR liberal, or for oppressing a minority group, or whatever boogyman their propaganda masters tell them to be against that day. 

This is way beyond stupid but then look who we are dealing with.

I really don't understand their reasoning here. Targeting workers and customers seems counter intuitive. 

Then again Bob Iger is working really, really hard to screw his writers and actors too so maybe it's just a business model?

I really don't understand their reasoning here. Targeting workers and customers seems counter intuitive.

Par for the course with the DeSantis regime.

"In addition to constituting unethical benefits and perks, the scheme raises significant questions regarding self-dealing as the board members were only permitted a maximum of $100 per month in compensation per the Reedy Creek Improvement District Act," the district said in an unsigned statement."

Why should the taxpayers be on the hook for all this? 

You probably don't know or care that the new head of the board, a DeSantis appointee is paid $400,000 per year.

wdwmagic

Why should taxpayers of Florida which you are not one, have to pay for him? 

How much was the previous head of the board paid?

You probably don't know or care that the new head of the board

You probably don't know this, but he's not even on the board. 

He's the District Administrator   Get your facts correct. 

$350,000.

My facts are fine, my wording was a bit off but the link I provided is quite clear. 

Keep swinging you just might hit the cheeseball soon.

y wording was a bit off but the link I provided is quite clear. 

you think being on  the board is the same thing as the guy who supervises the day to day operations of a company with hundreds employees? 

Lol. 

Nope, I don't but you keep swinging away, Sean. And making an assumption like that make you look rather foolish.

LMAO

but you keep swinging away, 

Yeah, cause I keep hitting homeruns. You fucked up, got caught  and then falsely claimed your facts are fine.

Glen Gilzean is not  the head of the Board, or even on the Board. And  when confronted with that in inarguable fact, you lied and said "My facts are fine"

Sad. 

What is sad is your inability to understand that I said my wording was off and referred to the link that I provided that clarified his position. 

If you want to keep whining better get a crying towel.

Why should the taxpayers be on the hook for all this?

It's those same taxpayers that were getting the perks. 

What's the difference between the season passes (which taxpayers were paying for them?) and a $1K stipend per year? Who pays the stipend?

What's the difference between the season passes (which taxpayers were paying for them?) and a $1K stipend per year? Who pays the stipend?

The board claims it's wrong because the money goes back to Disney, but how is that different from any other company giving employee discounts? The same people that paid the season passes are paying the stipend - the workers themselves that live in the district.

They just have to have something to bitch about

Bingo

se the money goes back to Disney, but how is that different from any other company giving employee discounts?

. A board controlled by Disney was using taxpayer funds (illegally) to spend 2.5 million dollars at Disney and you can't see the problem here?  I know Democrats have gone whole hog on corporatism,  but now allowing corporations to illegally spend tax payer dollar to their own benefit is suddenly okay?   

whining is the same as exhaling for most rwnj's...

Other Florida parks like Universal also sit in a special district AND also give out employee discounts. Why isn't it illegal for them?

I know Democrats have gone whole hog on corporatism,  but allowing corporations to illegally spend tax payer dollar to their own benefit is suddenly okay?   

Right wing populists see everything in a black and white (either/or) world, but there are millions of gradations and colors in between. 

Why isn't it illegal for them?

Show proof and the regulations that govern them and we can see if it is.  

ight wing populists see everything in a black and white (either/or) worl

You claim DeSantis is "fucking with voters" for objecting to a corporation illegally spending millions of taxpayer dollars on itself and you accuse others of seeing everything in black and white?  Is that a joke? 

You can't see why anyone might reasonably  object to a corporation  misusing taxpayer dollars that way? 

Show proof and the regulations that govern them and we can see if it is.

You made the claim it was illegal. You back it up or go away.

You claim DeSantis is "fucking with voters"

The same people who were using the perks are the same people living and voting in the special district - you know Disney employees. 

You can't see why anyone might reasonably  object to a corporation  misusing taxpayer dollars that way? 

No one has proven it's a misuse of taxpayer money. Go ahead and support your claim.

made the claim it was illegal. You back it up or go away.

Lol. Look at you deflect. You claimed other corporate controlled boards were doing the same as Disney. Show it.  Show the regulations that prohibit more than $100 a month in compensation for board members in those acts.  If they are the same, prove it. 

he perks are the same people living and voting in the special district - you know Disney employees. 

They aren't Disney Employees. 

roven it's a misuse of taxpayer money. Go ahead and support your claim

Lol. A corporation board controlled by Disney was using taxpayer funds (illegally) to spend 2.5 million dollars at Disney.  If that's not inappropriate, I don't know what is.   And if this were some right wing corporation engaged in  similar  self dealing with tax payer dollars, we both know you'd be singing a different tune

You claimed other corporate controlled boards were doing the same as Disney.

I did not. I ASKED WHY Disney was being singled out for scrutiny and you moved the goal posts.

Anyone who's paid attention to this site has been exposed to some dishonest and partisan attacks on DeSantis, but this is up there at the top.  I guess when more money has been spent attacking DeSantis than Trump or Biden, you need to keep  inventing things to be outraged about. 

In any other circumstance, 98% of Americans (those who don't long for a world run by corporations at least) would find this laudable. Disney was using it's power controlling the board to spend 2.5 million taxpayer dollars to its own benefit.   That's bad to begin with.  But alot of that money went to board members, who were prohibited by law from accepting perks in this amount.  

But because it's DeSantis, a billion dollar corporation exploiting a puppet board to give itself millions in revenue is suddenly something the anti DeSantis cult wants to attack. "How dare a governor not allow his state's  taxpayers to be ripped off and illegal benefits given to corporate stooges"  screams the cult.  

Your usual deflection... What's dishonest about the article Sean? Be specific.

In any other circumstance, 98% of Americans (those who don't long for a world run by corporations at least) would find this laudable.

It might be if they did it across the board for all the special districts and corporations, but they didn't. They specifically called out Disney and specifically called them out about being 'woke'. The rest of us around here aren't stupid enough to fall for the alt-right populist bullshit DeSantis is shoveling. He'll never be President and he'll be lucky if he's not recalled as Governor if he and his sycophants keep this shit up. 

Disney was using it's power controlling the board to spend 2.5 million taxpayer dollars to its own benefit.

Where are the criminal, and/or civil charges? 

But because it's DeSantis, a billion dollar corporation exploiting a puppet board...

So going from a Disney puppet board to a DeSantis puppet board is so much better? 

eflection... What's dishonest about the article Sean? Be specific.

I was referring to the comments, 

They specifically called out Disney and specifically called them out about being 'woke'. 

Where's your proof of this?

Where are the criminal, and/or civil charges?

It was litterally just discovered and referred to the IG, which is the start of the process. 

Were you using that defense when Democrats waited three plus years to charge Trump? Or does the "where are the charges" deflection only apply selectively? 

om a Disney puppet board to a DeSantis puppet board is so much better

You understand  we live in a Democracy and are not corporate owned, right? The people of Florida overwhelmingly voted in DeSantis, and they will vote in a few years on his successor who will appoint another board.  

You can't see the difference between that and a governing board controlled by a corporation? 

Are all special districts the same? Do the other theme parts get to name the board who governs them like Disney was able too? Did the other theme parks have the ability to grab land through eminent domain even outside their district like disney could? Did those other districts have the ability to create their own fire department and then charge for it?  Disney even has the ability to build it's own nuclear power plant. Do you think Universal could do that? 

Both Seaworld and Universal Studios in Orlando are in a special tax district (s) and both offer employee discounts on tickets, merchandise, hotel rooms etc.

Where's your proof of this?

Are you fucking serious? 

It was literally just discovered and referred to the IG, which is the start of the process. 

So then illegality hasn't been determined. Thanks! 

Were you using that defense when Democrats waited three plus years to charge Trump?

Yes. I was. I specifically called the J6th Committee a clown show and the current indictments a high bar for the prosecutions to meet. I see the Mar-a-logo IT manager flipped from defendant to witness for the prosecution... That's going to be fun when they make it to court.

You understand  we live in a Democracy and are not corporate owned, right? The people of Florida overwhelmingly voted in DeSantis, and they will vote in a few years on his successor who will appoint another board.  You think that's the same as a governing board controlled by a corporation? 

I understand the new MAGA populist boogyman is anything you guys deem as 'woke'. Again if any, or all, of this was wrong for Disney why isn't it wrong for any of the other 1,899 special districts in Florida? 

re all special districts the same?

Now watch the reply claiming it's a black and white (either/or) world, and there aren't millions of gradations and colors in between the Districts. 

eaworld and Universal Studios in Orlando are in a special tax district (s) and both offer employee discounts on tickets, merchandise, hotel rooms etc.

Prove it. 

Are you fucking serious? 

Yeah, prove other corporations are doing the same thing, and violating the legislation that created them but are being a given free pass by DeSantis because they aren't woke. 

current indictments a high bar for the prosecutions to meet

I look forward to you criticizing anyone who's claimed Trump has engaged in illegal behavior than. I guess I've missed you doing it for the last three years. 

 Again if any, or all, of this was wrong for Disney why isn't it wrong for any of the other 1,899 special districts in Florida? 

Again, prove other corporations governing other districts are doing the same thing, and violating the legislation that controls them.  

Prove it. 

It isn't difficult...

Universal Orlando sits in a portion of a special district called the Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency. A portion of the property taxes paid by Universal that would normally go toward general government are used to pay for public infrastructure improvements near the park. Local officials created the Universal portion of Orlando’s community redevelopment area in the 1990s to ease congestion around Interstate 4. tampabay

And from the Universal Orlando's own website: site.universalorlando

Full and Part-Time employees of Comcast and NBCUniversal are eligible to receive the following discounts at Universal Orlando Resort:

• Theme Park Admission: Save up to 30% on single and multi-day tickets.

• Universal Orlando Resort Hotels: Save up to 30% off the regular priced room rate, based on hotel availability. Not valid during peak travel periods.

• Special Events: Special pricing on separately ticketed events such as Halloween Horror Nights.

• 15% off at select restaurants in Universal Studios Florida™ and Universal's Islands of Adventure™ theme parks (excludes food & beverage carts and alcoholic beverages, taxes and gratuities)

• 20% off at Universal Orlando™ owned and operated Merchandise stores and carts (restrictions apply on select merchandise)

ime employees of Comcast and NBCUniversal are eligible to receive the following discounts at Universal Orlando Resort:

Lol. Do you even understand what's going on here?

Comcast and Universal assume the costs  for the discounts for their own employees at their own theme parks.  I'm sure Disney does the same with its own employees and no one cares.  The issue is Disney using taxpayer funds to give money to employees of  Reedy Creek Improvement District (and a disproportionate amount to its Directors) , not Disney employees. 

I look forward to you criticizing anyone who's claimed Trump has engaged in illegal behavior than. I guess I've missed you doing it for the last three years. 

Neither I, nor Trump are topics. Get back on track or risk deletion. 

Again, prove other corporations governing other districts are doing the same thing, and violating the legislation that controls them.  

You keep deflecting from your own claims. Show me where they've been investigated... 

"Disney betrayed us, and the corporation that Walt Disney started — which was a beacon of family values — has now been perverted by a woke mob of liberal extremists,” Rep. Jackie Toledo, R-Tampa, said last month. tampabay

The issue is Disney using taxpayer funds to give money to employees of  Reedy Creek Improvement District, not Disney employees.

Who lives in Reedy Creek? 

... not Disney employees.

You sure of that?

The residents of Reedy Creek— all Disney World employees and their children —are handpicked by the company. Each owns their mobile home and pays Disney $75 a month to rent the lot space. In exchange, the residents provide the votes needed on issues such as approval of bonds for park improvements.
southernliving

Additionally Disney is building 1400 units of low cost housing for its employees in Reedy Creek.

There are over 1800 special districts in Florida, But Disneys is in a class by itself, That escapes the partisans. They can build their own fucking nuclear plant. With Fed approval of course. Do you think the other 1799 districts have state approval to build nuclear power plants?

Who lives in Reedy Creek?

People.

You sure of that?

Yes. Read your own link. This involves Taxpayer money being used to purchase benefits for employees and the directors of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. It has nothing to do with people who live there. 

Disney can discount whatever it wants for its own employees.  

Do you see the difference here?  Disney is using Taxpayer cash to purchase benefits at Disney for Reedy Creek employees and Directors, not Disney Employees.  That's not remotely the same thing as Disney discounting items  for its own employees.  Taxpayers are footing the bill in the first, Disney in the second.

Not all ''Special Districts'' are the same. In the case of Reedy Creek, Disney in addition to the taxes it pays to the city/state/county it taxes itself to pay for the fire department, sewer services etc.

What Reedy Creek isn’t is a replacement for the counties it exists in. Disney still pays the same property taxes levied by the government and the school district that every other landowner pays. Orange County, for example, collected $40 million from the House of Mouse in 2021, Tax Collector Scott Randolph (D) said. So, how does Reedy Creek operate its own fire and sewer departments? The special tax district status allows Disney to levy an additional tax on itself to pay for those services. The tax, amounting to $105 million per year, is illegal anywhere else in the county, along with the additional $58 million per year the company taxes itself to pay off Reedy Creek’s bond debt.

That is why at the last minute DeSantis didn't dissolve the Reedy Creek Special Tax District, because those costs would have fallen on the taxpayers of Orange and Osceola counties.

Disney has had that ability since 1967 but like all other construction would have to follow all existing state/fed guidelines.

Currently, Disney does get some of its power from nuclear plants, one in St. Lucie County and one at Turkey Point in Miami-Dade County. They generate about 12% of the state’s power, some of which flows to the Magic Kingdom.

A gas powered plant sits on Disney property along with 48,000 solar panel farm that produces energy for Disney World.

Exactly how many other districts have state approval to build their own nuclear power plant? and how many other corporations get to name the board who governs them? 

You do realize that the the state of Florida gave Disney that power in 1967 and have yet to revoke it and you might want to refer to my comment 5.1.15 for more information on the taxing situation.

I don't know of any other special district that can build a nuclear power plant and if its such a big deal why hasn't Florida revoked it?

People.

Yes. People who work for Disney which is directly opposite of what you said. 

...not Disney employees.

I'm done with your goalpost moving and deflection.

They just tried to revoke it. along with the rest of their special benefits.

See 5.1.8

Nope

e who work for Disney which is directly opposite of what you said.

Do you have any idea what your own  link says, or what the Reedy Creek Improvement District is?  I'm going to make this as simple as I can.  

This story is about the employees of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Not the people who live there, or people who work for Disney.    Reidy Creek has its own employees who are paid from Tax Dollars.   Is this simple enough for you so far?

Disney has tens of thousands of its own employees.  They are not the same.  Get it so far? Disney employees are not Reidy Creek employees and didn't receive discounts (why you and others keep spreading that falsehood even though your own link says otherwise is only a question  you can answer. 

The story is about Reidy Creek employees (and Directors) using taxpayer dollars to buy access and material at Disney Park.  So Disney received 2.5 million dollars of taxpayer money through Reidy Creek employees and directors.   You and others are outraged Disney won't be receiving 2,5 million in tax payer dollars they have no right to.  Why you want Florida taxpayers to be ripped off to support a billion dollar corporation is again, something .   

m done with your goalpost moving and deflection.

Now that is classic projection.  I doubt anyone on this site who's read your ramblings that your own link contradicts  is stupid enough to fall for it, but I guess you think it's easier to double down on dishonesty than admit your inital understanding of what's going on was completely wrong.   Deflecting to the conduct of other boards without showing proof to justify oyur claims, pushing falsehoods about this effecting Disney employees and bizarrely claiming what the RCID did by the spending millions of tax payer dollars at Disney is  the same as a company offering discounts to its own employees etc.  All of it is transparently bullshit. 

At the end of the day your DeSantis derangement has led you to shill for a massive corporation using its control of a governmental entity to  rip off taxpayers to the tune of millions of dollars, and what's worse, to lie about it.