Posted on 02/05/2023 8:09:53 AM PST by Jacquerie
Over the last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has changed the trajectory of money-losing New College of Florida. The plan is already in motion, moving the school away from its meandering journey into left-wing academic experimentation and toward what the governor’s allies have described as a more focused and traditional academic path.
But the Governor and Republican lawmakers are about to undertake a much more ambitious plan on Monday: a state takeover of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, created in 1967 to give Walt Disney World control over issues such as land use, fire protection and wastewater services over the sprawling area occupied by the theme park. It’s already been widely reported that DeSantis will seek a series of changes that include a state-controlled board that would run the district and ensuring that the district’s debts could not be transferred to nearby Orange County.
But where New College was “easy pickings” by virtue of its size and limited ability to push back against the changes, taking over the Reedy Creek Improvement District presents an entirely new set of challenges for DeSantis and his colleagues.
The point is, it can be done, but at what cost?
And we’re not strictly talking about financial costs, here, either. The takeover of Reedy Creek is a high-stakes game that carries with it legal and political ramifications. All of those things may be manageable, but it won’t be nearly as simple as the takeover and transformation of New College, because Walt Disney World is a much different beast, with far-reaching resources and allies that can be brought to bear.
Already, Florida’s legacy media is running their typical playbook lambasting DeSantis for his “heavy-handed” approach to New College, complete with front-page images of emotional school staff and sympathetic headlines.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecapitolist.com ...
“Per Rush, the FL media didn’t make DeSantis; they’ll not take him down.”
I can’t wait to see what DeSantis will accomplish as POTUS.
Be thankful for EVERYONE in the fight.
It's not a "take over" it's a take back.
The state of FL 'gave' Disney the rights to be it's own government and now it's taking them back.
Disney screwed the pooch, and DeSantis is going to extract his pound of flesh.
Legally, DeSantis and Fl can not lose and politically it will be a giant win, and screw the msm and all of their bullshit propaganda.
Hmmmm? The “DAZ”? Disney Autonomous Zone. 🤔😂👍. Buh bye!
No, lawfare will be used to take him down. I bet this is mostly for show, with no real intention to go there at all. Once lawfare takes over, then the media becomes the enhancer to make it look nefarious and "undemocratic". We all know by now, or should at any rate, that the Democrats love the word democratic, but hates democracy in reality. It would prefer that it be the sole party & that they are able to rule with tyrannical powers afforded to a one party system of government.
Put Reedy Creek back into Orange and Osceola counties. The party’s over for Disney. Let this be a lesson for them.
The state of FL 'gave' Disney the rights to be it's own government and now it's taking them back.Taking back what you gave does wonders for your credibility and it's just sooo Presidential.< /sarcasm >
There’s the billion dollars worth of bonds to work through the legal system.
In April, Florida Republicans passed legislation to strip Disney of its self-governing powers and dismantle the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The 1967 Reedy Creek Improvement Act allows Disney to govern itself in Walt Disney World on items like building codes, zoning, taxes and electricity. Law enforcement and first responders also rely on the district.
The April legislation to strip Disney of its self-governing powers appeared following Disney’s vow to repeal the Parental Rights in Education Act. Republicans said Disney’s special district was unconstitutional because it was established before Florida’s Constitution in 1968. They also did not believe one company should have advantages over another.
Democrats had said Republicans should not retaliate against a company for speaking their opinions and expressed concerns about the direct impact dissolving Reedy Creek would have on taxpayers.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District has incurred hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, ranging from $700,000 to $1.1 billion. Concerns crept up following the April Special Session that this debt burden would be shifted from Disney to local residents following the special district’s dissolution. For months, the Governor’s Office had reassured Floridians that Disney would pay all of the debts.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that somehow Disney is going to get a tax cut out of this. They are going to pay more taxes as a result of it,” DeSantis said in April.
Under the law approved during the April Special Session, Disney’s special district is set to dissolve by June 1, 2023.
Details on the legislation are reportedly still being hashed out.
If Disney is going to avoid this hit, Bob Iger had better kiss and make up with DeSantis NOW.
Wow. Nine posts after yours so far and no one has flamed you yet. Those whose hair catches fire at the notion that someone other than Trumpnshoidl be the nominee must be sleeping in late today
I can’t wait to see what DeSantis will accomplish as POTUS.You and the rest of his globalist money bag supporters.
desantis ran for reelection for florida governor last year (2022)...
his opponent was “globalist” charlie crist...
desantis needed big donor money to combat and win against big money backed “globalist” charlie crist...
are you suggesting us floridians should’ve voted for the “globalist” charlie crist???...
“DeSantis easily chowed down on New College, but Disney’s Reedy Creek is a porterhouse steak”
Runner up for goofiest headline award.
Now, now! We should all listen very carefully to what the Californians try to tell us Floridians, shouldn’t we?
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