Florida's Ron DeSantis threatens Disney with tolls and taxes

[Eugene]

Related DU thread: Ron DeSantis after messing up with Disney the first time around, vows to get it right this time

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Source: BBC

Florida's Ron DeSantis threatens Disney with tolls and taxes

7 April 2023

By Madeline Halpert
BBC News, New York

Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis has escalated his feud with Disney, threatening to impose taxes on its hotels and roads that lead to the theme park.

He also promised to strip the company of its control over development in a district that oversees its property.

"We are going to win on every single issue involving Disney," he announced at a speech in Michigan.

The threat is the latest in the state's ongoing dispute with the company.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65216192

[Srkdqltr]

1. Be interesting to know what Disney plans to do.

[Farmer-Rick]

2. So, if he forces

Disney to shut down for a year, how is that going to be on the economy of Florida? Graft and corruption is not enough to keep Florida afloat.

[ratchiweenie]

17. It seems to me that other corporations watching what is going on in Florida might want

to consider moving or backing a candidate who does not intend to run the state like a Christian Fellowship where they either agree with the party's "morals" or they will pay.

It should be obvious to all sharp business people that this current bunch of GQP are only about control. Not just women's bodies but how you run your business, where you pee, what you wear, how long your hair should be. Florida is very quickly turning Fascist.

[Skittles]

3. he is so pathetic

DeFascist is a fucking BULLY who cannot stand to be bested -he doesn't care who gets hurt while he seeks revenge

[pwb]

4. Disney should move north.

Where it is not too hot and they wouldn't have to build a mountain. We have nice terrain for exciting rides. Fuck Ron.

[multigraincracker]

7. Someone suggested the

Bahamas.
Or they just might turn that Dark Money that publicans love against him. I’m sure Disney has more money than all his party has and money=speech. Be great to see the tables turn.

[former9thward]

8. People come to FL for a reason.

It is warm year round. Not in the north.

[pwb]

12. So you say?

I say it is too fucking hot and unbearable most days. Flat and sandy and swampy?

[former9thward]

14. I don't say.

The numbers do. Disney World and its satellites are packed. People are moving to Florida, Texas, Arizona and other warm states from the north. The Census data says that. Is it made up?

[pwb]

18. Yawn

Climate change is ending all that. You think no matter what pukes do down in the lesser states, people will keep coming? NO. Guns, tornados, hurricanes, flooding, yeah what's not to like. Come on up Disney?

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

24. That can change--and probably will.

AZ is running out of water.

The South has lost what little mind it had to begin with. Between gays, women and those who love them leaving there, the same people not wanting to move there from other states, and, well, women DYING there because they can't get the health care they need, their numbers could start going negative in the not-too-distant-future.

If that's not enough, climate change will have the final say, especially if we have reached the point of no return. Minnesota could be the next Florida soon enough. Maybe not in my lifetime, but soon.

[former9thward]

28. I live in AZ

We are not running out of water. Despite the predictions and hopes of many.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

23. They can't

They've invested too much in it at this point to leave now.

Even they don't have the finances to move the park elsewhere.

Other locations aren't feasible for a bunch of different reasons, be it the need for mild weather (try operating the water rides in the winter), affordable real estate or logistical realities (Example: the very real need to provide enough food and fresh water for the number of tourists Disney would get is impossible for just about any island location).

They are not moving. They have to stay and fight it out.

[RKP5637]

5. This is getting incredible. This guy DeSantis is a real wacko. n/t

[mobeau69]

6. Here's the best part. Looks like Ron got burnt bad and made to look incompetent:

But last week, the new board said its powers had been stymied by a last-minute agreement that gives the entertainment giant almost total control over development in the district in perpetuity or until "21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England".

This is funnier than hell.

[former9thward]

9. If that sentence is in the contract then the contract is void.

It violates the The rule against Perpetuities which is a rule of American contract law.

[mobeau69]

11. Well, they have the House of Windsor thingy to fall back on.

[pwb]

13. Midas Touch will cover it.

With facts for us. They are often right.

[obamanut2012]

20. Lol no it doesn't

It is doing the opposite.

[former9thward]

21. Please stay away from property law.

You will be doing clients a disservice.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

25. You first

Because Disney's doesn't do incompetent lawyers, and theirs wouldn't draw up a contract that could be easily overturned.

You've never dealt with The Mouse if you think you can beat them at a contract.

[ZonkerHarris]

10. Tolls will only cost locals and tourists more money. Taxes cannot be passed to punish one company

that illegal.

[CentralMass]

15. The GOP doesn't care about legality.

[former9thward]

22. The taxes are imposed on any property within the district.

Nothing illegal about it.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

27. A state tax authority can't impose a tax onto a district

That is different from what the state would charge any other district.

If you have a state law requiring a 5% hotel tax, it has to be for hotels in ALL districts in the state, not just one specific locale. Otherwise, that violates the 14th Amendment to equal treatment under the law--including tax law.

Just like a state can't charge residents in one city or county a higher sales or income tax than they charge in other cities or counties. The city or county can levy their own taxes on top of the state taxes, but the state can't charge Orlando something different from what they charge Miami or Tallahassee.

Disney's lawyers will chew up DeSantis and spit him out if he even tries that nonsense. They have the money and the meanness to fight that one all the way to the Supreme Court. They also have plenty enough money for all the traitor six to start getting on their knees and opening their mouths to service their corporate master.

[bahboo]

16. what a small, pathetic man...

his eventual implosion will be a pleasure to watch....

[Conjuay]

19. Title should be

DeSantis threathens PEOPLE of Central Florida with ADDITIONAL tolls/taxes.

[ProfessorGAC]

26. Which Accomplishes Nothing

People are not going to cancel $5,000 vacation plans over $500 in taxes & tolls.
So, Disney is unaffected.
And, he gets saddled with being a republican who raised taxes.