What De Santis' announcement of State run Reedy Creek could mean.

[Baitball Blogger]

Can't help feeling like I have seen this before. In my case it involved the PUD in my City. In my case, it was a Planned Unit Development where the master developer went bankrupt. So they had a PUD without a builder, essentially. The two dozen, mostly private developments inside the PUD, were going to get eager developers, so no problem there. No developer would turn down that opportunity. But everything else was up in the air. For example, there was the problem of easements and property that had already passed the conceptual stage for structures or businesses that were no longer desired.

I'll just cut to the chase. You don't dismantle a PUD without public support. I can only scratch the surface of where it looked like select individuals, close to the City, just happened to buy up lots in the areas where easements once stood. The point is, the City and people who benefited from this giveaway, they became an indelible force. Nothing more to say about that.

So, now we have De Santis announcing that the State will run Reedy Creek. This is a Clarion call, in my opinion. Nothing in Florida is meant to be run by the government. They outsource everything to private individuals or businesses. So, this is obviously an attempt to gather support from the citizenry. Look to the usual suspects, like the Chamber of Commerce. Just an opinion, and an example.

The point is that this is how it happens. This is how dismantlings occur. By tapping into the very community for the people that provide their support, in exchange for a chance to jockey for position when they begin to disperse the spoils. And this is, sadly, where the third party surfaces in Florida. A combination of business people and opportunists that cross both parties. Here I caution the good Dems in the party. Be sure you know who your friends are.

If I'm right, what comes next is a very vocal support for De Santis' plan. So be prepared to return the volley.

Sound dark? Is there anything we're experiencing today from Republicans that looks traditional?

[empedocles]

1. Good warning. On the surface, just seemed 'out of left field' for publicity.

There are national forces behind a lot of these 'things'.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Disney should take him seriously.

Their legal team better be ready to move before the set date for the transfer, which I think is in June. The one move that De Santis could make that would end his political career, is if he sends the dogs out to boycott Disney. If Disney catches evidence of such thing, they can sue the governor for conspiracy and business interference.

On the other hand, if this becomes a public fight, our side could counter with more trips to Disney.

[In It to Win It]

3. The district is set to be dissolved in June of next year, 2023

Which is comfortably after the election and long enough time to reverse course

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Good. Disney has time to work on this.

But I wouldn't wait too long because De Santis also has time to round up his storm troopers.

[empedocles]

4. Lot of different interests/forces out there

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I know. This is Florida.

Sad to say, but property can be purchased by foreign buyers, who then can donate for support to either Federal or State level party. That, on top of the usual local suspects, which cross both parties.

The ordinary person would get terribly disillusioned if they knew how much was working against them. We really are just ants crawling across a piece of sandy soil that one day will return to the sea.

[C_U_L8R]

6. Sounds like FL republicans want a communist dictatorship.

Their actions say a lot.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. And, really, it would be Florida Democrats' malpractice if they don't jump on this point.

But, the loudest of them will probably be the first to get an offer.

Seriously, if Democrats outside of Florida care about this fight, I suggest you launch your own support of Disney. Don't wait for the locals to move on this.

[mitch96]

9. I can just see it now.. Micky marching down Main Street USA, placards and signs saying

YOU WILL NOT REPLACE US!!!



Somebody is looking at making a bunch of money off of this deal... Follow the $$$$$
Who is gonna gain from this? What is DuSatin going to do about the billion in debt that has to be paid.. Hummm
m

[Baitball Blogger]

11. What I am most concerned about is the loyal group of followers that De Santis

will gain from this. They will "tell the story" that De Santis wants people to hear. And we have proven that we're not good at fighting against the broken record.

And, your Micky idea is great! I would commission someone to make a shirt for me, but I would be afraid Disney would sue me for copyright infringement. LOL!

[mitch96]

13. DeSatin want to be prez and he will be jocking against the other low life from Florida, Scott..

I really Really REALLY dislike them both but who can challenge them?... The corporate lawyers and business lobbyist have my state sewed up tight...
m

[Baitball Blogger]

14. You said a mouthful there.

I hope, someday, that someone like Stacey Abrams will rise up and revitalize this state.

But it won't happen until minorities realize that they can't do it by working up through the very social networks that rely on their failure, or limited success.

Minorities have to build their own base of support, and use it as leverage. Cross-over issues will help to build support.

[sop]

10. The Reedy Creek deal was "massively opposed by progressives" in 1967.

"When Florida was young, and in critical need of growth, a whole series of incentive programs were rolled out to entice business - of any size - to the state. These programs, nationally, are usually in the form of either abatements: usually freedom from taxation for a period of time; or provisions: usually sewer and water; electricity; sometimes roads or road improvements. These kinds of programs have become institutionalized; most states and local governments either use them or have tried to use them to bring new business or building into being, or to attract businesses currently located elsewhere to come in. These things have their own sets of problems; not least of which is expense. They’re a lob of the dice – a bet that the short-term payout will reap long-term benefits in profit, taxes, and jobs."

"Reedy Creek was something new. In 1967, the Disney people basically told the state that they wanted complete and total control over a huge chunk of land; to create its own government, independent of either county or city or even (perhaps) state authority. They would build where they liked, do what they liked with what they built, police the place as they liked, and control – wholly – all development, including residential housing and all other land-use. It was a deal massively opposed by progressives (as it continued to be, right up until the day that a Republican decided to do away with it), by agriculture, and by some of the surrounding businesses. If the state had not been desperate for development inland, the deal might not have gone through at all."

https://www.theledger.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/05/09/gov-desantis-got-right-reedy-creek-should-go/9659644002/

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Were there that many progressives in 1967?

Seriously, in the Florida of Anita Bryant's time, I doubt it. This was never a haven for them.

So, I know there were difficulties, but I also know that Central Florida never did its party to improve this area for anything besides a service industry. That part was not Disney's fault.

It seems like Florida Republicans are good at one thing: Dismantling everybody else's hard work.

Fucking vultures.

[sop]

15. Florida "Progressives" in the '50s and '60s opposed this sort of development, fearing the

uncontrolled growth that would take place in central Florida. Being progressive in Florida back in those days meant concern for the environment, restraining population growth, conserving the state's natural resources and protecting the local, small-scale agricultural and tourism economies, not so much gay rights, or any of the other social issues we think of today.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. I would have to say then, that those progressives ran across both parties.

Today, there is almost a lighting fast reaction against new development ideas. And it's usually organized by Republicans. They're not environmentally oriented. They're nimbys.

[sop]

17. It's a different world.

DeSantis' scheme, like everything else Republicans cook up, will only benefit his contributors.

[Baitball Blogger]

18. He's going to try to buy some Democratic support with this.

And there will be people in our party that will bite for the chance to make some money.

That's why the old guard Dems are so ineffective in this state. And I pinpoint old guard Dems, because they have the connections that De Santis wants.