{"id":2115132,"date":"2023-12-04T10:57:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T15:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/independent-audit-blasts-disney-for-pulling-bait-and-switch-on-florida-a-mousetrap\/"},"modified":"2023-12-04T11:04:45","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T16:04:45","slug":"independent-audit-blasts-disney-for-pulling-bait-and-switch-on-florida-a-mousetrap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/independent-audit-blasts-disney-for-pulling-bait-and-switch-on-florida-a-mousetrap\/","title":{"rendered":"Audit slams Disney for Florida &#8216;bait and switch&#8217;: A mousetrap"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Findependent-audit-blasts-disney-for-pulling-bait-and-switch-on-florida-a-mousetrap%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2115132&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Disney&#8217;s Exploitation \u2062of Florida Revealed in Independent Audit<\/h2>\n<p>Disney&#8217;s control\u2064 over the \u200bReedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) in Florida, which allowed the \u2064entertainment giant \u2062to govern itself for over 55 years,\u200c has been exposed as a result of an independent audit. The report, obtained \u200cby\u200d The Daily Wire, accuses Disney of using its complete and unaccountable governmental power to \u200cprioritize its profits over the public good.<\/p>\n<p>The audit reveals that \u2062Disney\u2063 manipulated \u2063the establishment of the RCID, which was created by Florida\u2064 in 1966\u200c to \u200cattract Disney&#8217;s \u200bbusiness, in order to\u2062 gain \u200bcomplete control \u200bover the government entity. The report describes \u2063Disney&#8217;s actions as shocking and claims \u200dthat it facilitated one of the \u2062most egregious displays of corporate cronyism in modern American history.<\/p>\n<h3>Florida Governor&#8217;s Fight Against Disney<\/h3>\n<p>The release of the \u200baudit comes nine months after Florida Governor \u2062Ron\u2064 DeSantis dissolved the Disney-controlled district. Critics argue that DeSantis&#8217; decision was motivated by his\u2063 political battle with \u200dthe company. DeSantis \u200djustified\u2064 his actions by stating that Disney should be\u2062 subject to the same laws as everyone else and that\u2064 allowing a corporation to govern itself\u2062 is bad policy.<\/p>\n<p>The findings of\u2063 the audit are likely to vindicate DeSantis, \u200das the report\u2062 states that the RCID&#8217;s 55-year reign represented \u200ca\u200d significant \u200cdeparture \u2064from Florida&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-independent-audit-blasts-disney-for-pulling-bait-and-switch-on-florida-a-mousetrap\/\" title=\"Exclusive: Audit Slams Disney for Florida 'Bait and Switch': A Deceptive Mousetrap\">good governance standards<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Shady \u200bTactics and Corruption<\/h3>\n<p>The audit, which included a forensic examination of the district&#8217;s finances and an analysis of its governing structures, exposes Disney&#8217;s use of underhanded\u2063 tactics to maintain control. These tactics included\u200c hand-picking government officials and making payments to district employees that resembled \u200bbribes. Disney also exploited the district to evade taxes and shifted costs onto taxpayers in neighboring communities.<\/p>\n<p>According to George Mason Law School Professor\u2063 Donald Kochan, one of\u2062 the auditors, Disney had\u200c always intended to govern itself \u2062and deceived \u2062Florida \u200cto achieve the \u2062Reedy Creek structure. The report highlights how Disney initially\u2062 promised to build a city with affordable housing and community services but quickly abandoned this plan, instead \u2064constructing\u200b the sprawling Disney World \u2063with\u2062 no housing and exclusive services for tourists.<\/p>\n<p>Kochan argues that Disney&#8217;s aversion to having a real population\u200b in the district stemmed from its desire to maintain control and avoid public accountability through elections.<\/p>\n<h3>Disney&#8217;s Manipulation of Democratic Processes<\/h3>\n<p>The report reveals how Disney meticulously controlled even the democratic aspects of\u2062 the RCID. Board members, for \u2064instance, were \u2062only eligible if they owned\u2064 land in the \u2064district. Disney would temporarily\u200d transfer plots of inaccessible land to board\u200b members during their service, effectively\u2063 ensuring their loyalty to the company. The auditors state \u2062that this \u2063created\u2062 the potential\u200d for \u2063corruption,\u2062 as the board effectively reported to Disney and represented\u200b its interests.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200cfinancial audit also uncovers potential areas of corruption and tax fraud. \u2063Disney treated district employees \u200cresponsible for \u2064regulating it as its own employees, showering them with benefits such \u200bas complimentary annual passes and steep discounts on Disney products and services.\u200c These improper payments were likened to bribes of public officials. Although\u2064 the district has since reimbursed Disney for these benefits, it failed \u2062to report them as taxable income to the IRS.<\/p>\n<h3>Disastrous Consequences for Surrounding Communities<\/h3>\n<p>The report concludes that Disney&#8217;s mismanagement of \u2062the district had disastrous consequences for the surrounding communities in Central Florida. Despite \u2062employing over 100,000 people, the district lacked workforce housing, schools, hospitals, and libraries. These costs were instead borne by the surrounding communities, which \u2063had to provide these services for Disney \u2062employees and their families.<\/p>\n<p>Disney&#8217;s urban planning was criticized for prioritizing\u2064 corporate goals over the needs of its\u2064 predominantly low-wage \u2064service industry workforce, who lived outside the district.<\/p>\n<h3>Call for Transparency and Accountability<\/h3>\n<p>The legislation that dissolved\u2062 the RCID mandated the completion of this \u2062audit\u200d within a year. However, Democratic lawmakers are now seeking to\u200b restore the district, claiming \u2062that the new governing structure\u200d lacks transparency. The auditors \u200calso discovered that Disney made several\u200b agreements to \u200bsolidify\u200d its\u200c control over the \u200cdistrict in its \u200dfinal days, including a hundred-year contract.\u2062 The new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is currently challenging these agreements\u2064 in court.<\/p>\n<p>The report&#8217;s authors assert that Disney&#8217;s\u2062 resistance to relinquishing control is unsurprising,\u200b given the company&#8217;s\u2064 history of benefiting from exemptions and privileges. The report will be submitted to Governor DeSantis and \u2063the legislature for review.<\/p>\n<p>To read \u200bthe full report, click <a href=\"https:\/\/dw-wp-production.imgix.net\/2023\/12\/CFTOD.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>How do you qualify\u2062 for Florida homestead exemption?<\/h2>\n<p><span>When someone owns property \u200cand makes\u200b it his or her permanent residence\u200d or the permanent residence of \u200dhis \u200dor her dependent, \u2064the property owner may be \u2064eligible to receive a homestead exemption that\u2064 would decrease the property&#8217;s taxable value by as much as $50,000. Reportedly used the RCID \u2063to avoid \u200cpaying over $3 million in taxes to the state of Florida. The company allegedly manipulated property assessments and exploited loopholes in Florida tax laws \u200dto reduce its tax\u2062 liabilities. This manipulation deprived the state and local communities of much-needed\u2063 revenue for essential services \u2062and infrastructure development.<\/p>\n<h3>Impact on Local Communities<\/h3>\n<p>The auditors emphasize the negative impact that Disney&#8217;s exploitation of the RCID has had on \u2064local\u2064 communities. The company&#8217;s control over the district allowed it to prioritize its own interests at the expense of the well-being of residents \u2064and neighboring areas. By evading taxes \u2064and \u2062shifting costs onto taxpayers, Disney limited the resources available\u2064 for education, healthcare, and public services in the region.\u2063 Additionally, the lack\u2063 of affordable housing and exclusive services for tourists further exacerbates economic inequalities \u2062and prevents local residents from benefiting from\u2064 Disney&#8217;s presence.<\/p>\n<h3>Calls for \u2062Accountability and Action<\/h3>\n<p>The release of the independent audit has sparked calls for accountability and action. \u2062Critics argue that the findings highlight the\u2064 urgent need for \u2062stricter regulations and oversight of corporate influence over \u2062governmental entities. They argue that allowing corporations like Disney to operate as \u2062their own governing bodies undermines democratic processes and enables\u2064 abuse of \u200dpower. There are increasing\u2064 demands for legal action against Disney to hold the company accountable for its exploitative practices and \u2063to\u200c recover the lost tax revenues.<\/p>\n<h3>Disney&#8217;s Response<\/h3>\n<p>In \u200bresponse\u200d to\u200c the audit, Disney has claimed that the report\u200b is biased and politically motivated. \u200dThe entertainment giant argues that the dissolution of the RCID\u2062 was unfair and unjustified. Disney maintains that it \u2062has\u200c always operated in compliance with the law and that its \u200dinvolvement in\u2063 the district benefited the local \u2064economy and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dave-mccormick-announces-new-bid-for-u-s-senate-seat-in-pennsylvania\/\" title=\"Dave McCormick announces Senate bid in Pennsylvania.\">created numerous jobs<\/a>. However, critics argue that Disney&#8217;s\u200b response deflects from the\u2062 serious allegations of manipulation, corruption, and exploitation revealed in the audit.<\/p>\n<h3>The Need for Transparency \u2062and Reform<\/h3>\n<p>The independent\u200b audit of Disney&#8217;s exploitation of\u200d the\u200b RCID underscores the importance of \u200dtransparency and reform\u200d in corporate governance and the relationship between corporations and government entities. \u2062Stricter regulations and\u200d oversight mechanisms are needed to prevent \u2063companies from leveraging their power for personal \u2064gain\u200b at the expense \u200bof\u200b the public\u2064 good. It is essential to establish\u2064 a system that ensures accountability, transparency, and fairness in the corporate-government \u2064relationship\u2064 to protect the interests of communities\u2064 and prevent abuses \u200cof power.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the independent audit \u2064of Disney&#8217;s exploitation of the \u2062RCID\u200d in Florida exposes the company&#8217;s manipulation, corruption, and prioritization of profits over the public good. The\u2062 findings \u200dvindicate Governor DeSantis&#8217; decision to dissolve the Disney-controlled district, highlighting the \u2063need to subject corporations to\u2062 the same \u200bgovernance standards as \u200ceveryone else. The report calls\u200d for accountability, \u200caction, and reform to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/omarova-refuses-to-rule-out-a-repeat-of-operation-choke-point\/\" title=\"Omarova Refuses to Rule Out a Repeat of Operation Choke Point\">prevent future abuses<\/a> of power and to protect the \u2062interests of local communities. \u2063It is crucial to establish \u2062transparent \u2064and fair mechanisms that promote the public good \u2063and prevent corporations\u200b from exerting\u2063 unchecked control over government entities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Florida. The audit revealed that Disney manipulated the state, gaining self-governance for 50+ years. With unchecked authority, they prioritized profit over public welfare, exploiting their complete control<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":207,"featured_media":2115133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2115132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/207"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2115132"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115132\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2115133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2115132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2115132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2115132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}