Broadcasting directly from Telemundo´s studios in Miami, Florida, the liberal hostesses of the network´s afternoon talk show La Mesa Caliente (The Hot Table), aired their collective DeSantis derangement by falsely claiming that Floridians will see tax hikes as a result of the end of Walt Disney World´s self-governing status via revocation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
In a segment that aired on February 28th, co-hosts Verónica Bastos, Alix Aspe and Giselle Blondet delighted in spreading the FAKE NEWS that Orlando’s “kingdom” will now pass their DeSantis-induced economic hardships on to the hardworking people of Florida:
VERÓNICA BASTOS: And now, if they do not have this kingdom, so to speak,
CROSSTALK: That's what it is, right?
BASTOS: If, if (Disney) are no longer the owners, then who's going to end up paying for all of that? We will- those of us who go to Orlando every year, or in fact, the very people who live in Orlando and will now have to pay for all the services, the price increases for everything, because I don't think that Disney will say - “we´re no longer the owner here, so now we´re no longer responsible for that…”
[…]
ALIX ASPE: I believe that you, as a governor, should not get directly involved with what a private company does, more so when it is so beneficial to your state. In other words - I mean like…why would you want people in the state to pay more taxes…
[…]
GISELLE BLONDET: And we are the ones who will suffer harm.
“Since they are no longer a kingdom, so to speak”, said Bastos, “then who's going to end up paying for all of that? We will- those of us who go to Orlando every year, or in fact, the very people who live in Orlando.”
Where did Bastos get that information from? Probably from equally misinformed co-hostess Alix Aspe who went on to add that what DeSantis really wants is for residents of the state to pay MORE taxes. In her opinion, a governor should have no say about the workings of the private sector, especially one that is ´so beneficial to your state´.
Correction, ladies: Walt Disney World had, until February 28th, 2023, exclusive taxation status and a host of exemptions and privileges denied to other private companies in the state. In effect, with House Bill 9-B, the people of Florida will benefit from an enormously lucrative corporation that previously operated like, yes, a private kingdom, paying their dues and being regulated just like everyone else
HB-9-B will also ensure that Disney’s municipal debt will be paid by Disney, not Florida taxpayers.
Telemundo’s audience, especially those who live in Florida, deserve to know what HB 9-B really does: it ends Disney’s self-governing status and imposes a five-member state control board that is appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation.
It also:
- ENDS Disney’s self-governing status.
- ENDS Disney’s exemption from the Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code.
- ENDS Disney’s exemption from state regulatory reviews and approvals.
- ENDS Disney’s secrecy by ensuring transparency.
- ENSURES that Disney will pay its fair share of taxes.
- PREVENTS leftist local governments from using the situation to raise local taxes.
- IMPOSES Florida law so that Disney is no longer given preferential treatment.
- ENSURES that Disney’s municipal debt will be paid by Disney, not Florida taxpayers.
Regardless of the need to vent their liberal ire at everything Ron DeSantis does, recurring to sensationalism and lies belittles the discussion at La Mesa Caliente. The Telemundo audience deserves better than your everyday Spanish-language disinformation.
The above mentioned segment was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Pfizer. Their contact information is linked.
Press on ´Expand´ to view the complete transcript of the segment mentioned above as aired on Telemundo´s La Mesa Caliente on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
MYRKA DELLANOS: And Disney has now lost all the privileges it had in the state of Florida. And Governor Ron Desantis has now signed a law that removed (Disney’s) right to self-government in the district...
VERONICA BASTOS: Oh, oh, oh!
DELLANOS: …where Disney has its theme parks in Orlando. Now, a committee chosen by the governor will be the one to make these decisions, and not Disney’s executive committee as has been the case for such a long time. For decades, Disney had a special status. And this status allowed them to issue their own bonds, change the zoning rules over there, have their own fire department, and infrastructure. According to Governor DeSantis, when this special status was granted, Disney promised to build a futuristic city with state-of-the-art public transportation, and never did. The privileges have come to an end.
GISELLE BLONDET: No, no, no, but wait, Myrka. It was in 1967 that they granted this special permit to Disney, and they did so because at that time, in 1967, what was there were swamps, land and there was nothing. So, what they did was that they did not collect taxes, and (Florida) gave (Disney) the possibility of having their own government...
VERÓNICA BASTOS: Exactly.
BLONDET: …because they were in charge of building the roads. Of building the power grid. Of taking care of the water, of protection against fires because that entire area was practically uninhabitable, and they did conduct a very important development for… the entire state.
DELLANOS: It's true.
BLONDET: And above all, I mean, look at how much they were able to grow, all the jobs they were able to offer people, and so on.
DELLANOS: Maybe…
BLONDET: And they became- they're like Orlando’s Vatican.
DELLANOS: Exactly...
BLONDET: With their own government. (CROSSTALK) They have their own police and so on.
DELLANOS: At that year, I think (Reedy Creek) was certainly needed in the area. But today what they had was a monopoly and it has been terrible.
BASTOS: Now, that’s what worries me. What will happen going forward? Who is going to pay for all those costs, (is it) those of us who go there with our children, which is definitely very expensive? I just went with my nieces and my daughter and oh my God! Almost 200 dollars a day for a little one, right? Plus ourselves the food, and everything. And now, if they don't have this monarchy, so to speak, right? They are no longer the owners, so who’s going to end up paying for all of that? Those of us who go to Orlando every year, or in fact the same people who live in Orlando who are now going to have to pay for all the services, for all- due to the increase in the- in the cost of things, because I don't think that Disney is going to say “we are no longer owners here so now we are no longer responsible for that, right?
ALIX ASPE: Sure. And also, let's be honest. One of the main reasons people travel to Orlando is to go to Disney World. It is to go to amusement parks. Do you want me to tell you what I really think? It is that Ron Desantis is doing this in retaliation for the inclusive policies that Disney proposed when they said that they were no longer going to speak directly to boys and girls, and that they were going to use inclusive language. And if something grates Governor Ron Desantis, it is the inclusive language. Someone has to say it, and it's the truth, and that's what I think, because Ron DeSantis is waging a direct war on Disney- with that company, and he also wanted, now that the elections are about to approach, to do something that is gigantic, that give him a greater shine and speak to his followers. So, I think that as governor you shouldn't get involved directly in what a private company does, especially when it benefits your state so much. I mean…
BLONDET: Yes, it benefits the state a great deal.
ASPE: I say, look: why would you want people in the state to pay more taxes in order to maintain something of which many of the people who live there work at Disney? Of course it has to do with Disney and theme parks. So I think it's a personal agenda and whatever and that's what I think whether you like it or not.
DELLANOS: Well, there are many people who also think, Alix, what you are saying. But there are other people who say that there's no reason for Disney to have that kind of monopoly in that city. It's really not normal
ASPE: But if it benefits, Myrka…
DELLANOS: No, but it hasn't always been beneficial.
ASPE: But nowadays, Orlando benefits from having Disney World within its city.
DELLANOS: It definitely benefits (Orlando), but what isn't a benefit is what he was saying.
ASPE: Which is, what?
DELLANOS: That they changed a lot of things about Disney that he didn't think should change. That they shouldn't change...
(CROSSTALK).
DELLANOS: Removing the “princesses and princes”...
ASPE: He didn't remove the “princesses”. Look…
(CROSSTALK)
BASTOS: …is the issue of inclusion.
DELLANOS: Exactly. That they removed what is the language, not the “princess” itself. I want to clarify what I'm saying. They removed the language, and there are many people who agree that it can be inclusive, add “dreamers” as they want to say, but leave the “princesses and princes”.
BLONDET: But you know what, Myrka? I was recently with my granddaughter at Disney and no one said anything to me or talked to me about- about this...
(CROSSTALK)
BLONDET: …about- yes, yes, nobody said anything about that. There were the “princesses” and there was, well, the “prince” and everything. I mean, I really do think that I think (DeSAntis) is going a little too far.
ASPE: Of course he is!
blondet:The reality is that the Disney parks bring a lot of money to the state...
BASTOS: No, what worries me is…
BLONDET: …and we are the ones who are going to be hurt.
BASTOS: …that it is difficult for me as a parent, besides the fact that it is a place that children love to go to, it costs me even more money when there is less money in the home and when the kids have a greater desire to go out and have fun. It really does, and if it costs us more, that worries me.
ASPE: But there's Ron DeSantis, keep up the good work with your signature and we'll see… (CROSSTALK)
DELLANOS: Oh, so much love for Ron DeSantis.
(CROSSTALK)
ASPE: What do you want me to tell you?
DELLANOS: We are going to give you an interview with him.
ASPE: No, thank you.
