MIAMI NOVEMBER 10, 2015, nhr.com — VISIT FLORIDA, is a corporation officially created to market tourism in our state, and serves as the official source for worldwide travelers planning to visit Florida. VISIT FLORIDA is not a government agency, but rather a non-profit corporation created as a public / private partnership by the Florida Legislature in 1996.
But as an entity with an affiliation to the government in Tallahassee, its records should fall under the same transparency and public records requests.
Each year, VISIT FLORIDA receives $ 75 million of taxes paid by residents of the state, that money is being paid to the Cuban-American rapper Pitbull to promote the state as a tourist destination, but nevertheless, the taxpayers, who pay his contract, do not know how much they are paying him.
Pitbull is being paid to be the ambassador of the state before the world of tourism assisting his concerts around the world, promoting Florida in his videos and on social networks.
However, management of VISIT FLORIDA, told us that all information contained in the contract with Pitbull is not subject to public records laws because it contains business information, and Pitbull whose real name is Armando Perez, does not want that figure disclosed to the public, says VF.
“We are not authorized to reveal some aspects or details of the agreement with Pitbull” said Kathy Torian in an email, adding, “this includes the amount of cash compensation, as this is exempt from Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes regarding public records laws”.
However an attorney specializing in First Amendment law, told us that “the contract should not be kept secret.”
“Nothing says Kathy makes sense,” said Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation, a group dedicated to pursue transparency in government Foundation, “we have no way of knowing if he’s being overpaid or underpaid” , told us.
The contract also involves “meet and greets” at concerts and promotions within social media outlets such as Facebook and other networking sites; another point of interest is that the name of the agent who negotiated the contract for Pitbull is not disclosed. “This goes too far” Petersen said.
The state legislature that created the nonprofit has a duty to taxpayers, if $75 million dollars in public funds go to the budget of VISIT FLORIDA; the Florida residents have a right to know with absolute transparency when they’re paying the singer Pitbull.
