A proposal to allocate $20 million in city funds to the developers of Miami Freedom Park drew sharp criticism during a Miami City Commission meeting Thursday, with opponents calling it a “gift” to billionaires and a betrayal of public trust.
Albert Gomez, a critic of the project, argued that the deal benefits private developers at the expense of taxpayers.
“Effectively, it gives the development team at Freedom Park a $20 million gift,” Gomez said.
“It’s is a gift of $20 million to the billionaires behind the soccer stadium,” another critic added. “This is a bait and switch … It lacks integrity. You gave them public land, the state gave them money — now they are getting greedy. Enough is enough. Leave something for us!”
The funds, backed by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, are designated for park improvements at the stadium site. But critics say the money should instead go toward expanding public green spaces citywide.
“Our city commission should be committed to preserving and protecting our parks, not giving away cushy contracts for private developments on them,” one speaker said during public comment.
Gomez, who played at Melreese Golf Course before it was repurposed for the soccer stadium, said Miami officials are failing to uphold past commitments.
“I love fútbol, but the reality is this is a private entity. They made promises, they negotiated those promises from the dais, and now we are giving them a $20 million gift that counteracts their promise,” Gomez added.
Opponents also noted that Miami Freedom Park LLC failed to make a $12.5 million public benefit payment.
Some pointed to Miami Beckham United’s past failure to build a promised community park at its Fort Lauderdale stadium.
“If the city did not want that land to be a golf course anymore, they should have turned it all into one big, glorious park for the people, not given a lopsided development deal to billionaire friends and campaign investors,” another public speaker said.
Suarez defended the funding, saying it was always part of the agreement.
“When I originally negotiated this deal with the team and took it to the voters, $20 million was set to be allocated for the capital improvements of the park,” Suarez said.
Former Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell warned that the plan would defund projects in other districts.
“This actually defunds one of the new parks that would be going into District 1,” Russell said. “If the promise of this deal is broken, I will be the first signature on any recall effort for any elected official who tries to break the promise of this deal.”
Despite opposition, the commission passed the measure 4-1 at a controversial meeting back in April 2022. Gomez urged commissioners to hold the developers accountable.
“Actually hold that group, the Freedom Park group, accountable for paying the money they promised to the city so that this great deal we negotiated can be brought to bear, and we can get to playing soccer,” Gomez said.
Commissioners are expected to revisit the item Thursday evening.
A proposal to allocate $20 million in city funds to the developers of Miami Freedom Park drew sharp criticism during a Miami City Commission meeting Thursday, with opponents calling it a “gift” to billionaires and a betrayal of public trust.
MIAMI – A proposal to allocate $20 million in city funds to the developers of Miami Freedom Park drew sharp criticism during a Miami City Commission meeting Thursday, with opponents calling it a “gift” to billionaires and a betrayal of public trust.
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Albert Gomez, a critic of the project, argued that the deal benefits private developers at the expense of taxpayers.
“Effectively, it gives the development team at Freedom Park a $20 million gift,” Gomez said.
“It’s is a gift of $20 million to the billionaires behind the soccer stadium,” another critic added. “This is a bait and switch … It lacks integrity. You gave them public land, the state gave them money — now they are getting greedy. Enough is enough. Leave something for us!”
The funds, backed by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, are designated for park improvements at the stadium site. But critics say the money should instead go toward expanding public green spaces citywide.
“Our city commission should be committed to preserving and protecting our parks, not giving away cushy contracts for private developments on them,” one speaker said during public comment.
Gomez, who played at Melreese Golf Course before it was repurposed for the soccer stadium, said Miami officials are failing to uphold past commitments.
“I love fútbol, but the reality is this is a private entity. They made promises, they negotiated those promises from the dais, and now we are giving them a $20 million gift that counteracts their promise,” Gomez added.
Opponents also noted that Miami Freedom Park LLC failed to make a $12.5 million public benefit payment.
Some pointed to Miami Beckham United’s past failure to build a promised community park at its Fort Lauderdale stadium.
“If the city did not want that land to be a golf course anymore, they should have turned it all into one big, glorious park for the people, not given a lopsided development deal to billionaire friends and campaign investors,” another public speaker said.
Suarez defended the funding, saying it was always part of the agreement.
“When I originally negotiated this deal with the team and took it to the voters, $20 million was set to be allocated for the capital improvements of the park,” Suarez said.
Former Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell warned that the plan would defund projects in other districts.
“This actually defunds one of the new parks that would be going into District 1,” Russell said. “If the promise of this deal is broken, I will be the first signature on any recall effort for any elected official who tries to break the promise of this deal.”
Despite opposition, the commission passed the measure 4-1 at a controversial meeting back in April 2022. Gomez urged commissioners to hold the developers accountable.
“Actually hold that group, the Freedom Park group, accountable for paying the money they promised to the city so that this great deal we negotiated can be brought to bear, and we can get to playing soccer,” Gomez said.
Commissioners are expected to revisit the item Thursday evening.
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