The Miami-Dade County Commission approved the deal for the Miami Dolphins’ owner’s Sun Life Stadium improvements and the referendum for voters to approve paying for it through tourist-derived public dollars on a Wednesday.
On Thursday, Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who negotiated what he calls the best-ever public/private agreement in the country, went to Tallahassee to promote the bill that will let that vote happen. The legislature has to approve the Dolphins-backed bills that would allow the county to increase the mainland Miami-Dade hotel-tax rate from 6 to 7 percent, providing an income stream to the Dolphins of $289 million over the course of 26 years. The deal also includes a $3 million annual state tax rebate that may be given to them even if the referendum is voted down.
Gimenez and his staff told the Miami Herald that the taxpayer-paid trip had been scheduled before and he would talk about a slew of county legsilative needs — since he wasn’t able to make it to Dade Days while he negotiated this stadium deal. But, naturally, the priorities changed and the trip turned into a stadium cheerleading session.
Like we didn’t see that coming?
Sure, he calls it a “fact-giving” mission. But his facts are selective. And that is probably going to be the problem with the “impartial” messages that he is supposed to record in English, Spanish and Kreole for the voters to understand what is at stake.
In fact, I bet you they’ll be scripted by Miami First Coalition spokesman Eric Jotkoff or rainmaker Brian Goldmeier or Hispanic outreach coordinator Roly Marante (more on that later) or someone else on the Dolphins stadium campaign staff. They will be about the economic impact and the jobs the deal provides.
And, of course, Dolphins CEO Mike Dee will have to approve it — like everything else.
Naturally, Gimenez told the press he didn’t consider his efforts to be “lobbying.” More like education, I’m sure is what he is thinking.
But Ladra bets that some of the facts that are not supportive of the deal were not disclosed.
Like the fact that Stephen Ross is a multi-billionaire, who bought the team for $1.1 billion and is building a $15-billion mixed-use neighborhood — a whole freaking neighborhood — in Manhattan’s West side.
Like the fact that while the community benefits from the Super Bowls, the owner of the Dolphins benefits more than any one individual.
Like the fact that the vote on May 14 will probably have very little turnout, which is good for the pro-stadium side.
I’m sure there are other facts that I could find that were not part of his “fact-giving” mission. But the point is that providing just some facts is not, in fact, being impartial.
“I’m here to tell you what the deal is,” the mayor said he told legislators, according to the Herald. “I’m not here to change your mind. I do support the deal. I was the guy who negotiated the deal. I didn’t go to Tallahassee to lobby for it.”
Why is that so hard to believe?
The Herald got the mayor’s schedule and it showed that Gimenez, who is Republican though he serves in a nonpartisan office, met with House Speaker Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel), and with Adam Hollingsworth, Republican Gov. Rick Scott‘s chief of staff.
Gimenez also met with the bills’ sponsors, Rep. Eddy Gonzalez, R-Hialeah) and Sen. Oscar Braynon II (D-Miami Gardens.
He also met with the most vocal of the deal’s opponents — Reps. Michael Bileca (R-Pinecrest), Jose Javier Rodriguez (D-Little Havana) and Carlos Trujillo (R-Doral) — as well as two others who have voiced concern or voted against it in committee: Sen. Anitere Flores (R-West Miami) and Rep. José Oliva (R-Miami Lakes).
But, nooooo, he wasn’t trying to change anyone’s minds. Riiiiiight.
Duh.
Mayor Gimenez lobbies for Dolphin stadium deal. Duh! added by Ladra on
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