After two months of insisting that their September vote to hand over 2.6 acres of prime downtown real estate next to the Wolfson Campus for Donald J. Trump’s presidential library was perfectly fine, even though nobody knew about it, the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees suddenly decided Tuesday to take a “do-over” and hold a new vote.
A public one. With real notice this time. Where actual human residents can show up and say what they think.
They want a gold star for this. Ladra wants to roll her eyes all the way back to the Freedom Tower.
Read related: Lawsuit challenges MDC giveaway of downtown Miami lot for Trump library
Because make no mistake: They didn’t have a change of heart. They didn’t have a transparency epiphany. They got caught. They’re only re-noticing the vote because Miami historian and college professor Marvin Dunn sued to stop the giveaway and a 
judge granted the temporary injunction, basically telling them there is a “substantial likelihood” they violated the Sunshine Law when the voted Sept. 23 to convey the parking lot property — bounded by Northeast 5th Street, Northeast Second Avenue, Northeast 6th Street and Biscayne — to the Florida Board of Trustees for them to pass along to the Trump library foundation.
Dunn has already organized several protests and the court has already blocked the college from transferring any land while the lawsuit moves forward, and then set a trial for August of next year. The college was also denied a motion last month to expedite an appeal of the ruling that granted the injunction.
In other words, they kept losing in court. Which is exactly why MDC Board of Trustees Chair Michael Bileca, a former Republican state rep, shrugged and said, essentially: Whatever, let’s just revote and move on.
It wasn’t courage. It wasn’t conscience. It was CYA. And impatience to get the deal signed.
Dunn filed the lawsuit days after the vote, accusing the trustees of violating Florida’s Sunshine Law, because the notice was “unquestionably inadequate, and therefore unreasonable,” according to attorney Richard Brodsky.
Read related: Miami Dade College gifts Donald Trump land for his library — and a hotel
The college’s only public notice before the vote, posted a week before its Sept. 23 meeting, vaguely said the board would “discuss potential real estate transactions.” The agenda posted the day before didn’t even specify which property — let alone that the trustees were about to hand over 2.6 acres of prime downtown property worth more than $200 million that the school bought in 
2004 for future growth and has been using as a parking lot in the meantime.
“This was not in any way, a typical or run-of-the-mill ‘real estate transaction,'” Dunn’s lawsuit states.
On Tuesday, Dunn celebrated the news. “We won,” he told The Miami Herald. “This is what we wanted them to do. Re-notice this and give the public a chance to appear and express our views, so we won. They caved.”
He’s already planning to pack the room at net’s week’s meeting, Dec. 2. He might not need to work too hard for that. The outrage has been organic. Ladra expects hundreds of people to show up. Better bring cafecito and comfortable shoes. And maybe some Xanax. Because here’s the kicker: Get ready for the board to vote the same way again — to give away the land. They basically said so already.
Not one trustee has hinted they’ll change their vote. Not. One. Ladra knows how Miami works. You don’t schedule a revote unless you already counted. In fact, Trustee Marcell Felipe — who always manages to sound annoyed that democracy takes time — complained the lawsuit was “a gigantic waste of taxpayer money” and said: “Let’s get it done, let’s put it to bed.”
Translation: We already know what we’re doing. This meeting is a formality. Show up, don’t show up — we’re still giving Trump the land.
Just look at who the trustees are: Bileca, Felipe, co-founder of the now defunct MegaTV and chairman of the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, former State Reps. 
Jose Felix Diaz, Miami-Dade School Board Members Roberto Alonso and Mary Blanco — both originally appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis — Ismare Monreal, the chief operating officer at the city of Hialeah and a former legislative aide at the Florida House, and Juan Segovia, a homicide detective at the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
The real gigantic waste of taxpayer money, however, is the planned giveaway for the only presidential library in the nation planned with a hotel. Because of course it is. This land bought in 2004 for future growth and has been used as a parking lot in the meantime. Today’s value is estimated at more than $200 million.
Read related: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez gave Trump a key to city; gave us the finger
Trump’s foundation wants to raise $950 million — that’s almost a billion dollars for you English majors — to build this “legacy” project next to the Freedom Tower. MDC has not disclosed a single concession or benefit they negotiated for students or the college. Not one scholarship program. Not one academic partnership. Not one promise of anything.
They’re giving away 2.6 acres of prime downtown Miami real estate on Biscayne Boulevard and getting… what, exactly?
Silencio.
This new meeting might get loud. But it’s for optics only.
A little sunshine to make the lawsuit go away. A little public comment to make it look community-driven. A little performance of democracy before the unanimous trustees do what they came to do.
But hey — at least the public gets to say what they think about this to their faces this time.
You can help bring your community more independent, watchdog government reporting of our local government and political campaigns with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.
MDC Trustees to vote again on Trump library land; still smells like a done deal added by Ladra on
View all posts by Ladra →
[…] Read related: MDC Trustees to vote again on Trump library land; still smells like a done deal […]
Trump wants another high rise with his name on the garage. Like any businessman he wants something for nothing. He prefers someone else pay for the land. In this case it is the taxpayers. So much irony. A library? Trump reputedly never reads.
In the honest words of Ralph Samson … to quote from an article after Loria and Ralph sold the Marlins and with brand new stadium that all Miamians sold our children’s future into continual bond payments .. on that white elephant
“I don’t have to hold back now that the stadium is built — not that I ever have,” Mr. Samson said while addressing a group of about 75 people who came to hear him speak at a Beacon Council breakfast meeting.
He called politicians “not the intellectual cream of the crop,” adding about the entire population, “We’re not the smartest people in Miami. If you’re in this room, you’re instantly in the top 1%.”
This MDC board is cut from the same cloth … and Samson’s words continue to be true years later …. we deserve the leaders we get down here.
Rubio getting chosen as Secretary of State is nothing to be proud of .. he is not prepared nor seasoned for the high level negotiation skills that position requires. He is a great debater and looks good on TV. He is as opportunistic as Hillary was when she was made Secretary of State. As a spring board. Cuban diaspora that came through the Freedom Tower, like I did in 1970, should not be associated with any political party and that valuable land should be used to expand MDC education not as a gift to any political party. Possible Doral wants to build that library on the Trump Golf course??
Julio Stieffel ,
Btw , let me add great post and I do not disagree but as far as deportation PLENTY of what was pouring in under Biden / Harris was a horror .
Never mind what I say just ask local police ESPECIALLY if night shift and this simply could not continue .
Yes lots great people but highest percentage of trash ever
I could tell you stories you would not believe .
”I should return my 2 degrees from MDC and I was chemistry student of the year!”
Lol you have earned it so display it with pride and chemistry is not easy , as you know people sell out rather easily so what can we do , this is life .
”Not only does Trump deserve the library in the City where he appointed a Cuban-American to one of the highest position, as Secretary of State, his image belongs on Mt. Rushmore. He is an American hero trying to bring back the American values that made this country great.”
Oh please Rubio the liars own family fled Fascist Batista only for Rubio to now work for such a ” man ” , however I have to say living in Doral working nights that I LOVE Trumps deportations and ” sealing ” border , I mention working nights because under Biden what was pouring in to Miami was some of the most reckless disasters going .
Accidents late at night , am hours ( Friday to Sat after clubs ) due to crazed , drunk drivers all illegals escalated ( ask any Police ) like nothing you could imagine but now a huge difference so yes I do thank Trump ONLY for this because other then this I do not see anything else improving .
I hope ICE again hits all of South Florida in real numbers and for this alone if I ever run into Trump I would do a Japanese bow in his honor but again I have not seen anything else improving .
Why hold the meeting at the Hialeah campus when the lot in question is downtown? Where does this board usually meet?
This is so embarrassing for Miami-Dade College. How could its Board be so so so corrupt? Miami-Dade College will NEVER recover from its President and its Board stealing so much money from its students and from taxpayers. Why would anyone donate or collect money for M-D College when its Board might turn around and give the gift to a convicted felon? Or maybe they will give away land to one of “their friends”?
I should return my 2 degrees from MDC and I was chemistry student of the year! What a shame …these mental imp board of trustees feel that this is the best use for that valuable and prime piece if land. When their children’s children look back at the decision their parents made to give away a that land to become a hotel and revenue generating location disguised as a presidential library?!!! Who knows if that even gets built … where are they parking the $400 Million dollar Qatari 747 gift ?? … at the park across the street?? The would be rich!!
This is an outrage. I hope many turn out to speak in favor of keeping Miami-Dade College land for Miami-Dade College, and not a political giveaway.
Here’s the notification of the meeting, which starts at 8 am. Note there is only one item on the agenda, so don’t be late if you want to be heard.
The District Board of Trustees of Miami Dade College will hold a Special Board Meeting beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. The meeting will be held at the Hialeah Campus located at 1780 W 49th Street, Hialeah, Florida 33012 in Conference Room 5101.
https://news.mdc.edu/pressrelease/public-notice-notice-of-special-board-meeting-district-board-of-trustees-miami-dade-college-12022025/
Miami-Dade College and its MAGA Board will NEVER recover from this scam. This theft will always be part of this low life institution.
The Trump Library is fitting. It belongs right there next to Miami-Dade College. Not only does Trump deserve the library in the City where he appointed a Cuban-American to one of the highest position, as Secretary of State, his image belongs on Mt. Rushmore. He is an American hero trying to bring back the American values that made this country great.
The values of past immigrants are not the same of current immigrants. Their reason to come to this country is not to assimilate and work hard anymore. It is to impose their belief system, expect entitlements, and collect on benefits that the corrupt Democratic Party has allowed these people to take advantage of in exchange for their votes to change America’s political and social climate. This was started by the President who hates this country the most and is the most divisive President in the history of the United States. Barack Obama!
The American people are now seeing that the mainstream media is the institution that is corrupt, bias, and racist. I am looking forward to seeing that type of information in the Trump Library.
The Trump Library will expose the truth!
This is too sickening for words. Each of these people should be sued for mismanagement and theft of a public asset. At least they’re gonna have to face the rage that’s coming their way.
So much corruption. Miami-Dade College will NEVER recover from this disaster. Nobody will donate money to Miami-Dade College. Why would they? The President and its MAGA Board just gave away a $100 Million vacant lot to Donald Trump and Gil Dezer. Eileen Higgins and Emilio Gonzalez and Daniella Cava should be screaming at the President of Miami-Dade College to stop this theft.
”it puts this Cuban migrant community on the wrong side of history”
As a rule don’t ” we ” always vote for self serving , corrupt , abusive mierda ?
REAL Republicans are not the problem they subscribe to accountability , doing things correctly but Miami has never had such people since we became the voting majority as our ” Republicans ” are sewage waste , parasites .
So ironic that a Trump-related institution, library, condo, hotel, whatever it will end up being, will sit next door to where many Cubans were processed upon arriving at the US, primarily, on LBJ’s sponsored freedom flights, while Trump will go down in history by creating and executing a tragic and violent effort to dehumanize millions of migrants, legally or illegally in the U.S.
it puts this Cuban migrant community on the wrong side of history thanks to those trustees listed on the article.