Miami

Going to Court

Two business owners plan to file suit against $2.9 billion downtown plan

By Cynthia Archbold

Local developer Marty Margulies said he will join Norman Braman in filing a suit against Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami.

Auto dealer and philanthropist Norman Braman said he plans to file a lawsuit this week to stop Miami Mayor Manny Diaz’s $2.9 billion mega-plan, which includes building a $525 million Florida Marlins ballpark, a soccer stadium, a multimillion-dollar Bicentennial Park, a $914 million tunnel to the Port of Miami and a $200 million streetcar.

Braman said the global agreement between Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami would be financed through a “sleight of hand” that misuses funds intended to revitalize blighted neighborhoods in a way that could ultimately bankrupt the city.

The current global agreement — approved in concept by both the Miami and Miami-Dade County commissions — calls for expanding the city’s two community redevelopment districts, Braman said, so the city can use the property taxes collected in the districts and apply them toward Watson Island projects, Bicentennial Park and the new stadiums.

“That’s just wrong; it’s just wrong to do that without going to the taxpayers for approval,” Braman said. “The [Omni and Southeast Overtown/Park West] districts weren’t set up to be raided, they weren’t set up to build sports stadiums, they weren’t set up to build tunnels — that’s not what the state law says.

“And who will get the shaft? The people that the money was intended for,” he added. “And none of these projects improve the quality of life for the community. They will turn out to be like all the other projects in the community, full of waste, corruption, unfulfilled promises, huge budget overruns. It’s interesting that the proposal for the stadium includes some very luxurious seating for the politicians as well.”

Diaz, who is out of town until next week, could not be reached for comment.

Martin Margulies, a developer and renowned local art collector, has joined Braman in his lawsuit.

“All I'm interested in is that people have a say in spending $2.9 billion instead of a backroom deal that took place, and that's why I am joining him,” said Margulies. “I just called him and said, ‘Look, if you need me I'm here. I agree with your basic outlook that the poor people are going to get the shaft again as they usually do, despite all the promises that are being made.’

“They say they want to have a world-class city. Well, you can’t have a world-class city when so many people are in need and in poverty in this city — the poorest large city in the United States.”

Miami Commissioner Tomas Regalado calls the global agreement “an abuse of taxpayers.”

“This is being done in backdoor deals — the whole agreement is a lie to the people of Miami,” he said.

Last week, County Commissioner Javier Souto also attacked the global agreement, postponing the County Commission’s vote on $525 million funding for the Florida Marlins ballpark, predicting the project will become “just another scandal.” He also called the funding arrangements for Bicentennial Park a “convoluted deal” that should be put before voters, and is asking for property tax records from Miami’s community redevelopment districts for the last 10 years.

Meanwhile, Braman believes that taxpayers can stop the mega-deal. “People are tired of what’s been going on here for so many years,” he said.

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