DEFERRED: The County Commission punts on a controversial vote on the mega mall: was this done to avoid blowback before the November election?

Juan Carlos Bermudez NewsRaquel Regalado News

Sep 17

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Why are County Commissioners delaying a controversial vote lifting a ban on taxpayer funds for a mega mall? Are they trying to avoid backlash from voters before the November election, or are they giving in to pressure from other mall owners?

On Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners was supposed to vote on whether to lift a ban on using taxpayer money for the American Dream Miami mega mall. But Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez, who sponsored the legislation, asked to delay the vote.

When asked by the Miami Herald why he wanted the delay, Bermudez said, “I just need more time and information to help make the proper decision.” But this vague answer has raised questions about whether he’s really responding to pressure from mall lobbyists or just trying to avoid any negative impact before the November election.

The Two Possible Reasons Behind the Deferral

1. Pressure from competing mall lobbyists

The Miami Herald reported recently that this legislation faces opposition from a powerful lobbyist representing other South Florida malls. ‘Why should the county fund a private developer’s infrastructure obligations?’ asked Jeffrey Bercow, a lawyer and lobbyist for a group of existing South Florida malls.

His opposition may stem from the perception of preferential treatment for one developer at the expense of others. A lobbyist for the American Dream Miami mega mall had earlier told commissioners that $350 million in taxpayer funds might be needed to make the mega mall a reality. If the mega mall did receive such a large amount of taxpayer funds, other mall developers may fear it would create an unfair market advantage. These arguments echo the fight that happened in 2018, when the County Commission approved the mega mall project and instituted the ban on using taxpayer funds.

2. Avoiding a Controversial Vote Before the Election

The November election is coming soon. Lifting the ban on taxpayer funding for the megamall just before the election could result in voter blowback. By delaying the vote, commissioners avoid a controversial issue that might hurt their campaigns.

This delay helps Commissioner Raquel Regalado in particular, who has faced criticism for changing her stance on the project. She already voted in favor of lifting the ban on taxpayer money in a committee meeting in July. Regalado is the only commissioner still up for re-election this November. By not having to vote again, she avoids potential negative blowback that could harm her campaign.

Updates to Donations from the Ghermezians

We previously reported that the Ghermezian family, who are the developers behind this project, had donated $38,000 to the campaign coffers and political committees tied to county commissioners.

That amount has now increased to $40,000, with new donations going to Commissioner Keon Hardemon and Commissioner Raquel Regalado.

The Donations from the Ghermezians

The Ghermezian family has donated $40,000 in the last two years to various political committees linked to Miami-Dade Commissioners:

Commissioner Kevin Cabrera: $10,000 to “Dade First PC” on 7/5/2024.

Commissioner Rene Garcia: $7,000 to “People for Accountable Government” ($2,000 on 3/28/2023 and $5,000 on 6/24/2023).

Commissioner Khionne McGhee: $3,000 to “1 South Dade” on 7/11/2023.

Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez: $3,000 to “America First Florida First” on 6/19/2023.

Commissioner Eileen Higgins: $2,500 to “Rebranding Politics” on 5/19/2023.

Commissioner Raquel Regalado: $13,500 to “Citizens for Excellence in Miami-Dade County Government” ($2,500 on 11/3/2023 and $10,000 on 5/14/2024) and $1000 on 8/1/2024 to her campaign account.

Commissioner Keon Hardemon: $1000 on 7/26/2024 to his campaign account.

The Bigger Picture

These donations and the timing of the election leave us wondering if politics and money are influencing the decisions around this megamall project. Commissioners are also considering legislative changes to how developers pay for infrastructure improvements, like water and sewer upgrades, which could lead to budget cuts to other services, as warned by the Mayor.

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