On Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners was set to award a five-year, $1 million vending machine county contract to RQ Vending, a major political donor to county commissioners. The item was pulled without explanation.

An initial vote of a county committee paved the way for tomorrow's agenda item: to lift the ban on public taxpayer funds being used for the American Dream Miami mega mall. The developers behind the project have donated thousands of dollars to county commissioners' political committees.

Miami’s political dynasties, like the Regalados and the Hardemons, are working to maintain their multi-decade influence, with family members running for local government positions. The Gimenez family, holding power for 20 years, has one member vying for re-election. Meanwhile, the Suárez family's influence continues with potential mayoral aspirations. These entrenched families are locked in a perpetual power struggle in Miami's political landscape.

If accepting big donations from developer interests were an Olympic Sport, Commissioner Keon Hardemon would be on the podium taking the gold. Mr. Hardemon has raked in $4.2 million since being elected in 2020 to the County Commission. Silver and bronze go to Commission colleagues Raquel Regalado ($1.6 million) and Kionne McGhee ($1.2 million).

After previously opposing the American Dream Miami mega mall, Commissioner Raquel Regalado accepted $12,500 in donations from the developers and voted to approve subsidies for the project in July.

In June 2024, Miami's political dynasties saw significant donations. Keon Hardemon's committee received $48,250 and his PACs took in $254,500. Raquel Regalado's committee got $22,000, while her father's committee received $7,900. Carlos Gimenez and Joe Martinez also received substantial donations. Some family members, like Monique Barley-Mayo, have not reported any funds raised.