Miami’s public waterfront is being locked up for 75 years — and the ballot question misleads voters.

A Dallas, Texas corporation and its partners want a lease of 27.62 acres of Virginia Key — one of Miami’s last public waterfronts. On November 3, City of Miami voters will be asked to approve it.

But a lawsuit filed July 1, 2026 alleges the ballot question voters will see violates Florida law by hiding what's actually in the deal.

What the ballot hides:

• ✕The "$80 million investment" promise isn't in the actual lease.
• ✕The "environmentally sensitive" promise isn't in the actual lease.
• ✕Renewals are at the tenant's sole discretion — the City can't end the lease at 45 years. It's really a 75-year lock-up.
• ✕The new rent produces less income to the City than the current operator already pays.
• ✕Corporate transfers have swapped out critical investors and operators since the original bid.

On June 11, Commissioners themselves said on the record they don't support the deal — that it's a "10-year-old deal" — and that absent legal pressure from the City Attorney, they'd have voted it down that day.

A court told the City to hold a referendum. No court told the City to hide the truth in the ballot question. That's on our Commission — and they can fix it before July 24.