Downtown Miami homeowners slam Development Authority over spending in new ad
A group of downtown homeowners is calling for a separation from the Miami Downtown Development Authority, accusing the agency of wasteful spending and releasing a new online ad to pressure city leaders to put the issue on the ballot.
"We want the divorce (from Miami DDA) and the reason we want the divorce is we have this condo crisis and we're being double taxed," said TJ Sabo, one of several critics featured in the campaign.
Homeowners push back on DDA funding
The controversy centers on how the DDA spends its budget, particularly its investments in entertainment and sports partnerships.
Property owners in downtown Miami, Brickell, and Edgewater fund 58% of the agency's budget, on top of the standard taxes paid by other Miami residents.
"Look at what they're spending money on," said Kristen Browde, a downtown homeowner. "You're like excuse me?"
"It's double taxation," said Jens Klapatsh, another homeowner.
"It feels like we're being taken advantage of," added Laura Okamura.
James Torres, president of a local neighborhood alliance, released the online ad Friday, targeting recent DDA expenses such as giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to FC Barcelona for opening offices downtown and nearly $200,000 to support college football events tied to next year's national championship in South Florida.
DDA defends budget priorities
Miami DDA board member Gary Ressler, who chairs the agency's Quality of Life Committee and owns a business downtown, defended the spending.
"Nobody likes to pay taxes," Ressler said. "But the fact is that the investment is brought back to the streets to the residents in a very efficient way."
Of the $12 million in the agency's budget last fiscal year, $7 million went toward quality-of-life initiatives such as public safety, homelessness efforts, and keeping downtown clean, according to Ressler.
Ressler also argued that sports investments attract attention and revenue that benefit the community.
"If you think back to when LeBron James came to Miami, he came to downtown Miami," Ressler said. "But you remember the message was he was going to South Beach. That's not the message anymore. I think downtown is a more viable, relatable neighborhood that hopefully will succeed greatly in the future."
But critics like Sabo remain unconvinced.
"When you pay $450,000 to an organization that's worth over $5 billion dollars or $100,000 to (UFC which is) worth over $11 billion, my gut instinct is it does nothing for them and it was really not part of their decision to choose Miami," Sabo said.
"It took money out of other people's lives that were supposed to be improved by this."
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Fox News
30 minutes ago
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Ram to enter trucks in 2026 with possible future move to Cup for Dodge
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35 minutes ago
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Los Angeles ICE protest crowds shut down 101 Freeway amid National Guard deployment after immigration operations
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US President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 troops on June 7 to handle escalating protests against immigration enforcement raids in the Los Angeles area, a move the state's governor termed "purposefully inflammatory." Federal agents clashed with angry crowds in a Los Angeles suburb as protests stretched into a second night Saturday, shooting flash-bang grenades and shutting part of a freeway amid raids on undocumented migrants, reports said. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images A Presidential Memoranda issued Saturday stated that at least 2,000 National Guard troops were going to be deployed. The majority of the soldiers are from the California National Guard, a Defense Department official told CBS News. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday criticized Mr. Trump's military deployment, calling it "purposefully inflammatory" in a post to X. 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Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos," her statement said. Standing outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center before violent clashes began on Sunday, Rep. Maxine Waters, who represents parts of South L.A., called Mr. Trump's deployment of the National Guard a "disruption." "People have to stand up for what is right," she said. In a statement to CBS News, an ICE spokesperson said immigration enforcement operations have resulted in the arrest of a "domestic abuser" and a "child rapist." "Irresponsible politicians continue to push dangerous and misleading rhetoric that puts communities and law enforcement at risk," the statement reads. "Even the Los Angeles Police Departments referred to violent riots yesterday as 'peaceful protests.' Americans can look at the videos and images and see with their own eyes that they are dangerous not 'peaceful.'" Protesters clash with law enforcement again A massive crowd of protesters in downtown Los Angeles on June 8, 2025, as demonstrations against immigration operations continue for third straight day. KCAL News For the third straight day, some protesters and activists gathered in downtown L.A. to protest the ongoing operations and presence of federal authorities in the city. The situation appeared calm to start on Sunday, with CBS News Los Angeles reporters at the scene reporting no signs of conflict until about 3 p.m., when a large group of demonstrators marched from the steps of L.A. City Hall to the federal building, where the detention center is located. They began to clash with the large group of federal agents located outside of the building, including some who looked to be members of the National Guard. In response to the escalation, which police said involved people throwing projectiles and concrete in their direction, the LAPD issued a Tactical Alert for the entire city. "An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared for the area of Alameda between 2nd St and Aliso St. A DISPERSAL ORDER has been issued. Arrests are being made. To our media partners, please keep a safe distance from active operations," said a post on X by LAPD's Central Division. Two officers were injured when two motorcyclists tried to breach the LAPD skirmish line in front of the detention center, police said. Both of those people were detained. Several blocks away, CBS News Los Angeles reporters saw a smaller crowd of demonstrators vandalizing as many as six Waymo vehicles in the area. They were seen spray painting the cars, throwing objects and jumping on the windshields. A short time later one of those vehicles was set on fire as a large crowd looked on. The crowd moved into the city's Civic Center at around 5 p.m. Some demonstrators were seen setting fireworks from the CBS News Los Angeles helicopter as LAPD officers on horseback attempted to push the crowd back. Demonstrators flood the 101 Freeway as immigration operation protests continue for third day in Los Angeles. KCAL News Just before 4 p.m., demonstrators moved onto the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic on the busy thoroughfare. They blocked the Aliso Street offramp and several lanes while hundreds of others watched from the Main Street overpass. In response, the California Highway Patrol closed the entire stretch of freeway that runs through the downtown area. Dozens of CHP officers were seen as they also entered the freeway, stopping under the overpass in a line. They completely overtook southbound lanes, moving protesters back, though the majority of the crowd remained on the other side of the freeway. As they continued to push the crowd, several people were seen being taken into custody from SKYCAL's aerial view. In nearby Pasadena, a small gathering began Sunday afternoon after federal officers were spotted at a local hotel, a city spokesperson confirmed. Pasadena Mayor Victor M. Gordo said in a statement that no enforcement activity was confirmed. "We understand the anxiety and fear that these reports can create for many in our community," he said. "I urge our community to remain calm, united, and peaceful, and not be baited or provoked into violence. The right to peacefully assemble and express ourselves is a fundamental part of who we are—not just as Pasadenans, but as Americans." How this all started The new military presence in L.A. comes after days of escalation between protesters and law enforcement, notably Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On Friday evening, multiple immigration operations were conducted across L.A., primarily in the Westlake District, downtown and South L.A., ICE officials confirmed. A single operation at a job site Friday resulted in the arrest of 44 unauthorized immigrants, ICE told CBS News on Sunday. An additional 77 were arrested around the same time frame in the greater L.A. area. The exact charges of those arrests were not yet clear as of Sunday afternoon. ICE confirmed to CBS News Los Angeles that four federal search warrants were served at three locations in L.A. on Friday night. As news of those warrants spread, protests broke out. The most notable of which was Friday night, and took place outside the Federal Building in downtown L.A. after demonstrators learned that detainees were allegedly being held inside. As tensions escalated and some protesters threw objects toward law enforcement, the Los Angeles Police Department eventually issued an unlawful assembly declaration and a dispersal order. Dozens of officers sporting riot gear and shields formed a skirmish line. A federal law enforcement official with knowledge of the operations tells CBS News that ICE requested assistance from LAPD multiple times over the course of Friday night. That same official said it took local authorities more than 2 hours to honor that request, although a senior city official in L.A. told CBS News that it took LAPD 55 minutes to respond, not 2 hours. A car burns during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. Eric Thayer / AP On Saturday, protests centered in on the city of Paramount after ICE and other federal law enforcement officers were spotted. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that there was no ICE "raid" on Saturday in Paramount, but instead the agents were staging at an office. The protests in Paramount eventually spilled over into Compton, where hundreds of demonstrators gathered around a car that was set on fire in the middle of the intersection of Alondra Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue, near Dale's Donuts, Images captured at the scene by CBS News Los Angeles showed law enforcement deploying what appeared to be tear gas to disperse crowds and shooting non-lethal munitions at some protesters. Going forward U.S. Rep. Nanette Barragán, who represents parts of L.A.'s South Bay, tells CBS News that ICE enforcement and removal operations are expected daily for the next 30 days in LA County. A federal law enforcement official tells CBS News that deputies with LA County Sheriff's Office are now assisting ICE officials with perimeter protection, although they will not be assisting with any immigration enforcement efforts. , and contributed to this report.
