Florida’s initiative to donate a 2-acre site in Downtown Miami for President Donald Trump’s presidential library has encountered a significant judicial obstacle.
On Tuesday, Judge Mavel Ruiz of Florida’s 11th Circuit Court ruled that Miami Dade College, the current owner of the site, failed to provide adequate public notice prior to a vote that allowed the land to be transferred to the state.
The decision stems from a lawsuit filed by political activist Marvin Dunn on October 6, alleging violations of Florida’s Sunshine Act, which mandates reasonable public notice for government meetings.
Judge Mavel stated, “This is not an easy decision. This is not a case, at least for this court, rooted in politics.”
The 2.6-acre property under scrutiny is currently used as an employee parking lot for Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus and is valued at approximately $67 million.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had planned to offer this parcel, located next to the famous Freedom Tower at 600 Biscayne Blvd, for the Trump library.
The Miami Dade College board of trustees voted on September 23 to transfer the land to the state, but the meeting agenda lacked specific details regarding the property or the purpose of the decision.
Public notice for the meeting was issued only one week in advance and referred generically to possible real estate transactions.
Additionally, the meeting was not livestreamed, which diverged from the college’s practice for other meetings held throughout the year, as reported by the Associated Press.
After the board’s vote, Governor DeSantis received unanimous approval from a Florida Cabinet composed of Republicans to proceed with the proposal for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.
Following the judge’s ruling, Miami Dade College has the option to issue a new public notice and conduct another vote on the matter, though the college has indicated plans to appeal the ruling.
Named in the lawsuit are Miami Dade College, its district board of trustees, and several of its members.
In a response to the lawsuit, the defendants expressed their belief that the litigation serves primarily as a platform for the plaintiff’s dissatisfaction with the board’s policy choices.
Despite this setback, there remains no shortage of potential sites in Florida for President Trump’s library.
His team has reportedly considered other locations, including Florida International University in Miami and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, which has offered a long-term lease for the facility at no cost.
In April, state officials passed a law facilitating the establishment of presidential libraries in Florida by preventing local governments from enforcing measures against such libraries unless federally sanctioned.
Governor DeSantis expressed his support for housing the Trump library in Florida, stating, “Having the Trump Presidential Library in Miami will be good for Florida, for the city, and for Miami Dade College.”
He added, “No state has supported the President’s agenda more than the Free State of Florida, and I was proud to spearhead the successful effort to house this historic presidential library right here in his home state.”
image source from：bisnow
