A Florida judge has temporarily blocked the transfer of a downtown Miami site earmarked for Donald Trump’s future presidential library, citing insufficient public notice during the college board’s vote. Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz issued a temporary injunction, ruling that Miami Dade College did not provide adequate public notice before voting to transfer the property. The judge explicitly stated her decision was grounded in procedural concerns rather than political motivations, underscoring the college’s role as a public educational institution.
The dispute centers on a 2.63-acre parcel adjacent to the historic Freedom Tower, a site that served as a refuge for Cubans fleeing communism. The site is currently used as an employee parking lot for the college and is now the focus of a legal battle over its future. Marvin Dunn, a retired professor and former Democratic candidate, argued that the transfer would divert public educational land to a private, political purpose, violating both Florida law and the public trust. His lawsuit claims the process failed to meet the requirements of Florida’s Sunshine Law, which mandates transparency in public board meetings.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet had previously voted to gift the site to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, a nonprofit associated with Trump’s family. However, the court’s intervention has temporarily halted this transfer, raising questions about the legality and transparency of the process. The judge’s ruling highlights the tension between political influence and institutional accountability, as well as the broader implications for the use of public resources in Florida.