Miami DDA throws $10K overboard — this time for a billionaires’ boat race

The Miami Downtown Development Authority just can’t help itself. The agency that’s supposed to make life better for people who live and work downtown keeps giving away public money to millionaire vanity projects — and this time, they’ve literally thrown ten grand into Biscayne Bay.
That’s right. The DDA approved a $10,000 “sponsorship” for the flashy E1 Series Boat Race, the grand finale of the UIM E1 World Championship — a high-gloss spectacle featuring electric raceboats, celebrity team owners, and a Cirque du Soleil show at the Miami Seaplane Base this weekend.
Because clearly, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Will Smith, and Marc Anthony really need our help paying for their little speedboat party.
The race — billed as the world’s first all-electric boat racing series — is supposed to promote sustainability and innovation. But nothing says “greenwashing” like a taxpayer-funded sponsorship from a local agency that is supposed to keep the sidewalks clean and keep the downtown streetlights on. Instead, they are throwing $10K at an event where a two day pass costs $2,103.
Ladra can’t help but wonder if the DDA — which reportedly has a whole table reserved for them at Club E11even — got five two-day passes and who are the lucky board members that get to go. Wanna bet lobbyist Melissa Tapanes is one of them?
Read related: Ka-ching! Miami DDA is doling out more checks to billionaire companies
And it’s not like this is a one-time oops. The DDA has been on a spending spree of celebrity subsidies, handing out gifts like it’s Santa’s workshop at sea level. Remember the FC Barcelona event, the UFC spectacle, and that football game sponsorship that left downtown residents fuming? Yep. All DDA-approved. All unnecessary.
Meanwhile, the same merchants and residents who actually pay the taxes that fill the DDA’s coffers are complaining about overflowing trash cans, crumbling sidewalks, and a growing sense that the agency has lost the plot.
They say they’re investing in promoting downtown. But who are they promoting it to? Tom Brady?”
This weekend’s E1 event — scheduled for November 7 and 8 at the Seaplane Base — will feature Marc Anthony’s “Team Miami” (complete with a color scheme “representing the city,” whatever that means), VIP lounges, and exclusive performances by Cirque du Soleil and celebrity DJs.
So, yes, it’s Miami. It’ll be glitzy. It’ll be loud. And it’ll be yet another reminder of how much public money keeps flowing into private parties for the rich and famous while regular downtowners are left out.
Elvira Manon, the DDA’s executive board secretary, said the event will have several “deliverables” and quite an impact downtown.
Read related: Miami DDA gives UFC $100K for event, despite protest from downtowners
“The Miami Downtown Development Authority is proud to partner with E1 because this event perfectly aligns with our mission,” Manon said in an email response to Downtown Neighbors Alliance President James Torres, who has been sounding the alarm about the agency’s bloated budget since the beginning of the year and has advocated for it’s dissolution.
“This is a millionaires’ event, not a community event,” Torres said. “We as the DNA are not happy if indeed taxpayers dollars are spent on this, when it could go to the community for street cleaning, re-striping of streets, sidewalk cleaning, more police.”
Manon says the E1 races will attract hundreds of spectators, global media coverage, and new partnerships across hospitality, tech, and sustainability sectors. Manon says the event positions Miami as a leader in the “blue economy,” supporting ocean technology, clean energy and waterfront activation. Manon says that the event will “boost our brand” with global broadcasts and paparazzi following celebrity team owners. Manon says the event keeps Miami as the number one sports market in America.
All of that for $10,000? Or is it just as likely that all of that would happen anyway, without the taxpayers chipping in? Same as the international media coverage and the hotel bookings and restaurant activity. All of that was gonna happen without our little contribution.
She also included “what we’re getting for $10K,” citing a panel discussion (oh goodie!) and “public access to E1 experiences and activations along the Bayfront.” But tickets are priced at over $1,000 each day, so any public access, like from the park or the highway, would exist anyway. Also, 10% of the ticket sales through a code offered via the DDA will go to homeless services.
Wouldn’t it just be easier to give $10,000 directly to those homeless services? The event seems to be sold out already anyway. Ladra can’t wait to see how much of those proceeds actually went to the DDA.
Read related: Downtown, Brickell residents still question Miami DDA benefits, future
Manon mentioned other benefits that do seem worthy: 15 kids will be able to watch the race from Southside Prep with their parents on Saturday, and 10 kids from the School at the Children’s Museum will be able to watch the race with their parents, creating long-lasting memories. But Ladra thinks Tom Brady and Marc Anthony could have thrown that little perk in themselves.
This is not smart. It comes on the heels of some major hand-wringing over the DDA’s future. It has been criticized for the other unnecessary giveaways and the bloated salaries for duplicate positions that make it look like a multi-million dollar slush fund. Newly elected Commissioner Ralph Rosado, who was made chairman of the DDA, said he would reign in this kind of superfluous spending. What happened? Was this check moving too fast? Like a speedboat?
The city is hearing more and more rumblings from residents who say it’s time to pull the plug on the DDA altogether. After all, if the agency’s idea of economic development is sponsoring Marc Anthony’s boat, maybe it’s time we cut off the current.
Because downtown doesn’t need another race. It needs an audit.

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