Claims are easy. Where's the proof?

Don't take our word for it - see the proof for yourself.

Court records. City records. 2026 City-commissioned appraisals. The actual documents.

Who really benefits from a NO vote?

The claim

“This is an old deal with below-market rent.”

Two 2026 City appraisals say the proposed rent is above market, and it's more than double what Rickenbacker pays.

RICKENBACKER TODAY ("NO")

Base rent: $30,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$1.79 million / year

NEW AGREEMENT ("YES")

Base rent: $183,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$3.8 million / yearplus annual increases

2026 Blake appraisal excerpt: proposed rent above market — 2026 Blake Appraisal — p. 3Click to expand

2026 CRE appraisal excerpt: proposed rent above market — 2026 CRE Appraisal — p. 38Click to expand

Sources:2026 Blake Appraisal·2026 CRE Appraisal·City of Miami Rent Records·Official 2026 Ballot Language

The claim

“This was a shady back-room deal.”

Look at Rickenbacker's timeline since their lease ran out:

2015
- Rickenbacker finishes last in the City's ranked bid process. Virginia Key comes in first.
2017
- Rickenbacker finishes second in the next ranked bid process. Virginia Key comes in first.
2019
- Rickenbacker's appeal of the bid process is rejected.
2021
- After a string of losses, Rickenbacker principal Aabad Melwani approaches Commissioner Ken Russell with a proposal to circumvent competitive bidding.
- A Rickenbacker lobbyist participates in drafting the charter amendment.
- The no-bid Rickenbacker deal reaches the ballot. Miami voters reject it.
2023–2024
- A court finds favoritism and improper circumvention of competitive bidding.
- The judgment is affirmed on appeal.
2026
- In July, Rickenbacker sues to stop the lawful referendum. Judge Lisa Walsh denies the injunction and the referendum is allowed to go to voters.

RICKENBACKER LOST TWICE — THEN CONVINCED THE CITY TO THROW OUT ITS OWN COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS.

Court findings on Melwani approaching Commissioner Russell to circumvent the bidding process — 2023 Final Judgment — p. 18Click to expand

Sources:2023 Final Judgment·2021 Referendum R-21-0321·City Resolution R-21-0290·WLRN — August 21, 2026

The record

Two bidders. Two very different records.

Rickenbacker

Virginia Key LLC

2015

Rickenbacker

Last place

Ranked bid process

Virginia Key LLC

Ranked #1

Ranked bid process

2017

Rickenbacker

Second place

Ranked bid process

Virginia Key LLC

Ranked #1 again

Ranked bid process

Legal outcome

Rickenbacker

Lost challenges / appeals

Bid protest rejected

Virginia Key LLC

Won in court

Final Judgment

2024

Rickenbacker

Judgment against its position affirmed

Loses appeal

Virginia Key LLC

Appellate win

Judgment affirmed

Sources:2023 Final Judgment·2021 Referendum R-21-0321·WLRN — August 21, 2026

The claim

“They're giving away public waterfront.”

This is a lease - not a sale - and the new lease pays more than double what Rickenbacker pays.

RICKENBACKER TODAY ("NO")

Base rent: $30,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$1.79 million / year
Private investment: No improvements
Taxpayer-funded construction: None required
Public access: Limited

NEW AGREEMENT ("YES")

Base rent: $183,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$3.8 million / yearplus annual increases
Private investment: ~$80 million
Taxpayer-funded construction: $0
Public access: Far more public access

Over the past decade, Miami has left more than $18 million in base rent on the table compared with today's proposed base rent.

The real giveaway? Rickenbacker has spent a decade enjoying roughly half-off rent on some of Miami's most valuable waterfront.

Appraisal excerpt confirming City of Miami ownership and a lease interest — 2026 CRE Appraisal — p. 12Click to expand

Sources:2026 CRE Appraisal·City of Miami Rent Records·Official 2026 Ballot Language

The claim

“There's no guarantee of public access.”

Compare today's access to the proposed access.

Rickenbacker today

Not available: Practically no waterfront access
Not available: No public parking
Not available: Primarily serves boaters and a select few

New plan

Included: A continuous waterfront baywalk
Included: Public parking
Included: Improved public boat ramp
Included: Pedestrian and family access to our waterfront

Winning RFP rendering of the proposed Virginia Key marina showing the continuous waterfront baywalk, public promenade and docks — Virginia Key LLC winning RFP response — project rendering

RFP response excerpt: virtually no public access today, 2,600 linear feet of baywalk proposed — Winning RFP response — public access commitmentsClick to expand

Sources:Virginia Key LLC Winning RFP Response·Official 2026 Ballot Language

The claim

“This is a bad deal for Miami taxpayers.”

Compare the deals, decide for yourself.

RICKENBACKER TODAY ("NO")

Base rent: $30,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$1.79 million / year
Private investment: No improvements
Taxpayer-funded construction: None required
Public access: Limited

NEW AGREEMENT ("YES")

Base rent: $183,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$3.8 million / yearplus annual increases
Private investment: ~$80 million
Taxpayer-funded construction: $0
Public access: Far more public access

RFP response excerpt: more than $80 million invested with no governmental support — Winning RFP response — ~$80 million private investmentClick to expand

Sources:Virginia Key LLC Winning RFP Response·City of Miami Base Rent Records·2026 Appraisals·Official 2026 Ballot Language

The claim

“Suntex can't be trusted to protect Virginia Key.”

We operate multiple Clean Marinas designated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Rickenbacker has none.

Suntex in Miami-Dade

Included: Miami Beach Marina — DEP Designated Clean Marina
Included: Bill Bird Marina at Haulover Park — DEP Designated Clean Marina
Included: Bayshore Landing — DEP Designated Clean Marina

Rickenbacker Marina

Not available: Not on the DEP Clean Marina list

Sources:Florida DEP Designated Clean Marinas

The claim

“Gramps is being kicked out.”

We've asked Gramps to stay. Officially.

Virginia Key LLC — Suntex and RCI Group — put it in writing:

“we both desire to see Gramps Getaway remain at the marina”

They also invited Gramps to discuss a future lease.

Suntex has helped Monty's in Coconut Grove and Miami Beach grow and thrive alongside its marina operations for more than a decade.

Letter excerpt: we both desire to see Gramps Getaway remain at the marina — Letter to Gramps — August 24, 2026Click to expand

Sources:August 24, 2026 Letter to Gramps·2023 Final Judgment·Miami Beach Marina / Suntex

Who benefits from a NO vote?

The current marina operator's bank account.

RICKENBACKER TODAY ("NO")

Base rent: $30,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$1.79 million / year
Private investment: No investment
Public access: Limited

NEW AGREEMENT ("YES")

Base rent: $183,000 / month
Total rent to Miami: ~$3.8 million / yearplus annual increases
Private investment: ~$80 million
Public access: Far more public access

A NO vote keeps Rickenbacker's low cost, no commitment lease, while the waterfront remains closed off.

Ask yourself what exactly is being "protected" and who benefits from keeping things exactly as they are.

Vote Yes November 3

Sources:2023 Final Judgment·City of Miami Base Rent Records·2026 Appraisals

The cost of delay

Ten years. More than $18 million left on the table.

Rickenbacker base rent

$30K / month

New agreement base rent

$183K / month

Difference

$153K / month

× 120 months

Ten years of delay

$18.36 million

City of Miami rent records showing recurring $30,000 monthly base rent — City of Miami rent records — $30,000 monthly base rentClick to expand

10 years of dragging out this process has made Rickenbacker millions, and cost the City of Miami $18.36 million in base rent alone.

The longer this drags on, the better the deal remains for Rickenbacker.

Sources:City of Miami Base Rent Records·2026 Blake Appraisal·Official 2026 Ballot Language

Source documents

Official 2026 ballot language

Shall City lease approximately 27.62 acres on Virginia Key to Virginia Key, LLC for:

45-year initial term with two 15-year renewals;
Minimum annual guaranteed rent to City of $2,200,000 (with escalations) totaling approximately $203,980,000 over the initial term plus 6% of gross revenues;
Approximately $80,000,000 privately funded investment to redevelop existing Rickenbacker and Marine Stadium marinas in an environmentally sensitive manner, including boat storage, restaurants, retail, and public parking?