A Judge in Miami has dismissed a complaint challenging a college’s decision to gift prime downtown real estate for Donald Trump’s future presidential library, clearing the way for the real estate developer-turned-President to build a towering monument to his political rise in an iconic stretch of the city.

A local activist brought the lawsuit against Miami Dade College, arguing the school’s Board didn’t give sufficient public notice and violated the state’s open government law when Board members voted in September to give away the nearly 3-acre (1.2-hectare) property in downtown Miami.

The site is a developer’s dream and is valued at more than $67 million, according to a 2025 assessment by the Miami-Dade County property appraiser. One real estate expert wagered that the parcel — one of the last undeveloped lots on a palm tree-lined stretch of Biscayne Boulevard — could sell for hundreds of millions of dollars more.

Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz had initially sided with Marvin Dunn, the retired professor and chronicler of local Black history who filed the case. In October, Ruiz temporarily blocked the college from formally transferring the land while the challenge played out, setting a trial for next August.

But on Thursday, Ruiz ruled in favor of the college, dismissing Dunn’s complaint without prejudice after the Board redid the vote on the land giveaway earlier this month at a more than four-hour-long public meeting that included fiery testimony on the issue.

Attorneys for the college maintain that the board did not violate state law, but argued that any alleged violation had been “fully cured” following the redo vote.

After the college voted in September to transfer the property to a fund controlled by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet, the GOP officials voted to transfer the land again, effectively putting the property under the control of the Trump family when they deeded it to the foundation for Trump’s library. That foundation is led by three trustees: Eric Trump; Tiffany Trump’s husband, Michael Boulos; and the President’s attorney, James Kiley.

Eric Trump has pledged the future library will be “one of the most beautiful buildings ever built” and “an Icon on the Miami skyline.” Under local zoning rules, the best use of the property would be a towering condo building, according to one Miami real estate expert, who described the site as a potential “cash cow.”

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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.

A government watchdog group has conducted an analysis of Florida’s Sheriff’s Offices, proposing recommendations to make the local law enforcement agencies more financially efficient and help with hiring.

Florida TaxWatch published its Florida Sheriff’s Staffing Analysis, which looks at staffing and hiring challenges facing the law enforcement departments. The study, conducted in a partnership with the Florida Sheriff’s Association, concluded there are serious challenges facing Sheriff’s Offices in Florida.

“Law enforcement is struggling to overcome wage competition amid a limited talent pool. Looking ahead, local and state government must consider ways to expand the talent pool and more accurately align staffing needs with local demand,” stated the report, which was based on surveys with local Sheriff’s Offices throughout the state.

TaxWatch issued five key findings and suggested responses by state government, including:

— The Florida Department of Law Enforcement should develop a standardized approach to compare staffing needs and better target supporting areas that need the most help.

— The state of Florida should work with stakeholders in developing Career and Professional Education programs at high schools and career services at Florida state colleges that encourage new workforce entrants to consider law enforcement as a potential career path.

— Local Sheriff’s Offices should consider utilizing regional collaboration to develop regional law enforcement recruitment efforts and help their purchasing power.

— Small counties should consider whether consolidation of services is the best way to optimize their available resources.

— Florida’s Department of Governmental Efficiency team should be tasked with assisting local governments in identifying the level of funding appropriate for Sheriff’s Offices.

TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro said the rapidly growing population in Florida is outpacing the ability of local Sheriff’s Offices to handle the demands.

“Here in Florida, the number of employed full-time law enforcement officers has not kept pace with growing demand. From 2014 to 2023, Florida’s population grew by 15.6%, but the number of employed sworn law enforcement officers only grew by 5.6%. Moreover, in 2024, the vacancy rates for deputy sheriffs ranged from 0% to 19% among Florida sheriff’s offices,” Calabro said.

“The results of the joint survey suggest that even though recent legislation improved recruitment efforts, a shortage of officers is still felt statewide. The difficulties imposed by a limited talent pool and the resulting wage competition are not sustainable. Ultimately, Florida taxpayers risk longer response times to calls for service in the absence of a long-term solution.”

TaxWatch Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Kottkamp said Sheriff’s Offices aren’t the only law enforcement agencies operating in Florida and the need for funding by multiple agencies is straining resources.

“It is important to note that sheriffs’ offices are not only competing with each other for law enforcement officers but also with law enforcement agencies operated by national, state, and local governments. In fact, nearly three quarters of our survey respondents say they struggle to maintain their staffing level, with about 30% of all respondents struggling to reach anywhere near their desired staffing level,” Kottkamp said.