MIAMI – And so begins another round of a big name with big money looking to cash in on South Florida.
This time, real estate mogul/golf course developer/television reality boss Donald Trump wants to upgrade, manage and make money from Miami-Dade County's public Crandon Park golf course in Key Biscayne.
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That's not necessarily a bad thing. It could be a good thing -- a win-win all around. But once again, a rightfully skeptical public is wondering whether those they elected will get stars in their eyes that cloud their vision.
Trump took the first swing. Last July, he submitted a plan to take over Crandon's golf operations, first reported only this week by the Miami Herald. Trump proposes spending $10 million to renovate the course and take over operations in return for a 99-year lease that he controls.
Details of his unsolicited proposal to Miami-Dade County are in these documents:
As it stands, Trump can't happen at Crandon. Its master plan with the county says no private business can be involved there. But, because of Trump, the county commission has scheduled a vote on whether to change that. The first committee hearing is a March 17 agenda for general facilities -- the first step to the process.
Here are some questions: what kind of upgrade does Crandon need? (Even a quick Google search shows the course has had a stellar reputation with golfers.) With that answer, what of it can Miami-Dade County handle with its current and future public resources?
If the operations are open to the highest bidder, what entities will submit bids for it? Does Trump already have the inside track?
Most important, will a deal be good for the public?
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