MIAMI – Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado sat down with Local 10's Christina Vazquez to talk about David Beckham's plans for a soccer stadium, the legacy of Marlins Park and Museum Park concerns.
Regalado said, "The waterfront land in the city of Miami is one of the most controversial issues that we can deal with. I know this is going to be controversial and that's why the people of Miami should decide. It is their land.
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"We told Mr. Beckham and his people they have to go to a referendum. At first they were hesitant but now they understand that they have to respect the will of the people.
"If it is a no vote then they have to understand and look for another site, but I think that No. 1 we owe to the Beckham people to have a closure to this debate eventually and we owe the people of Miami the fact that they need to decide because they didn't with the Marlins stadium."
FEC Slip (Downtown Miami boat slip)
"We told them that the city needs to be reimbursed for all the money that has been spent on the slip, that the city wants them to pay property taxes because it will be on public land and the public needs to get the revenue," said Regalado. "We also want infrastructure from them around the stadium so the people could have public plazas and a boardwalk, etc."
Taxpayer money recently invested into renovating boat slip
"Twelve million dollars plus $2 million from the state of Florida grants that we have to give back to the state of Florida if that is the case; this money has been spent by the city in the last three years," said Regalado. "Anyone who comes to the city of Miami can keep their yacht there but not in a permanent way, so they pay rent for the period of time that they want.
"What we think is that number one the public right now doesn't have access to the slip and we do need more green space. If at the end of the day that results in more green space for the park, because you are adding a parcel owned by the county -- Parcel B -- it will be a good deal for the residents."
Concerns stadium at boat slip site will encroach on Museum Park
"We are told by them that if that is the case Museum Park will be bigger because of Parcel B; even if the stadium has to encroach on Museum Park. Then with the property taxes and with the rent, if we get, it will be a political decision to use that money to enhance Museum Park," said Regalado. "As it is right now the city of Miami doesn't have the millions of millions dollars that we need to have a Millennium Park in downtown Miami."
Marlins Park
"Marlins Park has tainted every sports deal in South Florida," Regalado said. "For the city of Miami it was a good thing but a very bad deal. We're still paying the consequences; we're still paying for the sense of the past. The city of Miami has not been able even to fill or rent the retail spaces in the parking garages so it is something that's a reminder every time you discuss a sports deal in the city."