Does Donald Trump deserve Doral’s key?

Doral Councilman Pete Cabrera did not accurately describe how he, Mayor Luigi Boria and Councilwomen Sandra Ruiz and Ana Maria Rodriguez operated outside of the Doral City Charter to vote for the key to the city of Doral to be given Donald Trump.

As accurately reported in the Jan. 30 article Trump deemed deserving of a key, a lay-down item, according to the city charter, is an item that “specifically relates to the public’s health, safety and welfare.” Otherwise, it typically takes a week’s notice to get an item on the agenda.

At that Doral Council meeting, the key for Donald Trump wasn’t on the advertised agenda. The key issue didn’t specifically relate to the public’s health, safety and welfare, and was incorrectly placed on the agenda as an emergency (lay-down) item by Mayor Boria, who knew very well that no public response would be permitted.

Previously, when the mayor stated that he wanted “his key” to the city given to Donald Trump, there was such large and loud opposition from Doral residents that he withdrew the request. This bold and unfair action was supported by council members Cabrera, Ruiz and Rodriguez. Only Councilwoman Christine Fraga had the courage and good sense to vote against it, but she was drowned out by other council members when she attempted to show that Donald Trump hasn’t benefited Doral.

The approximately 4,000 Concerned Citizens of Doral have never had any problem with the Miss Universe contest other than the way that Trump’s influence was able to convince three Doral council members and the mayor to be responsible for contributing $2.5 million to the pageant, which didn’t even take place in Doral, but at Florida International University.

Yes, the pageant was “priceless,” as the headline on Cabrera’s Jan. 29 letter to the editor noted. The final costs to the city haven’t been calculated. Quoting from the Miss Universe contract, “Host (Doral) acknowledges that it will be responsible for all costs associated with such appearances (Miss Universe) including, without limitation, first-class air transportation, first-class ground transportation, first-class hotel accommodations and meals for the title holder(s) and two (2) travel companions for each such appearance.”

It was reported that another $45,621 bill has been sent to the city for lights, cables and red carpet. More bills will continue to pile up for Doral. Donald Trump’s resort benefited the most — financially and with exposure. Trump didn’t deserve a key to the city, and the manner in which it was approved was shameful.

This story was originally published February 4, 2015 at 6:03 PM with the headline "Does Donald Trump deserve Doral’s key?."