Downtown Miami residents seek $2 million more for public safety as DDA highlights existing investments
As the Miami Downtown Development Authority begins crafting its next budget, a residents' advocacy group is calling for a larger investment in public safety.
The Downtown Neighbors Alliance (DNA), which represents residents living in Downtown Miami, attended the DDA's first budget meeting and urged board members to dedicate $2 million of the agency's proposed roughly $21 million budget exclusively to the Miami Police Department for public safety efforts downtown.
The group said the money should be restricted for policing and not be redirected toward marketing campaigns, special events or other discretionary programs.
"Our residents have consistently said public safety is their top priority," the organization said in a statement. "Downtown residents deserve to see their tax dollars invested where they will have the greatest impact: making our streets safer."
The request comes months after a violent attack on a Downtown Miami resident in May, an incident DNA says heightened concerns among people who live in the urban core. The organization also pointed to ongoing complaints from residents about crime, aggressive behavior and other quality-of-life issues.
DNA argued that residents should be able to walk to their homes, jobs and neighborhood businesses without worrying about their safety.
Following publication of this story, the Miami Downtown Development Authority said it already dedicates significant funding to public safety through its partnership with the City of Miami Police Department.
According to the agency, its 2025-2026 budget includes $1.5 million for year-round off-duty Miami police officers, providing up to 650 hours of coverage each month across Downtown and Brickell. The DDA also says it has invested $1.4 million in a network of security cameras and license plate readers throughout the Central Business District, funds a dedicated police drone for aerial monitoring and supports mounted police patrols in Brickell.
The agency said its board also approved an additional $1 million in July to expand security cameras and license plate readers into the Baywalk and Brickell areas. The DDA says those camera feeds connect directly to the Miami Police Department's Real Time Crime Center.
Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 budget, the DDA said it plans to continue investing in additional public safety initiatives while gathering public input before the budget is finalized.
The residents' group is also seeking greater oversight of the DDA's finances. DNA said it has formally requested a budget review of the agency and is awaiting confirmation that it will move forward.
The group called on DDA Chairman Ralph "Rafael" Rosado and Vice Chair Vicky Lopez to support the review as part of this year's budget process, saying it would help ensure accountability to the residents and businesses the agency serves.
The Miami DDA said it will host a series of community meetings throughout Downtown in August to present the proposed budget and gather public feedback before the board considers final approval in September.
DNA said it plans to continue attending upcoming budget meetings and encouraged Downtown residents to participate in the process by sharing their priorities with the DDA.
The Miami Downtown Development Authority is responsible for promoting economic development, improving public spaces and providing services within the city's downtown district, which includes a residential population of about 50,000 people.
The agency's annual budget helps fund initiatives ranging from public safety and sanitation to transportation, beautification and marketing.