Miami Dade County Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez Shady Deal with a Nonprofit in Connection to Tropical Park.

Miami Dade County Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez Shady Deal with a Nonprofit in Connection to Tropical Park.

Miami-Dade’s $5 Million Mystery: The A3 Foundation Controversy, Story Originally broke by Miami Herald Reporter Doug Hanks. Please see his Tweets on X and Evidence of AB Foundation involvement on this Video.

In a county grappling with a $402 million budget shortfall, Miami-Dade’s decision to funnel millions toward a little-known nonprofit has sparked outrage, confusion, and calls for accountability. At the center of the storm is the A3 Foundation, a charity with scant public presence but deep political ties.

The Deal That Raised Eyebrows.

On July 16, 2025, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a 20-year contract granting Loud and Live exclusive rights to operate Tropical Park’s equestrian center and produce events like CountryFest. As part of the deal, Loud and Live must pay $250,000 annually to a charity selected by the commission—a clause that could total $5 million over two decades.

Commission Chairman Anthony Rodriguez sponsored the legislation, naming the A3 Foundation as the beneficiary. The vote passed overwhelmingly, though Commissioners Juan Carlos Bermudez and Micky Steinberg dissented without comment.

Who Is A3 Foundation?

Founded in 2023, A3 Foundation has no working website, no public contact information, and reportedly had less than $25,000 in the bank last year. Its director, Francisco Petrirena, is a full-time public employee—chief of staff to Miami City Manager Art Noriega—and also the sole paid staffer of A3, earning an $80,000 salary.

Despite its obscurity, A3 has already received:

- $75,000 in grants from Rodriguez

- $125,000 in the county’s budget

- $950,000 from the Florida legislature, sponsored by Sen. Danny Perez.

The Math Doesn’t Add Up.

The foundation claims to promote agricultural education and help organize CountryFest, yet there’s little evidence of actual programming, scholarships, or measurable impact. Even the office address is a residential townhouse with no clear connection to the charity’s operations.

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has since refused to sign the amended contract and ordered an audit of A3 Foundation’s finances. Her administration is now pushing for stricter oversight of county charity grants, including quarterly financial reports and annual audits.

Political Patronage or Public Benefit?

Rodriguez insists the $250,000 annual payment is “100% private money” from Loud and Live—not taxpayer dollars. But critics argue that when the county dictates where private funds go, it blurs the line between public and private interests.

Stay tuned for more on this.

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