The Miami City Commission last week approved a $250,000 grant requested by outgoing Mayor Francis Suarez in his final days in office, steering the bulk of his discretionary spending to a for-profit events and branding company based in California.
The grant, approved unanimously and without discussion at Thursday’s City Commission meeting, was awarded to Mascot Sports, a sports and entertainment marketing firm that produces endurance, fitness and wellness events for major brands.
Mascot Sports’ local partner for the event is Miami Marathon cofounder Frankie Ruiz, a Miami-based fitness event organizer and ally of Mayor Francis Suarez. In 2022, Suarez bestowed on Ruiz the honorary title of Miami’s “chief wellness officer.”…