Dozens of residents of Doral gathered this Wednesday with Mayor Christi Fraga, representatives from the Secret Service, and local police officers at the first community meeting called to address the disruptions that the G20 summit will bring to the city, scheduled for December 14 and 15 at Trump National Doral.
Many of the attendees live in Doral Estates, the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the hotel and golf complex where the meeting of world leaders will take place. Their questions revolved around a common concern: how to navigate their own neighborhoods when the security operation is implemented.
"Will the traffic on 41st Street be redirected to 33rd Street?" asked a resident. Another wanted to know if the city could issue credentials or identification to facilitate access to residential communities. A third person was more straightforward: "Will we have to get out of the vehicle? How are we supposed to act?"
The only specific information provided by the Secret Service was the nature of the checkpoints. Joseph “Sonny” Berrios, a representative of the agency, confirmed: “All checkpoints will be vehicle inspections” and clarified that residents would not have to exit their vehicles during the inspections.
The other questions—traffic diversions, credentials for residents, protocols at checkpoints—remained unanswered definitively.
Berrios defended the usefulness of these meetings as part of the security plan itself: "Part of the security plan is this. Part is to go out, to stand in front of the community."
The expected presence of high-profile figures, including possibly the Russian president Vladímir Putin —formally invited by the U.S., although his attendance is not confirmed— adds an additional layer of complexity to the operation and explains the magnitude of the planned measures.
The small businesses in the area also expressed alarm. A merchant warned the authorities that the economic impact will be inevitable during the holiday season.
Mayor Fraga replied that the city is working with the participating delegations to promote local establishments, although she did not specify any concrete measures.
The upcoming operation is of significant magnitude. The traffic restrictions may begin on December 10, four days before the summit, and Doral Central Park will remain closed to the public from December 11 to 16.
The seven public schools in the area will hold virtual classes on December 14 and 15, and several private and charter schools will also adjust their activities or suspend classes altogether.
The cost of the operation also creates tension. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office estimates $11.6 million in personnel expenses, an amount that the county commissioners unanimously voted to request from the federal government and the state of Florida, in an already tight budget context.
The event is classified as a Special National Security Event, with the Secret Service leading the coordination alongside the FBI, FEMA, and local law enforcement. So far, authorities have not identified any specific threats against the summit.
Municipal authorities announced that they will hold an exclusive meeting for residents of Doral Estates, although no date was set during the meeting this Wednesday. The second town hall open to the entire community is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, at the Event Hall of Doral Legacy Park.
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