The Miami-Dade County Sheriff, Rosie Cordero-Stutz, criticized a proposal that would temporarily transform Miami into a real-life version of Grand Theft Auto 6’s Vice City. Cordero-Stutz, a Republican, expressed concerns over a potential marketing tie-in with Rockstar Games, the game's creator. The video game is set in a fictional southern Florida city, where players engage in various criminal activities.
"Grand Theft Auto is a video game franchise built around criminal activity — we need to seriously consider the message we send when our own government promotes a fictional identity centered around many of those same crimes," Cordero-Stutz stated. She added that the fictional world includes murder, robbery, drug trafficking, carjacking, and violence against law enforcement, which are issues the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office works to prevent daily.
The proposal, referred to as GTA VI × MDC, would involve transforming Miami using approved characters or visual references from the game. Ideas pitched include renaming Miami International Airport to Vice City International and the Port of Miami to Port Gellhorn, along with installing Vice City-labeled sewer and stormwater manholes.
Additionally, the city proposed a Vice City Motor Fest event, which would feature classic cars, customized vehicles, lowriders, motorcycles, and local entertainment in a family-friendly setting.
Police Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez, a Republican who is considering a challenge to Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in the 2028 election, also criticized the proposal, stating that he cannot believe the city is considering rebranding important county assets. "We should be promoting the Miami-Dade we have worked so hard to build, not a fictional version of our community defined by crime and violence," Bermudez said.
The marketing plan has not yet been approved. Carlos Suarez, a spokesperson for the mayor, clarified that nothing has been formally agreed to and that any idea would need to go through the appropriate review and approval process. Suarez noted, "Given Miami-Dade’s clear influence on the game, we think there could be a unique opportunity to generate revenue for the County while showcasing Miami-Dade to a massive audience." Fans of the series have criticized the sheriff and commissioner online, suggesting that the city could miss out on potential revenue by rejecting the proposal.