January 21, 2020

Hon. Manolo Reyes

Chairman, Miami Downtown Development Authority
Commissioner, City of Miami

Philippe Houdard
Chairman, Selection Committee

Board of Directors
Miami Downtown Development Authority

Dear Chairman Reyes and esteemed Board Members:

Please accept this letter as formal notice of my resignation as Acting Executive Director for the Miami
Downtown Development Authority (DDA), effective immediately.

Nine weeks have elapsed since the DDA Board of Directors voted to appoint me as Executive Director.
While I was honored by the selection and eager to begin working with the DDA’s Board and Staff to
tackle the critical issues confronting Downtown, clarity around the terms of my employment and the
nature of the position moving forward has diminished greatly since November.

From uncertainty over the Commission’s ability to approve my hiring and the temporary nature of the
“Acting Director” designation, to lack of stability in my agreed-upon compensation structure and the
City Commission’s stated intention to restructure the DDA, I have grown increasingly unsettled about
my employment status and the future of the Executive Director role.

As a businesswoman and former elected official, I have seen firsthand how conflicting political agendas
can undermine the work of well-intentioned organizations and their leaders. Having watched City of
Miami government come to a standstill over the past two months, I have concluded that the prospect of
working within the current political climate is untenable.

Though I am naturally disappointed that this employment opportunity did not turn out as either party
had hoped it would, I appreciate the time I have spent getting to know members of the DDA Board, DDA
Staff and the Miami Commission. I am grateful to the Selection Committee for its endorsement, and to
the full board for its unanimous support.
I wish the DDA Board, Staff, and all of Downtown’s stakeholders continued success as you lead the
renaissance underway in Miami’s urban core.

Warm regards,

John Elizabeth Aleman