Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz has publicly criticized a proposal that would have temporarily transformed Miami into a real-life version of the fictional Vice City from the upcoming video game, Grand Theft Auto 6. The sheriff, a Republican, voiced strong disapproval of the potential marketing tie-in with game developer Rockstar Games, which was being considered by Miami-Dade's Democratic Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Cordero-Stutz stated that Grand Theft Auto is a franchise centered on criminal activities, including murder, robbery, drug trafficking, carjacking, and violence against law enforcement. She expressed concern about the message such a government-promoted identity would send. "We need to seriously consider the message we send when our own government promotes a fictional identity centered around many of those same crimes," the sheriff said.
The proposal, referred to as GTA VI × MDC, aimed to leverage Miami's status as the "real-world inspiration for Vice City." Ideas reportedly pitched to Rockstar Games included renaming Miami International Airport to Vice City International and the Port of Miami to Port Gellhorn, mirroring their in-game counterparts. Other suggestions included installing manhole covers with Vice City branding and organizing a "Vice City Motor Fest" event.
Police Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez, also a Republican and potential challenger to Mayor Levine Cava, echoed the sheriff's concerns. He criticized the consideration of temporarily rebranding significant county assets, stating, "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."
However, a spokesperson for Mayor Levine Cava clarified that no formal agreements have been made or approved. "Nothing has been formally agreed to or approved, and any idea would have to go through the appropriate review and approval process," Carlos Suarez told PCGamer. He also indicated that discussions were ongoing, with the potential to "generate revenue for the County while showcasing Miami-Dade to a massive audience" given the game's connection to the area.
Online, some fans of the Grand Theft Auto series have criticized the sheriff and commissioner, labeling them "fun police" and suggesting the city might lose out on potential revenue by rejecting the collaboration.